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Mini-manual Simrad SP90 Low frequency, long range fish finding sonar www.SIMRAD.com M A X I M I Z I N G Y O U R P E R F O R M A N C E S E A...
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Simrad SP90 Mini-manual This manual provides you with the basic information required to operate the Simrad SP90 Low frequency, long range fish finding sonar. For more detailed information, refer to the Operator manual. 850-165261/A March 2006...
Mini-manual Table of contents INTRODUCTION ..............5 IMPORTANT MATTERS ............6 RELEASES ................. 7 SP90 Release history ....................7 POWER ON/OFF ..............8 How to switch on the sonar ..................8 How to switch off the sonar..................9 SONAR CONTROL PANEL ..........10 OPERATIONAL MODES ............
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Simrad SP90 How to print sonar images ................27 How to burn sonar images on a CD .............. 28 Automatic search and tracking procedures ............29 How to start the horizontal search program........... 29 How to start the vertical search program............29 How to enable position track ...............
Introduction INTRODUCTION The purpose of this booklet is to give you a short introduction to the operational use of the SP90 sonar. It is not possible to explain all the functionality and possibilities in detail, it is therefore important that you familiarize yourself with the operator manual provided with the sonar.
Simrad SP90 IMPORTANT MATTERS As with all advanced instruments, there are a few important matters about the SP90 that you must remember. Before you switch on the sonar When you power up the sonar, the transducer is lowered down below the vessel’s hull. Make sure that you have sufficient water...
Releases RELEASES The SP90 sonar is based on advanced software. We are continuously improving our products, and for this reason the sonar software is upgraded. New software versions will in most cases provide you with new functionality. To find out which software your sonar uses, click the tab, then click System...
Simrad SP90 POWER ON/OFF This chapter explains how to switch your sonar system on and off. WARNING Before you start: Make sure that the water depth below the keel is sufficient to lower the transducer! How to switch on the sonar Observe the following procedure.
Power on/off How to switch off the sonar Observe the following procedure. MAIN SW. POWER Middle Down (CD015022B) Press the button (B) on the Sonar Control Panel. • The transducer will automatically be hoisted, and it will stop when it has been fully retracted. The dialogue at the bottom right corner of the display will tell you when the transducer has been fully retracted.
Simrad SP90 SONAR CONTROL PANEL The sonar control panel is organized into fields. The buttons within each field control a specific function on the sonar. SIMRAD MAIN SW. MODE GAIN RANGE CURSOR SYMBOL Mode POWER Gain Gain Range Range Menu...
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Sonar control panel Mode These four buttons provide fast access to the four operational modes you select, or to four pre-defined user configurations. You must select which four modes or user configurations to select, and in which order they shall appear. To choose button function, click button on the menu.
Simrad SP90 OPERATIONAL MODES The SP90 sonar provides you with several different display modes. These have been created to cover all your operational needs. Only the most common modes are described here. Bow up When is selected, the vessel symbol is stationary on the Bow up screen with the bow pointing upwards.
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Operational modes symbol reaches the edge of the screen, it will automatically be moved back to the centre, or to a position determined by the button. This position is reset to the screen centre Off Centre whenever the mode is changed. When you select Target Track the target will automatically be moved to the screen centre.
Simrad SP90 USING THE MENUS The SP90 sonar is equipped with an extensive menu system, and you will use this to choose operational modes and to control the functionality. In order to select active menu and to click the various buttons, you must use the cursor. The cursor is controlled by the trackball on the Sonar Control Panel, and to “click”...
Using the menus tabs for each display mode. In order to select a new menu, move the cursor to the tab, and press the button on the Sonar Select Control Panel. (D) Active menu: The next field contains the actual menu. Depending on operational mode and the menu properties, this menu can contain a number of buttons or other information.
Simrad SP90 How to hide the menu The menu is normally located on the right hand side of the display, but if you don’t need it, you can easily remove it. Press the button on the Sonar Control Panel. Menu button will act as a toggle switch.
Using the menus • : Automatic Gain Control. This function will automatically reduce the gain if you experience reverberation and noise, or increase it if the conditions permit it. Using the AGC will ensure best possible signal processing. • : Reverberation Controlled Gain. This function will automatically remove unwanted reverberation from the bottom or from the sea surface.
Simrad SP90 • : Reverberation Controlled Gain. This function will automatically remove unwanted reverberation from the bottom or from the sea surface. It may however also remove scattered fish. • : The Ping-to-Ping filter will only show you the PP Filter echoes if they are still present after several consecutive pings (2, 4 or 8).
Using the menus Setup menu menu is shown in all display modes, and gives access Setup to parameters controlling the processing and algorithms in the sonar system. It also provides access to specific system parameters and functions such as Test Store/Recall •...
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Simrad SP90 • : This function makes it possible to eliminate External sync interference from other Simrad sonars on board your vessel. If the sonars are connected together, you can use these settings to synchronise their transmissions. • : This is an optional functionality designed to Scientific output...
Common procedures COMMON PROCEDURES This chapter presents how to perform the most common procedures on the SP90 sonar. Note that the “power on/off” procedures have been previously explained. Menu procedures This section provides general procedures for menu handling. How to hide the menu The menu is normally located on the right hand side of the display, but if you don’t need it, you can easily remove it.
Simrad SP90 How to adjust the gain You can adjust the sonar gain by means of the control buttons on the Sonar Control Panel, or by using the button on the Gain menus. Horizontal Vertical Using the Sonar Control Panel: Locate the field on the Sonar Control Panel.
Common procedures Note Scattered fish can be perceived as reverberation. The RCG function should therefore be used with care if scattered schools are to be detected. Click the tab to open the respective Horizontal Vertical menu. Click the button to adjust the parameter. •...
Simrad SP90 • Click the middle of the button to open the parameter dialogue. Mode procedures This section explains how to choose operational modes, and how to set up the buttons on the SP90 Sonar Control Unit. Mode How to select operational mode Your SP90 sonar is equipped with several operational modes.
Common procedures Click the button to open the menu. Sort Modes Sort Modes • The menu lists all the available modes in Sort Modes their current order. Click one of the operational modes. • Observe that the and/or buttons at Move down Move up the bottom of the menu are activated.
Simrad SP90 Observe the list of images in the menu. Store/Recall To recall a single image: Click the button, and select Recall mode Single shot Click one of the images to select it. Click the button to view the image.
Common procedures How to delete sonar images Observe the following procedure to delete selected sonar images. Click the tab to open the menu. Setup Click the button to open the menu. Store/Recall Store/Recall Observe the list of images in the menu.
Simrad SP90 Click one of the images to select it. Click the button below the files to print the selected Print image. The image will be sent to the default printer connected to the Sonar Processing Unit. You are not allowed to control the output size and format.
Common procedures Select the CD drive. Hold the button depressed, Object click, and select Finalize Allow the CD burner to finalize the disc. Remove the CD from the drive. Close the explorer window and the on-line keyboard, and close all open parameter dialogues and menus.
Simrad SP90 TILT Manual Auto (CD15022I) Press the button in the field on the Sonar Control Auto Tilt Panel to start the vertical search program. Hold the button depressed while you also press one of Auto the two buttons in the field.
Common procedures The vector originating from the target’s centre indicates its course and speed. The length of the vector increases relative to the target’s speed. One knot is represented by a small mark on the vector. A course line can also be displayed showing the target’s track.
Simrad SP90 BASIC THEORY This chapter explains some of the basic theory related to settings, error sources and noise conditions. Settings A sonar will transmit a sound wave into the water around the vessel. When this sound wave hits fish, bottom, or other objects in the water, a part of the sound will be returned as echoes.
Basic theory AGC means “Automatic Gain Control”. If you wish the SP90 sonar to control its own gain automatically, you must enable this function. You can choose from three different levels. When the AGC has been switched on, the manual setting you Gain have chosen will only work on shorter ranges.
Simrad SP90 Beam A narrow beam will always reach further than a wide beam. This is because the transmitted power of the sonar is concentrated. Nevertheless, you can easily “miss” a school of fish if you make the beam too narrow. If the range is reduced, it is the common to use a wider beam.
Basic theory Note that scattered fish may be more difficult to spot if the RCG function is active, as these can be misinterpreted as reverberation. It is therefore important that you use the RCG with great care if your are searching for scattered fish. Default setting on the SP90 sonar is Medium Sector...
Simrad SP90 If you use a very small tilt (C) you will not be bothered by bottom echoes. If the sea surface is gusty, you will however easily see echoes from the waves. These echoes will normally be rather weak, and will hardly move in relation to your vessel.
Basic theory (CD015005E) The echoes from the bottom will vary with how uneven the bottom is, what kind of bottom you have under your vessel, (rock, mud, sand etc.) as well as your current tilt setting. The echo from the sea surface will vary with the current sea state and your current tilt setting.
Simrad SP90 The level your read in the button is the current noise in the direction of the cursor. The noise is provided in dB, and the number should be as negative as possible. For example, a reading of –50 dB means that you have less noise than if you read –40 dB.
Basic theory Deflections On warm days — especially during summer — the sea surface will be heated by the sun, and the water temperature will gradually decrease with increasing depth. (CD015005G) When the temperature decreases (A) closer to the bottom, the sonar beam is deflected down as indicated by the illustration.
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