Sonar Commissioning z Webinar Online Course – November 2020

Lowrance offers a range of Sounding solutions, these exist inside 3 main families • The Hook range is a cost effective fishfinder • Elite is a fully featured Standalone fishfinder • HDS is a complete networked fishfinding system

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1 X1

Simrad offers its range of Sounding solutions through • GO – CHIRP with Downscan • GO XSE – CHIRP with Downscan, StructureScan • NSS Evo3 – Networked MFD CHIRP, StructureScan • NSO Evo3 – Networked Black Box solution

B&G offers its range of depth sounders through • Vulcan – CHIRP with Downscan • Vulcan FS – CHIRP with ForwardScan • Zeus 2 – Networked requiring Navico Sounder boxes • Zeus 3/2 Glass Helm – Networked Black Box solution using Navico Sounder boxes

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Sonar Module MFD Internal Sounder

MFD Internal Sounder 9 Pin xSonic Plugs

Single channel sonar port (blue nut) Single channel CHIRP transducer 50/200kHz traditional sonar transducer HDI transducers LiveSight ( HDS Live )

Multi channel sonar port (black nut) Single channel CHIRP transducer 50/200kHz traditional sonar HDI transducers Structure Forwardscan ( Simrad )

MFD Internal Sounder Built-in Dual Channel CHIRP • •

Dual channel CHIRP transducers plug directly into both sonar ports Or plug single channel CHIRP transducers into each port

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NB: there are no limitations on frequency combinations  High + Low  Med + Low  High + Med

B275LH-W

B175H-W

B175L

Sounder Module SonarHub

SonarHub •

Ethernet based sounder module

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Compatible with Lowrance HDS,B&GZeus,Simrad NSS,NSE,andNSO

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12 or 24V DCsystems

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Echo page. Select Multi-Source

If there are incompatible devices or software versions these will present themselves. Upgrade devices that show a software version. Refer to the Simrad-yachting website The change to Multi-source cannot complete if there are incompatible devices and the system will remain in Single source mode. Select X to escape

Network Echosounder mode change(NSS and NSO) Changing from Single to Multi-source If the system is free to change modes it will display the following messages

Wait 30 seconds then power down the entire system and leave off for 30 seconds before restarting

Choosing Source – Structure Scan Choose the source for the Structure Scan. • This Unit if the transducer is connected to this unit. • On other sets in the network choose the unit that has the TotalScan (or StructureScan) transducer connected. • Note: This will always be CH1. If CH1 has been renamed, then it will show the name of that channel.

Choosing Source – Echo Choose the source for Echo • This could be one of the 2 internal channels or one of the channels on another unit if they have transducers connected.

Frequently Asked Questions •

What is the Single-source / Multi-source setting in Network Echosounder for? – This setting allows legacy products such as BSM3 to be connected to the network. Theses products only allow a single source of echo sounder to be used. So when the source is changed for one screen it is changed for the other screen.

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What does CH 1 and CH2 mean? – CH1 relates to Sonar 1 and CH2 relates to Sonar 2. TotalScan/Ai3in1/ForwardScan is CH2 and must be connected into Sonar 2 port.

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Why does the network switch to Single-source when it was in multi-source? – There is most likely a legacy product on the network. Legacy products could be one of the following. • Any Simrad, Lowrance or B&G MFD or Sonar connected via Ethernet with NOS55 or earlier software • NSE or NSS Sport MFD • BSM1, 2 or 3 Echosounder module • LSS 1 or LSS 2 Structure Scan • Mercury Vessel View with NOS55 or earlier Software. • Mercury Vessel View VV701 connected via Ethernet

Multiple Network Echosoundersupport (NSS and NSO) LegacyMode •

If there is an MFD or Sonar Device that is not running NOS56, Multi-sonar support is disabled and will revert to legacy mode where only one sonar is visible at any one time on the network.

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SonarHuband Structure scan 3D modules must be upgraded to NOS56

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Vessels that have a BSM-1, BSM-2, BSM-3 or an NSSsport on the network will only be able to run in legacy mode.

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Legacymode only allows one sonar source at any one time to be viewed

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VesselsetupforboatsrunninginMulti NetworkEchosoundermode – Install NOS56or later on ALLMFDs and supported network sonar modules

Fault Finding

Transom Mount Fault Finding • • • •

If experiencing interference with a transom mounted transducer you must test drive the vessel to determine what speed the image is lost at Perform a slow but constant turn to the side of the hull that the transom transducer is mounted. Gradually increase rate of turn. If screen image improves the transducer needs to be mounted lower in the water If screen image is worse when turning to the same side as the transducer try turning the opposite direction. This would indicate the transducer needs to be mounted higher in the water Move the transducer to the new position and retest

Propeller Noise •

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The propeller is the dominant source of noise. It will often appear and disappear as shaft RPM changes. Position outside the direct line of sight As far away as possible from propeller Mount the transducer on the side of the keel where the propeller blades move away (down) to avoid cavitation noise from propeller blades

Acoustic Noise Detection •

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Stop the vessel, and stop the propeller.

– If the noise disappeared, the noise is either coming from the water flow, the propeller, the reduction gear or the propeller shaft (most likely water flow or propeller) – Try different propeller pitch

Give full speed ahead

– The noise comes up gradually with speed, then you have flownoise (Transducer installation) – The noise comes up immediately! You are faced with propeller noise.

Electrical Noise Common causes of Electrical Noise • Poor grounding of the instruments • Noise from electrical cables • Noise from generators • Poor connections, arcing in fuse boxes etc. • Radiated noise from other instruments – Look out for PC monitors – DC - DC Converters • Electrical Winches, Electric Trolling motors • Neon lights, LED Drivers

How to detect a Electrical noise source. •

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To improve the performance, the noise- source must be found and the noise eliminated, Electrical noise will be represented as quite regular pattern on screen Start with a dead ship, at a quiet place Set the sounder in passive mode Use a long range; 0 - 500 m scale View the A - Scope Start turning on different instruments Watch the echosounder screen to see when noise appears

Transducer Frequency Interference • •

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Appears as regular vertical line Sounder to sounder interference from other boats or when using more than one onboard the same time Can be reduced by using the interference rejection feature or using different frequencies

Sonar Settings and User Tips

Sonar Settings Allows us to personalise the sonar • Gain – Manual Auto Gain, +/- bias • Colour • Noise Rejection • TVG (Time Varied Gain) • Scroll Speed • Ping Speed • Colour Palette • A Scope • Colour Marker • Colour Erase • Bottom lock Zoom split screen

Gain control •

Gain controls the sensitivity of the sonar, similar to the volume control on a radio. It can be set to auto or manual.

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Gain in manual, the gain does not change from ping to ping

Auto Gain setting •

Auto Gain dynamically adjusts from ping to ping. The user can bias up or down from standard default setting

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Auto Gain is increased to A+4 showing more targets, but increasing background clutter

Auto Gain setting •

Auto Gain dynamically adjusts from ping to ping. The user can bias up or down from standard default setting

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Auto Gain is decreased to A-4. Weaker targets are not shown but background clutter is reduced

Colour setting:

Weak targets light colour, strong target dark red.

Colour v’s Echo Strength 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Weak Target

Strong Target Colour 70%

Colour 76%

Colour 80%

Colour setting •

Colour setting changes the colour that a given echo strength is painted. Default is 76%

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Increasing colour setting paints more echoes in the stronger end of the colour scale

Colour setting •

Colour setting changes the colour that a given echo strength is painted. Default is 76%

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Decreasing colour setting softens the images to the lighter end of the colour scale. Smaller echoes are not shown

Noise rejection •

Noise rejection default low. Interference from another sonar

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Increase to reduce interference from artificial noise from electrical interference flow noise other sonars etc

TVG Time Variable Gain •

TVG reduces sensitivity at the surface to remove strong clutter from wakes etc (range 0 – 3)

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TVG 3. Removes surface clutter

TVG Sonar settings Example below shows the transition from TVG off to TVG level 3

Scroll Speed •

Increased scroll speed. Stretches the fish arches, less history is shown on screen

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Decreasing scroll speed. Fish arches are compressed. More history on screen

Ping Speed •

Set ping rate max to get maximum hits on targets. Fast ping rate to see fish attack a lure. The sonar automatically adjusts the ping rate as the depth changes

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Phantom bottom or ping wrap. Second bottom echo from the previous ping is received in the current time window. This can be reduced by slowing the ping rate

Recommended settings • • • • • •

Gain – Auto. Bias up or down to suit. The gain

changes dynamically with each ping Colour – 76. Can be set higher or lower to suit your taste. Higher setting (80) colours targets with a stronger red Noise Rejection – Low. Set higher if you experience interference. This will force a longer burst length TVG – 3. Some users will prefer to reduce to 2 or 1 to try to see more surface clutter Scroll speed – Normal. 1 step for each ping gives the best picture. Increase to make longer fish arches Ping speed – Max. for maximum hits on target. Ping speed will automatically slow as the depth increases

Colour Palette: Multiple colour palettes to suit •

Palette 1. Traditional Fresh water colour

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Palettes 2 to 5. More usual saltwater colours

Colour Palette: Multiple colour palettes to suit •

Palette 5. Good night palette

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Palette 6. Variation on palette 1, with green as the strongest echo

A Scope: Shows what is in the beam right now •

Regular A Scope: Echoes in the beam under the boat. To the left of A Scope is history

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Enhanced with colour: Grey is below the noise floor and not shown on the history screen

Colour Mark & Colour Erase •

Colour Mark. Choose a colour to mark a certain echo strength. Identify target fish

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Colour Erase. Remove unwanted light targets. Allows the user to carry more gain.

Colour Erase and Colour Mark used together •

Artificially cluttered by using a high gain

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Mark the fish with colour mark and erase the lighter echoes with colour erase

Split. Bottom Lock & Zoom •

Bottom lock flattens the bottom and expands fish targets just above the bottom

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Zoom. VRM will follow the bottom and provide a zoomed view. VRM can be manually shifted up or down.

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