You could even use a split screen view to see both high and low frequency readings side by side.Įnter CHIRP. One approach to solving this problem has been to use dual-frequency units that could operate on a high frequency when detail was more important than depth reach and switch to a low frequency when looking deeper was more important than screen detail. Also unfortunately, lower frequencies penetrate to greater depths with ease but don’t offer as much detail, can’t separate targets as well and have problems with higher boat speeds. Unfortunately, high frequencies don’t penetrate depth as well as lower frequencies. High-frequency signals tend to deliver better detail, separate targets better that are closer together, and perform better at higher boat speeds - and that’s a lot of “betters.”

Here’s how it helps: Sonar has traditionally broadcast signals at one frequency, waited for echoes to return and then constructed readings from them. Apparently, somebody at Airmar was looking at CHIRP radar and, instead of just wondering if it could be adapted to sonar, he and some colleagues made it happen.

The technology first appeared in radar and might have stayed there if not for some engineers at Airmar Technology Corporation.Īirmar manufactures transducers and other sensors for recreational, commercial and military use. We covered CHIRP here a while back, but let’s take another look at it and review why it’s important to our boating and fishing.ĬHIRP stands for Compressed High-Intensity Radar Pulse.

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