Lowrance LMS-520c

[alabamabassmaster]

I have a question for all of the more knowledgeable anglers with Sonar equipment. I have read all my books on this unit and I can't seem to get the sonar options set properly.

My question is, what is your setup configuration on your sonar settings? Noise Reduction Level? Surface Clarity Level? Do you use Grayscale or FishReveal? Grayline Setting? Do you use "Auto Sensitivity or manually set yours?

I'm just trying to get an idea of what needs to be where and what everyone uses. I've tried several different ways but can't get it to do what I'm looking for.

Just for an example of what I would like to sonar screen to look like. I'm trying to get it to show this while I'm running but I can't for some reason.

[SkeeterZX225]

Good luck getting that unit to display a picture like that. I had one of those on my new Skeeter for about 3-4 months and tried everything in the world to get it to work properly. Granted it was on the trolling motor and not a transom mount unit. Always had bad interference and would constantly loose bottom. Tried new transducers, grounding the unit to eliminate interference and a few other tricks, none of which worked. Finally just sold it and bought Humminbird units.

[senile1]

I have been considering purchasing a couple of new sonar/gps units for my boat and I've been researching this.  It seems a lot of people like this unit but a few have run into problems with losing bottom, etc.  Use the search function and look for lms 520c and you'll, hopefully, find some info that fits your situation.  Here's one thread that might help.  

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1209403346/4#4

[SkeeterZX225]

I will say I have seen some very nice pics from this unit posted on other forums. I just never had any luck with mine, it could have been me or it could have been the head unit its self. Lowrance seems to be a great product, just as Humminbird does, I've just had more luck with the Humminbird units.

[Jig Man]

I have 2 of them and they are networked and hooked up with an ethernet cable.  They are not alike.  Even though they are both looking at the same thing the screens are noticably different.

Here are my settings (yours won't be identical but can be similar).

Sonar Menu

[ ] auto sens

[ ] auto depth

upper and lower limits set from about 10-20 below the deepest I expect to fish

chart speed 100 %

depth cursor visible

overlay data on bow

  depth

  time

  temp

overlay data on console

  depth enormous

  time

sonar features

[ ] amplitude scope

ping speed on console unit 100%

ping speed on bow unit when not etherneted 50%

ping speed on both 75% when etherneted

sounds off

GPS setup

[x] tracking smooth

track up

[x] auto zoom

overlay data

   time (small)

   depth (enormous)

Sensitivity is not a constant.  It can be anywhere from 80-95% with color line in the 60s to low 70s.

System setup

[ ] popup help

I hope this gives you a place to start.

[senile1]

Jig Man, does your lms 520c ever lose bottom over milfoil, coontail, etc? I'm considering the purchase of one for the console and placing an x510c on my bow with both devices in a networked configuration.  However, I fish a lot of thick vegetation and losing bottom is a big concern.  My current fishfinders lose bottom consistently over vegetation.  I'm trying to correct this and add GPS to my setup.  

[Jig Man]

Jig Man, does your lms 520c ever lose bottom over milfoil, coontail, etc? I'm considering the purchase of one for the console and placing an x510c on my bow with both devices in a networked configuration. However, I fish a lot of thick vegetation and losing bottom is a big concern. My current fishfinders lose bottom consistently over vegetation. I'm trying to correct this and add GPS to my setup.

;D ;D ;D ;D

The only vegetation we have is a little moss on the ramps.

I have read that the 2.4 version of software upgrade was supposed to correct any of those kinds of problems.  I haven't upgraded from the 2.3 because that is not a problem that I have.

Mine do loose the bottom for a few seconds around ledges especially if the drop is over 5' like from 32-37'.

[Long Mike]

I have a 522 installed at the console.  When I am at speed I don't pay much attention to the graph itself.  I prefer to watch the digital readout.  In the lakes I fish,  it's either WOT in the channels or easy-does-it in the timber.  When fishing milfoil I tend to lose bottom a lot but regain it just as fast.  I have a vintage flasher on my console and it's no better nor worse than the 522 in the salad.

[alabamabassmaster]

I'm fishing a few new lakes this coming year and I need this 520 to show me the bottom very well so I can get an idea of how to fish it.

I've been playing with settings trying to get the best picture but can't get anywhere close to the image I posted. Whether I am sitting still drifting or zooming down the river this unit displays the same. The bottom barely is a line; it's nothing like in the image above.

I have a X135 on the bow networked with the 520 and it does the same thing, can't get the image too look good. I want to be able to see the bottom, the drop offs and the fish arches but can't get these units to work properly.

I'm about 1 or 2 more trips away from trying out a Hummingbird. :\

[alabamabassmaster]

Do you guys use Auto Sensitivity or manually set yours? Also, what do you set your grayscale settings on?

How do they get their screen to display such a image in the sample I posted initially? :-/

[Jig Man]

As I posted the sens is in the 80s.  You can run it up to 90s and see what it does for you.

I don't use grayscale.  I run the color in the 60s.  Have you run the units not networked to see if there is a change?

[alabamabassmaster]

As I posted the sens is in the 80s. You can run it up to 90s and see what it does for you.

I don't use grayscale. I run the color in the 60s. Have you run the units not networked to see if there is a change?

What do you set your Surface Clarity and Noise Rejection to?

You don't use Auto Sens, right?

[Jig Man]

I normally have them off.  You don't need surface clarity if you are running upper and lower limits like 10-50'.  I used to mess with noise rejection but haven't done anything with it lately.

I am never on auto sens.  sometimes on auto depth but never on auto sens.  Much of the time I run sens in transparent mode so I can adjust immediately.   The higher the sens the more you will pick up interference but the better you will see stuff below.

[Crumb]

I recently had a problem with my sonar units. I have a lmx-17m at the console and a lms-520c at the bow (both networked together). It's seems that when I have both units on and the ping speed maxed out it interferes with my 17m. It completely loses bottom contact and won't read the depth correctly. After changing all kinds of things I finally figured out what was going on, set them back to 50% ping speed, and haven't had a problem since. Hope this helps.

[fishfordollars]

I always use the manuel setting feature. Everytime I get on the water I will adjust it according to the type of water and depth I'm fishing. Situations will dictate that you must make the changes. You cannot expect the unit to set itself up for maxium viewing without some help. If I am fishing deep grass you can set it to read and define the single strands of grass under the boat. I always turn off the fish ID. It just robs the unit of power that can be used for other things. JMO.