Echo Sounder

Echo Sounder is a type of SONAR (originally an acronym for SOund Navigation And Ranging) used to determine the depth of water by transmitting sound pulses into water. The time interval between emission and return of a pulse is recorded, which is used to determine the depth of water along with the speed of sound in water at the time.

The History

After the disaster of the Titanic in 1912, the German physicist Alexander Behm conducted some research to find a way to detect icebergs. He discovered the technique of echo sounding which turned out to be inefficient in spotting icebergs, but a great tool to measure the depth of the sea. Behm had his invention patented in 1913. While the first serious attempts to quantify fish biomass were conducted in the 1960’s, major advances in equipment and techniques took place at hydropower dams in the 1980’s. Some evaluations monitored fish passage 24 hours a day for over a year, producing estimates of fish entrainment rates, fish sizes, and spatial and temporal distributions.

Features

▶ Dual frequency display (50/200 kHz)^*

The depth at the FORE and AFT positions can be displayed simultaneously.

▶ A variety of display modes available: NAV, OS DATA and HISTORY

▶ High contrast 8.4" LCD

▶ When interfaced with FURUNO remote display RD-20/50, depth information can be observed at a remote location

▶ Optional printer interface available for printing out echogram

▶ Connecting a PC with the optional data recording software allows you to store, compile and print out the past data of the echogram via PC

▶ BAM (Bridge Alert Management) ready**

Meets the specific requirements for alerts and interconnection with Bridge Alert Management in IMO MSC.302 (87)
** BAM capability is to be implemented as software update after the product release in early 2015.

▶ Depth data for the past 24 hours is storable in the internal memory

For the amount of data for storage and playback on the FE-800, please refer to “HISTORY” on the right page. With the optional PC software, the sounding information can be stored and played back for 24 hours, when the recording interval is set at 5 sec.

▶ Visual and audible alerts

The FE-800 generates alerts when the water depth below transducer is shallower than a preset depth. When the seabed is lost due to the lowered power supply or out of range scale, an alert is generated.

* When interfaced with two transducers

Modes

NAV Mode    Displays the depth numerically and graphically.

·              Current range setting, reference point for the depth reading (Transducer/Surface/Keel) as well as currently selected mode are displayed.

·              This area shows the information specifi-c to the display mode currently selected. Please refer to each of the display modes for details.

·              Guide to currently available actions is displayed. Under an alert situation, the information about the most imminent alert is displayed.

Single frequency display (FORE or AFT) »

OS DATA

Displays Own Ship Data (OS DATA)^*

* only available if the FE-800 is connected to an external EPFS (Electronic Position-Fixing System), such as a GPS navigator.

HISTORY

Displays a combination of Contour and Strata echo readings taken.

LOGBOOK

Displays the stored time, depth and own ship position. The logbook is capable of storing data for up to 720 log entries.

Alert Log List

Displays the alert history (containing up to 100 alerts).

Color Presentation

Background: Black  Echo: Amber

Background: Black  Echo: Red

Background: Blue  Echo: Red

Background: White  Text: Black