twin sounders?

Rupert Bear · 06 May 2004, 16:43

I am considering fitting a second sounder to my RIB. By Fitting a GSD 20 displaying via the plotter I could have dual 200kHz and a 50KHz sounders rather than a dual frequency single sounder.
Garmin say as long as they sounders are operating on different frequancies they won't interfere with each other and the idea is to have a coarse wide pattern 50kHz with a narrow beam high detail 200kHz picture. This is for wreck finding and shotting for diving.
The questions are-
1. Has anybody tried this and it worked?, no interference etc and good clear pictures?
2. If I put a through hull transducer in the rear well on the centreline behind the engine will I get turbulence from the hull edge screwing up the picture?
3. Is it worthwhile and is the detail on the screen better and worth spending the money on?

Daniel · 06 May 2004, 18:43

I don't dive (therefore look for wrecks) so i can't help there but I did have two sounders fitted to my last RIB, they were different frequencies and worked fine together. When i fitted a 3rd (not because i needed a 3rd, it had a water temp and speed sensor) it interfeared with one of the others - it was only 20KHz different.

HTH

roohairy · 06 May 2004, 19:11

Don'tmost dual frequency sets use both frequencies simultaneously? I may be wrong but I though this was how they worked.

Richard B · 06 May 2004, 19:43

Roohairy, that's what I thought too. I've just had a dig around on Humminbird's web site and they use dual frequency 200/83 kHz so probably worth some research on the manufacturer's web sites?

Daniel · 06 May 2004, 19:46

What is very worth considering is make and peoples experiences with that make - how fast do you go and want to read the bottom at?

I've said this many times before, nothing to date has bettered my Eagle unit(s) for high speed depth readings.

I've now got a garmin unit and it's less efective than the prop at finding the bottom

I spoke to some guys at the weekend with a Hummingbird who were having similar problmes to me.

What make are you running at the moment / considering??

swginn · 06 May 2004, 21:10

Gotta agree with Daniel on the eagle for high speed readings. I've got a Lowrance LMS320 dual frequency sounder (same as the eagle Seacharter 320DF) and it has been flawless for depth readings at high speed. Very good for fishing too!!

Rupert Bear · 08 May 2004, 00:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by roohairy

Don'tmost dual frequency sets use both frequencies simultaneously? I may be wrong but I though this was how they worked.

On most sets you can have one, the other or both frequencies at the same time.