background image

Maximum Depth Capability

.................................................................................................. 1200 ft (400 m) 

83 kHz:

(1200 ft / 400 m); 

200 kHz:

(800 ft / 250 m)

455 kHz:

(160 ft / 50 m)

Power Output

................................................................................................................................ 500 Watts (RMS)

............................................................................................................................................ 4000 Watts (Peak to Peak)

Target Separation

.............................................................................................................. 2

¹⁄₂

Inches (63.5 mm)

Power Requirement

............................................................................................................................10 to 20 VDC

Operating Frequency and Area of Coverage

........................................90°Total Coverage @ -10 dB

83 kHz: 

60° @ -10 dB; 

200 kHz:

20° @ -10 dB

455 kHz:

Two 45° Beams @ -10 dB 

LCD Matrix

............................................................................................................................................ 240 V x 240 H

Transducer (Standard Model)

...................................................................................................... XT-6-TB-90-T 

Transducer (Plus Model)

........................................................................................................................XT-6-TB-90

Transducer Cable Length

.................................................................................................................... 20 ft (6 m)

531188-1_A

531188-1_A

Sonar Views

Sonar View presents a historical log of the stored sonar
returns. The most recent sonar returns are charted on
the right side of the window; as new information is
received, the older information is moved across the dis-
play. A 

Digital Depth Readout

is displayed in the upper

left corner. A scale with Upper and Lower 

Depth Range

readouts appears along the right edge of the Sonar
View. The scale indicates the distance from the surface
of the water to a depth range sufficient to show the
bottom. Depth Range is automatically selected to keep
the bottom visible on screen, although it can be manu-

ally-adjusted by the user as well (see Sonar Settings - X-Press

TM

Menu). Up to five

additional Digital Readouts display information from optional-purchase acces-
sories such as Water Temperature, Trolling Speed, WeatherSense

TM

Barometric

Pressure and more.  These information boxes can be customized to show only the
information desired (see Advanced User Mode - Select Readouts).  

MultiBeam Sonar View

presents sonar information

from the left and right 90° 455 kHz beams and the 200
kHz down looking beam. In this view, the top portion of
the display contains a history of sonar returns from the
200 kHz down looking beam. The bottom portion of
the display contains a history of sonar returns from the
455 kHz right and left looking beams. New information
appears at the top, and scrolls down the display. The
sonar information from the side looking beams reveals
bottom contour, structure and fish similar to the down looking beam, but the area
covered is to the left and right of the information shown from the down looking
beam, so you actually see more of the bottom.  The displayed range of the left and
right beams automatically follows that of the down beam to a maximum limit of
160 feet. With some practice in viewing the left and right beam information, you
will be able to extract more information about the bottom than if you were view-
ing information solely from the down looking beam. The Understanding
MultiBeam Sonar illustration will help you interpret information displayed by the
left and right sonar beams. The left and right beams are only used in the
MultiBeam Sonar View.

Real Time Sonar (RTS®)

window appears on the

right side of the display. The RTS Window always
updates at the fastest rate possible for depth con-
ditions and shows only the returns from the bot-
tom, structure and fish that are within the trans-
ducer beam(s). In the RTS Window, sonar returns
are shown in shades of gray. The most intense
returns are shown as a solid black band that indi-
cates the bottom. The thickness of the bottom
band indicates bottom type. Hard bottoms appear
thinner and mostly black; softer bottoms are
thicker and may appear with many gray tones.

Above the bottom band, less intense sonar returns shown as varying shades of
gray indicate the sonar returns from fish or structure. The RTS Window can be
turned on or off (see Sonar Settings - Main Menu Sonar Tab).

As the boat moves, the Matrix unit charts the changes
in depth on the display to create a profile of the Bottom
Contour. The default presentation highlights the bot-
tom profile with a 

Structure ID®

feature and gray

tones.  From the appearance of the gray tones in the
bottom contour, the type of bottom can be determined.

Hard Bottom

such as compacted sediment or flat

rock appears as a thinner dark line across the display. A

Soft Bottom

such as mud or sand appears as a thicker

line that contains a transition from darker to lighter
grays. 

Rocky Bottoms

have a broken, random appearance. In shallower water, a

Second Sonar Return

may appear as a bottom contour below the main bottom at

twice the depth. The second return occurs when the sonar signal bounces
between the bottom and the surface of the water and back again. Experienced
anglers use the appearance of the second return to determine bottom hardness.
Hard bottoms will show a strong second return, while soft bottoms will show a
very weak one or none at all. The Matrix unit is capable of revealing layers of water
with different temperatures called 

thermoclines

. Thermoclines appear at different

depths and different times of the year.  A thermocline typically appears as a con-
tinuous band of many gray levels moving across the display at the same depth. 

Due to the transducer beam angle, the distance to a fish
decreases as the fish moves into the beam, and then
increases as it moves out again, creat-
ing a 

Fish Arch

when this distance

change is graphed on the display. Boat
speed, chart speed, and the position of
the fish within the sonar beam greatly affect the shape of
the arch. For optimum fish arching, it is important to
mount the transducer so that it is pointing straight down.

The Matrix unit has an advanced Selective Fish ID+

TM 

option that analyzes the sonar

return to determine if the sonar return may contain a fish (see Sonar Settings - Main
Menu Sonar Tab). When a target is detected, a Fish ID+

TM

symbol appears on the display

with the depth. The size of the symbol indicates the intensity of the sonar return. Targets
detected in the narrow beam directly under the boat appear as Shaded Fish Symbols.
Targets detected in the wide beam around  the boat appear as Hollow Fish Symbols. The
Matrix unit will clearly show schools of Bait Fish as "clouds" of different shapes and sizes,
depending on the number of fish and boat speed.

Sonar Zoom View

increases the display resolution to

separate sonar returns that are very close together,
such as those caused by fish suspended close to the
bottom or within structure. In Zoom View, the display
is split to show a full range view on the right and the
zoomed view on the left. As the depth changes, the
zoomed view updates automatically to display a mag-
nified image of the bottom. The Zoom Preview Box
shows where the zoomed view is in relation to the full
range view. The Zoom Level, or magnification, is dis-
played in the lower left corner and can be changed to
suit conditions (see Sonar Settings - X-Press Menu). Upper and Lower Zoom Depth

Range numbers indicate the depth of the water which
is being viewed.

Big Digits View

provides digital data in a large, easy-to-

see format. Depth is always displayed. Readouts for tem-
perature, speed and Triplog information are displayed if
the appropriate accessory is connected to the system.
The Triplog shows distance traveled, average speed, and
time elapsed since the Triplog was last reset (see System
Settings - Main Menu Setup Tab).

How Sonar Works

Sonar technology is based on sound waves. The Matrix

TM

Fishing System uses sonar to

locate and define structure, bottom contour and composition, as well as calibrate dig-
ital depth directly below the transducer.

Your Matrix unit sends a sound wave signal and determines distance by measuring the
time between the transmission of the sound wave and when the sound wave is reflect-
ed off of an object; it then uses the reflected signal to interpret location, size, and com-
position of an object. 

Sonar is very fast. A sound wave can travel from the surface to a depth of 240 ft (70 m)
and back again in less than ¼ of a second. It is unlikely that your boat can "outrun" this
sonar signal.

QuadraBeam™ Sonar with 
DualBeamPLUS™ Technology

Your Matrix 35 uses QuadraBeam™ sonar with an
extremely wide 90° area of coverage. QuadraBeam
starts with two 45° 455 kHz beams for a continuous 90°
of uninterrupted side to side coverage to 120 feet. These
Side Structure locating beams reveal fish and structure
to the left and right of your boat near the bottom. 

For structure directly below your boat, Quadrabeam uses DualBeamPLUS™ technolo-
gy with 20° 200 kHz and 60° 83 kHz downward looking beams. The DualBeamPLUS
technology is optimized to show the greatest bottom definition with the narrow
beam, and fish and structure over a wide area with the wide beam. DualBeamPLUS is
ideal for a wide range of conditions – from shallow to very deep water in both fresh
and saltwater. 

Powering Up the Unit

Turn on the Matrix unit by momentarily pressing the POWER key. A startup screen is then
displayed until the Matrix unit begins sonar operation. While the startup screen is dis-
played, you may press the MENU key for the other options listed below. If no key is
pressed, the Matrix will begin Normal or Simulator operation, depending on the pres-
ence or absence of a transducer. The following operating states are available:

Normal

– Use for on the water operation with transducer connected.

Simulator

– Use to learn the features and functions of the Matrix unit. Simulates

on the water operation. 

System Status

– Use to view system connections and conduct a unit self-test.

PC Connect

– Use when upgrading Matrix internal software with a PC and PC

Connect cable.  

The Matrix unit uses advanced transducer detection methods to determine if a trans-
ducer is connected.  If the transducer is not connected or is damaged, the unit will
select the Simulator state automatically at startup. If a functioning transducer is con-
nected, the unit will select the Normal operating state automatically and the unit can
be used on the water.

Note:

When operating in Simulator state with a transducer connected, Menu setting

changes are saved to memory. If a transducer is not connected, changes will not be
saved and Menu settings will revert to factory defaults every few minutes.

Sonar Settings - X-PressTM Menu

The X-Press menu represents the settings most frequently-used to
optimize the sonar performance of the Matrix unit. Press the
MENU key once while in any of the Sonar Views, including Big
Digits, to access the X-Press menu. The following menu choices are
view-dependent; only menu choices that apply to a specific view
will be displayed:

Sensitivity

provides advanced control over the sonar receiver. The

Matrix unit optimizes Sensitivity based on depth and water condi-
tions automatically; however, you also may change it manually to

match your preferences or water conditions.  Increasing the sensitivity shows more sonar
returns from small bait fish and suspended debris in the water; however, the display may
become too cluttered in some water conditions. When operating in very clear water or
greater depths, increased sensitivity shows fainter returns that may be of interest.
Decreasing the sensitivity eliminates the clutter from the display that is sometimes present
in murky or muddy water. If Sensitivity is adjusted too low, the display may not show many
sonar returns that could be fish.

Beam Select

selects the sonar beam used in the Sonar Views. When 200 kHz is selected,

the sonar returns and Fish ID+ from the 200 kHz beam are displayed providing greater bot-
tom detail (typically from 2 feet to 800 feet) at any boat speed.  Using 83 kHz, the sonar
returns and Fish ID+ from the 83 kHz beam are displayed, providing greater depth capabil-
ity and showing more targets in its wider beam.  The 83 kHz beam is not recommended for
use when the boat is traveling at greater than trolling speeds.  When 83/200 kHz is select-
ed, the unit blends the sonar information from both beams together on the display to pro-
vide the best sonar image and Fish ID+. Beam Select is not available in MultiBeam View
because only the 200 kHz and 455 kHz beams present information in this view.

Lower Range

adjusts the lower depth range to a specific depth for the Sonar and Big Digits

Views. Automatic is the default setting. Selecting a specific setting locks the depth range
into manual mode. Advanced anglers use both Upper and Lower Range together to view a
specific depth range manually when looking for fish or bottom structure.  The Upper Range
menu choice is available when User Mode is set to Advanced (see Advanced User Mode).

will be displayed when you start manually adjusting the Lower Range to indicate that

you’re in Manual mode.

Chart Speed

determines the speed at which the bottom information moves across the dis-

play, and consequently the amount of detail shown. A faster speed shows more informa-
tion in the Sonar View and is preferred by most anglers; however, the bottom moves across
the display quickly. The highest setting is an ultrafast mode that provides the highest chart
speed possible by slowing down other system functions. A slower speed keeps the informa-
tion on the display longer, but the bottom and fish detail becomes compressed and may be
difficult to interpret. Regardless of the Chart Speed setting, the RTS® Window will update
at the maximum rate possible for the depth conditions. Adjust Chart Speed to your person-
al preference. Chart Speed is not available in MultiBeam View.

Zoom Level

sets the magnification level for the Sonar Zoom View.

Sonar Settings – Main Menu Sonar Tab

L

ess frequently-adjusted menus are grouped into the Main Menu

System. Press the MENU key twice to access the Main Menu System.

Fish ID+

TM

uses advanced signal processing to interpret sonar

returns and display a Fish Symbol when very selective require-
ments are met. A number above the fish icon indicates the depth
of the fish. Three different fish size icons show the intensity of the
sonar return, and provide an indicator of relative fish size. When
Fish ID+ is turned off, the Matrix shows only the unprocessed
sonar returns on the display. These returns will often result in
"arches" forming on the display, indicating potential targets.

Fish Sensitivity

adjusts the thresholds of the fish detection algorithms, thus enhancing

your unit’s ability to identify sonar returns as fish icons.  Selecting a higher setting allows
fainter returns to be displayed as fish icons and will increase the number of fish icons that
appear on the display.  This is useful for identifying smaller fish species or baitfish.
Selecting a lower setting displays fewer fish icons from faint sonar returns.  This is helpful
when seeking larger species of fish. 

Bottom View

selects the method to display bottom and structure on the display. 

Structure

ID®

presents the graphical representation of the bottom and structure sonar returns

using only grayscale to indicate the signal strength.  

WhiteLine®

highlights the strongest

sonar returns from the bottom to make a distinctive outline of the bottom contour, struc-
ture and fish. 

Bottom Black

displays all pixels below the bottom contour as black, regard-

less of signal strength. 

RTS Window 

turns the RTS window on or off in the Sonar View. 

Alarm Settings - Main Menu Alarm Tab

Various audible alarms can be triggered in the Matrix unit based on
these menu settings. When an alarm is triggered, it can be silenced
by pressing the EXIT key. 

Depth Alarm

sounds when the digital depth becomes equal to or

less than the menu setting.

Fish Alarm 

sounds when the Fish ID+ feature displays fish symbols

that correspond to the menu setting.

Low Battery Alarm 

sounds when the input battery voltage is

equal to or less than the menu setting.

Alarm Tone

selects the pitch of the alarm sound to improve audibility. As the menu is adjust-

ed a brief tone will be produced so that you can select the tone that you can hear best.

System Settings - Main Menu Setup Tab

Units - Depth

selects the units of measure for all depth-related readouts.

Units - Temp

selects the units of measure for all temperature-related readouts. This menu

is only visible if temperature is available. 

International Models Only.

Units - Distance

selects the units of measure for all distance-related readouts. 

With Temp/Speed Accessory Only.

Units - Speed

selects the units of measure for all speed-related readouts. 

With Temp/Speed Accessory Only.

User Mode

displays additional Advanced Menus within the menu system when set to

Advanced. When set to Normal (default setting,) only the basic menu options are shown.  
See Advanced User Mode section.

Triplog Reset

resets the Triplog to zero. 

With Temp/Speed Accessory Only.

Language

selects the display language for menus.

International Models Only.

Restore Defaults

resets ALL menu settings to their factory defaults. Use this menu with caution!

Advanced User Mode

Preset menu modes are available to suit your personal Angler Profile - whether you're a
Normal User or Advanced User. These Angler Profile PresetsTM provide an Advanced
Mode for users who desire the highest level of control over the product, and Normal
Mode for users who desire the greatest simplicity and fewest choices.

Choose User Mode from the Setup Tab and change the selection to Advanced to access
advanced features. A range of additional options will be displayed in the menu system.
Any changes made under the Advanced mode will remain in effect if the unit is returned
to Normal mode.

Sonar X-Press Menu - Advanced User Mode

Upper Range 

Adjusts the Upper Depth Range to a specific depth for the Sonar and
Big Digits Views. (0 to 1190 feet, Default=0) 

83 kHz Sensitivity

Adjusts the sensitivity applied to the 83kHz beam to be higher or
lower than the overall sensitivity settting. (-10 to +10, Default=0)

455 kHz Sensitivity

Adjusts the sensitivity applied to the 455 kHz beams to be higher or
lower than the overall sensitivity settting.(-10 to +10, Default=0) 

Sonar Menu - Advanced User Mode

Surface Clutter 

Adjusts the filter that removes surface clutter noise caused by algae
and aeration. The lower the setting, the less surface clutter will be
displayed. (Low=1, High=10, Default=1)

Noise Filter 

Adjusts the sonar Noise Filter to limit interference from sources such
as your boat engine, turbulence, or other sonar devices for best display
performance. (Off, Low, Medium, High, Default=Low)

Note:  The Off setting removes all filtering; Low, Medium and High settings add pro-
gressive filtering of the sonar returns. In some deep water situations, the High setting
may actually hinder your unit’s ability to find the bottom.

Water Type 

Configures unit for type of water conditions. 
(Salt, Fresh, Default=Fresh)

Note:  In salt water, what would be considered a large fish might be  to  times big-
ger than a large fish in fresh water (depending on the type of fish you are seeking).
The salt water setting allows for a greater range in fish size adjustment to account
for this.  Also, make sure that the Water Type is set accurately, especially in salt water,
as this can affect the accuracy of deep water depth readings.

Max Depth 

Adjusts the maximum depth of unit operation. 
(Auto, 10 to 1200 feet, Default=Auto)  

Note:  The performance of your unit can be tuned to the maximum depth you will be
fishing in by setting this menu choice. When a maximum depth is set, the unit will
not attempt to acquire sonar data below that depth, thus increasing overall perform-
ance. When the Max Depth is set to Auto, the unit will acquire bottom readings as
needed (within the capacity of the unit).

System Setup Menu - Advanced User Mode

S

elect Views 

Accesses submenus to hide or show individual views available on 
the Matrix unit. This includes new views added when new accessories 
are connected.

Select Readouts

Accesses submenus to hide or show individual digital readouts on the
Sonar View. This includes readouts from supported accessories.

Depth Offset 

Adjusts digital depth readout to indicate depth from waterline or keel.
Enter a positive vertical measurement (+1, +2, +3 feet) from the trans-
ducer to waterline to read the depth from the waterline. 
Enter a negative vertical measurement (-1, -2, -3 feet) from the trans-
ducer to keel to read the depth from the keel. 
(-10 feet to +10 feet, Default=0)

Temperature Offset 

Adjusts temperature readout by entered amount to match other
gauges. (-10  to +10, Default=0)

Speed Calibration 

Adjusts speed readout by entered percentage to match other gauges. 
(-20% to +20%, Default=0)

NMEA Output 

Enables or disables NMEA 0183 depth sentence. (On, Off, Default=Off)

Using System Status

When System Status is selected on the Start-Up menu, the Matrix displays a series of
three views to provide information about the unit. 

Self Test 

displays results from internal diagnostic self test, including unit serial num-

ber, software revision, total hours of operation and the input voltage from the power
source.

Accessory Test

lists the accessories connected to the system. Note that the speed

accessory is only detected when the paddlewheel is moving.

Sonar Test

displays unprocessed sonar returns on the display to confirm sonar is oper-

ational.

Exit System Status mode by powering the unit off.

Using PC Connect

When PC Connect is selected from the Startup Menu, the Matrix unit enters a commu-
nication mode and waits for a connection with a PC. Complete instructions are includ-
ed with the PC Connect accessory (AS-PC). Exit PC Connect mode by powering the unit
off.

Thank you for c

hoosing Humminbird®, America's#1 name in fishfinders. Humminbird has built its reputation by design-

ing and manufacturing t

op-quality

, thoroughly reliable marine equipment. Y

our Humminbird is designed for tr

ouble-free

use in even the harshest marine en

vironment. In the unlik

ely event that your Humminbird does require repairs

, we offe

r

an exclusiv

e Service P

olicy - free of c

harge during the first y

ear after purc

hase, and available at a reasonable r

ate

 after the

one-year period. For c

omplete details

, see the separat

e warr

anty card included with your unit. We enc

ourage you t

o read

this operation manual carefully in order t

o get full 

benefit from all the f

eatures and applications of your Humminbird

produc

t.

Contac

t our Customer R

esource Cent

er at either 1-334-

687-0503 or w

ww

.humminbird.com.

WARN

IN

G! This device should not be used as a navigational 

aid to prev

ent collision, gr

ounding, boat damage, or personal injur

y. When the

boat is moving

, water depth may c

hange too quic

kly to allow time f

or you to reac

t. Always operat

e the boat at ver

y slow speeds 

if you sus-

pect shallow wat

er or submerged objec

ts.

Matrix

TM

, Humminbird®, WeatherSense

TM

, Selectiv

e Fish ID+

TM

, WhiteLine®, R

TS®, X-Press

TM

Menu, Selectiv

e Fish ID+

TM

, Fish ID+

TM

,

Structure I

D®,  TrueArc

h

TM

, UltraBlac

k

TM

, Angler Profile Presets

TM

are trademark

ed by or registered tr

ademarks of Tec

hsonic Industries, Inc.

© 2003. 

All rights reserved.

Thank you for c

hoosing Humminbird®, America's#1 name in fishfinders. Humminbird has built its reputation by design-

ing and manufacturing t

op-quality

, thoroughly reliable marine equipment. Y

our Humminbird is designed for tr

ouble-free

use in even the harshest marine en

vironment. In the unlik

ely event that your Humminbird does require repairs

, we offe

r

an exclusiv

e Service P

olicy - free of c

harge during the first y

ear after purc

hase, and available at a reasonable r

ate

 after the

one-ye

ar period. For complet

e details, see the separ

ate 

warranty card included with your unit. W

e enc

ourage you t

o read

this operation manual carefully in order t

o get full benefit fr

om all the features and applications of your Humminbird

produc

t.

Contac

t our Customer R

esource Cent

er at either 1-334-

687-0

503 or ww

w.humminbird.c

om.

WARN

IN

G! This device should not be used as a navigational aid 

to prev

ent collision, gr

ounding, boat damage, or personal injur

y. When the

boat is moving

, water depth may c

hange too quic

kly t

o allow time f

or you to reac

t. Always operat

e the boat at v

ery

 slow speeds if you sus-

pect shallow wat

er or submerged objec

ts.

Matrix

TM

, Humminbird®, WeatherSense

TM

, Selectiv

e Fish ID+

TM

, WhiteLine®, R

TS®, X-Press

TM

Menu, Selectiv

e Fish ID+

TM

, Fish ID+

TM

,

Structure I

D®,  TrueArc

h

TM

, UltraBlac

k

TM

, Angler Profile Presets

TM

are trademark

ed by or registered tr

ademarks of Tec

hsonic Industries, Inc.

© 2003. 

All rights reserved.

Product specifications and features are subject to change without notice.

Temp/Speed Accessory is optional.  

kHz Sonar Zoom View shown 

with Structure ID® on

Big Digits View shown with 

Bottom View set to WhiteLine

Barometer and Temp/Speed 

accessories are optional.  

Additional purchase required.

M

Temp/Speed Accessory is optional.  

WARNING:

Disassembly and repair of this electronic unit should only be performed by

authorized service personnel.  Any modification of the serial number or attempt to repair
the original equipment or accessories by unauthorized individuals will void the warranty.
Handling and/or opening this unit may result in exposure to lead, in the form of solder.

WARNING:

This product contains lead, a chemical known to the state of California to

cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive harm.

Shows structure and fish
the down beam may have
missed due to the position
of the boat relative to struc-
ture. Structure visible to the
sonar will project from the
bottom profile similar to
down looking sonar, and
you will be able to deter-
mine if it is to the left or
right of your boat.

Helps to identify the slope
of bottom which may lead
to submerged channels or
humps where fish hide.
Sloped bottoms create a
sonar image with a thin-
ner, darker line on the shal-
low side, and a thicker,
lighter line on the deep
side. The greater the differ-
ence in depth between the
right and left sonar image,
the greater the slope.

Helps to identify the run
direction and depth of 
submerged channels. 

Detects the presence of a
sharp drop off, and helps
you to steer the boat so
that the sonar return
remains at a constant dis-
tance from the drop off.
One sonar beam may not
show a bottom return if the
boat is over a sharp drop off.

Understanding MultiBeam Sonar

Direc

tion

of Channel

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