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Thanks
Where does the cable attach to and how do you balance it ,
Where does the cable attach to and how do you balance it ,
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The tow point is a stainless steel eye bolt. The cable attaches to this point with a simple strain relief arrangement. I don't have a picture handy, but you can see it on his website.
http://www.burtonelectronics.com
Ballast weight is added in the forward section of the towfish. Balance is adjusted by changing the amount of lead and it's position within the towfish body.
I would also note that the transducer down-angle is also adjustable at the tow point.
GaryComment
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How is the quality?
Hi,
I wonder how the construction quality is on the Burton sonar. The reason I ask is because I have one of his pulse detectors and one of his magnetometers (analog systems) as well as I have seen the inside of one of Fitzgerald's pulse detectors (which Burton obviously builds) and the construction looks horrible. It is a rats nest in those. The Fitzgerald unit is the exact same board used in the Black Widow and 104B with the same rats nest of wires. That's what turned me off to trying one of the side scan sonars from him. I don't trust the build quality from the 5 products I've looked at of his.
ThanksComment
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My impression of the build quality is quite good. The towfish is constructed of heavy grade schedule 80 PVC and seems quite robust. I was actually surprised at the attention to detail in the towfish body itself. It appears that all of the holes, the tailfin channels, and transducer window were done on a milling machine. It looks very nice. You can see this in the photo of the towfish above. The transducer and cable/connector assembly appear to be good quality also.
GaryComment
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You know, I think Burton has built a great unit. Something we all would have loved to had the opportunity to try and construct. What really chaps my @$$ is we have been trying to use this forum for the benefit of everyone in trying to build a sidescan unit that everyone can build at home (or at least try to build). I have been visiting this site for several years and have tried my hand at Dan's Side Scan! Frankly, I wouldn't waste my time again.
We came together and shared information on this forum to try and build a project as a group and accomplish something we all could work on and Gary Burton has done nothing but use this forum to take the work of others for his own use and promote the sale of his side scan sonar to this forum. And I would not purchase one to this day.
This forum is about sharing knowledge. All he has done is used it to build a unit he can try to sell back to us! You will not get my money, and I would appreciate it if you would quit spamming the forum with your unsolicited ads!
Regretfully,
A long-time, concerned memberComment
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I do NOT build Fitzgeralds pulse detectors
In fact they have not been built for years. Even the 104b which I have on the website is idle in terms of orders. You simply do not know whatr you are talking about.
Originally posted by UnregisteredComment
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Although he may have,, in fact I do not remember if Fitzgerald purchased a single unit directly from me, most likely it was from a distributor in Florida. He was never authorized to copy that design and IF he does now sell the same design he is getting pirated versions of the Black Widow or the 104B circuit. I have not seen it and therefore cannot say that it is in fact true. The circuit has been around now for years and spent many years out of production. One could almost argue its public domain now anyway. Whatever he does is his business. I was told that the circuit was copied by someone in Mexico. All I can vouch for is that the pulse circuit I designed was inovative and of my design exclusively. I pride myself on not stealing other peoples circuits. At the time it was unlike anyone elses design. Most all wiring point to point to controls etc are twisted pair's. Because the circuit board was used for several different models it could not have nice neat PC mounted controls. They were all mounted off of the board to accomodate different enclosures. The mags were in very limited production and never saw a nice neat CAD design for the board. The BW, Osprey, Ultrapulse and 104 all had the same basic CAD boards which were proffesionally made and I just now pulled one apart. I don't see what your complaining about. Did it work or not?? What do you give a damn what the inside looks like or if it has to have point to point wiring for controls or jacks?? There are many many dozens of them out there with very few repairs ever. They have proven functional to users for over 15 years. There is only one person who ever purchased both a 104B and Mag from me. I would bet real money your initials are GK and that's why your trying to stir up trouble because I would not get involved in some of your pet projects.
Originally posted by UnregisteredComment
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Assumptions
You are assuming apparently that I bought my Analog Systems products from you and I didn't. I don't know who GK is! Your true personality is coming out in your posts though. If you would like me to take pictures of the insides of your units I will and then you and the rest of the world will know that I know exactly what I'm talking about. The circuit boards look just fine, the wiring absolutely sucks. One of the 104Bs was not owned by me but was bought directly from you and so I know it is your handy work, not Mexican labor. I just don't believe in gluing PCBs to batteries. IF the Fitzgerald unit isn't built by you, the circuit board is yours and it has the characteristic sound of your pulse detectors. No, my units work fine, all I'm saying is I have concern if your side scan looks like the inside of these detectors, I'm concerned as to whether it can stand up to the abuse it will take on board ship.Comment
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Hi,
OK, your not GK then. That means there is still hope. You have to understand that all those models used the same basic board in differing configuations including differing components. Every time a new board is laid out it means money and time. Being a small manufacturer I had to face the real prospect of not getting the same enclosures that a board was designed for . I know because I had it happened. Laid out a board only to have the manufacturer change the housing so it wouldn't fit a month later. I decided at that point NOT to rely on others and to do what it takes to make them work no matter what changes were made. That point to point wiring that you don't like added greatly to the time involved in construction, but also kept me producing product. Also mounting the circuit board to the battery itself ment keeping the housing a reasonable size. There was really no other way to do it. I think it was pretty clever because it can be removed and another battey installed then re attached. When you build a limited production product you do what you have to do. As to Fitzgerald, if you see the same board in his product, it is a copied design. He has never purchased circuit boards from me. I have all the original schematics and gerber files, as well as the artwork for the very first few put into production before the CAD layout. Again, the end result was a very usable product. As to the sidescan sonar, there are DOZENS of them out in the field without a return or complaint. The only problem has been the transducer mounting screws which up til now have been nylon to keep from digging into the anodized aluminum transducer housings. Being handled by gorillas a couple have broken in shipment and were repaired by the customer. (no complaint) Working now on a suitable replacement. The microcontroller electronics are potted in urethane as well as having a weatherproof enclosure. Even the damn waterproof connectors have been potted so that a minor cable breach will not make a cable unusable for a long period. I didn't need to go to the trouble and would probably have sold some replacement cables by now.Comment
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Excellent replyl! I understand your desire to design for generic enclosures. Seems you just get a product ready for sale and something gets discontinued and then your scrambling.
Good luckComment
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The images of the barge and sewer pipes have outstanding resolution. What frequency was used?Comment
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200 KHz.Originally posted by KernoComment
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I have not seen the Sportscan for less than US$5500 anywhere, and Garry Burton's most expensive system is US$2999.Originally posted by Unregistered
This make Borton's system 2500 less expensive than the single frequency Sportscan system.
For the Sportscan you need both a PC AND a GPS. With Burton's sidescan system you get a complete stand-alone system, that records to a media-card, giving you the oportunity to save the log files to a PC and review them at a later point. As well as you get a GPS with the system. Everything is just plug&run out of the box.
I have had a Sportscan singlefreq. before, but sold it. Now I'm investing in Burton's system, as I think this is more value for money than the Sportscan.
GlennComment
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comparison
Just remember, the SportScan is a two channel (port & starboard) while the Burton unit is a single scan. Operationally, you will cover twice the amount of bottom using a two channel unit vs. the single one in the same amount of time and cost. You could easily pay the extra in gas in one season.Originally posted by GlennkComment
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As stated before, I have owned a Sportscan, but I sold it to some one else.Originally posted by Unregistered
So I'm very aware of the Sportscan's capabilities.
If you use the saved US$2500.- in gas, then get a better boat!
Why just run the boat for hour after hour, without any clue of what, if anything, is down there?
Our search methods start in the files, archives, stories and so on. Then we gahter information about this, and get a idea about what area to search.
But if your search just consists of running the boat without any clue where to look, why dont invest in a better system? Something other than the Sportscan that only covers 240 meters on long range, and then with bit a loss in quality?
I have used it, and I know what it can, and can not, do!
Now its time to try the system that Burton has developed.
I'll make a thread here with some images from sonar scans done by me, when I receive the system from Burton.
GlennComment
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