When shopping online for discount marine electronics, such as the Lowrance Fish Finder, it helps to understand a bit about the technology you are buying. Here is a brief explanation of some of the terms you will come across.
Cone angle
First of all, fish farmers use sonar to explore the depths of the sea or lake and determine a picture of what lies on the water. When you shine a lantern in the dark, light fans create a cone that is narrow at the source and wider at the far end. Electronics does the same. The angle of the cone refers to the scatter of the beam at the far end, so a beam of 90 degrees provides more light than a beam of 20 degrees. Multipath systems, as the name implies, send more than one sonar beam, cumulatively offering a much wider field of view. The Lowrance HDS-7 Fishfinder and GPS Chartplotter series offers a stunning 120-degree view with superb clarity and great detail.
frequency
The frequency of the sonar signal is measured in kHz. In general, the lower the search frequency for fish, the deeper the signal can penetrate in favor of the surface. For very deep waters, 50 kHz will give you deep penetration using a reliable narrow cone angle. Much higher frequencies have a wider cone angle and do not penetrate the water to the same extent. Equipment operating at 200 kHz is well suited to cover a large area in shallow water and can lead to a more detailed view of what lies beneath the surface. The frequency is usually adjustable, and two frequencies are often used.
Fish targets
When the sonar beam encounters an object, it returns a signal to the fish finder. Sensitive electronics in the unit analyzes the characteristics of the returned signals and can distinguish between marine life and other objects. Fish targets are usually represented as a fish symbol on the screen of your device.
Thermoclines
A thermocline describes a layer of water that is under a different temperature from the surrounding waters. Thermoclines form quickly in response to changing conditions, or they can be a permanent feature of a particular area of the ocean. Lowrance anglers are thermoclines in the form of lines on the display.
converter
The converter is a powerhouse of a fish seeker. It controls the frequency of the sonar beam and sends and receives signals that are interpreted by the equipment in graphic images. Three important things you need to know about the converter are how it is mounted on the boat, what frequencies it supports and the angle of the cone it produces. Converters are usually mounted on the transom or body due to the motor. Transom mounts are the most common and easiest to install. Some models with high-frequency sensors may need to be installed through the case, which can be a complicated installation that requires a hole to be cut in the case. The Lowrance HDS-7 Fishfinder and GPS Chartplotter echo sounders and the Lowrance HDS-5X echo sounders come with your choice of 83/200 kHz or 50/200 kHz transducers.
Monitor screen
All the details in the world are not worth much, if you can not see it! Many fish seekers use liquid crystal color displays. As a rule, the larger the number of pixels, the better the display quality. In shades of gray, shades of gray are used to distinguish between natural and artificial structures, the bottom of a lake, and the type or size of fish. CRT displays come at a higher price, but provide higher resolution and better display quality.
Lowrance manufactures a full range of fishing vessels, FF / GPS / Chartplotter combines and offers a full range of other marine electronics for professionals and boat enthusiasts.
