Simrad Simrad SP70 User manual

Simrad SP70
Operator manual
Operator manual

Simrad SP70 sonar
Operator manual
850--164186 / AA000 / N/A

Note
Simrad AS makes every effort to ensure that the information contained within this
document is correct. However, our equipment is continuously being improved and
updated, so we cannot assume liability for any errors which may occur.
Warning
The equipment to which this manual applies must only be used for the purpose for which
it was designed. Improper use or maintenance may cause damage to the equipment or
injury to personnel. The user must be familiar with the contents of the appropriate
manuals before attempting to operate or work on the equipment.
Simrad AS disclaims any responsibility for damage or injury caused by improper
installation, use or maintenance of the equipment.
Copyright
E2001 Simrad AS
The information contained within this document remains the sole property of Simrad AS.
No part of this document may be copied or reproduced in any form or by any means, and
the information contained within is not to be communicated to a third party, without the
prior written consent of Simrad AS.
Simrad AS
Strand
p
romenaden 50
Boks 111
3191 Horten
Tele
p
hone: 33 03 40 00
Facsimile: 33 04 29 87
Internet: www.simrad.com
A
LWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT OF TECHNOLOGY

Operator manual
I
850--164186 A
Sections
This document is the Operator manual for the Simrad SP70. sonar system. It provides the
information and technical specifications necessary to operate the various system
components.
1 System description
2 Modes of operation
3 Operation
4 Menu description
5 Maintenance

Simrad SP70
II 850--164186 A
Remarks
References
Further information about the SP70 system may be found in the following manuals:
•SP70 Installation manual
Note
This manual includes sections that may be revised individually. In the event of a revision
to any part of this manual, this “Cover and Contents” section will be replaced.
This manual is issued according to a registered distribution list. In the event of changes
to this manual, only authorized copies with copy numbers will be updated.

Operator manual
III
850--164186 A
Table of contents
1 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 1......................................
1.1 Introduction 1.................................................
1.2 System overview 2.............................................
Main units 2............................................
1.3 Options 4.....................................................
General 4...............................................
Optional 90_tilt 4.......................................
Optional triple-- or multiple--frequency 5...................
Optional stabilization system 5...........................
1.4 Functional description 5........................................
Introduction 5...........................................
Functional principles 6...................................
Reception 8..............................................
Transmission 9..........................................
1.5 Auxiliary equipment 9.........................................
2 MODES OF OPERATION 10.....................................
2.1 General 10.....................................................
2.2 Bow Up 12....................................................
2.3 North Up 13...................................................
2.4 True Motion 14.................................................
2.5 180_/Audio 15................................................
2.6 180_/ Echosounder (Option) 16..................................
2.7 180_/ Vertical (Option) 17.......................................
2.8 270_/Vertical 19...............................................
2.9 Omni / Vertical (Option) 20......................................
2.10 Omni / Echosounder (Option) 21.................................
2.11 Bow Up / Vertical 22............................................
2.12 True Motion / Vertical 23........................................
2.13 Dual 24.......................................................
3 OPERATION 25.................................................
3.1 Introduction 25.................................................
3.2 Procedures 26..................................................
Start procedure 26........................................
Stop procedure 27.........................................
Dry--docking 27...........................................
3.3 The Sonar Operating Panel 28....................................

Simrad SP70
IV 850--164186 A
Main switch 28...........................................
Symbol 30................................................
Mode 32..................................................
Gain 33..................................................
Range 34.................................................
Cursor 35................................................
Tilt controls 37...........................................
Various 39................................................
Train 40..................................................
3.4 Menu operation 42.............................................
Menu-- and Full Screen presentation 42.....................
Menu structure 44........................................
Menu buttons 45..........................................
Selecting new parameter value 45..........................
4 MENU DESCRIPTION 48........................................
4.1 Introduction 48.................................................
4.2 Alphabetical list of parameters 49.................................
4.3 Menu structure 52..............................................
Sonar type 53.............................................
Mode selection 53.........................................
Index menus 54...........................................
Status menu 55...........................................
4.4 Active Index menus 56..........................................
Horizontal index menu 57.................................
Vertical index menu 58....................................
Display index menu 59....................................
Setup index menu 60......................................
Objects index menu 61....................................
Echosounder index menu 62...............................
Trawl index menu 63......................................
Second ping index menu 64................................
4.5 Temporary Index menus 65......................................
Cosmetics index menu 66..................................
Store/Recall index menu 67................................
System Test index menu 68................................
Sort Modes index menu 69.................................
4.6 Object menu 70................................................
4.7 View Menu 72.................................................
4.8 View Index menus 74...........................................

Operator manual
V
850--164186 A
GeoView index menu 75...................................
VerticalView index menu 76................................
EchoView index menu 77..................................
TrawlView index menu 78.................................
LowerView index menu 79.................................
CatchView index menu 80.................................
4.9 Warnings and alarms 81.........................................
Message Bar 81...........................................
Warnings index menu 82..................................
Operator alarms index menu 83............................
System alarms index menu 84.............................
Errors index menu 85.....................................
4.10 Submenus 86..................................................
Range 87.................................................
Tilt 88...................................................
Bearing (Horizontal) 89....................................
Bearing (Vertical) 90......................................
Gain 91..................................................
Pulse Form 92............................................
Tx Power 94..............................................
Ping Sector 95............................................
Frequency (option) 96.....................................
TVG (Time Variable Gain) 97..............................
AGC (Automatic Gain Control) 98..........................
RCG (Reverberation Controlled Gain) 99....................
PP Filter 100..............................................
Audio volume 101..........................................
Palette 102................................................
Display Gain 103..........................................
Colour Threshold 104.......................................
Colours 105................................................
Panel Backlight 106........................................
Language 107.............................................
Units 108.................................................
Menu 112.................................................
Gear 113..................................................
Edit Gear (Purse) 114......................................
Edit Gear (Trawl) 116......................................
School Data 119...........................................
Edit school 120............................................

Simrad SP70
VI 850--164186 A
Stabilizer 121..............................................
Movements 122............................................
Track Window 123.........................................
External Synchronizing 124.................................
Default Setting 125........................................
Slant Range/True Range 126................................
Bearing Card 127..........................................
Compass Card 128.........................................
Distance Rings 129.........................................
VRM (Variable Range Marker) 130..........................
Bow Marker 131...........................................
Track History 132..........................................
Minute Marker 133........................................
Wind Marker 134..........................................
Vertical Ring 135...........................................
Store 136..................................................
Store (mode) 136...........................................
Recall 137.................................................
Recall Mode 137...........................................
Time and Date 138.........................................
Position 138...............................................
Transducer 139............................................
Heading 140...............................................
Speed 141.................................................
Data Source 142...........................................
Direction Indicator 143.....................................
Range (EchoView) 144......................................
Expansion 145.............................................
Range (CatchView) 146.....................................
Scale 147..................................................
Start Range 148...........................................
Target Track (View area) 149................................
Wind Direction 150.........................................
Wind Speed 151............................................
Zoom 152..................................................
Zoom Scale 153............................................
4.11 Option installation 154...........................................
5 MAINTENANCE 156..............................................
5.1 Introduction 156.................................................

Operator manual
VII
850--164186 A
5.2 Wheelhouse units 156............................................
Cleaning 156..............................................
Dust filter 156.............................................
5.3 Transceiver unit 157.............................................
Dust filter 157.............................................
Replacing fuses 157........................................
5.4 Hull unit 158....................................................
General 158...............................................
Docking the vessel 158.....................................
Cleaning the transducer 159................................
Lubrication of the Hull Unit 159.............................
Hoisting and lowering with hand crank 160..................
Air bleeding 160...........................................

Simrad SP70
VIII 850--164186 A
Document revisions
Rev Date Written by Checked by Approved by
A18.04.01 LEA SØJ SØJ
B
C
D
E
F
G
(The original signatures are recorded in the company’s logistic database.)
To assist us in making improvements to the product and to this manual, we would
welcome comments and constructive criticism. Please send all such - in writing or by
Email - to:
Simrad AS
Documentation Department
P.O.Box 111
N-3191 Horten
Norway
or Email:
[e-mail]

System description
1
850--164186 A
1 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
1.1 Introduction
The Simrad SP70 sonar is a long range omnidirectional sonar,
designed for medium and large sized fishing vessels, both purse
seiners and trawlers. The standard frequency is 26kHz (triple and
multiple frequency as option), and the beam can be electronically
tilted from +10°to –60°(or - 90°optional).
Great emphasis has been placed on giving the best possible
presentations on a high resolution colour display. The processor
unit is controlled by Microsoft’s Windows 2000operating
system, which result in a flexible choice of display modes for a
large range of user applications.
The signal processing and beamforming is performed in a fast
digital signal processing system, using the full dynamic range of
the signals. In addition to the traditional single frequency
transceiver system, the SP70 sonar contains an advanced
frequency modulated filter system (FM).
The spherical multi- element transducer allows the sonar beam to
be trained and tilted electronically in any direction. This gives the
possibilities for automatic tracking a school of fish, and for
displaying the whole water volume around and below the vessel.
An optional stabilization system is available for electronically
pitch and roll compensation.
This chapter covers the following subjects:
•System overview
→Refertopage2.
•Options
→Refertopage4.
•Functional description
→Refertopage5.
Important notice:
Windows, Windows NT and Windows 2000 are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries.

Simrad SP70
2850--164186 A
1.2 System overview
Main units
The Simrad SP70 sonar consists of the following units:
•Wheelhouse units:
- Display Monitor
- Operating Panel
- Processor Unit
-Loudspeaker
•Sonar room units:
- Transceiver Unit
-HullUnit
→See figure 1 for the SP70 system diagram.
The Display Monitor is normally a 18” or 20” high-resolution
colour LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). In addition to the sonar
picture, the monitor can also display the user menu for the
interactive operation. In order to ease the situation
comprehension, certain colours have been chosen to better the
distinction between the various elements in the scene.
The Operating Panel contains all necessary control functions for
operating the sonar. The controls are arranged in function groups,
which gives a clear and easy operation. Note that all sonar
operation also may be made from the roller ball, or from an
optional remote standard mouse.
The Processor unit contains a ruggedized computer with
interface for the auxiliary equipment (log, gyro, GPS, echo
sounder, trawl systems, purse seine systems etc.). The processor
unit runs the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system,
modified by Simrad to suit the SP70 sonar requirements. An
Ethernet link is used for the communication with the transceiver
unit in the sonar room.
The Loudspeaker reproduces the audio of the echoes for the
selected audio channel.
The Transceiver Unit is located in the sonar room, close to the
Hull Unit. An Ethernet link is used for communication with the
processor unit in the wheelhouse. The transceiver performs the
signal processing and the digital beamforming of the 240
transmitters and 240 receiver channels, which are located on eight
equal transceiver boards.

System description
3
850--164186 A
Figure 1 - SP70 system diagram
Display Monitor
115/230Vac mains
115/230Vac mains
115/230Vac mains
Operating panel
Processor unit Loudspeaker
Speed log
Course gyro
GPS
Transceiver Unit
Echo sounder
Trawl system
Purse seine system
Hull Unit
230/380/440Vac
3 phase mains
(CD5719 WMF/GIF)

Simrad SP70
4850--164186 A
The Hull Unit is designed to be lowered 1.2 meters below the
ship’s hull at a maximum ship’s speed of 15 knots, and it uses less
than 25 seconds for raising and lowering the transducer. The
transducer can also be lowered to a middle position, where only
half of the transducer face is outside the sonar trunk. Note, that
in case of voltage failure, the Hull Unit can be manually raised or
lowered by a hand crank.
The spherical 240 elements transducer allows the sonar beam to
be trained and tilted electronically in any direction. This gives
unlimited possibilities for automatic tracking of schools of fish
and for displaying the whole water volume around and below the
vessel.
The optional sensor for the electronic stabilization of the sonar
beams is housed in the motor control unit which is mounted on
the Hull Unit.
WARNING ! If the transducer hits larger objects or bottom, the transducer
shaft may be bent, or in worst case it can be broken off. A
broken transducer shaft will cause water leakage in the top of
the shaft. To prevent larger leakages in such a case, do not raise
the transducer shaft to the upper position. To prevent serious
damages it is therefore of great importance to have a good
pump and warning system in the sonar room.
1.3 Options
General
The standard SP70 sonar is a single 26kHz version with 60_
tilt. With the limitation of 60_tilt, the sonar is most useful
for purse seiners searching for fish in the upper water layers.
This because the standard version do not include the 90°and
180°vertical slice presentations. All display modes are
described in section; “Modes of operation”.
Note that all options are pre-programmed into the standard
version, where a code word is used to make the actual option
operable. Simrad offer a 1-month free test period for each option.
→For entering the code words, refer to the section; “Option
installation”.
For a permanent option installation, a new code word will be
released when ordering the actual option.
Optional 90_tilt
The optional 90_tilt version is specially powerful for trawlers, but
is also very popular for purse seiners. This because in this version
all the 180°vertical modes available.

System description
5
850--164186 A
In the 180_/Vertical and Omni/Vertical modes, a trainable 180_
vertical slice is presented.
→Refer to section; ”Modes of operation” on page 10.
Optional triple-- or multiple--frequency
In addition to the standard 26kHz frequency, options are
available for triple and multiple frequencies. In the
triple-frequency version, the operator can select between 24 kHz,
26 kHz and 2 8kHz, and in the multiple- frequency version he can
select between 22 kHz, 23 kHz, 24 kHz, 25 kHz, 26 kHz, 27 kHz,
28 kHz, 29 kHz and 30 kHz. These selections are specially useful
to suppress interference from other sonars.
Optional stabilization system
Figure 2 - Optional stabilisation system
When the optional beam stabilizer is activated, both horizontal
and vertical beams will be stabilized electronically for roll and
pitch movements up to ±20°. The beam direction will then change
continuously according to the vessel’s movements, and secure an
optimal contact with the targets even in rough seas.
1.4 Functional description
Introduction
The basic principles of the SP70 sonar are unique because of the
240 separate transmitter and receiver channels with their
transducer elements spread around on the spherical transducer
array. The transmission, reception and data processing are under
computer control, and the powerful capabilities of the sonar are
results of sophisticated digital signal processing software and
state of the art hardware.

Simrad SP70
6850--164186 A
Functional principles
When the Omni beam is tilted, the total beam picture can be
compared with folding an umbrella, which means that all beams
in 360_around the vessel have the same tilt angle.
Figure 3 - Omni beam
In the standard version, the beam can be tilted from +10_up, to
-60_down. For the optional 90_tilt version, the beam can be tilted
from +10_up to -90_down, where -90_is formed by one single
beam straight down like an echo sounder.
In addition to seeing the target from above, it is also possible to
see the target from the side, by using the vertical slice
presentation. In this case the beam covers a continuous vertical
beam from 0_to -60_in one transmission. For the optional 90_tilt
version, a complete 180_vertical slice can be presented.
This vertical slice, which is presented by the white audio line in
the horizontal picture, can be selected to any bearing by the
manual training control.
The combination of the OMNI mode and the vertical slice, will
give an optimal visualizing of the catch situation.
In addition to the OMNI picture, the vertical slice is especially
useful for visualizing the vertical distribution of a school of fish.
In that way, it is not necessary to go over the target to see the
distribution on the echo sounder, which often results in a
spreading of the school.

System description
7
850--164186 A
Figure 4 - Vertical slice
Figure 5 - OMNI / vertical combination
For the optional 90_tilt version, the OMNI/vertical combination
is used in several display modes to give the best situation
overview for both purse seiners and trawlers. In these
presentations the seine net and the trawl can be seen in relation
to the vessel, the school of fish and the bottom.
When the optional stabilization system is installed in the sonar,
the horizontal and vertical beams will be stabilized electronically
for roll and pitch up to approximately ±20_. The stabilization may
be switched ON and OFF in the menu.

Simrad SP70
8850--164186 A
Reception
A great effort has been made to reduce unwanted noise to get a
clean and stable echo presentation. To achieve this goal the sonar
receiver has the following filtering possibilities:
FM CORRELATION FILTER
In addition to the traditional single frequency transmitting
method, the SP70 sonar is equipped with an FM correlation
mode.
In FM mode each transmission pulse contains up to 8 different
frequencies, and the receiver makes a spectrum analysis and
compares the received echoes with the transmitted frequency
code. This provides a filtering effect, which efficiently reduces
interference, noise and reverberation. In addition to giving a clean
and stable echo presentation, this will normally also increases the
sonar’s detection range
FREQUENCY SELECTION (OPTION)
The optional triple-frequency (24 kHz, 26 kHz and 28 kHz) and
multi-frequency (22 kHz, 23 kHz, 24 kHz, 25 kHz, 26 kHz, 27
kHz, 28 kHz, 29 kHz and 30 kHz) selections can be used for
suppression of interference from other sonars
AGC (Automatic Gain Control)
This control will automatically adjust the gain in the
preamplifiers, dependent on the strength of the incoming echo
signals. The strength of the filtering can be selected in the menu:
OFF, WEAK, MEDIUM and STRONG. Note that the AGC is
sensing the echo strength in five fixed directions, and use this as
a basis for adjusting all the receiver beams.
RCG (Reverberation Controlled Gain)
RCG is sensing the noise level (reverberation, propeller noise,
etc.), adjusting the gain individually for each of the 64 receiver
beams to eliminate the noise on the display. The strength of the
filtering can be selected in the menu: OFF, WEAK, MEDIUM and
STRONG. In the STRONG position, the RCG will effectively
reduce the bottom in shallow water, while variations on the
bottom will be displayed.
Note that scattered fish can be perceived as reverberation, so
therefore RCG should be used with care if scattered schools are to
be detected.
PP FILTER
The sonar is equipped with a ping- to- ping filter which gives a
clean and steady presentation by reducing the interference and
noise. This filter compares the echoes from a selected amount of
transmissions (pings), and an echo has to be present in the
selected amount of pings in order to be presented on the display.
The selection is made in the menu, with the following
possibilities: