Raytheon E 120 need help learning how to use

[perryk123]

Can anyone help with learning the E 120. Just purchased an 04 390 Sundancer that had this installed in 2012. I have never had radar and would like to learn how to use the unit. Oh and there are no manuals for it as well.

 

[Mike Blake]

Go to raymarine.com and you can download the manual

 

[northshore]

Greetings Perry,

As Mike said, grab the manuals fro raymarine.com then take an hour or so just to get familiar with the basic functions.
As for the radar specifically, go out when you have some time during the day and intentionally get objects into the view of the radar.
Close in on other boats, fixed pilings and daymarks, buoys, whatever you can find. You get to make the connection in your head of whats on the water
versus whats on the screen so you know what another vessel with no running lights on looks like on the radar. I ran my radar constantly for the first season
that I had it. Also, you might want to turn on the simulator mode while at the dock as well.

-Mike

 

[cod]

The E120 is very user friendly and easy to learn. Here are some key things to know. At the top right there is a key that says page. When you press that, at the bottom the screen will show you 4 different pages you can choose. You will probably have one that is the chart, one that is the radar, and 2 others that are split screen. You can also customize the pages if you go to the menu button. You can have a split screen with 2 charts (1 zoomed in & 1 zoomed out). The active button is to toggle between the split screens if you want to zoom in or out. Along the bottom are your soft keys which have different functions depending on what page you are on. If you are on a chart, you can hit the soft keys and it will prompt you if you want to go to routes or change the presentation of the screen, etc. If you are on the radar screen, the soft keys will allow you to change the different setting for radar. Don't be afraid experiment with it. You can always go back by hitting the cancel key.
In regards to building a route, hit one of the soft keys at the bottom when you are on the chart screen. Press the soft key that say routes. Now it will ask if you want to build a route or follow a route, etc. if you chose build a route, it will tell you to place your 1st waypoint. Move around the screen pressing the circle toggle button on the right. Press the soft key " place waypoint" and then go to the next one until you complete your route.
So many other features but this is just a quick intro to start learning the basic features of the unit. The online manual will instruct you how to customize your screens as well as many other features.....hope this was helpful .... Have fun..... It's a great unit....

 

[perryk123]

Thanks Guys, I will try to get the manual downloaded and start getting frustrated. This will certainly be an experience.

Mike, great idea of getting a feel for how radar reads reality. On our lake we have a lot of bass boats going 60+ mph after dark and at times its hard to see their lights. We enjoyed going out at night on the old 310, but I was always nervous of the other unsafe boaters out there. I know the lake very well so as long as the electronics can show me where I am, from a birds eye view and where the other boaters are, that will make traveling at night more comfortable.

Plus the previous owner spent thousands upgrading the radar in 2012 and never used it. He wasn't a boater, but had a big checkbook. I owe it to myself to learn and enjoy the equipment at his cost.