Kongsberg EA 400 User Manual

Operat or Manua l

EA 400

Single beam hydrographic echo sounder

(CD6562a)

857-160981

EA 400

Single beam hydrographic echo

sounder

Operator manual

About this document

Rev Date Written by Checked by Approved by

J

18.12.06 ASM TKj TKj

General updates. New software version 2.3.0.x implemented.

© 2006 Kongsberg Maritime AS. All rights reserved.
No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or otherwise

copied without prior permission from Kongsberg Maritime AS.
The information contained in this document is subject to change without prior notice.

Kongsberg Maritime AS shall not be liable for errors contained herein, or for incidental
or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this
document.

Strandpro m enaden 50
P.O.Box 111
N-3191 Horten,
Norway

Chapters

1 System description

This chapter presents a general description of the echo sounder system. Refer
to page 1.

2Displayviews

This chapterexplains the layoutof the echosounder displaypresentation. Refer
to page 24.

3 Getting started

This chapter provides an operational example to get you started with the
operation. Refer to page 40.

4 Operational procedures

Operator manual

This chapter provides specific procedures for common tasks. Refer to page 50.

5 Reference guide

This chapter explains the menus and dialogue boxes in detail. Refer to page 74.

6 Sound Velocity Profile (SVP) Editor

This chapter describes how to use the sound velocity profile editor. Refer to
page 163.

7 EA2Neptune

This chapter explains how to use the EA2Neptune conversion utility.
Refer to page 172.

8 Data and telegram formats

This chapter explains the file and directory names, as well as t he various input
and output telegrams. Refer to page 174.

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I

EA 400

II

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Operator manual

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 1......................................

Introduction 1..................................................

System overview 2..............................................

Key facts 2...............................................

Main units 2..............................................

System diagrams 4...............................................

Wave propagation 9..............................................

Bottom echo 11..................................................

Sidescan 13.....................................................

Observation range 14..............................................

Technical specifications 15.........................................

Portable echo sounder system 16...............................

Echosounder system 17......................................

External interfaces 18........................................

General Purpose Tra nsceiver (GPT) 19..........................

Processor Unit 20...........................................

Operator Station 21.........................................

PC for Portable system 22....................................

Ethernet HUB 23...........................................

DISPLAY VIEWS 24..............................................

Introduction 24..................................................

Display organisation 25............................................

Main view 25..............................................

Moving the boundary lines 26.................................

Direct access to dialogue boxes 27.............................

”Hidden views” overview 27..................................

Menu bar 29.....................................................

Header view 30..................................................

Echo frames 31..................................................

Overview 31...............................................

Echogram and Range 32.....................................

Scope 33..................................................

Test presentation for passive or test mode 33.....................

Sidescan 34................................................

Status bar 36....................................................

History and printer views 37........................................

Overview 37...............................................

Display example 37.........................................

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III

EA 400

Printer example 38..........................................

GETTING STARTED 40...........................................

Introduction 40..................................................

Before you start 41...............................................

Start--up 42.....................................................

Overview 42...............................................

Power-up procedure 42......................................

The menu system 42........................................

Transceiver inspection 42.....................................

Environmental parameters 42..................................

Navigation interface 43......................................

Additional interfaces 43......................................

Operation 44....................................................

Overview 44...............................................

Selecting operational mode 44.................................

Transceiver settings 44.......................................

Bottom detector settings 45...................................

Colour scale 45.............................................

Echogram and Range view 45.................................

Scope view 47.............................................

Data storage 48..................................................

Overview 48...............................................

Define storage parameters 48..................................

Start and stop data storage 48..................................

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES 50................................

Overview 50....................................................

Power on/off 51..................................................

Power on 51...............................................

Power off 51...............................................

Basic operations 53...............................................

Overview 53...............................................

Changing the echogram settings 53.............................

Changing the range 53.......................................

Changing the vertical resolution 54.............................

Changing the transmit power 54...............................

Setting minimum and maximum depth 55........................

Enabling the depth alarms 55..................................

Adding annotations 56.......................................

Transceiver installation 58..........................................

IV

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Operator manual

Overview 58...............................................

To install a channel 58.......................................

To uninstall a channel 58.....................................

To modify an IP address 59...................................

Restart the echo sounder 59...................................

Record and playback 60...........................................

Overview 60...............................................

Record 60.................................................

Playback 62...............................................

History 63.................................................

Software installation and upgrades 67.................................

Overview 67...............................................

Software installation procedure 67..............................

Software upgrade procedure 67................................

Un-installation procedure 68..................................

Licence installation 68.......................................

Sensor setup 69..................................................

Overview 69...............................................

The theory 69..............................................

Procedure 70...............................................

Sidescan 71.....................................................

Overview 71...............................................

Starting a sidescan survey 71..................................

Insert label name 72.........................................

Superimpose the current depth 72..............................

Finishing the sidescan survey 73...............................

REFERENCE GUIDE 74...........................................

Overview 74....................................................

Menus 75.......................................................

Main menu 75.............................................

File menu 76...............................................

View menu 77.............................................

Options menu 78...........................................

Interfaces menu 80..........................................

Install menu 81.............................................

Help menu 82..............................................

Status Bar 83....................................................

Dialogue boxes 85................................................

Introduction 85.............................................

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V

EA 400

Advanced Navigation 86.....................................

Advanced Transceiver 88.....................................

Annotation 90..............................................

Bottom Detector 93.........................................

Bottom Range 95...........................................

Colour Scale 96............................................

Depth Output 98............................................

Echogram 100..............................................

Echogram parameters 104.....................................

Environment 105............................................

Exit 108...................................................

Factory settings 109..........................................

Heading 110................................................

Heave Sensor 111............................................

History 114.................................................

GPT IP Address 115.........................................

Language 117...............................................

Layout 118.................................................

Load user settings 119........................................

Navigation Interface 120......................................

Network Interface 123........................................

Operation 126...............................................

Printer and History 129.......................................

Print Setup 131..............................................

Raw Data 133...............................................

Remote Display 134..........................................

Replay 136.................................................

Replay control 138...........................................

Reprocess heave 139.........................................

RS-232 Setup 141...........................................

Sensor setup 142............................................

Serial Interface 143..........................................

Sidescan Range 146..........................................

Status window 147...........................................

Store 148..................................................

Store user settings 152........................................

Surface Range 154...........................................

Real time Sound Velocity Profile (SVP) smart sensor 155............

Sound Velocity Profile (SVP) Editor 156.........................

Temperature Sensor 157.......................................

VI

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Operator manual

Transceiver Installation 158....................................

Transceiver Settings 160......................................

SVP EDITOR 163..................................................

Introduction 163..................................................

Description 164...................................................

Purpose 164................................................

Toolbar 164................................................

Profile view 165.............................................

Data view 165..............................................

Profile name 165............................................

Control bar 165.............................................

File formats 166.............................................

Procedures 167...................................................

Windows 167...............................................

Starting the editor 167........................................

Exit 167...................................................

Open existing profile 167......................................

Create new profile 167........................................

Save profile 168.............................................

Modifying a profile 168.......................................

Zoom and pan 169...........................................

References 170...................................................

Toolbar, left 170.............................................

Toolbar, bottom 171..........................................

EA2NEPTUNE 172.................................................

Introduction 172.............................................

Use 172....................................................

Datagrams description 173.....................................

TELEGRAM AND DATA FORMATS 174............................

Overview 174....................................................

Numeric presentation 175.....................................

Data encapsulation 176.......................................

File and directory names 177...................................

Raw data format 179.........................................

Out data file 183.............................................

xyz data file 186.............................................

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VII

EA 400

Echogram data file 188.......................................

NMEA datagrams 189........................................

Annotation datagram 192......................................

Remote Control datagram 193..................................

Tide datagram (real time draft) 194..............................

Output datagrams 195........................................

Echogram datagram 200.......................................

Status datagram 201..........................................

Georef Output datagram 202...................................

Navigation Output datagram 204................................

Motion Sensor datagram 205...................................

Sound Speed datagrams 206...................................

Sound speed output 210.......................................

Attitude 211................................................

Temperature sensor - output 215................................

VIII

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SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

Introduction

This chapter provides a brief introduction to the EA 400
hydrographic echosounder system.

Topics

→ Overview, page 2
→ System drawing, page 4
→ Wave propagation, page 9
→ Bottom echo, page 11
→ Sidescan, page 13
→ Observation range, page 14
→ Technical specifications, page 15

System description

Important notice

Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows are
either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

Echosounder software version

This manual complies to echo sounder software version 2.3.0.x.

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1

EA 400

System overview

Key facts

The EA 400 is a single or multi frequency echo sounder
designed for the professional hydrography community. It can
operate with maximum four frequency channels simultanously.

• The EA 400 system is flexible and easy to configure due to
the modular design.

• The EA 400 is available in two versions. The standard EA
400 system uses a 15 inch LCD with integrated computer,
while the EA 400SP are portable systems.

• The complete EA 400SP is housed in a small rugged
suitcase, IP rated to IP56. It can be operated from a standard
car battery. The power consumption is low. All connections
are made through plugs at one side of the suitcase.

• Echo sounders ranging from relatively low-cost single beam
to large multi-frequency systems can be realised.

• Menus and dialogue boxes are operated with a standard
computer mouse and keyboard.

• Large colour liquid crystal displays (LCD) are used. A
standard computer mouse may be used.

• The EA 400 uses the Microsoft Windows® display interface.
Operation is to a large extent self-explanatory. Getting started
is easy if you are familiar with standard Microsoft
Windows® programs.

• A store/replay function reduces the need for echogram
printout on paper. The unprocessed transducer signal is
recorded on the internal harddisk. During replay, this signal
is injected into the EA 400 processing software as if it
arrived directly from the transceiver.

Main units

The standard EA 400 hydrographic echo sounder consists of one
or more transducers, a General Purpose Transceiver (GPT) and
an LCD unit with integrated computer.

• Transducers are available at frequencies ranging from 38 to
710 kHz.

2

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System description

• The General Purpose Transceiver (GPT) contains transmitter
and receiver electronics. It can be configured for single beam
operation. The receivers are designed for low noise, and they
can handle input signals spanning a very large instantaneous
dynamic amplitude range of 160 dB. All targets are correctly
measured and displayed. Output transmit power per
frequency channel is maximum 2 kW per channel.

• A twisted pair Ethernet cable connects the General Purpose
Transceiver (GPT) with the computer. The distance between
the computer and the GPT can be extended up to 100 meters.

• If more than one transceiver is used, a small Ethernet HUB
or switch is used to connect the General Purpose Transceivers
to the computer.

• Most of the echo sounder functions are implemented in
software. The bottom detection algorithm is implemented
solely in software with separate computation for each
frequency channel.

• When a portable computer is used, the power output is
maximum 1 kW per channel (Optionally, 2 kW is available).

• A rugged and/or splash proof suitcase houses the portable
version, this suitcase contains both the computer and the
General Purpose Transceiver (GPT). The GPT can be
operated from a standard car battery (+12 Vdc) . The PC to
be run from internal battery if the system should maintain the
IP rate.

• Interfaces are provided for depth telegram output as well as
navigation data, temperature sensor and motion sensor inputs.
An external push button may be connected for manually start
and stop of the survey lines.

• An external push button may be added for manual control of
the event triggering.

• Socket interface is included. To run the EA 400 software and
other software (for example survey- or classification
software) on the same computer, this socket interface is
required for data transmission between the software
packages.

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3

EA 400

System diagrams

The following system diagrams are provided:

• EA 400 with one transceiver

• EA 400 with two transceivers

• EA 400 with Hydrographic Operator Station (HOS) and two

transceivers

• EA 400SP portable system

4

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System description

System diagram with one transceiver

1) Display unit 2) Processor unit 3) General Purpose Tr ansceiver (GPT) 4) Transducers

1

(CD5014G)

2

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3

4

5

EA 400

System diagram with two transceivers

1) Display unit 2) Processor unit 3) General Purpose Transceiver (GPT)

4) Transducers 5) Ethernet HUB or switch

1

5

2

(CD5014H)

33

44

6

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System description

System diagram with Hydrographic Operator Station (HOS) and two transceivers

1) Hydrographic Operator Station (HOS) 2) General Purpose Transceiver (GPT)

3) Ethernet HUB or switch 4) Transducers A) Navigational data B) Motion sensor data

A
B

1

3

(CD5015I)

22

44

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7

EA 400

A

Portable system. IP56-rated suitcase with standard laptop or rugged notebook.

1) Portable computer 3) General Purpose Transceiver (GPT) 4) Transducers
A) COM 1 (Navigation) B) COM 2 (Input/output) C) 12 VDC power D) Connector
E) USB connector (Mouse)

B

1

C

D
E

(CD24209)

3

D

D

44

8

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Wave propagation

The velocity of sound wave propagation in the sea varies
slightly with temperature, salinity and pressure. The velocity
varies between 1440 and 1520 m/s in shallow sea water, while a
velocity around 1480 m/s can be expected at 1000 m depth. In
shallow fresh water the velocity is approximately 1430 m/s.

A good average value to be used in the Environment dialogue
box is 1500 m/s.

Figure 1 The
wave propagation
principles

System description

The EA 400 transmits high energy sound wave pulses into the
sea. A f lat bottom reflects the transmitted wave as if it were a
mirror. The propagating energy is spread over a larger and larger
area as it travels down to the bottom and up again. The energy is
spread over a four times larger area every time the travel
distance doubles.

At the bottom there are many small targets. All targets within
the beam angle will be reflected. The area which is covered by
the beam will increase with the square-law or 20 log TVG
(Time Varying Gain) spreading. Bottom of the same type (same
backscatter) will be displayed with the same colour independent
of the depth.

The situation is slightly different when observing the echoes
from individual fish. The transmitted wave undergoes
square-law spreading when travelling from the surface and
down to the fish. The swim bladder of the fish scatters a small
fraction of the arriving energy in all directions. Travelling from
the fish and back towards the surface the scattered wave
undergoes another square-law spreading. The combined effect is
referred to as quad-law or 40 log TVG spreading.

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9

EA 400

Propagation losses due to absorption are much higher in sea
water than in fresh water. Absorption also increases with
frequency. At 38 kHz the absorption is 0.5 dB/km in fresh water
and 10 dB/km in sea water. At 200 kHz the absorption is 10
dB/km in fresh water and 50 dB/km in salt water. The echo
sounder must know which water type is present in order to
compensate for these losses correctly.

(The dB (decibel) unit has long traditions in underwater
acoustics and other fields in physics. It is a logarithmic measure
for the ratio between two quantities).

Related topics

→ Environment, page 105
→ Echogram, page 100

10

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Bottom echo

Figure 2
Bottom echo

System description

A hard flat bottom reflects the transmitted signal as if it were a
mirror. T he transmitted pulse hits the illuminated bottom area at
nearly the same instant, and the echo from different parts of this
area arrive back at the surface also at nearly the same instant.

The received echo signal is basically an attenuated copy of the
short transmit pulse. The echo signal from a sloped bottom is
characterised by having a longer duration and a slower rise and
fall time. The transmitted pulse first hits the slope at point A,
and as time elapses the reflection point travels along the slope
towards point B. Many locations do not have a solid hard
bottom. Frequently, the bottom is composed of layers of mud,
clay and sand which can be observed as coloured bands on the
echo sounder display.

The bottom detection algorithm is implemented solely in
software, and separate algorithms are run for each frequency
channel. The algorithm is designed with emphasis on reliability
in the sense that erroneous depth detections are never output.
Whenever the quality of a detection is questionable the
algorithm outputs a depth of 0.00 to indicate that no reliable
detection was obtained. The EA 400 algorithm is designed to
handle a number of difficult situations. The algorithm maintains
bottom lock for a discontinuous jump in bottom depth. It avoids
false bottom detections on a dense school of fish. The algorithm
chooses the upper boundary of the first layer when the bottom
consists of layers.

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11

EA 400

The bottom detection algorithm locks to the first good bottom
return. The depth at point A rather than the depth along the
transducer axis will be output for a sloped bottom. The detected
depth value is always smaller than the depth along the
transducer axis implying that a safety margin is automatically
included.

12

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Sidescan

System description

Specially designed transducers for hull or over-the-side
mounting are available from Kongsberg Maritime for sidescan
operation. The operating frequency is 120 or 200 kHz.

Figure 3 The
sidescan principle

A sonar side looking type of image is generated on the echo
sounder display when pointing this transducer near horizontally.
With a beam width of 50 degrees vertically and only 0.5 or 2
degrees horizontally the scanning sector is narrow enough to
resolve relatively small objects on the sea floor, but wide
enough to allow higher survey speeds than with conventional
side looking echo sounders. Bottom elevations and objects are
immediately recognised on the echo sounder colour display.
Side scan operation can be used for wreck searching and for
surveying navigable channels for obstacles. Monitoring
riverbanks, erosion, land slides and flow induced sediment
deposits are other useful applications.

The software in the EA 400 is prepared for dual sidescan
operation and presentation. The sidescan data is captured and
stored in a digital format. This allows for further data processing
to a sidescan sonar mosaic image by combining data from a
number of survey lines. It is even possible to allocate one or two
vertical channels for normal echo sounding while doing the dual
acoustic imaging.

857-160981 / J

Note that the EA 400P and EA 400SP are limited to either dual
sidescan or single sidescan with one vertical channel.

13

EA 400

Observation range

Absorption increases dramatically with frequency in salt water.
For maximum observation range you should select a low
operating frequency, a large transducer and the maximum
transmit power.

Maximum detection depth

Transducer
type

38--7 38 4 7 766 2000 3000

38--9 38 4 9 766 1500 2600

38/200D 38 4 13x21 766 1000 2100

50/200D 50 2 10x16 1493 1000 1400

50--18 50 2 18 1526 500 1400

50--7 50 2 7 1493 2000 1900

120--25 120 1 10 3026 1000 800

200--7 200 1 7 3088 1000 500

710--36 710 1 2.8 3088 100 50

38/200 200 1 7 3026 1000 450

50/200 200 1 7 3088 1000 450

Frequency,

kHz

Pulse
duration,
ms

Beam
angle,
degrees

Band
width,
Hz

Transmit
power,
W

Range
bottom,
m

Typical observation ranges are shown in the table. Bottom
detection can be expected to work down to 3000 meters when
using the Simrad 38-7 transducer (37 kHz, 7x7 degrees, 2000
W). However, bottom detection becomes unreliable below 450
meters if you use the Simrad 50/200D transducer (200 kHz,
7x7 degrees, 1000 W)

14

These range calculations assume a normal sea water salinity
(3.5%) and temperature (+10 degC), an average bottom (surface
backscattering strength = -20 dB) and a noise level typical for a
moving vessel.

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Technical specifications

The following is a summary of the technical specifications for
the EA 400 echo sounder. Note that the specifications may be
changed without prior warning.

Topics

→ Portable system, page 16
→ Echo sounder system, page 17
→ Interfaces, page 18
→ General Purpose Transceiver (GPT), page 19
→ Processor Unit, page 20
→ Operator Station, page 21
→ PC for Portable system, page 22
→ Ethernet HUB, page 23

System description

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15

EA 400

Portable echo sounder system

• Frequency channels: 1 or 2 channels

• Operating frequencies: 33, 38, 50, 120, 200, 210 and

710 kHz

• Echogram types

- Surface echogram

- Bottom expansion

• Gain function: 20 log TVG, 30 log TVG, 40 log TVG or
None

• Colour scale: 12 colours (3 dB pr colour)

• Start depth and range: 5 to 15,000 meters in Manual, Auto

range or Auto start modes.

• Ping rate: Adjustable, maximum 20 pings per second

• Bottom detector: Software tracking algorithm, adjustable

minimum and maximum depth

• Scope presentation: Displays the echo strength of the most
recent ping.

16

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System description

Echosounder system

• Frequency channels: 1, 2, 3 or 4 channels

• Operating frequencies: 33, 38, 50, 120, 200, 210 and

710 kHz

• Echogram types:

- Surface echogram

- Bottom expansion

• Gain function: 20 log TVG, 30 log TVG, 40 log, TVG or
None.

• Ping rate: Adjustable, maximum 20 pings per second.

• Start depth and range: 5 to 15,000 meters in Manual, Auto

range or Auto start modes.

• Scope presentation: Displays the echo strength of the most
recent ping.

• Colour scale: 12 colours (3 dB pr colour)

• Bottom detector: Software tracking algorithm, adjustable

minimum and maximum depth

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17

EA 400

External interfaces

Numerous external interfaces are provided for the EA 400 echo
sounder system.

Outputs

• Echogram printer (Centronics parallel)

• Depth data (NMEA, Simrad or Atlas)

• Echogram (only on Ethernet)

• Navigation

• Relay navigation

• Motion sensor

• Status messages

• Annotation

• Sound Velocity Profile applied

• Temperature sensor

• Remote display

• Raw data (only Ethernet) (Classification)

• GeoRef data (only network)

Inputs

• Navigation receiver (NMEA)

• Heading (NMEA)

• Motion sensor (Heave, roll and pitch)

• Analogue heave, roll and pitch (+/- 10 V)

• Annotation

• Sound Velocity Profile

• Real time SVP smart sensor

• Transmit synchronization

• Temperature sensor

• Remote On/Off logging

• Remote On/Off pinging

18

• Remote On/Off history

Remote control toggle switches

• Survey Line

• Event

• Remote power

• Transmit synchronization

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