
SETTING UP AND USING SONAR > UNDERSTANDING SONAR
Transducer Coverage
The area covered by the transmitted sound waves is determined by the cone angle of the transducer and the water depth. The wide cone angles (40°) associated with low frequencies (50 kHz) provide a large coverage area for finding fish within a coverage width that is approximately 2/3 of the water depth. However, this also means that wide cone angles produce less bottom detail and resolution. As shown in the drawing on the near right, the 40° cone angle produces a coverage area of approximately a
The narrow cone angles (10°) associated with the high frequencies (200 kHz) provide better bottom resolution and crisper detail, but cannot show a large coverage area for finding fish. The 10° cone angle provides a coverage width that is approximately 2/10 of the water depth. As shown in the drawing on the far right, the 10° cone angle produces a coverage area of approximately a
Dual frequency mode combines both frequencies to get the best coverage area and contour/depth readings.
Coverage |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Depth |
|
| |||||
Diameter |
|
| ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
|
|
|
| Coverage |
|
|
| Depth |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
|
|
|
| Diameter |
| |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
40° Cone Angle (50 kHz) | 10° Cone Angle (200 kHz) |
GPSMAP 296 Pilot’s Guide | 129 |