Echotrac MKIII Operator's Manual 4.06
Page 27 of 48
January 21, 2019
5.2.4.3
Chart Width
The Chart Width parameter sets up the limits between which return echoes can be plotted on the chart (End of
Chart - Chart Width). It is also the parameter with perhaps the most influence over the appearance of the record.
One should consider the condition and purpose of the survey when selecting a
Chart Width
value. Selection of
too small a value and too many scale changes appear. Too high a value and too little detail can be seen. It acts
much like the zoom feature on your camera or the graphics program on your computer. “Zooming In” (the
equivalent of small chart widths) gets you lots of detail, but makes it hard to see the whole picture.
5.2.4.4
Chart Speed
The thermal graphics printer is controlled by a dedicated microprocessor giving it independence from both the
digitizer and front panel processors. The
Chart Speed
parameter can therefore move the thermal paper across
the print head in measured increments (inches or centimeters) at speeds (1 thru 15 units per second) that are
independent of the reply rate of the system. When ChartSpeed is set to
Auto
(0), the printer is synchronized to
the Ping Rate and one line of graphics (one dot row) for every sounding cycle is printed.
Auto
therefore provides
the highest sounding print density and best along-track resolution. When using the Deso DDV+C output string, the
chart can be turned on or off with the Deso25 Vessel Speed command VS.
5.2.4.5
Digitizer Line
A digitizer confirmation line can be printed on the chart by enabling this function. The line is printed X number of
units above the bottom. If the Units are set the Meters and the Digitizer Line is set to 2, a line will be printed 2 meters
above the bottom. The low frequency channel line is twice as thick as the high frequency line to differentiate it.
5.2.4.6
Plot Gate
The limits of the tracking gate can be printed on the chart by turning On the Plot Gate feature. Plotting the gate
can be useful in confirming the operation of the digitizer.
5.2.4.7
Annotate
The three choices are available under this parameter:
1) On W Gap
2) On W/O Gap
3) Off
As explained earlier, pressing the Mark switch on the front panel (with Annotation Off) results in a solid line being
printed across the chart. Selection of Annotation With Gap or Without Gap results in the printing of the Mark Line
plus Date, Time, and Depth (High and Low) when the Mark switch is pressed. With Gap means the printer
advances blank chart paper while printing the annotation. This will necessarily interrupt the graphical printing
process, but due to the speed of the printer, only one or two soundings will be missing from the printed record.
This process does not affect the digitizing process so all soundings will continue to be output through the serial
port. With the Without Gap parameter selected, the annotation characters will be printed through the record with
those characters printed during the return appearing in reverse shade (white instead of black).
5.2.4.8
Media Type
Paper or Film is the selectable values here. Depending on the type of media used, one would select Paper for
“Fax” type thermal paper and Film for high resolution, archival thermal film. The Film setting can also use Paper if
the print head is not printing dark enough.
5.2.4.9
Chart Grid
Default is
Coarse
while selection of
Fine
doubles the number of grid lines printed on the chart.
Extra Fine
doubles this number of grid lines an extra time, but this option is only available on the Deso firmware version. This
parameter only affects the grid lines when the Units are set to Meters.
Summary of Contents for Echotrac MKIII
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