J.W. Fisher's SSS-100K/600K Side Scan Sonar

Side scan sonars are one of the most sought after, and effective tools for underwater searches. The reason; they can cover large areas quickly and see" what's on the bottom regardless of water visibility. A side scan finds things by sending out a sonar beam which sweeps over the bottom, reflects off any object laying on the bottom, and returns to the tow fish. The received signal is sent through the tow cable to a topside display. The displayed image is a highly detailed two dimensional picture of the ocean, lake, or river bottom and any objects lying there. The sonar beam is transmitted and received by transducers mounted on each side of the tow fish. How the transducer is constructed determines the frequency of the sonar beam. Side scans with low frequency transducers have excellent long range capability, but low resolution at shorter ranges. High frequency systems have higher resolution, but very short range. A dual frequency side scan has high and low frequency transducers in the same fish to give the best of both systems; long range and highly detailed images at the shorter ranges.

For general searching the SSS-100K/600K is recommended. Fisher's side scan tow fish is designed for maximum stability, so surface waves and rocking of the boat will have very little impact on the signal being transmitted and received. The fish can be towed at any speed, however, 1 to 3 knots allows for maximum information gathering to produce the highest quality images. High resolution images are sent from the tow fish to a topside computer (included with the system) for display and storage. An optional Splash-proof computer is available for small, open boat operations. Fishers Sonar View software gives the operator complete control over the systems operating parameters. Choose between 10 different scan ranges and 8 color schemes to display images. Connect a GPS and position coordinates are automatically captured with the side scan data. Click the mouse on a target and the, and position coordinates are displayed on the screen.

The transmitted sonar signal is made of high-energy pulses which form a very narrow 1° beam. This beam sweeps across the bottom resulting in a continuous stream of returning echoes. The echoes return to the transducer and are sent topside to the sonar processor which produces evenly spaced samples. The samples are displayed in a horizontal line on the computer, where each line is series of tiny dots. What dot color is displayed depends on the strength or amplitude of the returning echo. When the complete line is printed, the transducer sends out another signal and the process repeats. As the tow fish moves forward through the water each new line is laid down beside the previous line, creating a picture. The display area is split down the center with each channel making up half of the screen. The right side of the display is a picture of the bottom on the right side of the tow vessel, and left side of the display is a picture of the bottom on the left side of the tow vessel. Fishers Sonar View software (included with side scan) give the operator complete control. Most of the operating parameters are selected through easy to use pull down menus on the screen.

The computer displays real time color images of the sonar data. The operator can change colors, ranges, amplifier gain and various other system controls during operation. Side Scan data can be stored (XTF format) in memory for playback and additional post-processing. Small file sections including screen shots can be copied for emailing. A sizing tool allows the operator to determine the size of targets and a zoom feature makes it easy to enlarge targets. The operator can determine the height off the bottom and annotations can be added and saved. Printouts of side scan data can be made on any standard printer from stored data.

The Sonar View software gives the side scan operator complete control of all system functions with easy to use pull-down menus and icons on the screen. The operator can change colors, ranges, amplifier gain, and other controls with a click of the mouse. With the computer, side scan images can be stored in memory for playback and post processing at any time in the future. Small file sections including screen shots can be copied for emailing. A GPS system can also be connected to the computer to capture position coordinates with the side scan data. Once GPS is connected the mouse cursor can be placed on any on screen object and its position coordinates will be displayed. Sonar files can be stored on the computer's hard drive or to DVD.

Fisher's economical side scan sonar's come with a 500' (152.4 meters) depth rated tow fish, (Dia. x L) 0.375" x 150' (9.5mm x 43.75 meters) of cable, a 15.6" (39.6cm) wide screen laptop computer and Fishers Sonar View software. The sonar range is 250' to 2,000' (75 meters to 600 meters) on each side of the tow fish. The dual frequency are 100Khz / 600Khz with a resolution (long track & cross track) of 9.84" x 1.57" x 0.79" (25cm x 4cm x 2cm), with beam width horizontal x vertical of 1.5° by 40°, with a transducer tilt angle of 20° downward and a pulse length of 0.1 ms. The units power output is 1,000 watt per channel.

The included computer base system is Windows 10, 320GHD, R/W DVD burner, 4GB RAM. The sonar processor measures (L x W x D) 14" x 11" x 6" (35.56cm x 28cm x 15.25cm), and weighs 8 lbs. (3.6 kg). The computer measures (L x W x H) 14" x 11" x 1.5" (35.56cm x 28cm x 3.8cm) and weighs 7 lbs. (3.2 kg) and the tow fish measures (Dia. x L) 4" x 53" (10.2cm x 134.6cm) and weighs 48 lbs. (21.8 kg) and the cable weighs 15 lbs. (6.8 kg). The sonar processor and computer have high impact case and a PVC panels with the tow fish being manufactured from PVC, epoxy and stainless steel. The cable is a 10 conductor design with Kevlar strength member. The tow fish system comes with an owner's manual.