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Manually Configuring an Airmar Chirp Transducer for Discontinued Garmin Chartplotters

XID is an Airmar protocol language that sends data about the transducer to the sonar module, serial number, housing style, power rating, beam pattern, frequency, impedance, and other data. If the Airmar transducer XID has gone out, is older and not recognized, the user can manually configure a transducer connected to the GSD 26 sonar module. It is necessary to manually configure the transducer if:


The software must be up-to-date on the entire system before the option to configure the transducer will appear. Check with Gemeco the Airmar part distributor for the information listed below, before manually configuring the GSD 26. 

  • Transducer's power rating (500w, 1kW, 2kW)

  • The optimum frequency that the transducer operates (may have more than one frequency)

  • Transducer's impedance for every frequency (this is measured in ohms)


To manually configure the transducer, select the user's device series below:

GPSMAP 4xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, 70xx, 72xx series
  1. If the transducer has an XID wire, make sure that it is disconnected

    • Refer to the transducer's wiring diagram to find the XID wire

  2. From the home screen, select Configure

  3. Select My Boat

  4. Enable the Transducer Configuration menu:

    • For the GPSMAP 4xxx and 6xxx series, hold the Mark button until Transducer Configuration appears

    • For the GPSMAP 5xxx and 70xx / 72xx series, hold the lower left corner of the screen until Transducer Configuration appears

    • If the Transducer Configuration page does not appear, this either means that the XID circuit in the transducer is working or the transducer is not connected properly

  5. Select Transducer Configuration

  6. Select either the High or Low option for the preferred frequency setup

  7. Press the Select button to accept the warning about the risks of manual configuration

  8. Select Manual Enabled

  9. Select Impedance and change it to the correct impedance, for the frequency chosen, found in the above spreadsheet

  10. Select Max Xmit Power and change it to the correct power, for the frequency chosen, found in the above spreadsheet

  11. Select Nominal Frequency and set it to a frequency that falls on the band you've chosen to set1

    • Example:  If setting up a high frequency for a transducer with a high band that encompasses 130 kHz to 210 kHz (e.g. TM265LH, R509LH, etc.), choose any value on this band

  12. Select Chirp

  13. Select Chirp Support to On

  14. Select Lower 3dB Freq and change it to the correct frequency, for the frequency chosen, found in the above spreadsheet

  15. Select Upper 3dB Freq and change it to the correct frequency, for the frequency chosen, found in the above spreadsheet

  16. Select Back 

  17. Select Apply

  18. Repeat Steps 6-17 for the other frequency that was not chosen

After the settings are completed and saved, they will be retained until either altered or a transducer with XID is installed to the sonar box. At that point the XID transducer takes precedence over the manual setting.


GPSMAP 7x2xs, 9x2xs, 80xx, 82xx series

  1. If the transducer has an XID wire, make sure that it is disconnected

    • Refer to the transducer's wiring diagram to find the XID wire

  2. From Any page on the GPSMAP, select  Options Settings > System > System Information > Software Information - Hold the upper left corner of the Software Information box -After about three seconds, the System Information menu will appear

  3. Select Field Diagnostics > Transducer Configuration

  4. Select either the High or Low option for the preferred frequency setup

  5. Accept the warning about the risks of manual configuration

  6. Select Manual to enable manual configuration

  7. Select Impedance and change it to the correct impedance, for the frequency chosen, found in the above spreadsheet

  8. Select Max Xmit Power and change it to the correct power, for the frequency chosen, found in the above spreadsheet

  9. Select Nominal Frequency and set it to a frequency that falls on the band you've chosen to set 1

    • Example:  If setting up a high frequency for a transducer with a high band that encompasses 130 kHz to 210 kHz (e.g. TM265LH, R509LH, etc.), choose any value on this band

  10. Select Chirp

  11. Select Chirp Support to On

  12. Select Lower 3dB Freq and change it to the correct frequency, for the frequency chosen, found in the above spreadsheet

  13. Select Upper 3dB Freq and change it to the correct frequency, for the frequency chosen, found in the above spreadsheet

  14. Select Back 

  15. Select Apply

  16. Repeat Steps 9-20 for the other frequency range that was not chosen

The Nominal Frequency can be set to any value that falls between the Upper and Lower frequency range provided in the spreadsheet. This value only serves to provide a Frequency Preset in the Frequency Menu, within the Sonar Main Menu.