Operation Manual
FarSounder, Inc.
F31552 (Rev. 2.6.1)
Page 30 of 56
the alarm trigger volume. The Max Depth, Min Range, and Max Range settings are displayed using the unit
of measure defined in the Configuration Manager's System Settings.
Like any marine sensor (radar, echo sounder, etc) the FarSounder sonar systems may detect spurious
noises. These "noises" include reflections from bubbles in the water column and small bits of debris in the
water. The alarm hit number specifies the number of pings in a row that a target must be detected within
the alarm volume to trigger the alarm. By specifying a number higher than 1 for the hit number, false alarms
can be reduced. For every ping with a detection within the alarm volume an internal counter is incremented.
For every ping without a detection within the volume the internal counter is decremented until reaching a
minimum value of 0. If the counter value reaches the hit number specified by the user, the alarm is triggered.
The last configuration option is check box called "Blink Screen On Alarm". When checked, the 3D Sonar
Display screen will blink if the alarm is triggered. If not, the display will not blink. This setting does not affect
the audible alarm notification.
Alarm Operation
Once configured, the alarm is simple to use. The alarm can be turned on by clicking the "Alarm" button in
the Menu Bar at the top of the 3D Sonar Display window. Once active, the alarm conditions will take effect.
The alarm will ONLY be triggered if the button is set to active. When active, the alarm button is depressed.
Figure 22. Alarm acknowledge button
Should the alarm be triggered, a warning will sound, the 3D Sonar Display window will blink blue, and an
alarm acknowledge message box will appear in the lower left corner of the sonar viewer window. Simply click
the "acknowledge alarm" message box to acknowledge and temporarily silence the alarm. For example,
the vessel may be passing by a shallow area which triggers the alarm. After the user acknowledges the
alarm, it will not sound again even if alarm conditions are met until the alarm acknowledge time has passed.
If alarm conditions still exist after the alarm acknowledge time has passed, the alarm will sound again.
5.5. Menu Bar Controls
Processor Settings
Click this button to toggle display of the Processor Settings toolbar (see section entitled "3D Sonar
Processing Options).
Standard/3D View
Click this button to toggle between standard view mode and 3D view mode. By default, both of these modes
map the color of sonar targets to depth, where blue is deep and red is shallow. The user can define these
values with the Color Bar. Additionally, for advanced applications, the color map can be changed so that
color indicates the strength of the received signals from a particular target. In this mode, red is "loud" and
blue is "quiet".
Activate Alarm
When depressed, the alarm is active, and will be triggered by objects in the alarm volume.
