KONGSBERG Simrad PI50 Catch monitoring system

KONGSBERG Simrad PI50 Fishery Monitoring System Operator Manual (Version Rev. C, Software v1.3.1), aimed at professional fishery users, fully explains the system composition of PI50 host, sensor receiver, hydrophone, and wireless sensor, covering the entire process of power on/off, sensor configuration, depth calibration, display view, alarm setting, log management, supporting bottom contact, fishing catch, depth, height, net opening, geometric posture, temperature, roll/pitch and other measurements, providing signal optimization functions such as filtering, sensitivity adjustment, multi-path suppression, and adapting to various operation modes such as bottom trawl, middle trawl, purse seine, Danish purse seine, etc. It is the core operation guide to ensure fishing efficiency and gear safety in the fishery.

System composition

Component Type/Specification Core Function

Processor unit industrial computer, running PI50 software on Windows 7, data processing and display

Sensor receivers PI50 (6 channels) and PI60 (10 channels) receive acoustic signals from underwater sensors

Installation of hydrophones at the bottom of the ship, dedicated for purse seine/trawl/portable underwater signal acquisition, with a maximum cable length of 50m

Sensor PI series, PX multi-sensor for measuring depth, catch, opening, attitude, etc

Display unit color industrial display sensor view, trend chart, system status

Power on/off specifications (mandatory)

boot process

Sensor receiver power on → Display screen power on → Computer power on → Start PI50 software → Select user configuration → System ready

Shutdown process

Click on the software Exit to exit → turn off the host → turn off the display screen → disconnect the power supply of the sensor receiver

Taboo: It is strictly prohibited to directly press the computer power button to shut down, as it may cause software and configuration damage

Core operating procedures

1. Sensor configuration (Setup → Select Sensors)

Select sensor type: bottom contact, catch, depth, height, opening, temperature, geometry, roll, pitch

Set key parameters:

Label ID: Unique Number (1~n)

Update Rate: Update rate (PX fixed Normal)

Channel Number: Channel number (must be consistent with the sensor)

Offset: Offset (automatic depth calibration, manual input of aperture)

Sorting: Adjust the display order of sensor views

2. Depth sensor calibration (essential)

Condition: The sensor is immersed in seawater at a depth of 1m

Step: Setup → Calibration → Start Calibration → Wait for completion → Verify reading is 1m

3. Display and View

Sensor view: real-time values, rate of change, 20 minute historical small graph

Trend View: Historical Curve, Duration 5-1440 Minutes (24 Hours)

Customization: color palette, screen brightness, units, language, menu position

4. Alarm Settings (Setup → Alarm Limits)

Set upper and lower threshold values for each sensor

Enable: Message reminder, sound alarm

Rule: Automatically disabled 20 seconds after triggering, can be triggered repeatedly

Overview of Measurement Functions

Basic measurement

Bottom contact: Monitor whether the fishing gear touches/leaves the bottom

Fishing catch: monitoring the filling degree of the net bag, which can also be used for detecting damaged net clothing

Depth: Three levels of 300/600/1000m, PX fixed at 1000m

Height: The height above the seabed, used to determine the height of the net opening

Opening: Distance between trawl doors, supporting standard/extended XT range

attitude measurement 

Roll: The trawl door tilts left and right

Pitch: The trawl door tilts forward and backward

Combination measurement

Height+Depth: Total Water Depth=Depth+Height

Opening+Depth: Vertical Geometric Monitoring

Geometric difference: left-right symmetry of trawl net

Signal optimization (improving stability)

Function setting options function

Fishing/Bottom filtering Off/Weak/Medium/Strong eliminates state jitter, stable display

Sensor filtering Off/weak/medium/strong average received data to improve reception

Multi path filtering On/Off suppresses reflections, spikes, and interference, and is enabled by default

Detection threshold DT 3~14/15~20 default 17, adjust receiving sensitivity

Menu system structure

Main menu: User settings, Range, Start Range

Operation menu: Sensor filtering, Fishing filtering, Multipath filtering, Reset counter

Display menu: color palette, brightness, units, language, trend duration, status display, screenshot

Settings menu: Simulator, Fishing Gear Type, Sensor Selection, Alarm, Calibration, Receiver, Navigation, Installation

Installation menu: I/O configuration, software authorization

Log and fault handling

System messages: Error, system alarm, operation alarm, warning, information, can be confirmed/deleted

Log file: automatically saved, can be copied to a USB drive, used for after-sales diagnosis

Screenshot: One click save, named by date_time

Troubleshooting: If the device is abnormal, please contact the local dealer and do not disassemble it on your own

Key issues

Question 1: What are the core requirements and standard steps for calibrating PI50 depth sensors? What are the impacts of calibration failure?

answer:

Core requirement: The sensor must be placed in 1 meter of deep sea water, with the water surface accurately aligned with the 1-meter mark at the bottom of the sensor.

Step: Setup → Calibration → Start Calibration → Wait for automatic completion → Verify that the reading is 1m.

Impact: Calibration failure will result in all depth measurement deviations, directly affecting fishing gear depth control and operational safety.

Question 2: What are the three filtering functions of PI50 targeting? How should on-site assignments be set up?

answer:

Fishing touch/bottom filtering: to solve state jump jitter, it is recommended to set it to Medium.

Sensor filtering: solve data fluctuations, poor reception, and set as Weak when the signal is poor.

Multipath filtering: suppresses underwater reflections, acoustic interference, and spikes. It is recommended to always turn it on.

Question 3: What fishing gear operations does PI50 support? What are the core sensors corresponding to different assignments?

answer:

Bottom trawl: bottom contact, catch, depth, height, and opening sensors.

Mid level trawl: depth, height, opening, roll, pitch sensors.

Fence: Depth and bottom contact sensors.

Danish fence: bottom contact, depth, geometric sensors.