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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What primary feature separates this scanning sonar technology from others on the market?

A: Ultrascan PC90 provides a true live view of what IS happening around the boat, not what HAS happened in past history. This technology is 100 to 200 times faster than mechanical scanning sonars and 25 to 50 times faster than other "real-time" sonars currently available. For example, at 100-foot range, the Ultrascan PC90 captures 24 full 90-degree sweeps per second. The only limitation is the speed at which sound travels through water, so as scanning distance increases, the number of scans per second decreases. Still, at 300-foot range (looking one football field ahead of the vessel), the Ultrascan PC90 performs 8 full 90-degree sweeps per second.

Q: How is this achieved?

A: The Ultrascan PC90 captures the entire field of view in a single ping, puts the data into a special "space-time" memory and then simultaneously creates all the beams from the memory at once.

Q: What can Ultrascan PC90's live view do for boaters?

A: In fishing applications, boaters will actually be able to see schools of baitfish or fast-moving tuna ahead of the boat and track their movement in relation to the vessel in real time. Even expensive mechanical sonar systems aboard professional sportfishing and commercial boats take several seconds to complete one 90-degree scan - leading to lost fish schools and opportunities. When navigating, Ultrascan PC90 provides boaters with a video-like display of dangerous obstacles ahead of the vessel, such as reefs, shallowing conditions, channel edges, submerged debris, manatees, etc. Ultrascan PC90's fast updating becomes even more critical on fast boats.

Q: What are some primary uses/markets for this technology?

A: Ultrascan PC90 can be used on a wide range of recreational power and sailboats from 25 feet up to large yachts, as well as commercial vessels. In addition to navigational safety and fishing uses, Ultrascan PC90's unique ability to observe underwater movement in real time (even when the transducer is stationary) make it useful for government, military or homeland security applications.

Q: Are there other products like this on the market?

A: The only multibeam sonar products using this type of technology have been developed for underwater surveying and other research activities. These systems typically cost between $50,000 and $100,000, placing them well out of reach of most recreational or light commercial mariners. The Interphase Ultrascan PC90 will be available to the boating public for under $5,000.

Q: What separates this from other Interphase forward-looking sonar systems on the market or currently on boats? Is there an upgrade path for existing Interphase customers?

A: In a word, speed. Testing has shown Ultrascan PC90 to be up to 200 times faster than previous Interphase forward-looking sonar. The best news, however, is that current owners of Interphase sonar products can easily upgrade to this new Ultrascan PC90 technology, while using their existing transducers. With some 40,000 Interphase forward-looking sonar systems in use worldwide, this has the potential to benefit a great many boaters.

Q How does Ultrascan PC90 differ from "side-scanning" sonar products recently introduced by other companies.

A: While they provide excellent detail, these systems offer static displays that represent things as they were - not as they are in that moment. In addition, Ultrascan PC90 does not require boat movement to scan an area around the boat. Even when stationary, boaters can observe movement of objects or fish around the vessel.

Q: Where is Ultrascan PC90 manufactured?

A: Unlike most companies that outsource R&D, design and manufacturing, the Interphase Ultrascan PC90 was conceived and designed in the U.S., and will be manufactured in our Soquel, California facility. Every one of our phased array transducers is manufactured here and tank tested before being shipped to customers. Our patented (U.S. #5,675,552) "Sonar Apparatus Having a Steerable Beam" transducer has no moving parts.

Q: How will Ultrascan PC90 technology be offered to boaters?

A: Ultrascan PC90 will initially be designed for connection with onboard PCs, Apple computers (w/Intel chipset) and PC networks via single Ethernet cable (with maximum 100-meter run). It can even communicate wirelessly with PCs. In the near future, Ultrascan PC90 will be offered for plug-and-play operation with video-enabled multifunction displays from top marine electronics manufacturers such as Furuno, Raymarine, Garmin and others, as well as marine flat-panel displays.