Topic: side imaging vs quadrabeam

[D S]

if one of the mods cam comment

what are  the differnces between quadrabeam and side imaging?
what might be the advantage or disadvantage?
is it possible to have side imaging be displayed in one of the three formats same as quadrabeam does?

DS

[Humminbird_Greg]

Basically the difference is in the shape of the side beams used in each transducer.  The QuadraBeam’s are more elliptical in shape while the Side Imaging’s are flatter (front-to-rear) and much wider (left-to-right).  These allow the Si sonar to produce a picture like image while the QuadraBeam’s sonar looks more like conventional 2D sonar.

Advantages of the QuadraBeam is that the transducer can be mounted inside of the hull of a fiberglass boat (Si cannot).  These transducers also cost less and can be mounted in more locations due to the shape of the side beams and where they radiate out of the body of the transducer.

Advantages of Side Imaging are that you get some incredible images of what is in the water.  You can also cover a much larger area of the lake/river/ocean due to its wider coverage area and can see sonar returns from the surface of the water all the way to the bottom.  The Si transducers are more finicky when it comes to mounting on a boat due to the side beams radiating out of the sides of the transducer body and they are much more expensive to replace versus the QuadraBeam.