CAUTION: Clamp the transducer cable to transom near the transducer. This will help prevent the transducer from entering the boat if it is knocked off at high speed. Good location
Poor location Good location
Good location Poor angle Good and poor transducer locations.
How low should you go? For most situations, you should install your Skimmer transducer so that its centerline is level with the bottom of the boat hull. This will usually give you the best combination of smooth water flow and protection from bangs and bumps.
Transom Transducer centerline
Hull bottom Align transducer centerline with hull bottom.
However, there are times when you may need to adjust the transducer slightly higher or lower. (The slots in the mounting brackets allow you to loosen the screws and slide the transducer up or down.) If you frequently lose bottom signal lock while running at high speed, the transducer may be coming out of the water as you cross waves or wakes. Move the transducer a little lower to help prevent this. If you cruise or fish around lots of structure and cover, your transducer may be frequently kicking up from object strikes. If you wish, you may move the transducer a little higher for more protection. There are two extremes you should avoid. Never let the edge of the mounting bracket extend below the bottom of the hull. Never let the bottom the face of the transducer rise above the bottom of the hull. Shoot-thru-hull vs. Transom Mounting In a shoot-thru-hull installation, the transducer is bonded to the inside of the hull with epoxy. The sonar "ping" signal actually passes through the hull and into the water. This differs from a bolt-thru-hull installation (often called "thru-hull"). In that case, a hole is cut in the hull and a specially designed transducer is mounted through the hull with a threaded shaft and nut. This puts the transducer in direct contact with the water. 17
Typically, shoot-thru-hull installations give excellent high speed operation and good to excellent depth capability. There is no possibility of transducer damage from floating objects, as there is with a transommounted transducer. A transducer mounted inside the hull can't be knocked off when docking or loading on a trailer. However, the shoot-thru-hull installation does have its drawbacks. First, some loss of sensitivity does occur, even on the best hulls. This varies from hull to hull, even from different installations on the same hull. This is caused by differences in hull lay-up and construction. Second, the transducer angle cannot be adjusted for the best fish arches on your sonar display. (This is not an issue for flasher-style sonars.) Lack of angle adjustment can be particularly troublesome on hulls that sit with the bow high when at rest or at slow trolling speeds. Third, a transducer CAN NOT shoot through wood and metal hulls. Those hulls require either a transom mount or a thru-hull installation. Fourth, if your Skimmer transducer has a built in temp sensor, it will only show the temperature of the bilge, not the water surface temp. Follow the testing procedures listed in the shoot-thru-hull installation section at the end of this lesson to determine if you can satisfactorily shoot through the hull. TRANSOM TRANSDUCER ASSEMBLY AND MOUNTING The best way to install the transducer is to loosely assemble all of the parts first, place the transducer's bracket against the transom and see if you can move the transducer so that it's parallel with the ground. 1. Assembling the bracket. Press the two small plastic ratchets into the sides of the metal bracket as shown in the following illustration. Notice there are letters molded into each ratchet. Place each ratchet into the bracket with the letter "A" aligned with the dot stamped into the metal bracket. This position sets the transducer's coarse angle adjustment for a 14 transom. Most outboard and stern-drive transoms have a 14 angle. 18

107.5 [4.23]

82.7 [3.26]

156 [6.26]

12.09 [0.48]
70.3 Millimeter [2.77] [Inch] Front view (left) and side view (right) showing dimensions of the Cuda 250 when mounted on quick release bracket.

76.9 [3.03]

If you wish, you can fill in the hole around the cable with a good marine sealant compound. (Some marine dealers stock cable hole covers to conceal the opening.) This unit uses a quick release-mounting bracket. When you run the cable through the hole, make sure you allow enough slack for tilting the unit and attaching the connector. (The snug fit of the push-on waterproof connector requires some force to attach.) Also be sure there is enough cable slack for rotation if you decide to use the optional GBSA-3 swivel base. The swivel base lets you rotate the sonar so it can be seen from different parts of the boat.
Align the bracket over the cable hole with the cable slots facing away from you and fit the cable through one of the slots. Fasten the bracket to the dash using the three screw holes.

Ratchet

Rear (away from viewer) Screw hole

Power/transducer cable

Cable slot
Cuda 250 quick release mounting bracket. Slots in the base allow routing the cable from beneath the mount.
Attach the unit to the bracket by first connecting the power/transducer cable. Then, hold the sonar unit vertically and slide it onto the bracket from above. (The back of the unit should be touching the front of the bracket as you lower it into position.) As you push down, the unit will lock into place with a distinct click. To adjust the viewing angle, pinch the ratchets with one hand, then tilt the unit with your other hand. Release the ratchets and the unit locks into the new position. To dismount the unit for storage, press the ratchets and lift the unit off the bracket.

Bracket front

Mount the sonar: slide the unit onto the bracket from above.
Depress ratchets to release. Swivel base Adjust viewing angle: use one hand to press and release the springloaded ratchets while you move the unit with the other hand. An optional GBSA-3 swivel base is shown with the quick release bracket.
Portable Sonar Installation Like many Eagle products, the Cuda 250 sonar is capable of portable operation. It uses the optional PPP-12 portable power pack. The power pack and portable transducers expand the uses for your sonar. You can use your Cuda 250 sonar unit on your boat or take it to the dock, on a float tube, on an ice fishing trip or use it as a second sonar in a friend's boat. (An alternative to the PPP-12 is the PPP-15 portable power pack, which was designed especially for ice fishing. It includes a rechargeable gel cell battery and a transducer designed for stationary use. The entire rig is contained in a carry bag that fits inside a fivegallon plastic bucket.) The PPP-12 package includes the power pack, battery adapter and a portable transducer. The transducer can be stored inside the power pack. The PPP-12 requires eight AA alkaline batteries. Batteries are not included. To use a portable power pack, you install the batteries and then attach the sonar unit to the power pack's bracket. Plug in the power/transducer cable and you're ready to fish. The PPP-12 has a quick-release mounting bracket built into the case. Installing the Batteries Release the latch on the front of the power pack case. Open the compartment and install eight AA batteries into the adapter. For the longest life, we recommend you use alkaline batteries. NOTE: When the unit is not in use, we recommend you unplug the power connector to reduce the possibility of corrosion or battery drain. When you store the unit, always remove the batteries because dead batteries can leak and corrode the contacts. After installing the batteries, plug the cable's power connector into the socket on the battery compartment cover. Route the cable's unit connec38

tor and about 6 inches of cable through the opening under the sonar mount. Close the cover, plug the connector into the sonar unit and mount the unit on the built-in bracket.
PPP-12 Portable Power Pack with a sonar unit stowed for transport.
Turn the unit on. If it doesn't work, make sure the battery terminals are making good contact against the battery contacts. Also check the wiring connections on the battery adapter. The red wire on the power cable should be attached to the red wire on the battery adapter and the power cable's black wire should be connected to the black wire on the battery adapter. If it still doesn't work, check the battery voltage. Most of the complaints we receive about portable units result from stale batteries. Make sure the ones you buy are fresh. In cold weather the efficiency of dry cell batteries drops with the temperature. We find it a good idea to have the sonar unit good and warm along with the batteries before we leave home. 39
If the batteries do lose a charge, you can sometimes restore them by placing them in a warm room or car interior. A better way is to replace them with batteries that have been kept warm. WARNING: Never heat the batteries over an open flame or direct hot air onto them. A fire or explosion could result. Portable Transducer Assembly Recommended tools for installation include a slotted screw driver and two adjustable wrenches. Assemble the transducer and bracket as shown in the following figure. Attach the transducer to the bracket with the supplied hardware. Make sure there is one washer on each side of the transducer, inside the bracket. Slide the other washer over the end of the bolt and thread the nut onto it. Screw the suction cup onto the bracket using the supplied screw and flat washer. Tie the nylon cord through the hole in the top of the bracket. When using this transducer, tie the other end of the nylon cord to the boat. This will help prevent the loss of the transducer if it comes off the boat.
Tie nylon cord here Suction cup Nut Washer Transducer Portable transducer assembly: rear view (left) and side view (right.) Screw

Bolt Washer

Clean the chosen area of the hull before attaching the suction cup. Locate the transducer on the hull as shown in the following figure. Don't allow the bracket to extend below the hull, because water pressure against it can cause the suction cup to come off at speed. Moisten the cup, then press it onto the hull as firmly as possible. Tie the nylon cord to the boat and route the transducer cable to the sonar unit. Your portable sonar is now ready for use.
Suction cup Hull Transducer Bracket
Portable transducer installed on boat transom.
NOTE: For optimum operation, the portable transducer should be adjusted so that it is parallel to the ground. For more information on this, see the earlier segment on Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches. Now that you have your unit installed, move on to Sec. 3, Basic Sonar Operations. There, we'll present a series of step-by-step tutorials to teach you the basics of your sonar operation.
Section 3: Basic Sonar Operation

Keyboard

The unit sounds a tone when you press any key. This tells you the unit has accepted a command. Numbers in the photo correspond to key explanations below:

Eagle Cuda 250 S/Map.

1. PWR/LIGHT The PWR key turns the unit on and off and activates the backlight. 2. PAGES Pressing this and the arrow keys (4) switches the unit between the different page display screens. 3. MENU Press this key to show the menus and submenus, which allow you to select a command or adjust a feature. This also accesses search functions for streets, intersections, addresses and highway exits. 4. ARROW KEYS These keys are used to navigate through the menus, make menu selections, move the plotter cursor and sonar chart cursor and enter data. 5. ENT This key allows you to save data, accept values or execute menu commands. It is also used to create event marker icons. 6. EXIT The Exit key lets you return to the previous screen, clear data or close a menu. 7. WPT The Waypoint key is used to save and recall waypoints, search for waypoints and access the waypoint list. It is also involved in some navigation functions. 8. ZOUT This key lets you zoom the screen out. On the Sonar Page, this key returns you to a full sonar chart display, showing the entire water column from surface to bottom. On the Plotter Page, this lets you see a larger geographic area on the display. Less detail is seen as you zoom out. 9. ZIN This key lets you zoom the screen in. On the Sonar Page, this key enlarges fish signals and bottom detail. On the Plotter Page, zooming in lets you see greater detail in a smaller geographic area on the display.

Sonar Menu with Sensitivity command selected (left). Sensitivity Control Bar (right).
NOTE: If you want to change the sensitivity in Manual Mode, turn off Auto Sensitivity. From the Sonar Page, press MENU| to AUTO SENSITIVITY|ENT| to SENSITIVITY|ENT. Press or to pick a different sensitivity setting. When it is set at the desired level, press EXIT.
While you are experimenting and learning, it is possible to scramble the settings so the sonar picture disappears from the screen. If that happens, remember it is easy to switch back to full automatic operation by restoring the factory default settings.
To Restore Factory Settings 1. Press MENU|MENU| to SYSTEM SETUP|ENT| to RESET OPTIONS|ENT.
2. A reset options confirmation message will appear. Select YES and press ENT. All options are reset and the unit reverts back to the original settings.
Fish Symbols vs. Full Sonar Chart You may have noticed in the quick reference we used fish arches in full sonar chart mode for our example and not the popular Fish I.D. fish symbol feature. Here is why. Fish I.D. is an easier way for a sonar novice to recognize a fishy signal return when he sees it. But locating fish by symbol only has some limitations. Your sonar unit's microprocessor is remarkably powerful, but it can be fooled. Some of the echoes calculated to be fish could be tree limbs or turtles. To see under your boat in maximum detail, we recommend you turn off Fish I.D. and begin learning to interpret fish arches. Fish I.D. is most handy when you are in another part of the boat or performing a task that prevents you from watching the sonar screen. While in Fish I.D. mode, you can turn on the audible fish alarm, so when a fish swims under your boat, you will hear it! Fish I.D. can also be useful when you want to screen out some of the sonar detail. In one case, a fishermen in San Francisco Bay saw clouds of clutter in the water but no fish arches. When a downrigger was pulled up, it brought up several small jellyfish. The fishermen switched his sonar to Fish I.D., which screened out the schools of jellyfish and clearly showed game fish as fish symbols. Other Free Training Aids The following section discusses in greater detail, Fish I.D. and fish alarms among other features. If you or a friend has Internet access, you can also learn more about interpreting what you see on your sonar screen. Visit our web site, WWW.EAGLESONAR.COM. Be sure to check out the free Sonar Tutorial, which includes animated illustrations and more pictures of actual sonar returns, all described in detail. There's even a printer friendly version of the tutorial available on our web site. It makes a great supplement to this operation manual. 55
For the ultimate training aid, download the free emulator software for your unit. Aside from being fun, the program can help you learn both basic and advanced operations without burning boat fuel! Eagle is the first sonar manufacturer to provide this type of training tool for customers. This PC application simulates the actual sonar unit on your computer. You can run it from your computer keyboard or use your mouse to press the virtual keys. Easy download and installation instructions are available on our web site.

Sonar Alarms selected from main menu (left). The Sonar Alarms menu (right). To adjust and turn on the shallow alarm: 1. Press MENU|MENU| to ALARMS|ENT.
2. Press to SONAR ALARMS|ENT. 3. Press or to SHALLOW ALARM ENABLED and press ENT. 4. Press to SHALLOW DEPTH|ENT. 5. Use to change the first digit, then press to the next digit. Repeat these steps until you have entered the desired depth and press ENT. To switch to a different depth setting, open the Sonar Alarms menu and repeat the instructions in steps 4 and 5 above.
To adjust and turn on the deep alarm: 1. Press MENU|MENU| to ALARMS|ENT.
2. Press to SONAR ALARMS|ENT. 59
3. Press to DEEP ALARM ENABLED|ENT. 4. Press to DEEP DEPTH and press ENT. 5. Use to change the first digit, then press to the next digit. Repeat these steps until the desired depth has been input. Press ENT. To switch to a different depth setting, open the Sonar Alarms menu and repeat the instructions in steps 4 and 5 above. Zone Alarm The zone alarm is triggered when any echo passes inside the zone alarm bar, shown on the right side of the screen.
To adjust and turn on the zone alarm: 1. Press MENU|MENU| to ALARMS|ENT| to SONAR ALARMS|ENT.
2. Press to ZONE ALARM ENABLED| ENT| to ADJUST ZONE ALARM|ENT.
Sonar Alarms menu with Adjust Zone selected (left). Adjust Zone Alarm selection box with Upper selected (right).
3. To set upper boundary for the Zone Alarm, use to select UPPER, then press to move the top of the bar to the desired depth. 4. To set lower boundary for the Zone Alarm, use to select LOWER, then press to move the bottom of the bar to the desired depth. 5. Press EXIT repeatedly. 60
To switch to a different depth setting, open the Sonar Alarms menu and repeat the instructions above, beginning with step 2. Fish Alarm Use the fish alarm for a distinctive audible alarm when fish or other suspended objects are detected by the Fish I.D. feature (Fish I.D. must be turned on for the Fish Alarm to work). A different tone sounds for each fish symbol size shown on the display.
Sonar Alarms menu with Fish Alarm selected. The check box to the left is checked, indicating the alarm is turned on. To turn the fish alarm on:
1. Press MENU|MENU||ALARMS|ENT. 2. Press to SONAR ALARMS|ENT. 3. Press FISH ALARM ENABLED and press ENT to turn on (check) the alarm. Press Exit repeatedly to get back to the main page display.

Chart Speed

1. Press MENU|MENU| to SONAR SETUP|ENT. 2. Select SET KEEL OFFSET and press ENT. 3. The Keel Offset dialog box appears. Press so the displayed number shows a plus (+) sign instead of the minus () sign. 3. To change the next digit, press then use to enter 1. Move to the next digit and enter 5, then press EXIT. The depth indicators now accurately show the waterline as 1.5 feet above the transducer.

Sonar Color Mode

The default color scheme for the sonar chart is grayscale, but we offer other variations to suit your viewing preferences. You can select the chart to be displayed in reverse grayscale, bottom black or FishReveal mode. (For more information on FishReveal, see the entry on that topic elsewhere in this section.) To change the chart mode color scheme: 1. From the Sonar Page, press MENU| to SONAR FEATURES|ENT. 2. Press to SONAR CHART MODE|ENT. 3. Press or to Mode Name|ENT. 4. Press EXIT|EXIT to return to the Sonar Page.
Sonar Page & Sonar Chart Display Options
The Cuda 250 offers three Sonar chart display options. To choose one, press EXIT to clear any menus, then press PAGES and use the keys to select the desired mode. Full Sonar Chart This is the default mode used when the Sonar is turned on for the first time or when it is reset to the factory defaults. The bottom signal scrolls across the screen from right to left. Depth scales on the right side of the screen aid in determining depth of targets. The line at the top of the screen represents the surface. 76
The bottom depth and surface temperature (if the unit is equipped with a temperature sensor or a transducer with a temp sensor built in) show at the top left corner of the screen. The FasTrack display shows just to the right of the scale. This changes all echoes into short horizontal bars, replicating a flasher sonar. The zoom bar on the far right shows the area that is zoomed when the zoom is in use. (See the Zoom section for more information.)
Full Sonar Chart. The Overlay Data (depth and water temperature) are set to a different text size.
Split Zoom Sonar Chart A split chart shows the underwater world from the surface to the bottom on the right side of the screen. The left side shows an enlarged version of the right side. The zoom range shows at the bottom left corner of the screen.
Split Zoom Sonar Chart. First image (left) shows the left window zoomed to 2X. The second image (right) shows the left window zoomed to 4X. The depth overlay data is set to the default large text size. The water temperature is set to the medium text size.
Digital Data/Chart This mode shows nine digital boxes or windows containing (by default): Water Depth, Water Temp, Position Error, Bearing, Distance, Speed, Travel Time, Track and Off Course.

Main Menu.

The Main Menu commands and their functions are: Screen: changes the contrast or brightness of the display screen. Sounds: enables or disables the sounds for key strokes and alarms and sets the alarm style. Enable NMEA 183 Output: enables NMEA 0183 output and disables temperature 2, water speed and water distance. For more information, see Cuda addendum, part number 988-0152-082. Alarms: turns GPS or sonar alarms on or off and changes alarm thresholds. 89
Route Planning: used to plan, view or navigate a route. My Trails: shows, hides, creates and deletes plot trails. Also used to navigate or backtrack a trail. Cancel Navigation: turns off the various navigation commands. Used to stop navigating after you have reached your destination. Sonar Setup: sets various sonar options. GPS Setup: sets various GPS receiver options. System Setup: sets general configuration options. Sun/Moon Calculations: finds the rising and setting time of the sun and the moon. Trip Calculator: shows trip status and statistics. Timers: controls the up timer, down timer and alarm clock settings.
The unit has two Pages categories, one for each of the two major operating modes: Sonar and GPS. The categories are the Map Page and the Sonar Page. Each Page category has its own display options. They are accessed by pressing PAGES, then using to select either Map or Sonar. To select a page display use to select the desired page and press ENT.
Pages Menu, showing Map display options.
Sonar Page The Sonar Page displays the sonar chart, a view of the water column from the surface to the bottom. The chart scrolls across the screen from right to left, displaying signal echoes that represent fish, structure and the bottom. The Sonar Page is discussed in detail in Sec. 3. To get to the Sonar Page press PAGES| to SONAR|EXIT. Satellite Status Page The Satellite Status GPS Page provides detailed information on the status of the Cuda's satellite lock-on and position acquisition. To get to the Satellite Status Page press PAGES| to Map| to SATELLITES|EXIT. No matter what Page display you are on, a flashing current position indicator/question mark symbol and flashing GPS data displays indicate satellite lock has been lost and no position has been acquired. The Satellite Status Page shows you the quality and accuracy of the current satellite lock-on and position calculation. WARNING: Do not begin navigating with this unit until the numbers have stopped flashing!
Satellite Page. First page (left) indicates unit has not locked on to any satellites and does not have a fix on its position. The second page (center) shows satellites being scanned. The last page (right) shows satellite lock-on with a 3D position.
The Satellite Page screen shows a graphical view of satellites the unit is tracking. A satellite is shown on the circular chart relative to your position. The point in the center of the chart is directly overhead. The small inner ring represents 45 above the horizon and the large ring represents the horizon. North is at the top of the screen. You can use this to see which satellites are obstructed by obstacles in your immediate area, if the unit is facing north. The GPS receiver is tracking satellites that are in gray. The receiver has not locked onto a satellite if the number is black, therefore it isn't being used to resolve the position. Beneath the circular graph are the bar graphs, one for each satellite in view. Since the unit has twelve channels, it can dedicate one channel per visible satellite. The taller the bar on the graph, the better the unit is receiving the signals from the satellite. The Estimated Position Error (horizontal position error) shown in the upper right corner of the screen is the expected error from a benchmark location. In other words, if the EPE shows 50 feet, then the position shown by the unit is estimated to be within 50 feet of the actual location. This also gives you an indicator of the fix quality the unit cur92

Create Waypoint by Entering a Position
1. Press WPT, then use to select NEW as the Subcategory|ENT. 2. Press to ENTERED POSITION|ENT| to CREATE|ENT. 3. Press to LATITUDE|ENT. Enter the latitude by pressing or to change the first character, then press to the next character and repeat until the latitude is correct. Press ENT. 4. Press to LONGITUDE|ENT. Enter the longitude by pressing or to change the first character, then press to the next character and repeat until the longitude is correct. Press ENT, then EXIT|EXIT to return to the previous page display. The waypoint is saved and automatically given a name with a sequential number, such as "waypoint 001." The waypoint symbol and number appear on the map and in the waypoint list.

Navigate To a Waypoint

You can select any waypoint visible on the Map Page with the cursor, then use the Navigate to Cursor command. You, however, can avoid scrolling the map to pick your waypoint if you use the Find Waypoint commands: 1. Press WPT| to SAVED|ENT. To look up the nearest waypoint, press ENT or to look by name press | ENT. For this example, look by name. 2. If your waypoint list is a long one, you can spell out the waypoint name in the FIND BY NAME box. Press to change the first character, then press to move the cursor to the next character and repeat until the name is correct, then press ENT to jump to the list below. 104
3. If the list is short, you can jump directly to the FIND IN LIST box by pressing ENT. Use to select the waypoint name, press ENT and the waypoint information screen appears with the GO TO command selected. 4. To begin navigating to the waypoint, press ENT.
Find by Name highlighted (left). Find By Name menu (center). Waypoint information screen (right).
Set Man Overboard (MOB) Waypoint
One of boating's most terrifying events is having a friend or family member fall overboard. It is particularly dangerous at night or if there is no land in sight.This unit has a man overboard feature that shows navigation data to the location where the feature was activated. To activate it, press the ZOUT and ZIN keys at the same time. Your position at the time these keys are pressed is used as the man overboard position. Caution: Saving a new Man Overboard waypoint will overwrite and erase the previous Man Overboard waypoint.
Navigate Back to MOB Waypoint
Find your way back to the accident position with the Navigation Page or Map Page. When MOB is activated, the Navigation Page automati105
cally shows the compass rose with its bearing arrow pointing toward the man overboard position, and the destination name says "Going To Man Overboard." The Map Page displays a Man Overboard waypoint, represented by a human figure, and the steering arrow points where to steer to reach that position.

New trail, named Trail 3, is created when Trail 2 is made inactive. Any new travel will be recorded in this trail, which is active and visible. Trails do not need to be visible in order to be active.
You can save and recall up to 10 different plot trails.
Another quick way to stop recording one trail and begin a new one is to use the New Trail command. Press MENU|MENU| to MY TRAILS|ENT. Use to select NEW TRAIL and press ENT. Caution: You also have the option of completely turning off trail recording, under the trail Options command. If, however, the Update Active Trail option is left turned off, it will cancel the automatic trail creation feature.

Displaying a Saved Trail

The active trail is automatically displayed on the with the default settings. You can selectively turn trail display on and off for any saved or active trail. In the Saved Trails List, visible trails have a check mark in front of the trail name.
To turn trail display on or off: 1. Press MENU|MENU| to MY TRAILS|ENT. 2. Press to enter the Saved Trail list, then use to select the desired Trail Name|ENT. 3. Press to VISIBLE|ENT. To return to the main page display, press EXIT repeatedly.

Navigating Trails

There are three methods for following a trail: visual trailing, navigating a trail (forward) and backtracking a trail (backward). Try each method to see which you prefer. Visual trailing is the simplest method. It uses only the Map Page and requires no menu commands at all. The technique works the same if you are running a trail forward (from start to end) or backward (from end to start.) Visual trailing, however, provides no navigation information during the trip, such as the time to your destination. The other two methods provide a full range of navigation data and work with both the Map Page and Navigation Page. The only difference between them is navigating a trail follows a trail forward (from start to end) while backtracking follows a trail in reverse (from end to start.) When hiking at walking speed with a hand-held GPS, we often just use visual back trailing because it is a bit better at following each little turn on a foot path. At faster speeds, such as the highway or on the water, the Navigate Trail and Backtrack Trail commands are handy. Visual Trailing 1. On the Map Page, zoom (ZIN or ZOUT) so your flashing trail is visible. 2. Begin moving and watch the Map Page. Walk or steer so that your current position arrow traces along the trail you have just made. 111
Generally, when using this method, the smaller the zoom range, the more accurately you will be able to steer along the trail. Navigate a Trail (forward) The following figures illustrate the menu sequence for navigating a trail. 1. Press MENU|MENU| to MY TRAILS|ENT. 2. Press to enter the Saved Trail list, then use to select the desired Trail Name|ENT. 3. Press to NAVIGATE|ENT. 4. Press to NAVIGATE ROUTE|ENT. The unit begins showing navigation information along the trail. NOTE: If you are already located at or near the beginning of your trail, the arrival alarm will go off as soon as you hit Enter. Just press EXIT to clear the alarm. 5. Now, begin moving and let your Cuda 250 guide you. 6. When you reach your destination, be sure to cancel your navigation: press MENU|MENU| to CANCEL NAVIGATION|ENT. The unit asks if you're sure. Press |ENT.

Edit Route Waypoints menu with Add from Map selected (left) and Remove Waypoint selected (right).
3. Use to select a command from the Edit Route Waypoints menu and press ENT. Add From Map lets you insert a waypoint in the route by clicking on a map location with the cursor. Add Waypoint calls up the Waypoint List so you can insert a waypoint from the list. Remove Waypoint will delete the selected waypoint from the route. View Waypoint will show you where the selected waypoint is on the map. Navigate a Route 1. From the NAVIGATION PAGE, press MENU|ENT or from the MAP PAGE, press MENU|MENU| to ROUTE PLANNING|ENT.
Route Planning command on Main Menu (left). Routes menu (center); Edit Route menu (right). Navigate Route command is selected.
2. Press to select route name|ENT|ENT. 3. Upon arrival at your destination, cancel navigation: press MENU|MENU| to CANCEL NAVIGATION|ENT| to YES|ENT. The following figures show what the Navigation Page and Map Page look like while navigating a route.

Figure 1. Figure 2.

Fig. 1 shows the Navigation Page at the start of a route, heading straight for the first waypoint (Wpt 1). In Fig. 2, the traveler has arrived at Wpt 1; the arrival alarm has been triggered and the bearing arrow on the compass rose has turned to point toward Wpt 2, off to the northeast.
In Fig. 3 the traveler has turned northeast on his new course and is heading straight for Wpt 2, which is 0.28 miles away. Fig. 4 shows route navigation on the Map Page. In this figure, the traveler has reached Wpt 2 and is starting on the leg between Wpts 2 and 3.
Navigate a Route in Reverse Here is how you run a route backward from the end waypoint to the beginning waypoint: 1. From the NAVIGATION PAGE, press MENU|ENT or from the MAP PAGE, press MENU|MENU| to ROUTE PLANNING|ENT. 2. Press to select route name|ENT| to REVERSE|ENT| to NAVIGATE ROUTE|ENT. 3. Upon arrival at your destination, cancel navigation: press MENU|MENU| to CANCEL NAVIGATION|ENT| to YES|ENT.

Trails

Delete a Trail This is the command used to erase or delete a trail: Press MENU|MENU| to MY TRAILS|ENT| to trail name|ENT| to DELETE TRAIL|ENT| to YES|ENT. 125
You can also delete all trails at once: 1. Press MENU|MENU| to MY TRAILS|ENT. 2. Press to DELETE ALL|ENT| to YES|ENT. Edit a Trail Name To edit a trail name: press MENU|MENU| to MY TRAILS|ENT| to trail name|ENT|ENT. Press or to change the first character, then press to the next character and repeat until the name is correct. Press ENT then EXIT repeatedly to return to the previous page display.
You can quickly call up the Edit Trail menu by selecting a trail on the map with the cursor. Move the cursor over a trail and a pop-up box appears. Press WPT and the Edit Trail menu opens.
Trail selected with map cursor (left). The box at the bottom of the screen shows distance and bearing from current position to the selected point on the trail. The Edit Trail menu (right).

NOTE: When the position format is changed, it affects the way all positions are shown on all screens. This includes waypoints. To change the coordinate system, press ENT while COORD SYSTEM is highlighted at the top of the Coordinate System menu. Use arrow keys to select the desired format and press ENT. To setup Loran TD: 1. From the Coordinate System menu, press to SETUP LORAN TD and press ENT. NOTE: If the Loran TD conversion is chosen, you must enter the local Loran chain identification for the master and slaves. 2. To access the Loran Chain, Secondary 1 or Secondary 2 menus, highlight the category and press ENT. Use the keys to choose the desired setting and press ENT. Press EXIT to close the menu.
Setup Loran TD highlighted on Coordinate System menu (left). Configure Loran TD menu (right).

Map Fix

Map Fix is used with charts or maps. This system asks for a reference position in latitude/longitude, which you take from a marked location on the map. It then shows the present position as distance on the map from that reference point. For example, if it shows a distance of UP 4.00" and LEFT 0.50", you then measure up four inches and to the left a half-inch from the reference point on the map to find your location. To configure a map fix: To use setup a map fix, follow these steps in order. Take your map of the area and determine a reference latitude/longitude. (Please note that in order for this system to work, the latitude/longitude lines must be parallel with the edge of the map. USGS maps are parallel, others may not be. Also, this works better with smaller scale maps.) The reference position can be anywhere on the map, but the closer it is to your location, the smaller the numbers will be that you will have to deal with. Once you have decided on a reference position, you can save it as a waypoint. See the waypoint section for information on saving a waypoint. Save the reference position as a waypoint. Exit from the waypoint screens. 1. Press MENU|MENU| to GPS SETUP|ENT. 2. Press to COORDINATE SYSTEM|ENT. 3. Press to SETUP MAP FIX|ENT. The following screen appears and MAP SCALE is highlighted. Press ENT and enter the map's scale. This is generally at the bottom of the paper map. It is shown as a ratio, for example 1:24000. Press EXIT and the unit returns to the Configure Map Fix screen.
Configure a map fix so the Cuda can find your position on a printed chart or topographical map.
Press to SELECT ORIGIN|ENT|ENT|ENT to bring up the waypoint list. Select the waypoint you saved the reference point under and press ENT. The unit displays a waypoint information screen with the command SET AS ORIGIN selected. Press ENT and the unit returns to the Configure Map Fix menu. Press EXIT to close this menu. Now press to COORD SYSTEM|ENT, select MAP FIX from the list and press ENT. Press EXIT repeatedly to get back to the main page display, where all position information will be shown as a distance from the reference point you chose.

Trail Options
There are several options you can use with trails. Some affect all trails. Other options can be applied to a particular trail. You can display or hide trails, create a new trail, delete a trail or change the way trails are updated. To access the Trails Menu: Press MENU|MENU| to MY TRAILS|ENT.
Main Menu (left). Trails Menu (center). Trail Options (right).
Delete All Trails To remove all of the trails from memory: from the Trails Menu, press to DELETE ALL|ENT| to YES|ENT. To Update Active Trail From the Trails Menu, press to TRAIL OPTIONS|ENT. With UPDATE TRAIL highlighted, press ENT to turn it on (check) or turn it off (uncheck). WARNING: If you uncheck the Update Trail option, automatic trail creation and recording will be turned off. You must turn it back on to record trails. The default setting is on.

Update Trail Criteria

There are three options for updating trails: automatic, time or distance. When it is in default mode (automatic), the unit does not update the plot trail while you are traveling in a straight line. Once you deviate from a straight line, the unit drops a plot point onto the trail. This conserves plot trail points. If a plot trail uses all of the available points allotted to it, the beginning points are taken away and placed at the end of the trail. From the Trails Menu, press to TRAIL OPTIONS|ENT| to UPDATE CRITERIA|ENT. Use to select criteria type|ENT. If you selected Time, the Update Rate data entry box appears on the menu. If you selected Distance, the Update Distance data entry box will appear. Trail Update Rate (Time, Distance) You can update a trail by time with a range of 1 to 9999 seconds. The default is 3 seconds. There is a range of 0.01 mile/nm/km to 9.99 mile/nm/km if you update by distance. The default is 0.10 miles. With one of the Update Criteria Time or Distance selected, highlight the update criteria data entry box and press ENT.
Press to change the first character, then press to the next character and repeat until the entry is correct, the press EXIT.
Trail Options menu with Update Rate setting (left) and Update Distance setting (right). Specific Trail Options
Delete Trail To delete a specific trail: From the Trails Menu, press to Trail Name|ENT. The Edit Trail menu appears as seen in the following figure. Press to DELETE TRAIL|ENT| to YES|ENT.
Edit Trail menu (left) with Delete Trail highlighted. Delete Trail confirmation message (center). New Trail selected on Trails menu (right).
New Trail To manually start a new trail in the Trails Menu, make sure NEW TRAIL is selected and press ENT. You will be directed to the Edit Trail screen. Trail Visible/Invisible and Other Trail Options The name, active and visible settings and maximum number of points in the trail, all are accessed on the Edit Trail menu. The Active setting determines whether or not the unit is recording new points for a particular trail. On the Edit Trail menu, press to highlight the section you want to change, then press ENT. Make your changes, then press EXIT to close this menu.

Pub. 988-0152-082

Addendum I
Additional Instructions for
Cuda 250 & Cuda 250i S/Map
The Cuda 250 contains a communications port for NMEA 0183 output. The instructions for connecting data cables and setting up the communications port appear in this addendum.
NMEA 0183 Data Cable Connections
NMEA is a standard communications format for marine electronic equipment. The Cuda 250 can send information to any device that receives NMEA 0183 data. 1
This allows the unit to work with VHF marine radios equipped with the Digital Selective Calling (DSC) distress call feature. To send NMEA 0183 data, the Cuda 250 has one NMEA 0183 version 2.0 communication port. The com port can be used to send NMEA formatted data such as your current position. The provided Cuda 250 data cable plugs into the accessory socket on the right side of the back of your unit's case. The data cable ends in two wires that connect to your VHF radio or other NMEA device. The Cuda 250 uses the yellow wire to transmit and the black shield wire for signal ground. NOTE: Some VHF radios, such as the popular Uniden brand, have input levels which require use of an additional diode and resistor built into the Cuda 250 data cable. This is Wiring Diagram A, which is described on page 2. The majority of the DSC radios will work with the resistor and diode as provided by Eagle. A few other radio brands (and other electronic devices) that meet the NMEA 0183 standard won't need these adapters and you will have to remove the resistor and diode to make those work. This is Wiring Diagram B, which is described on page 4. Consult your other device's owners manual, then read through all of the following instructions before you begin. Use the installation diagram most suited to your brand of radio or other device. If your device manual indicates an RS-232 connection (i.e., a computer), remove the resistor and diode and connect using Wiring Diagram B. Most other connection types (TTL; NMEA + and NMEA ; differential) will require Wiring Diagram A.
Recommended Tools and supplies
Recommended tools for this job include: wire pliers or wire stripper and a wire cutter. Required supplies for this job include: two gray (18 gauge) or blue (16 gauge) wire nuts and electrical tape. Supplies are not included.
Wiring Diagram "A"
Begin by stripping the wire ends of the device you're connecting to the Cuda 250. (You'll notice the Cuda 250 data cable comes pre-stripped, with wire ends exposed.) Use a pair of wire pliers to strip about 1/4-inch (6.35 mm) of insulation from each of the radio's or other device's data wires.
Strip the ends of the VHF radio's data wires. Connect them to the prestripped wires of the Cuda 250 data cable (shown right).
Twist the exposed wires together as shown in the following figures. If you're using a Uniden or similar radio, connect the radio's NMEA Wire to the Cuda 250 data cable's yellow wire, and the radio's Ground/Shield wire to the Cuda 250 data cable's black shield wire. If you're using another radio brand or NMEA device, see Wiring Diagram B instructions on page 4.
Yellow (Transmit) Com port to Cuda 250 Shield (Ground) NMEA Wire (Receive) or NMEA + Ground/Shield or NMEA To Uniden radio or other device
Com port wiring to transmit NMEA information to a Uniden or similar VHF radio or other device.

Twist the appropriate wires together, making sure that the exposed ends make good contact. Secure the wire ends with wire nuts, then wrap each wire nut securely with electrical tape to protect against moisture, as shown in the figure on the right.
After taping the wire ends individually, wrap the entire connection with electrical tape as shown. This will help protect from moisture and prevent the wires from breaking contact. Wiring Diagram "B"
If your VHF radio or other device requires true RS-232, you will need to remove the diode and resistor built into the end of the Cuda 250 data cable. You will notice near the end of the cable a segment protected with black heat-shrink. To connect the Cuda 250 to a true RS-232 radio, first remove the Uniden adapter segment of the cable as shown in the following figures. 4
For Wiring Diagram B installations, remove the Uniden adapter segment at the end of your data cable as shown at left. Snip off the end of the cable protected by the black heat-shrink. At right, we have used clear heat-shrink for clarity, so you can see the diode and resistor protected within. Remove this portion of the cable.
After you have removed the adapter segment, use wire pliers to expose the ends of the five remaining wires in the cable. Cut off the black, blue and white wires, then seal their ends with electrical tape.
Black Blue White Cut black, blue and white.

Bare wire (shield)

Yellow (transmit)
After removing the adapter segment, prepare to connect by removing and taping off unneeded wires. Strip the end of the yellow wire.
Strip about 1/4-inch (6.35 mm) of insulation from the yellow wire, then follow the preceding wire nut and taping instructions to connect the wires from the radio or other device. 5
If you are using a true RS-232 radio or other device, connect its (+) Receive wire to the Cuda 250 data cable's yellow wire and its ground or () Receive wire to the Cuda 250 data cable's bare shield wire.
Yellow (Transmit) Com port to Cuda 250 Shield (Ground) (+) Receive or Receive To another () Receive or ground NMEA device
Com port wiring to transmit NMEA information to another standard NMEA-compatible device.
When the data cable is connected to your VHF radio, all you have to do is plug it into the sonar/GPS unit. Attach the data cable's plug to the accessory socket on the right side of the back of your unit's case.
Communications Port Activation
Now that you have your devices connected, here's how to make them communicate. This unit can connect to either an accessory such as a speed or temperature sensor or a NMEA 0183 data cable. In order to use the Communications Port for NMEA data, you first need to activate NMEA 0183 Output. Press MENU|MENU| to ENABLE NMEA 183 OUTPUT|ENT| to YES|ENT.

Enable NMEA command on the unit's Main Menu
Communications Port Configuration
Once NMEA 0183 Output has been enabled from the Main Menu, the Com Port command appears in the System Setup Menu. It allows you to configure the communications port.
Menus for changing Com Port settings.
If you need additional assistance in configuring the unit to communicate with another device, consult the factory. Customer service phone numbers are in the back of the unit's manual. To set Com Port Configuration: 1. Press MENU|MENU| to SYSTEM SETUP|ENT. 2. Press to COM PORT|ENT. A menu appears with a drop-down Baud Rate selection box highlighted. The menu also contains an on/off checkbox to activate NMEA Input, NMEA Output, NMEA GPS Input and a button that allows you to Configure NMEA.

To set Baud Rate:

With the Baud Rate box selected (the title bar should be highlighted in black, as in the middle figure above), press ENT. A drop-down list appears, showing available baud rates. Select the one that matches the baud rate on your VHF radio and press ENT. 7

To activate NMEA Output:

From the Communication Ports menu, press to highlight NMEA Input. Press ENT to turn on (check) or turn off (uncheck) the NMEA Input checkbox.
From the Communication Ports menu, press to highlight NMEA Output. Press ENT to turn on (check) or turn off (uncheck) the NMEA Output checkbox.
To activate NMEA GPS Input:
From the Communication Ports menu, press to highlight NMEA GPS Input. Press ENT to turn on (check) or turn off (uncheck) the NMEA GPS Input checkbox. To return to the main page display, press EXIT repeatedly.

Configure NMEA

You can configure the unit to use specific NMEA sentences. (The default setting has all NMEA sentences turned on.) From the Communication Ports menu, press to CONFIGURE NMEA|ENT.
NMEA Sentences selection menu.
A menu appears showing the prefixes of the available NMEA sentences. A "X" in the checkbox next to a prefix means the prefix is turned on. 8
Use to highlight a prefix, then press ENT to turn it on (check) or turn it off (uncheck). NOTE: The names of the NMEA sentences are abbreviated in this menu. These are the functions of the various selectable prefixes: GLL transmits latitude and longitude of present position, time of position fix, and status. GGA transmits time, position and fix related data. APB transmits autopilot information. RMC and RMB transmits navigation information messages. GSA and GSV transmits fix mode, DOP values and satellites in view information. DBT transmits the depth below the transducer. DPT transmits the depth MTW transmits the water temperature.

4. When the desired prefixes are checked or unchecked, press EXIT repeatedly to return to the main page display.
Compatibility with Various VHF Radios
The Digital Selective Calling (DSC) feature in marine radios is relatively new technology. The U.S. Coast Guard implemented its first DSC-capable systems in Atlantic City, N.J. and Chincoteague, VA in September, 2003. The entire U.S. DSC rescue system will not be operational until Sept. 30, 2006. As more marine electronics manufacturers enter this growing market, other connectivity issues with your unit may appear. You can check for known compatibility issues by visiting our web site, www.eaglesonar.com. Look in the Manuals section for updated documents for your sonar/GPS unit.
This addendum is for the Cuda 250 S/Map manual, part 988-0152-0101.
Pub. 988-0152-082 Printed in USA 113005
Copyright 2005 All Rights Reserved LEI-Eagle, Inc.