NASA TARET ECHO SOUNDER

[anneharris]

just brought a boat fitted with a NASA echo sounder unfortunatley it does not display depth on screen it shows E when turned on and the only other changes you can make to the display are the alarm settings.

I have emailed nasa who have not replied and down loaded the instructions which dont have any fault finding I have checked the transponder unit and can get a reading when I wave it around but no reading stays on the screen. Can you help

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[extravert]

Have you checked the connection where the transducer cable goes into the back of the display? Is it clean or mucky?

Are there any other connections/joints in the transducer cable? Are these in good condition?

How is the transducer mounted, I'm not sure how you wave it around?

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep tri-ing.

 

[Trevethan]

Mine seems to how just about 6 feet of water underneath, no matter where we are, and of course I can't find the manual

Anyone know of one re-produced on the net?



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[milltech]

Yes I'm getting a bit rusty on this but it may be lack of signal. The instructions should tell you what "E" means


<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>

 

[bendyone]

try the nasa web site www.nasamarine.com

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[Mudhook]

I experienced exactly the same problem with the same unit last year. Fox's at Ipswich very kindly let me have a new transducer on sale or return, and just by hanging it over the side I was able to verify that it wasn't a problem with the source of the signal. I bought a new instrument head adn the problem went away. I'm afraid I can't remember how much I paid for just the head. NASA may tell you that they don't sell the head separately but I was able to order it thus through Fox's. It seems that service staff can get individual parts; users may not have the same access.

Although I've always found the NASA people very friendly and helpful (eg faxing me a wiring diagram for a multi-pin plug for the windex sender at 5pm one evening) I think their stuff is perhaps a little bit cheap and cheerful. For a few quid more you can buy Navman stuff which reeks of quality build and can all be hooked up for informatin sharing between instruments.

I hope the above helps.

Regards, Mudhook.

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[Dipper]

The E is an Error message indicating lack of signal entering the system for whatever reason. You get this when the boat is ashore for example and the return signal through the air cannot be picked up.

As well as checking connections as already suggested, make sure you have enough oil in your in-hull mount (if you have one). Any air gap could result in the E message. If you can free the cable enough, you could try dangling the transducer over the side with the base just in the water and see if you get a reading (as mentioned in another post).

If I remember correctly, a very shallow reading may also cause this error. I believe I tried checking my transducer in a bucket of water and it wasn’t deep enough!


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[Seafort]

""In normal operation, the letter "E" is displayed at the left of the display followed by the depth in metres. Should the unit receive an echo less than the minimum range, the depth will read zero, if no echo is received the display will go blank.

Each time the unit is switched on the "keel offset" will briefly be displayed as a reminder.""

The only other thing mentioned in the "manual" (assuming correct installation) is the Sensitivity Threshold. Viewed by pressing [SET] . This is factory set to 1m but can be changed using the [ALARM UP]/[ALARM DOWN] keys.

The only other suggestion is to find someone at your moorings who has the same kit and try your display unit plugged into his transducer or vice versa, it helps if your both gambling men. Be prepared to lay out for his kit too.../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

Dave.

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[l'escargot]

I've put one <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.wightsailing.co.uk/page02.html>here</A>

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[jimbouy]

The E stands for Echo, incase we forget!! It had me worried when I started using mine!!! Especially as the insturctions i have make no mention of it.

I also find that mine will not read less than 2 meters depth no matter how much I play with the settings.

<hr width=100% size=1> "It is a pleasure to give advice, humiliating to need it, normal to ignore it"

 

[dbentley]

Last week I had exactly this same problem - after it had been getting progressively worse for some time.

But after adding 5 ml of oil under the transducer in the in-hull mount it worked fine again....

Try this before you spend money..

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[jimbouy]

I tried adding more oil, which made no difference. I then bonded in my spare transducer, directly on to the hull. It still is reluctant to give a reading in shallow water. It seems to depend a little bit on the consistancy of the bottom, with a soft bottom less likely to give a reading.

As it stands i need to spend more time analysing when it does and doesn't work.

<hr width=100% size=1> "It is a pleasure to give advice, humiliating to need it, normal to ignore it"

 

[roger]

Mine wont read over soft mud or in water deeper than 30 metres or so. I do have the transducer in an oil bath. If it is in this condition it just says E.

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[anneharris]

Hi there,

Not sure if the last post actually worked, I would like to thank everyone who replied to my plee of help, we have now been able to get the echo sounder to work. Many thanks

Anne

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