Simrad ER60 User Manual

Operator manual

Simrad ER60 Scientific echo sounder application

www.simrad.com

M A X I M I Z I N G Y O U R P E R F O R M A N C E A T S E A

850-164692

ER60

Scientific echo sounder

Operator manual

About this document

Rev Date Written by Checked by Approved by

Rev.B

28.09.04 RBr LNA LNA

Revised for new software version 2.1.0.

Simrad 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.

No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or otherwise copied without prior permission from Simrad AS.

Simrad AS Strandpromenaden 50 Box 111 N-3191 Horten

Telephone: +47 33 03 40 00 Facsim il e: +47 33 04 29 87

M A X I M I Z I N G Y O U R P E R F O R M A N C E A T S E A

Sections

1 Application d escription

This chapter provides a very short description of the ER60 Scientific echo sounder. Refer to page 1.

2Displayviews

ThevariousviewspresentedbytheER60Scientificechosounderareexplained. Refer to page 2.

3 Operational procedures

This chapter holds a selection of common procedures covering the key functions of the ER60. Refer t o page 15.

4 Menus

The ER60 is operated using a set of menus, short-cut menus and dialogue boxes. This chapter lists the menus with page references to the applicable dialogue boxes and/or functions. Refer to page 41.

Operator manual

5 Dialogue boxes and functions

This chapter holds reference information describing the dialogue boxes and functionsindetail.Thetopicsarelistedin alphabetical order. Refertopage46.

6Datainterfaces

Thischapterdetailsthe variousdataformatsandinterfaces. Refertopage132.

850-164692 / Rev.B

III

Simrad ER60 Operator manual

APPLICATION DESCRIPTION 1................................

General 1................................................

DISPLAY VIEWS 2..............................................

Introduction 2.............................................

Display organisation 3......................................

Main menu 4.............................................

Toolbar 5................................................

Status bar 6...............................................

Channel windows overview 7................................

Depth 8..................................................

Single Target Position 9.....................................

Single Target Histogram 10...................................

Echogram 11..............................................

Scope 12..................................................

Colour scale 13.............................................

Numerical 14..............................................

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES 15................................

Introduction 15.............................................

Power on/off 16............................................

Basic operations 18.........................................

Transceiver installation 20....................................

Data recording and playback 21................................

Calibration 24..............................................

Noise measurements at sea 36.................................

MENUS 41........................................................

Introduction 41.............................................

Drop-down menus 42........................................

Short-cut menus 44.........................................

DIALOGUE BOXES AND FUNCTIONS 46........................

General 46................................................

Alphabetical list 47.........................................

About 48..................................................

Add User 49...............................................

Annotation 50..............................................

Bottom Detection 52........................................

Bottom Range 53...........................................

Calculation Interval 54.......................................

Cascade 55................................................

Close All 56...............................................

850-164692 / Rev.B

Operator manual

Colour Scale 57............................................

Colours 59................................................

Configure Statusbar 60.......................................

Configure Window 61.......................................

Contents 62...............................................

Data Source 63.............................................

Delete Layer 65............................................

Depth Output 66............................................

Echogram 67..............................................

EK500 Datagram 73.........................................

Environment 77............................................

Ethernet Output 78..........................................

Exit 79...................................................

File Output 80.............................................

HAC Datagram 85..........................................

Hide View 86..............................................

Histogram 87..............................................

Horizontal Axis 88..........................................

LAN Port setup 89..........................................

Layer Properties 90.........................................

Load Setting 92............................................

Log Out 94................................................

Motion 95.................................................

Navigation 96..............................................

New channel 100............................................

New Layer 101..............................................

Normal Operation 102........................................

Numerical View 104..........................................

Ping Control 105............................................

Port Management 107........................................

Print 109...................................................

Print Preview 110............................................

Remoting 111...............................................

Replay 114.................................................

Save Settings 115............................................

Serial Port Setup 116.........................................

Single Target Detection 117....................................

Surface Range 119...........................................

Tile 120...................................................

850-164692 / Rev.B

Simrad ER60 Operator manual

Toolbar 121................................................

Tooltip 122.................................................

Transceiver Installation 123....................................

Transducer Parameters 126....................................

Trawl 127..................................................

User Properties 128..........................................

Users and passwords 129......................................

Warnings 131...............................................

DATA INTERFACES 132...........................................

Overview 132....................................................

Numeric type definition 133.........................................

Raw data 134.....................................................

Overview 134...............................................

Data encapsulation 135.......................................

Configuration datagram 136...................................

NMEA datagram 138.........................................

Annotation datagram 139......................................

Sample datagram 140.........................................

Data subscriptions and remote control 141..............................

Introduction 141.............................................

Overview 141...............................................

Requesting server information 143..............................

Connecting to server 144......................................

Keep connection alive 146.....................................

Issue commands on server 147.................................

Subscription of data 150......................................

Parameter management 155....................................

Disconnecting from server 158.................................

Data subscription types 159..........................................

Introduction 159.............................................

Bottom detection 160.........................................

Target strength detection 161...................................

Sample data 163.............................................

Echogram 165..............................................

Targets echogram 166........................................

Integration 167..............................................

Targets integration 168........................................

Parameter description 170...........................................

Introduction 170.............................................

Descriptions 170.............................................

850-164692 / Rev.B

APPLICATION DESCRIPTION

General

The Simrad ER60 scientific echo sounder application is designed for fishery research and incorporates the following primary features:

• Transceiver operation control

• Sensor input control

• Information display (echograms and numerical data)

• Data output and record control

• Replay of previously recorded data

Important notice

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

Application description

Echo sounder software version

This manual complies to echo sounder software version 2.1.0.

850-164692 / Rev.B

Simrad ER60 Operator manual

DISPLAY VIEWS

Introduction

This chapter provides a brief overview of the information displayed by the ER60, and how it is organised.

Topics

→ Display organisation, page 3 → Main menu, page 4 → Toolbar, page 5 → Status bar, page 6 → Channel windows overview, page 7

Channel windows

→ Depth, page 8 → Single Target Position, page 9 → Single Target Histogram, page 10 → Echogram, page 11 → Scope, page 12 → Colour scale, page 13 → Numerical, page 14

850-164692 / Rev.B

Display views

Display organisation

The ER60 display is organised as follows (from top):

• Main menu

• Tool bar

• A number of Channel windows

• Status bar

A display with two channels windows is shown as an example.

850-164692 / Rev.B

Simrad ER60 Operator manual

Main menu

The ER60 Main menu is located at the top of the echo sounder window.

To operate, click on the menu name and observe the drop-down menu. Select a new item on the drop-down menu by clicking on the command.

Commands shown with light grey colour are unavailable in the present configuration or operational mode.

A detailed description of the commands available from the main menu is given in the Reference guide.

Related topics

→ Main menu commands, page 41

850-164692 / Rev.B

Display views

Toolbar

The Toolbar is located directly underneath, or next to the main menu. A number of dedicated buttons allow for easy access to the most frequently used functions.

Two toolbars may be applied, Normal operation and Easy operation. The toolbar selection is made by the Toolbar command on the View menu. Note that Normal operation is not available during replay.

The functions (from left) and their equivalent dialogue buttons and controls are listed in the table below.

Easy operation Equivalent Dialogue

Start pinging Start Ping control

Perform single ping Single step Ping control

Stop pinging Stop Ping control

Set ping rate Ping rate Ping control

Start raw data recording Save raw data File output

Stop raw data recording Save raw data File output

Initiate annotation Annotation text input Annotation

Generate event Annotation

Normal operation Equivalent Dialogue

Select channel XX XX

Select mode Mode Normal Operation

Related topics

→ File Output, page 80 → Normal Operation, page 102

850-164692 / Rev.B

→ Ping Control, page 105 → Toolbar, page 121

Simrad ER60 Operator manual

Status bar

The Status bar is located at the bottom of the display. It presents messages from the echo sounder system as well as a warning field at the right hand side.

Enable

The Status bar can be enabled or disabled with the Status bar choice on the View menu, and configured by clicking the right mouse button while the cursor is located within the Status bar borders.

Information

(CD6974G)

When all information has been enabled, the Status bar will display (from left):

• Current messages

• Current Pitch in degrees (P: 0.0°)

• Current Roll in degrees (R: 0.0°)

• Current Heave in meters (0.00 m)

• Event number

• Current Speed in knots (7.0 kts)

• Distance in nautical miles (1325.439 nmi)

• Geographical position (68°26’515 N...)

• Recording status (RECORD OFF)

• Current time (16:06:36)

Warnings and errors

The Warnings field on the far right side of the Status bar is a button. When a warning has been issued, the button will be lit with a colour and a text indicating the nature of the message. To investigate further, click the button.

Related topics

→ Configure Statusbar, page 60 → Warnings, page 131

850-164692 / Rev.B

Display views

Channel windows overview

The ER60 Channel window is the main information bearer on the echo sounder display.

Topics

Each Channel window contains the following views:

→ Depth, page 8 → Single Target Position, page 9 → Single Target Histogram, page 10 → Echogram, page 11 → Scope, page 12 → Colour scale, page 13 → Numerical, page 14

850-164692 / Rev.B

Simrad ER60 Operator manual

Depth

The Depth view comprises the horizontal view directly below the Toolbar. The view displays the current depth.

If you click the right mouse button with the cursor position within this view, a dedicated shortcut menu will appear. If you press the middle mouse button, the Bottom Detection dialogue box will open.

Related topics

(CD6974A)

→ Channel windows overview, page 7 → Shortcut menu, page 44 → Bottom Detection dialogue, page 52

850-164692 / Rev.B

Display views

Single Target Position

The Single Target Position view is normally located in the top left corner.

This view shows the position within the beam of the detected single echoes for the current ping (largest circles) and the three previous pings (smaller circles), all in the active layer. The colours used to display this information are determined from current target strength (TS) value and the settings in the Colour scale.

If you place the cursor inside the view, a small yellow label will appear to give you a detailed readout of certain information. The Tooltip dialogue defines which information that will be shown.

(CD6974B)

If you click the right mouse button with the cursor position within this view, a dedicated shortcut menu will appear. If you press the middle mouse button, the Single Target Detection dialogue box will open.

Related topics

→ Channel windows, page 7 → Colour Scale, page 13 → Shortcut menu, page 44 → Layer properties, page 90 → Single Target Detection, page 117 → Tooltip, page 122

850-164692 / Rev.B

Simrad ER60 Operator manual

Single Target Histogram

The Single Target Histogram view is normally located in the bottom left corner of the display presentation.

The histogram plot shows a visualisation of the target strength (TS) distribution for the single echoes detected in the Echogram view The colours used to display this information are determined from the current target strength (TS) value and the settings in the Colour scale. The statistics are based on the active layer and the current calculation interval.

If you place the cursor inside the view, a small yellow label will appear to give you a detailed readout of certain information. The Tooltip dialogue defines which information that will be shown.

(CD6974C)

Related topics

→ Channel windows, page 7 → Colour Scale, page 13 → Shortcut menu, page 44 → Calculation interval, page 54 → Layer Properties, page 90 → Single Target Detection, page 117 → Tooltip, page 122

850-164692 / Rev.B

Display views

Echogram

The Echogram view will normally dominate the echo sounder display.

The Echogram contains information about the acoustical values. The settings in the Colour Scale is used to present the information.

If you place the cursor inside the view, a small yellow label will appear to give you a detailed readout of certain information. The Tooltip dialogue defines which information that will be shown.

If you click the right mouse button with the cursor position within this view, a dedicated shortcut menu will appear. If you press the middle mouse button, the Echogram dialogue box will open.

(CD6974D)

Related topics

→ Channel window, page 7 → Colour Scale, page 13 → Shortcut menu, page 44 → Echogram, page 67 → Tooltip, page 122

850-164692 / Rev.B

Simrad ER60 Operator manual

Scope

The Scope view is normally located on the right side of the Echogram view.

The Scope view provides a logarithmic oscilloscope visualization of the last ping. The presentation corresponds to the current settings in the Echogram view.

The Scope view draws a range of horizontal symmetrical colour lines. The distance from the vertical center axis and the line colour reflects the received echo scatter.

If you place the cursor inside the view, a small yellow label will appear to give you a detailed readout of certain information. The Tooltip dialogue defines which information that will be shown.

If you click the right mouse button with the cursor position within this view, a dedicated shortcut menu will appear.

(CD6974E)

Related topics

→ Channel windows overview, page 7 → Echogram view, page 11 → Shortcut menu, page 45 → Tooltip dialogue, page 122

850-164692 / Rev.B

Display views

Colour scale

The Colour scale view is normally located on the left side of the Echogram view.

The Colour scale view visualizes the mapping of echo strength into one out of 12 colours, light blue for weak signals and dark brown for strong signals. Basically, each discrete colour represents a 3 dB range of echo signal strength implying that the next colour is selected every time the echo strength doubles. However, as the number of colours can differ, and dedicated colour schemes can be used, this is not necessarily correct

A high numeric TVG value displays weak echo signals properly while the stronger signals saturate into dark brown colour. A low numeric value displays strong echo signals properly. Weak signals below the lower limit of the colour scale are not displayed (the display background colour is used).

(CD6974F)

If you place the cursor inside the view, a small yellow label will appear to give you a detailed readout of certain information. The Tooltip dialogue defines which information that will be shown.

If you click the right mouse button with the cursor position within this view, a dedicated shortcut menu will appear. If you click the middle button, the Colour Scale dialogue box opens.

Related topics

→ Channel window, page 7 → Colour Scale, page 57 → Shortcut menu, page 45 → Tooltip, page 122

850-164692 / Rev.B

Simrad ER60 Operator manual

Numerical

The Numerical view is normally located on the far right side of the display.

The Numerical view provides listing with all the various parameters applicable for the current mode and operation.

The following lists are available: Transducer - T ypical specifications

for the active transducer Transceiver - Typical specifications

for the transceiver Environment - displays the current

readout from the active sensors

(CD6974G)

Layers - Current parameters from the active layers.

If you click the right mouse button with the cursor position within this view, a dedicated shortcut menu will appear.

Related topics

→ Channel windows, page 7 → Shortcut menu, page 45 → Numerical View, page 104

850-164692 / Rev.B

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

Introduction

This chapter contains a number of specific procedures to be used with your ER60 echo sounder.

Topics

→ Power on/off, page 16 → Basic operations, page 18 → Transceiver installation, page 20 → Data recording and playback, page 21 → Noise measurements at sea, page 36

Operational procedures

850-164692 / Rev.B

Simrad ER60 Operator manual

Power on/off

Use the following procedures to switch the ER60 echo sounder on and off.

Power on

It is assumed that the echo sounder’s hardware and software are properly installed and configured.

1 Switch power on.

- The location of the power switches are individually

2 Observe the hardware test messages and operating system

3 Start the ER60 program. 4 If the Login dialogue box appears, enter username and

assigned. The computer has its own power switch. The transceiver(s) must be connected to separate power supplies, and should have a remote power switch.

start-up messages.

password.

5 On the Operation menu, select Normal. 6 Once the echo sounder is running, start pinging by

pressing the “arrow” (") symbol on the toolbar.

Set-up

If no channels appear in the Normal Operation dialogue, observe the following procedure:

1 Open the Transceiver Installation dialogue box from the

Install menu 2 Check that all frequency channels are properly installed. 3 Open the Normal Operation dialogue box from the

Operation menu. 4 Check the operational mode for each of the installed

channels. Adjust as required. 5 Open the Window menu, and select New channel to open

a new channel window.

Power off

To switch off the ER60 echo sounder, observe the following procedure.

1 Select Exit on the File menu. 2 Allow the computer to close all the ER60 software

applications.

- If desired, ER60 can be restarted using the desktop icon.

850-164692 / Rev.B

Operational procedures

3 Switch off the power on the General Purpose Transceiver

(GPT) and other peripherals (if any).

When the ER60 software has closed down, you need to close down the computer as well.

1 ClickontheStart button in the lower left corner of the

display.

2 Exit the operating system in the normal matter. 3 When notified, switch off the power.

Related topics

→ Toolbar, page 5 → Normal Operation, page 102 → Transceiver Installation, page 123

850-164692 / Rev.B

Simrad ER60 Operator manual

Basic operations

This chapter presents a number of common procedures frequently carried out on the ER60 echo sounder.

Changing the echogram settings

To change the echogram settings:

1 Position the cursor in the Echogram view. 2 Click the right mouse button. 3 Select Echogram from the shortcut menu, and observe the

4 Make the desired changes. 5 Click Ok.

Changing the range

To change the range:

Echogram dialogue box.

1 Position the cursor in the Echogram view. 2 Click the right mouse button. 3 Select Range on the shortcut menu. 4 Observe either the Bottom Detection or Surface Range

dialogue box depending on the current setting.

5 Make the required changes 6 Click Ok.

Changing the vertical resolutio n

The vertical resolution of the echogram increases with a shorter pulse duration.

Example: A pulse duration of 1.024 millisecond gives a vertical resolution of 19.2 cm, whereas a pulse duration of 0.256 millisecond gives a vertical resolution of 4.8 cm. If the vertical distance between two echoes is less than this, the two echoes will be shown as one

Observe the following procedure to change the pulse duration: 1 Click Operation on the main menu, and select Normal.

- Observe that the Normal Operation dialogue opens.

2 Set the desired pulse duration for each of the frequency

channels.

3 Click Ok. A small value gives the best resolution, while larger values

provides you with a longer detection range.

850-164692 / Rev.B

Operational procedures

Setting minimum and maximum depth

Setting the minimum and maximum depth enables the echo sounder to search for bottom lock.

Note Setting both Minimum Depth and Maximum Depth to 0 m will

turn off bottom detection.

1 Position the cursor over the depth information in the

Depth view.

2 Click the right

mouse button.

3 Select Bottom Detector from the shortcut menu. 4 Set minimum and maximum depth to the desired values. 5 Click Ok.

Related topics

→ Bottom Detection, page 52. → Echogram, page 67. → Normal Operation, page 102. → Surface Range, page 119.

850-164692 / Rev.B

Simrad ER60 Operator manual

Transceiver installation

Use the following procedures to install, modify or delete frequency channels from the echo sounder set-up.

Background

General Purpose Transceivers (GPT) physically connected to the echo sounder’s ethernet interface are identified automatically by the system. When you open the Transceiver Installation dialogue box from the Install menu, a list will be provided.

A single frequency transceiver occupies one entry in the list. This entry is identified as a Frequency Channel, and the line displays the parameters for the channel. Entries in the frequency channel list are shown in black, green, blue or red colour identifying its current status.

To install a channel

1 Select Transceiver on the Install menu.

-TheTransceiver Installation dialogue box opens, and you are allowed to make changes.

2 Click the desired entry (one of the black colour line

alternatives) in the Frequency Channel Selection list.

3 Assign a transducer by selecting a transducer name in the

Transducer Selection list.

4 Click OK.

To uninstall a channel

1 Select Transceiver on the Install menu.

-TheTransceiver Installation dialogue box opens, and you are allowed to make changes.

2 Click the desired entry in the Frequency Channel

Selection list.

3 Select the alternative NONE in the Transducer Selection

list.

4 Click OK.

Related topics

→ Transceiver Installation, page 123

850-164692 / Rev.B

Operational procedures

Data recording and playback

Background

You can set up the echo sounder to record unprocessed transducer signals (sample data) and external sensor information onto files. These files contain the necessary information to reconstruct the situation during the real survey. The echo sounder program reads these files during replay.

Recording

Prepar

ations

The recording is prepared as follows.

1 Open the Output menu, and select File. 2 Observe the Output File dialogue open. 3 Select the tab Directory and push the Browse button if

you wish to change the direcory to which the files are stored.

4 Press the Raw Data tab to define how the raw data is to

be recorded:

- Save raw data: Start/stop recording of raw data.

- Range: Select the depth range to be recorded. This range, referring to the transducer face, is independent of any other range settings in the echo sounder.

- Echogram data: This is user defined excerpts of the processed sample data (pixel data), ie the backscatter value of the targets. The echograms are stored as time tagged datagrams in separate files.

5 If necessary, limit the maximum size of a single file.

- The current file will be closed and a new file will be automatically generated when either the Max vessel

distance or the Max. file size limit is reached.

6 Click OK to exit the dialogue.

850-164692 / Rev.B

Start and stop recording

Use either the Toolbar buttons or the Save raw data check box in the File Output dialogue to start or stop recording of data.

Note on size of stored raw data

The size of the raw data files stored depends on several user selections. From these selections you may estimate approximately the total amount of raw data stored in a given time period for each installed channel using the following equation:

X = B bytes per sample * (8*R)/(c*tau) samples per ping * M ping per sec * 24 * 3600 sec per day

Simrad ER60 Operator manual

where:

X = Total amount of stored raw data in bytes for one channel B = 4 (Given by the resolution of the sample data) R = Selected range in meters (User defined) c = Sound speed in water in meters per sec (User defined) tau = Pulse duration in seconds (User defined) M = Ping rate in ping per seconds (User defined)

Thus, you can affect the amount of stored raw data by changing e.g. the range, pulse duration, and ping rate settings.

Playback of a single file

The playback is started as follows: 1 Open the Operation menu, and select Replay.

- Observe the Replay dialogue.

2 Select the single file to be played.

- If no file is listed, click the Add button to select. Note that only one replay file can be listed if this single file shall be replayed.

3 Click Loop if you wish to loop through the selected file

endlessly.

4 Click OK. 5 Click the Play buttonintheToolbar.

During playback, the ping rate is not limited by the speed of sound in water. Hence, it is possible to select a higher ping rate than during normal operation.

Playback of multiple files

The playback is started as follows: 1 Open the Operation menu, and select Replay.

- Observe the Replay dialogue.

2 Click the Add button to select playback files

- You can place any number of files in the list in the Replay dialogue.

3 Click the first file you wish to play back. 4 Click Loop if you wish to loop through the the files

endlessly.

5 Click OK. 6 Click the Play buttonintheToolbar.

850-164692 / Rev.B

+ 152 hidden pages