New Ultrascan PC180 Forward Looking Sonar now available in Australia

by Jane Arakawa on 10 Mar 2011 New Ultrascan PC180 Forward Looking Multibeam Sonar with True 'live action' speed.

Fast Forward Looking Sonar connects to onboard PC’s or networks via Ethernet and uses two synchronised transducers to create a 180-degree view

Interphase, the leader in award-winning and affordable phased array forward looking sonars for the recreational and light commercial market, introduces a new ultra fast multibeam sonar to the Australian market through Coursemaster Autopilots dealer’s nationally.

Based on breakthrough digital technology, the new PC180 uses two phased array transducers with no moving parts. One transducer is mounted on either side of the vessel’s keel to enable a full 180-degree horizontal scan sector (90-degrees each side of the vessels bow) and allows for easy installation on large cruising yachts, charter boats, trawlers, and other vessels with deep or full keels.

Working like an acoustic underwater radar (except much faster), the new Interphase Ultrascan PC180 functions in three useful modes. The Forward Vertical Scanning mode shows a view from the surface directly ahead of the vessel to the bottom below and is very useful for monitoring changing bottom conditions and detecting fish or other obstacles directly ahead. In the Forward Horizontal Scanning mode, the Interphase Ultrascan PC180 shows a 180 degree view ahead and to each side of the Vessel. Also included is an intuitive split screen view showing the forward vertical scan on the right and a conventional downlooking (or fish finder mode) on the left side of the display.

Interphase’s new Ultrascan technology simultaneously creates all scanning receive beams, with every transmitter ping, resulting in speed improvements of up to two hundred times over conventional sonars that receive only a single receive beam for every transmitter ping. The resulting image is similar to a streaming video with the entire screen updating many times each second.

For coastal cruisers, the Ultrascan PC180 will provide immediate views of the underwater world to the sides and ahead of the vessel to see underwater reefs, rock pinnacles, dead-heads, shallowing water ahead and help navigate underwater channels. Offshore cruisers will find its long range, fast update speed and alarm functions helpful to warn of large underwater obstacles such as coral reefs, whales, overboard shipping containers and finding safe passages through coral reefs.

For both recreational and tournament offshore anglers, the Ultrascan’s unbelievable update speed will prove to be an indispensable tool for heading off a fast-moving school of predator fish. Bluewater fishermen will also find its huge scan coverage invaluable for quickly locating and tracking schools of bait and gamefish or detecting changing bottom conditions and structure.

With over 1,000 watts of average output power and ranges up to 360m ahead, the Ultrascan PC180 is a powerful tool for serious cruisers and fisherman. Ultrascan’s software is loaded with many advanced features such as the ability to record screen captures, record video sequences, track digital depth, receive and display NMEA lat/lon information, and the ability to set audible forward and depth alarms. Navigators can also place the unique screen cursor on any target object and determine its depth and range ahead of the boat.

Interphase’s Ultrascan PC180 also operates as a traditional, downward-looking echosounder, and provides a detailed display of bottom contour and composition, as well as suspended fish targets. This information can be provided on a split screen with simultaneous scanning mode, or full-screen if the navigator desires.

Designed for system integration and expandability, the Interphase Ultrascan PC180 is available now through Coursemaster Autopilots’ dealers nationally. For more information or the name of your local dealer call Coursemaster on 02 9417 Coursemaster website