CHIRP Sonar - some assistance with understanding the different types please

[twr7cx]

I have been using an Apple iPad with Navionics for navigations and GPS functionality when out. I recently noticed that Navionics app on the iPad has the capability to integrate with some of the sonar modules and through the information on the Navionics site, soon found myself looking at the Raymarine Wi-FISH range including the Dragonfly Pro models.

The WI-FISH < http://www.raymarine.com.au/view/?id=11201 > has CPT-DV wide-spectrum CHIRP DownVision sonar
but the Dragonfly 4, 5 and 6 Pro models < http://www.raymarine.com.au/view/?id=11200&collectionid=155&col=11251 > use the CPT-DVS 2 Channels - Sonar conical beam + DownVision wide fan beam.
I don't seem to be able to find any information on the difference between these and what the 2 channel with the conical beam offers above and beyond the DownVision only?
The only difference that I have found is the depth rating - "183m (600ft) CHIRP DownVision? and CHIRP Sonar Models 275m (900ft)" < http://www.raymarine.com.au/view/?id=11200&collectionid=155&col=11251 >.
The pictures on the Raymarine site don't seem to highlight the differences either.

Is anyone able to explain further or got a link to more information on this please?

 

[Grub54891]

Look up the new Axiem from ray marine, you may like it better.

 

[dingbat]

I took a look around and found little to nothing on the subject. I suspect the marketing department is at play....

Reading between the lines, I believe it's different cone angles. You have the choice between your typical "round" beam with the option to add or support a conical (wide angle) beam as well.

 

[dingbat]

I took a look around and found little to nothing on the subject. I suspect the marketing department is at play....

Reading between the lines, I believe it's different cone angles. You have the choice between your typical "round" beam with the option to add or support a conical (wide angle) beam as well.

Difference: Screen display = 3' at bottom vs 6' at bottom.

 

[twr7cx]

Seems to be some dodgy advertising by Raymarine as they seem to use the same sonar descriptions and sonar pictures on their Wi-Fish product as their Dragonfly Pro models despite the Dragonfly Pro models having a more complex sonar, which is presumably more capable.

 

[dingbat]

Seems to be some dodgy advertising by Raymarine as they seem to use the same sonar descriptions and sonar pictures on their Wi-Fish product as their Dragonfly Pro models despite the Dragonfly Pro models having a more complex sonar, which is presumably more capable.

If I'm not mistaken, the wifi fish product is nothing more than an app to display the data from your wifi capable DF pro sounder on a remote device, i.e. cell phone or tablet

 

[twr7cx]

If I'm not mistaken, the wifi fish product is nothing more than an app to display the data from your wifi capable DF pro sounder on a remote device, i.e. cell phone or tablet

With respect, you are mistaken. If you refer to the first link in my original post < http://www.raymarine.com.au/view/?id=11201 >, you fill find that the Wi-Fish is BOTH the app that you refer to, and the hardware to do so. The Wi-Fish is the sonar sensor and the headunit which interprets the sonar reading and generates the image through wifi to the mobile device.

The Dragonfly Pro models have this hardware capability built into them.

 

[dingbat]

I wasn't far off.

Per the manual, the hardware is a dragonfly 4-dv stripped of its display. A wifi connection is provide to interface to a user supplied display, i.e. cell or tablet for a display.

Down view only unit. No side view or conventional (CHIRP) sonar.

I could live w/o side view but the lack of "convential" sonar gets a thumbs down

 

[MH Hawker]

and this is a good expiation of CHIRP

http://www.boatingmag.com/gear/chirp-systems

 

[dingbat]

and this is a good expiation of CHIRP

http://www.boatingmag.com/gear/chirp-systems

Very outdated...the technology has changed a lot in the 6 years since that article was eritten

 

[MH Hawker]

o i am sure your right, ever thing improves, its a very basic article to help some one like me understand

I am just now up dating my electronics and that was a explanation and while its a simplified explanation, to me it sounds like in the past it was a single signal and now its stereo with 2 signals, which giver greater clarity, and i know its its way more complicated than that, i have been looking at the new finders and trying to read up and learn, i have a echomap 53 dv sitting here in the floor just waiting to be installed

just as soon as i finish up a water pump install, i am really looking forward to using it

 

[Watermann]

I have the Dragonfly 7 Pro. I read your post a couple times, it's not clear to me what you're looking for but the dual transducer feature I think is your question. One transducer is for showing detailed bottom structure and the other is for targeting fish, it's about that simple.

 

[dingbat]

o i am sure your right, ever thing improves, its a very basic article to help some one like me understand

I am just now up dating my electronics and that was a explanation and while its a simplified explanation, to me it sounds like in the past it was a single signal and now its stereo with 2 signals, which giver greater clarity, and i know its its way more complicated than that

It's not the number of signals, my unit can use up to four. It's all about frequency and the design/ configuration of the transducer and the processing power of the head unit.

The days of picking a unit with a "stock" transducer off the shelf and expecting it to do what you want are past. Matching a transducer's characteristics to your application is 3/4 of the game.

If your into technical stuff, Airmar has a very good technical presentation on the signal processing and what makes it tick.

This article briefly touches on transducer frequencies and beam angles
https://www.marineelectronicsjournal.com/content/newsm/news.asp?show=VIEW&a=74

 

[MH Hawker]

very interesting and i would assume that the more channels the greater the definition

 

[dingbat]

very interesting and i would assume that the more channels the greater the definition

In reality, "channels" are a fancy word for transducer inputs.

I have a Garmin GT51-M-TM transducer. The GT51 has 4 separate transducers in one housing. Two side viewing transducers ( left and right) a down view transducer and a CHRIP "conventional" transducer.

The side and down viewing transducers operate at 260 and 455 kHz. The CHRIP Transducer rings 80-160 kHz.

Lower frequency = deeper
Higher frequency = detail

 

[twr7cx]

I wasn't far off.

Per the manual, the hardware is a dragonfly 4-dv stripped of its display. A wifi connection is provide to interface to a user supplied display, i.e. cell or tablet for a display.

According to the Specifications on the Dragonfly 4 range on the Raymarine website, the Dragonfly 4 models have "183m (600ft) CHIRP DownVision? and CHIRP Sonar Models 275m (900ft)" < http://www.raymarine.com.au/view/?id=11200 > but according to the Specifications for the Wi-Fish it only has "CHIRP DownVision 600 ft (183m)" < http://www.raymarine.eu/view/?id=11201 >.

The Dragonfly 4-DV doesn't have the wifi connection capability, only the Pro does.

I could live w/o side view but the lack of "convential" sonar gets a thumbs down

To help my understand the differences in sonar types, can you please tell me why?

 

[dingbat]

According to the Specifications on the Dragonfly 4 range on the Raymarine website, the Dragonfly 4 models have "183m (600ft) CHIRP DownVision? and CHIRP Sonar Models 275m (900ft)" < http://www.raymarine.com.au/view/?id=11200 > but according to the Specifications for the Wi-Fish it only has "CHIRP DownVision 600 ft (183m)" < http://www.raymarine.eu/view/?id=11201 >.

The Dragonfly 4-DV doesn't have the wifi connection capability, only the Pro does.

You're in the weeds.... when it comes to actual, real world performance marketing literature is worth exactly what you paid for it.

To help my understand the differences in sonar types, can you please tell me why?

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-e...nvu-chirp.html