Humminbird Side Imaging Forums
Software and Software Development => Other 3rd Party Software => HumViewer => Topic started by: dezguy on September 14, 2010, 10:01:41 PM
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Ok, I have a crazy DIY project and I'm interested to know if there are others out there researching/working on something similar.
I think it would be cool to create software for the iPhone that would be able to receive a real-time sonar signal, process the data and output to a fishfinder-style screen. Then be able to also record the data/gps information and download for later analysis. I think you could probably also use the compass and accelerometer.
Has anybody ever tried something like this before? I realize this is a huge project
I'm specifically interested in:
- Data specification coming out of a Humminbird fishfinder - i have the 110 model and I see there is an output on the back. Does anybody know if I can link this model to a serial port and read in the data.
- I think I could build a device that controls the transducer from an Arduino board. As anybody ever tried this?
- Humminbird sonar file samples. Does anybody have some good links?
- Information on signal processing. Does anybody have any good links?
- Is there any DIY or open source projects out there like this?
This isn't for a commercial product. Just curiosity based research; and I'd love to be able to use my iPad for real-time visualization...it's such a sweet device and sonar data would look COOOOOL on it!
Thanks in advance,
Mike
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Unfortunately, there is no real-time sonar output on any low-cost sonar, including the high-end Lowrances and HB's. The 998 and 1198's have a video output, but that is just WYSIWYG from the sonar screen, not at high resolution.
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something like
http://www.interphase-tech.com/pcview.htm (http://www.interphase-tech.com/pcview.htm) ??
hendrik
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Yeah that looks promising. Certainly it demonstrates that it's possible to build an interface between a transducer and the computer.
My basic idea is this:
- I've purchased an Arduino board that will interface with my Mac
- I'd like to find an old fish finder that I can rip apart for the transducer
- Connect the Arduino board to send/receive from the transducer
- Have the Arduino board do the analog to digital conversion and create a serial sentence to send the data to Processing and graph it in real time
If I can get that working I'll seek to port it to Objective-C
Anything I'm missing?
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- Use Processing to graph the data provided
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The Eagle Cuda 350 S/Map has NMEA0183 output capability that when connected to a serial to Bluetooth transmitter, can be received by any Windows Mobile device such as the Samsung Omnia for example. The program I use for receiving this data is DrDepth. It offers me a sonar view, Bathymetry - contour and 3D as well as temperature.
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Dezguy
You will send / receive signal to transducer with microcontroler ?
Transducers needs high voltages / current to work, I build one distance meter with transducer to work at 7 meters, it needs 300 volts. HB uses 4000 W peak to peak in transducer, you will need one power controller.
Bruno
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The transducer will do you little good by itself. You need to tap into the sonar receiver signal, after all the signal conditioning stages. Good luck identifying that without a schematic - hope you are good with a scope.
There is a significant amount of technology that goes into creating a clean sonar signal, and I doubt you want to try and duplicate it.
Once you get a clean sonar signal, then you could A/D it - but you might be surprised by the speed and resolution required of the A/D. Not sure your development system can handle that.
As far as NMEA data, there is no sonar signal sent, just digital depth. While you could make a crude "sonar" chart from it, it is not the sonar data itself.
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Bruno.rosa - Many thanks for the info. I see the Hummingbird 110 is 125 Watts (RMS) and 1000 Watts (Peak-to-Peak) with a range of 240 ft. If I could meet those specs I'd be happy. But I here what you are saying about the Arduino board not being able to output that directly.
Mendota - Good point on the resolution/speed of the A/D conversion, and thanks for the tips on the signal conditioning stages. I wasn't aware it would be so complex.
So is this a crazy or impossible idea?
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Neither, just expensive and time-consuming, and doubtful you can readily achieve something better than you could buy for considerably less.
But it could be a learning experience, no doubt.
Hint: If I were to attempt this, I would get an old flasher-type sonar - the simpler the electronics, the easier to trace and understand. Flashers are entirely analog, no digital, so finding the sonar signal and a signal to trigger your A/D (AFTER each transmit pulse) should be relatively easy.
Oh yeah - the transmit pulse, as mentioned, is a high-voltage pulse - beware. Probably not lethal, but it will hurt sensitive electronics pretty readily.
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Mendota, that's good advice to try a Flasher. I will see if I can find an old one. :) Thanks a bunch,
Mike
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Ok, I have the basic software built. I just need to figure out the hardware component.
I managed to snag an old Garmin off a friend. Does anybody have experience with how to drive the transducer?
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Well, building a sophisticated sonar system is non-trivial, and significant training and experience would be required. But basic, low power / sensitivity stuff can be done pretty easily. Google "sonar circuit" and you can find some hints.
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encoder/200211/autonomous_robotic_fish.html (http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encoder/200211/autonomous_robotic_fish.html)