The Edge LC-507 has aroused a lot of interest within the serious fishing community. Many are curious as to what this new type of depth finder can do and how it can do it. Some fishermen purchase the unit not fully understanding what it is designed for and how to best utilize it’s unique features. Here’s a rundown on some of the things we have seen people become confused with.
Mounting the Transducers
The location of the transducers has been the source of most of the confusion. If you are planning on mounting one transducer on the transom and the other on the bow, you shouldn’t buy the Edge. This simply defeats the purpose of the unit. The Edge is designedto be more than just a dual depth finder. It located targets quickly with the wide beam and then pinpoints them with the narrow. The only way this is achievable is when the two transducers are mounted right next to each other so they are reading the same point on the bottom. Of course, you will need to insure that the transducer will actually read where you mount it, so there is some give and take required. If you want to have a reading off of the transom and the bow you can get another set of transducers and a pair of switch boxes. This way you get the Edge in both locations.
High Speed Operation
The original transducers that came with the Edge had trouble reading at high speeds. This only applies to transducers that are mounted externally on the transom of the boat. We have redesigned the housing shape to improve this performance substantially. The old shape had a flat sloped front which made it difficult to get the transducer far enough down to get a clear reading. The new transducers have a V shaped front. This makes mounting much easier, especially on deep V boat hulls. If you have one of the early Edges with the old transducer design, please contact us and we will get you the new style. It’s a simple fix which requires no changes in your bracket location or wiring.
When mounting the transducers for high speed reading, make sure you pay more attention to 107 kHz transducer. This applies to in-hull mounting as well. The wide beam has a harder time reading at speed because of the lower frequency. So when your checking out the bottom of your boat for ribs and rivets, make sure the wide beam gets the choice spot. On the other hand, the 400 kHz is much more forgiving, but by no means fool proof.
If you’re having trouble getting good high speed readings, and you’ve adjusted the transducer position to just about every imaginable position, check the tightness of the screws which hold the transducer insert into the housing. If the screws are over tightened, the rubber face will protrude below the housing and disturb the smooth water flow. Run your finger across the face of the assembly. You should feel no difference in the level between the plastic housing and the rubber insert. If you do, loosen the screws and push up on the face of the transducer insert until the surface is smooth.
Connecting the Transducers
If you take the unit off of the boat when you put it away, it’s just a matter of time before you get the two transducer connections mixed up when you put it back on. It won’t hurt anything, but you’ll be wondering why your Edge is acting so goofy. The connectors are tagged with the frequency, but getting them backwards is pretty easy to do. It’s just something to be aware of.
Digital Depth vs. Displayed Depth
Sometimes you will notice a difference between the displayed depth and where the bottom lines up with the scale at the side of the display. The figure to the right shows the depth reading 40 feet, but the bottom does not match. The reason is bottom hardness. The digital depth keys off of the peak signal within the bottom band, not the surface of the bottom. Also, the lower the frequency, the wider the bottom signal, and thus the more inaccurate the digital reading. This means that the greater the difference, the softer the bottom. This is true for most depth finders, in general.
Setting the Screens
There is a preferred method to setting up the screens. The digital depth works off of the transducer that is on the right hand screen. For your most accurate reading you should have the narrow, 400 kHz, beam on this side. The reason is that the narrower beam will be less likely to pick up thedepth from a nearby slope. You should also make sure that the Sweep Speed is the same for both screens, unless there is a specific reason you want it otherwise. If they are set to different speeds it will be very difficult to compare one view to the other.
Modes of Operation
The Mode feature of the Edge is unique. It sounds intimidating and it is difficult for us to describe what it can do for you without making it sound complicated. Simply put, the mode feature is like having three units in one. Normally, when you change from one type of situation to another, you need to go into the menu and change some items to match the situation. Few do this because, well, we all hate menus. We want to fish, not push buttons and hear beeps. With the Edge, you can set up your menu items for each mode in your garage, where you are more interested in playing around. Use the simulator to help you see the results of your selections. (Push and hold the ON/OFF button when turning the unit on.)
The number at the far lower right corner of the display show the current mode number as a 1, 2, or 3. Any setting you select in the menu or on the front panel will be saved in that mode. To make a new mode, simply press the left or right arrow key on the front panel. You will see the mode number change accordingly. Now you set this mode to what you want, keeping in mind a different condition you will be faced with. Do it once more for the last mode. Now, out on the water, all you need to do to change to your new situation is press the left or right arrow key to move to another mode. You can make changes anytime, simply by changing items while your in a particular mode. It’s very easy.
Don’t forget, to see whatisin the manual, make sure you read your copy or download it here.The LC-507is a very friendly depth finder. If you take the time to understand it’s features you are sure to have many great days, because you had an Edge.