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Sportscan side-scan
sonar (also rentals)
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 Introduction:
The new SportScan sidescan sonar system is a truly remarkable breakthrough in price/performance for
sidescan towfishes. This totally digital, full-featured system is complete and ready for connection to a host PC computer
(including software), all for 1/10th the cost of other
sidescan sonar's!
Controls:
Like the other digital sonar systems from Imagenex, the
SportScan can be completely controlled from your laptop computer: ranges can be
changed, gain can be set, images and data can be sent to your printer or stored
on hard disk, all with the click of a mouse button.
Towcable:
The
SportScan is designed from top to bottom for ease of deployment and use. A
highly advanced Kevlar™ reinforced towfish cable (included with the standard
unit) is light enough to eliminate the need for a winch.
Towfish:
  The
towfish operates from a standard 12 Volt DC power supply or boat's battery, and
the RS-232 connector plugs directly from the Kevlar™ towfish cable into the back
of a PC computer or laptop.
Simply load the towfish body with as much ballast
weight as desired like lumps of lead, available at (sport)dive shops.
Led for
divers is sold worldwide and is easy to find. In Holland one is able to buy it
in a
local store such as www.subocean.nl (There
is also a diving school in Indonesia where
sport divers
trainings are given, trips to coral reefs, and where Sportscan ballast weight is
available):
Then lower the towfish over the side of the boat by hand, and
start towing. Beautifully sharp, high definition images of the sea-floor
immediately roll onto the computer screen! Coral reefs, rock outcroppings, and
submerged shipwrecks show up clearly as the towfish goes by.
 Software and GPS:
If
mapping of underwater features is desired, the SportScan software can read GPS
(Global Positioning System) data fed into the PC computer, display it on the
screen, and use the speed over ground to adjust the aspect ratio of the sonar
image. Objects can have their height and length determined with the click of a
mouse. All data can also be stored to hard disk for later display and
analysis. The accuracy and resolution of the SportScan combined with GPS makes
returning to underwater features of interest easy. For further data processing
and map making, optional software is available to convert SportScan data to XTF
format, which is compatible with most mosaicking software programs.
Traveling with no more then a 5 Kg weighing, complete side-scan sonar system:
 Without
ballast, the Sportscan weighs approximately 5 Kg so it is easy to travel with.
Disassembled the whole system fits in a small suitcase (optional) or even in the
standard luggage suitcase. Due to it's limited weight there is mostly no need to
pay extra freight cost for the Sportscan at airports so it prevents high
transportation cost.
At the
point of destination, one has to locate a (sport) dive shop to buy extremely
affordable ballast weight that can be mounted inside the aluminum tube or
housing before the survey is carried out.
In the
end of the survey, the ballast is removed and the sonar is ready for transport
against a very low freight rate. Of course the ballast can stay always inside
the housing if desirable, yet the example was only mentioned in case of
traveling with reduced freight cost because mostly it is calculated very high.
Why so
inexpensive compared to other sonars?:
The
reason that SportScan sidescan sonar's are smaller, lighter, and less expensive
than others is the miniaturized electronics and molded polyurethane nose and
tailfin housing. The SportScan has a uniquely simple and elegant design that
incorporates the transducers into the tail fins and all the electronics into the
tail assembly! This limits the depth rating of the SportScan to 30 meters
(rather than 1000 m - 3000 m for standard Imagenex sonar products). This depth
is adequate to do sidescan imaging in 60 m to 80 m deep water, which includes
most of the world's inland waters and inner continental shelves. It is more then
sufficient for use on the North-sea.
Accessing locations quick and easy with a large or very
small vessel:
Because
the SportScan can be deployed from the smallest of vessels, you can now
sidescan previously inaccessible locations quickly, easily, and inexpensively.
The
depressor wing as shown on the photo is an optional part that helps the sonar to
tow in deeper or more turbulent water such as sea conditions. It can also help
to stabilize the towfish.
So expand your horizons with the new SportScan sidescan
sonar towfish from
Metaldec
International.
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The Imagenex SportScan is an affordable dual channel, high-resolution, digital sidescan sonar geared toward the sport diving market. Operate the SportScan directly from your laptop or desktop PC. All that is needed is a 12 VDC power source. Connect a GPS receiver for latitude and longitude coordinates.
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HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS:
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FREQUENCY
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330 kHz or 330 / 800 kHz
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TRANSDUCER
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One transducer per side, tilted down 20o
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TRANSDUCER BEAM WIDTH
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330 kHz: 1.8o x 60o
800 kHz: 0.7o x 30o
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RANGE RESOLUTION
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Both sides displayed: Range scale / 250
Single side displayed: Range scale / 500
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MAX. OPERATING DEPTH
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30 m (100')
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MAX. CABLE LENGTH
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60 m (200')
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INTERFACE
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RS-232 serial interface @ 115.2 kbps
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CONNECTOR
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Wet mateable (Impulse LPMBH-4-MP)
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POWER SUPPLY
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10 - 16 VDC at 300 mA max.
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DIMENSIONS
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114 mm (4.5") diameter x
833 mm (32.8") length
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WEIGHT: In Air
In Water
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4.5 kg (10 lbs)
not including ballast
1.2 kg (2.7 lbs)
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BALLAST
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Standard diver belt weights (readily available at dive shops)
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MATERIALS
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Polyurethane & 6061-T6 Aluminum
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FINISH
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Clear anodized
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SOFTWARE SPECIFICATIONS:
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Win 881ss.exe
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WINDOWS™ OPERATING SYSTEM
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Windows™ 95, 98, Me, NT*, 2000*, XP*
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MODES
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Side Scan
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RANGE SCALES
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15 m, 30 m, 60 m, 90 m, and 120 m
(50', 100', 200', 300', and 400')
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FILE FORMAT
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(filename).81s
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GPS INPUT (4800, N, 8, 1)
NMEA 0183 FORMATS:
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GLL, GGA, VTG, RMC
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RECOMMENDED MINIMUM COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS:
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100 MHz Pentium
16 MB RAM
1 GB Hard Disk
800 x 600 x 256 colour graphics
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*Requires Win881ss.exe v2.00 or higher
(Free upgrade available for older versions - Contact
Metaldec International)
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ORDERING INFORMATION:
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30 m unit w/23 m SportScan tow cable
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Standard
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881-000-150
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330 / 800 kHz
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Option
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-005
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45 m (150') SportScan tow cable
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Option
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-016
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60 m (200') SportScan tow cable
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Option
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-017
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XTF Converter
(Imagenex .81s to XTF)
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Option
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-019
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To download a printable version of this spec sheet click here
Click on
the photo with the left mouse button.
Below an
example of a bottom scan, generated by the Sportscan Side-scan sonar.
E-mail
or call us if you need additional information
and / or sale or rent prices.
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