Humminbird 515, 500 series manual How Sonar Works

Page 6

How Sonar Works

Sonar technology is based on sound waves. The 500 Series™ Fishfinder uses sonar to locate and define structure, bottom contour and composition, as well as depth directly below the transducer.

Your 500 Series™ Fishfinder 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 reflected off of an object; it then uses the reflected signal to interpret location, size, and composition 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 1/4 of a second. It is unlikely that your boat can "outrun" this sonar signal.

SONAR is an acronym for SOund and NAvigation Ranging. Sonar utilizes precision sound pulses or "pings" which are emitted into the water in a teardrop-shaped beam.

The sound pulses "echo" back from objects in the water such as the bottom, fish and other submerged objects. The returned echoes are displayed on the LCD screen. Each time a new echo is received, the old echoes are moved across the LCD, creating a scrolling effect.

1

Image 6

Contents Series Operations Manual Thank You Table of Contents Alarms Menu Tab Troubleshooting How Sonar Works Peak to Peak measures power output at the highest points Single Beam Sonar DualBeam SonarQuadraBeam Plus Sonar What’s On the Display Bait Ball Hard Bottom Rocky BottomStructure where fish may be hiding Views Big Digits View Side Beam View 575 Fishfinder onlySonar View Understanding Sonar History Real Time Sonar RTS WindowBottom Presentation Page Page Sonar Zoom View Sonar Zoom View200/83 kHz Split Sonar View Big Digits View Side Beam View Water Surface Line for 455 kHz Sonar History Windows Page POWER/LIGHT Key Key FunctionsView Key Menu Key WAY Cursor Control KeyExit Key Powering Up the Unit 575Menu System Page Start-Up Options Menu Normal OperationSimulator System Status Self TestAccessory Test Sonar X-Press Menu Sensitivity Upper Range Advanced Sonar, Split Sonar, Big Digits Views onlyLower Range Chart Speed Bottom View Quad Layout Zoom LevelSonar Menu Tab Beam Select Fish ID+ Fish ID Sensitivity Zoom Width KHz SensitivityKHz Balance Depth Lines AdvancedSurface Clutter Noise Filter Max DepthWater Type Alarms Menu Tab Depth Alarm Fish ID AlarmLow Battery Alarm Temp AlarmAlarm Tone Setup Menu Tab Units Depth Units TempUnits Distance User Mode Units SpeedLanguage Triplog Reset Restore DefaultsSelect Views Select Readouts Advanced Sonar View onlyDepth Offset Temp Offset Speed CalibrationTroubleshooting Series Doesn’t Power UpDisplay Problems Problem Possible CauseFinding the Cause of Noise IsolationSeries Fishfinder Accessories Specifications 800 ft 250 mPolicy on Environmental Compliance Glossary Sonar TermsPage Page Page Page Receiver See Transmitter Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Contact Humminbird