Bathyvision Service Area

[LordoftheTides]

Does anyone have knowledge of Gulf of America/Mexico Bathyvision coverage for TZX in the TZ Central America & Caribbean chart package?
It does not appear that there is much bathymetric data available for FL West Coast.

Thanks

 

[Johnny Electron]

The packages are not the same coverage areas that C-map uses. The TZ Maps Central America and Caribbean package doesn't cover Florida.

 

[LordoftheTides]

I am not speaking to the CMAP coverage - What I am curious about is how much bottom mapping the bathyvision covers from FL west coast up to Texas. I am just seeing the USA chart has the Gulf of America "coverage" but as mentioned - how much of that has the 3" bathymetry? If it is all covered, I would not need to run PBG DFF3d module

 

[Johnny Electron]

The USA map covers a ton of area. Can you please provide a Lat/Lon that you would like a screen shot?

 

[LordoftheTides]

I mainly fish off West coast FL from a 29.00-25.00 lat / 83.00-84.30 long.
240 miles N&S 90 miles E to W

 

[LordoftheTides]

My predicament with re-fitting my center console is transducer selection with the ability to run PBG.

A combo transducer like the 165T-PM542LHW does not have a narrow enough beam in HF for my liking.. Fishing often in 90-300ft of water, I want to know more so whats underneath me vs off to the sides when I'm spinning my boat around to anchor. This way, I know those fish are right underneath me from my reading. I believe the 455T-PR903 455khz side scan will be invaluable as to what's to the sides of me. Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems these wide beam transducer combos are meant as a swiss army knife but don't necessarily lead the pack in sidescan / bottom capability?

I often fish 600-2000 ft as well so it is a lot of basis to cover in a 36' center console... Hence if the Bathyvision covers most of where I fish, I'm not sure I'll need PBG.... BUT I WANT IT ALL! HA.

My plan was to run a TZX 16 with the 455T-PR903 for dedicated sidescan, R509LH to a DFF3-UHD box. Then I guess if I want PBG, I'll have to bring out the wallet. I'll need a DFF3D box along with a 165T/275LHW? I currently have a B260 (everyone who bottom fishes < 300 ft should have this ducer).. Maybe if I do PBG with multibeam / DFF3D, I integrate a new FV-800 into the mix to dedicate it's use to sidescan or the R509... Or both?

A lot here to unpack but I appreciate your knowledge and efforts in this high-tech world I'm entering in.
At the end of the day, I'm just a fisherman!

 

[Johnny Electron]

You can't beat real PBG data because slit moves with currents/tides. TZ Mapping for the USA covers three times the area as others for the same or lower initial cost while providing an unheard of update price of $20. No matter what, you get your monies worth when buying the USA TZ Map on XL. Here are some shots from the west coast of FL where you were asking. I am not a big fan of the changes they made to the Terrain Shading in the current version of software. We have asked they look into changing that back where the shading looked more natural. The bathy data varies but many areas you can see changes as low as every three inches. But reality is stuff changes slightly and moves. If you have PBG, I would definitely use it.

 

[Johnny Electron]

This one of our weather yesterday was interesting but unrelated to the topic.

 

[LordoftheTides]

You can't beat real PBG data because slit moves with currents/tides. TZ Mapping for the USA covers three times the area as others for the same or lower initial cost while providing an unheard of update price of $20. No matter what, you get your monies worth when buying the USA TZ Map on XL. Here are some shots from the west coast of FL where you were asking. I am not a big fan of the changes they made to the Terrain Shading in the current version of software. We have asked they look into changing that back where the shading looked more natural. The bathy data varies but many areas you can see changes as low as every three inches. But reality is stuff changes slightly and moves. If you have PBG, I would definitely use it.

Thanks Johnny for the images. The color shading in the Furuno image attached is what gave me the impression that the Bathyvision along with shaded relief could not "replace" PBG - but be close enough to limit the amount of equipment needed.

 

[LordoftheTides]

You can't beat real PBG data because slit moves with currents/tides. TZ Mapping for the USA covers three times the area as others for the same or lower initial cost while providing an unheard of update price of $20. No matter what, you get your monies worth when buying the USA TZ Map on XL. Here are some shots from the west coast of FL where you were asking. I am not a big fan of the changes they made to the Terrain Shading in the current version of software. We have asked they look into changing that back where the shading looked more natural. The bathy data varies but many areas you can see changes as low as every three inches. But reality is stuff changes slightly and moves. If you have PBG, I would definitely use it.

In regards to my refit, what do you suggest?

If I do a R509LH / UHD box & a 165T-SS54 (strictly for mapping) / DFF3D, can I run them both to a single TZX and operate simultaneously?
Also, how deep can I expect the 800w 165T-SS54 to accurately map?

I will be adding an fcv-800 to accommodate either dual 455T-PR903 or 225T-PR904 sidescan transducers and could probably hook up the existing B260 CW that is in the boat.

My biggest uncertainty is what I can run at the same time without interference.

 

[Johnny Electron]

Depending on placement of the transducers you might see a little cross talk but normally a bit of interference rejection applied with deal with that. You want to try avoiding having items on the same freq at the same time as much as possible. If you map out the planned freqs...

R509LH - DFF3-UHD -LOW=28-60kHz
HF = 130-210kHz

DFF3D (165T-B54) = 165kHz

TZTXL CHIRP Side-scan = 455-465kHz (or 220-240kHz)

FCV800 -B260 = 50kHz, 200kHz CW

That is a lot of transducers to find clean water for. The 455 side-scan would be best for staying away from the other freqs.
The DFF3D would conflict with the R509 HF; if running them both you will see a bit of interference. I normally don't recommend doing a KP (key Pulse kit) unless it is really bad.

If you can afford it and find clean water for them all, that would be a smoking system.

(Note that the FCV800 cannot run side-scan so I think you meant the B260. (The side-scan using the XL internal sounder)

 

[LordoftheTides]

Thank you for the informative response Johnny. I did not know the 800 could not read side-scan.

Looking at the PBG frequencies amongst all compatible DFF3D transducers; if I'm wanting to run a separate HF transducer, would I have to dial in my khz to find the least interference - or will everything in the 130-220khz range throw static? I'm going to do some research on the KP kit...
I cannot figure out how one can run PBG while simultaneously running a HF narrow beam ducer. It seems that one is limited to a combo package wide angle ducer? 6 degrees is my desired beamwidth for majority of bottom fishing.

The idea is that I have the 165T-B54 constantly running on the TZX & generating bathymetry data. With that being said, does the PBG require being on screen while recording data? I would 90% of time be running the r509 and chart split screen.

 

[jp498]

For practical use, if you have room for two MFDs (or a tzpro computer with 2 screens, or a MFD + tzpro) that would be ideal for observing your two sounders and chart. You can see things happening around the boat with the low freq and DFF3D, while recording with DFF3D, and see the bottom fishing detail that's exactly under the boat with a high frequency. It's nice to see the ocean with multiple angles of view so long as you understand what you're looking at.
Perhaps you can exclude 165 and sound in the 190-220khz range? If not, interference is going to be some small random easily understood vertical dashes on your sounder view. I don't promote DFF3D for more than 600 feet deep, but some people use it deeper.

 

[LordoftheTides]

For practical use, if you have room for two MFDs (or a tzpro computer with 2 screens, or a MFD + tzpro) that would be ideal for observing your two sounders and chart. You can see things happening around the boat with the low freq and DFF3D, while recording with DFF3D, and see the bottom fishing detail that's exactly under the boat with a high frequency. It's nice to see the ocean with multiple angles of view so long as you understand what you're looking at.
Perhaps you can exclude 165 and sound in the 190-220khz range? If not, interference is going to be some small random easily understood vertical dashes on your sounder view. I don't promote DFF3D for more than 600 feet deep, but some people use it deeper.

Thank you for the response JP.

I am now leaning towards 2 MFD's to run chart/pbg on one unit and split screen my sidescan & up down R509 on the other unit.
However, this doesn't solve the frequency issue. My current thinking is that I would alter my khz in HF to find the sweet spot on the R509 to create the least static.

Maybe I'm a little confused but with the DFF3D operating at 165khz - How does one run LF & still map generate?
The recommendation from the reps were to run the combo 165T-PM542LHW... From my research, the pocket mount combo does not read as well while underway. I have personally seen the R509, glassed in properly, read well at 32kts on a similar 33ft center console as mine. I am fortunate and do not have a stepped hull so I'm hoping I can find clean water for everything.