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Product Emulator Operation Guide

Basic Emulator Operation Tips
Product Emulators operate in the same manner as the actual product, therefore we strongly recommend that you refer to the free owner's manual for more detailed instructions on running your Product Emulator. But, to get you going, here are a few basic emulator operation tips:

Operating Instructions

  1. To start the emulator go to your Windows® Start menu and navigate to Start->Programs->Lowrance and click the emulator icon (e.g. "LMS-520C Demo").
  2. When the emulator program opens, the viewing screen will first appear blank. Then the background map or sonar screen will appear.
  3. A general warning message may appear. Click the EXIT button on the virtual unit to clear this message.
  4. GPS-enabled emulators will display the message "GPS module not responding." This is normal, telling the user that the GPS antenna/receiver is not connected to the unit. To clear this message, click the EXIT button on the virtual unit.
  5. To close the emulator program, use the mouse to click on the PWR key and hold it down for three seconds.

Computer Keyboard or Mouse?

For the most realistic practice, we suggest using your mouse to click on the virtual unit's keys. However, it is also possible to run the emulator from your computer keyboard. To see File, press Alt + F; to see Edit, press Alt + E; to see Help, press Alt + H. You can also minimize the emulator by pressing Alt + Spacebar + N, or by clicking the emulator icon in the Windows Taskbar at the bottom of your computer screen.

Viewing the Sonar Simulator
(Only available on sonar-enabled emulators)

  1. If using a sonar-only emulator (the X units), nothing must be done to run the Sonar Simulator - it will run the simulator automatically.
  2. Otherwise, Press PAGES.
  3. Press the right arrow to select SONAR Page.
  4. Press EXIT to clear the menu. The default demo sonar chart log will play. You cannot turn off the emulator's Sonar Simulator. To play one of your own sonar charts, see instructions below.
  5. To return to the Map Page, press PAGES, press the left arrow to select MAP, then EXIT.

Playing a Sonar Log
(Only available on sonar-enabled and memory card reading-enabled emulators)

  1. Move a copy of your own sonar chart log to the maps folder for the emulator software, which is C:\Program Files\Lowrance\Unit Demo\Maps0. (This folder functions like a virtual SD/MMC card.)
  2. From the Sonar Page, press MENU|MENU (press Menu key twice).
  3. Press the down arrow to select SONAR SETUP and press ENT.
  4. Press the down arrow to select SONAR SIMULATOR and press ENT|ENT (press Enter key twice.)
  5. Press the down arrow to select CHART USED and press ENT.
  6. Press the up or down arrow to select the chart name, then press ENT|EXIT.
Note: While the simulator is running, you can switch from one chart log to another by opening the Sonar Simulator menu and using the instructions in steps 5 and 6 to select a different chart.

Viewing the GPS Simulator
(Only available on GPS-enabled emulators)

While the GPS Simulator command operates normally in the emulator, you won't get the full effect without mapping data (except for the M-Series units). Sample MapCreate™ maps are available for download.

If you are using one of the iFINDER® emulators, you may be operating in Easy Mode. You will need to change your operating mode to Advanced Mode before proceeding with the GPS Simulator instructions. If you are operating an iFINDER emulator in Easy Mode, please follow these instructions:

  1. From the Map Page, press MENU.
  2. Press the down arrow to select Advanced Mode and press ENT.
  3. Press the left arrow to select Yes and press ENT.

To view the GPS Simulator, simply follow these steps:

  1. From the Map Page, press MENU|MENU (press Menu key twice).
  2. Press the down arrow to select GPS Setup and press ENT.
  3. Press the down arrow to select GPS Simulator and press ENT.
  4. Use the arrow, Enter and Exit keys to move around the menus and change various settings if you wish, or just accept the defaults. Then, turn on the Simulator by selecting the SIMULATOR ON box and pressing ENT. Press EXIT|EXIT|EXIT (press EXIT key three times) to return to the Map Page. You are now "traveling."
  5. To turn off the GPS Simulator, repeat the above steps or turn the emulator off.

Viewing the Navionics® Sample Maps
(Only available on memory card reading-enabled emulators)

  1. While on the Map Page, press MENU.
  2. Press the down arrow to select Map Data..., then press the right arrow to display the Map Data menu.
  3. Press the down arrow to select Map Choice and press ENT.
  4. Use the arrow keys to select a Navionics® map from the list of maps. Press ENT to select your choice.
  5. Press EXIT|EXIT (press EXIT key twice) to return to the Map Page.
  6. You will see a black box surrounding the area of the Navionics® map that you just chose.
  7. Press any arrow key to turn on the cross-hair map cursor.
  8. Press the appropriate arrow key(s) to move the cursor over the Navionics® map area. Now you can press the ZOUT and ZIN keys to zoom out and zoom in on the location selected by the cursor. (You can also pan or scroll the entire map up, down, left or right by using the cursor and arrow keys.)
  9. To clear the cursor and return to the factory location or current position, press EXIT.