Here is a step by step explanation of how Garmin fish finders work:
Transducer: The transducer, which is usually mounted on the bottom of the boat or through the hull, is the most crucial component of a fish finder. It houses a powerful sonar system responsible for sending sound waves into the water.
Transmitting Sound Waves: The transducer emits high-frequency sound waves in a cone-shaped pattern. These waves travel through the water at the speed of sound and then bounce off anything in their path, such as fish, structures, and the bottom.
Receiving Sound Waves: The transducer also acts as a receiver, picking up the echoes of sound waves that bounce back. The time it takes for a sound wave to be transmitted, hit an object, and return is measured by the fish finder.
Data Processing: The fish finder collects and analyses the data from the sound waves to form an image of the underwater world on its display screen. It calculates the distance to the objects and shows their location and size on the display. This is the information you see on your fish finder screen when you're out fishing.
Interpreting the Display: The fish finder translates the data into visual information, such as the presence of fish, the depth of the water, the contours of the bottom, and other details. Fish often appear as arches or fish-shaped symbols, and the bottom is displayed as a solid line or colour. Different types of fish finders have different displays, but most of them provide adjustable settings to optimise the view and make it easier for you to interpret the information.
So, this is how Garmin fish finders use sonar technology to provide recreational and professional fishermen with valuable information about what's beneath the water's surface. Using this information, anglers can make informed decisions about where to drop their lines for the best fishing experience.