Zoom feature on Marcum LX3 (not TC)

[dieguy]

I purchased a last years model Marcum LX3 secondhand recently. I am having trouble figuring out the zoom function. I have experience with an FL8 but no zoom. I finally got it out today and tried it but it didn't make sense to me. I was in 17' water and pushed the zoom button. The red led light came on above the button and a the flasher changed to solid red line at zero and at 10'. There was then a reading of 6'. I pushed the up and down buttons and 2 yellow lines moved up and down but it didn't seem to make any difference. I then pushed the zoom button again - no change. Then when i pushed the zoom button again it went back to the first screen showing the bottom at 17' again and the red light above the zoom button went out. Maybe my problem was i couldn't find any fish to show up on the screen. Any advice or direction would be great. Once I figure out the zoom then maybe someone could help me find a spot that actually has something besides a thick red line to show up (lol) thanks in advance,

[Deitz Dittrich]

Die-

The LX-3 has two seperate zooms a 5' zoom and a 10' zoom.. The first time you hit the zoom you ar ein the 5' zoom mode. Hit the down button till you see the 2 blinking yellow lines in the 5' zone you want to fish. If you hit the zoom button a second time that puts you in the 10' zoom mode.. again, hit the down button till the 2 blinking yellow lights are in the area you want to fish.

Once in the zoom mode. the right side of the screen shows you from the surface to the bottom. It will not tell you the exact depth, but you can then see where your lure is(if you are outside the zoom area and if fish come in suspended above or below your zoom area. The left side of your screen then becomes your zoom area, if again you only clicked the button once it represents a 5' area of the water columb, if you hit it a second time it then represents a 10' section. I use the zoom a lot. More often than not i use the 10 ' zoom.

[gspman]

Here's a pdf link to the Marcum LX-3 (not the LX-3tc) Manual. LX-3 Manual It has a section on the zoom functionality that will help you a lot. Read the manual thoroughly, especially the zoom part. It will help you get the most out of your new toy and be a better fisherperson. BTW, I have the old LX-3 just like you and upgraded it with the True Color 3-led system. I absolutely love it.

gspman

[dieguy]

Thanks guys, I downloaded the manual I think this will help me alot. I also noticed the battery gauge read 50% when I was about to pack up. Is this normal after about 2.5 hrs of use. Thanks again

[Deitz Dittrich]

while out in the cold, the battery meter will read lower than it actually is. I would bet by the time you got home in your car if you kept it in the cab where it was warm it would have read 90% or even 100% if you had only used it 2 hours.

[gspman]

Like Deitz said, it'll go down quicker when it's cold. It'll also run a long time at 40-50%. If you are unsure just buy another battery and bring it with. Then if the battery craps out on you a fresh battery is waiting in the wings. On my URL and LOTW trips I always bring a spare battery or 2.

[Surface Tension]

The up down is in reference to the temporary flashing zoom window on the right side which setups up the zoom range for the left side. When you hit the zoom button(once for 5' zoom, twice for 10' zoom)your zoom window starts from on top, if your intension is to zoom the bottom then you'll have to continue to press the down button till bottom starts to show on the left side. You'll know when your there because the bottom will start to come up in a clockwise direction as you continue to press the down button. If you go too far simply press the up button till you get back to the bottom. If I'm zooming in on suspended fish I'll use the 2 flashing indicators (on the right side) to select that depth.

Reading the manual helps of coarse to familiarize yourself with the functions and once you start using all those functions they'll become second nature.