Freeze Frame: Freeze Frame is a Humminbird® feature that pauses the sonar scrolling so that the image on screen can be studied with greater detail. See Instant Image Update.
Frequency: Frequency is a measure of the number of sound wave cycles per second of a sound impulse transmitted underwater. A typical frequency for fishfinders is 200 kHz, which offers a good balance of performance under many conditions. Lower frequencies, such as 50 kHz, are capable of penetrating to greater depths, but with less resolution. Higher frequencies, such as 455 kHz, offer greater resolution, but are limited in depth performance. Humminbird® uses a variety of frequencies that are optimized for specific applications.
Grayscale: Grayscale is the use of varying shades of gray to represent the strength of the sonar signal on the display , and is a very intuitive method of presenting information. Traditionally, the strongest sonar signals are represented in black, and progressively weaker signals are represented in progressively lighter shades of gray.
Grayscale, Inverse: Inverse Grayscale is a Humminbird® feature that reverses the correlation of sonar signal strength and the shade of gray typically used to represent it. The strongest sonar signals are represented by "white", and progressively weaker signals are represented in progressively darker shades of gray. While somewhat
Instant Image Update: Instant Image Update is a Humminbird® feature that updates all the sonar information on the display when Sensitivity and a variety of sonar settings (Bottom View, Range, etc.) are modified. This differs from the traditional functionality that only updates the new sonar information collected after the setting change. Instant Image Update permits more accurate fine- tuning of the display because the user can see the results on the complete sonar graph. When combined with the Freeze Frame feature, the user can adjust and understand the effects of many different sonar settings quickly and easily.
Maximum Depth Menu: The Maximum Depth Menu is a Humminbird® feature that optimizes performance based on the maximum operational depth set by the user. Many Humminbird® units can operate across a very broad depth range (up to 2500 feet) which causes the unit to "look" up to that full depth under some circumstances. Due to the speed of sound in water, this can result in less responsiveness because the unit has to wait for a longer period of time to receive the sonar signal. When the Maximum Depth menu is set to a lower value, the unit only looks up to the setting, which increases the responsiveness of the unit. This is an important feature for anyone operating in shallower depths!
Noise: Noise is unintentional, external sound waves that interfere with the optimal operation of sonar. Noise appears as random "dots" on the display, and is caused by a variety of sources. Electrical noise (from trolling motors, bilge pumps, VHF radios) typically manifests as a consistent
dot pattern. Electrical noise can be isolated by selectively turning on and off other electrical devices to determine the source. Often
Pixels: Pixels are the "picture elements", or small square blocks, that make up the image on the LCD. Measured as a vertical by horizontal number (i.e. 640V x 320H), this key specification typically indicates the quality of resolution. In fishfinders, the total resolution (vertical multiplied by horizontal) is often less important than the "Vertical Pixel" resolution. See Pixels, Vertical.
Pixels, Vertical: Vertical Pixels are a number of vertical picture elements in a single column on an LCD display. A greater number of vertical pixels provide finer resolution of targets detected by sonar. Essentially, a vertical distance (the depth), when divided by a larger number, breaks that distance into smaller samples, each representing a smaller area and thus providing more detail. In fishfinders, vertical pixels are more critical than horizontal pixels because the horizontal axis of the display represents time, or history. Sonar information on the horizontal axis can vary greatly, depending on boat speed and the Chart Speed setting. A greater number of horizontal pixels show more sonar history that the boat has passed through. On many models, Humminbird® provides the most vertical pixels to provide a better display resolution. See Chart Speed and Pixels.
Power Output: Power output is the amount of sound energy emitted into the water by the sonar transmitter. Power output is measured using either RMS (Root Mean Square) or
Pulse Width (Pulse Length): Pulse Width is the length of time that a sonar sound burst is transmitted into the water. Shorter pulse widths provide better target separation, but cannot travel to great depths. Longer pulse widths provide better depth penetration, but result in poorer target separation. Humminbird® varies pulse width based on depth to optimize both target separation and depth performance. See Target Separation.
QuadraBeam™: QuadraBeam™ is a Humminbird® sonar configuration that uses four sonar beams for a more detailed bottom image. QuadraBeam™ uses the DualBeam PLUS™ configuration for downlooking, and also adds two additional beams to look to the left and right. The sonar beams pointing to the left and right provide the ability to spot fish and structure over a wide 90° area, and to identify on which side of the boat they are located. See DualBeam PLUS™.
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