Learn how an expert in military and fishing sonar uses sound to reveal the underwater world.
Bass University is on the water with Johnson Outdoors Sales Manager Tyson Alvanos. Tyson is highly informed on all Humminbird technology. In this on-the-water session, Tyson breaks down essential fishing sonar technologies, starting with the foundational 2D sonar. He explains how it morphed into side imaging and down imaging. The presentation offers an in-depth look into sonar and how sound travels through water. Tyson draws on his professional background in hydrographic military and defense survey sonar, where he worked with systems costing anywhere from $40,000 to $1 million, used for locating objects like drowned victims, underwater explosives, and sunk airplanes in depths ranging from shallow water to the Mariana Trench. This experience gives him advanced knowledge that isn't often explained in the fishing industry.
If you want to learn more about your fishing sonar and how it works from the technical side, Tyson from Humminbird will teach you the nuts and bolts, covering concepts like using echoes to create images, understanding the constant speed of sound in water, how 2D sonar uses a wide conical beam, down imaging uses a narrower beam for detail, and side imaging provides a broader view for searching and understanding bottom hardness through shadows and signal strength . He also explains how to identify bottom hardness using 2D sonar signal strength and the difference between acoustic hardness and physical hardness, noting that air is highly reflective to sonar. This session is designed to enhance your understanding of sonar operation and capabilities, showing the advantages and best uses for different sonar types like 2D sonar, down imaging, and side imaging.
Understanding Your Humminbird Sonar Electronics Class Chapters

0:13: Introduction: Meet Tyson Alvanos from HumminbirdAn expert on all things Humminbird technology. Discover his unique background in professional hydrographic military and defense survey sonar, working with systems used to locate objects in extreme depths. Learn how his experience with advanced sonar, ranging from $40,000 to $1 million systems, gives him advanced knowledge that doesn't get explained in the fishing industry that much. This introduction sets the stage for a deep dive into the science of sonar.
1:41: Single Beam Sonar Step back to the foundation of modern fishing electronics: 2D sonar. Learn about this traditional single beam echo sounder and why sound is used to create underwater pictures. Understand how 2D sonar uses a big round conical beam and why it's still a valuable tool, particularly for seeing fish high up in the water column and ensuring you're not missing objects when running at high speed. You'll also discover how to use it to get an idea of bottom hardness based on signal return width.
8:35: Down Imaging Transition to Down Imaging, a technology that evolved from 2D sonar and provides more detailed views. Explore how it uses a narrower, razor-thin beam to give you a clearer picture of underwater structure like trees. Learn how Down Imaging is used to "fact check" and better understand what 2D sonar is showing you. Gain insights into adjusting settings like sensitivity and frequency (like 455 kHz or MEGA) to optimize your view for finding targets or balancing resolution and depth capability.
14:40: Side Imaging Unlock the power of Side Imaging, the ultimate tool for searching and understanding the underwater world. Discover how it utilizes beams extending to the port and starboard sides to scan large areas and reveal details often missed by other sonar types. Learn how Side Imaging helps you understand bottom hardness and how it uses shadows – the lack of signal – to reveal the shape and height of objects on the bottom, making it ideal for locating structure and even hidden items. This section shows why Side Imaging is essential for comprehensive underwater exploration.

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