The depth sounder on our 1978 San Juan 28 dates from around 1983. It's
a Standard Communications DS-1. I suspect that company no longer
exists. We get crazy readings or blanks in both deep and shallow water
whatever adjustments we make. The alarm works only too well so it
thinks it's detecting something. The electric connections all look
good and clean and the PO has always painted around the transducer,
not over it.

I'm happy enough to buy a new unit but would rather not mess with the
through-hull transducer (which looks fine from the inside). Does
anyone know whether a 2008 depth sounder is compatible with a 1983
transducer, or how to check?

Thanks in advance

Richard

wrote in message
...
The depth sounder on our 1978 San Juan 28 dates from around 1983. It's
a Standard Communications DS-1. I suspect that company no longer
exists. We get crazy readings or blanks in both deep and shallow water
whatever adjustments we make. The alarm works only too well so it
thinks it's detecting something. The electric connections all look
good and clean and the PO has always painted around the transducer,
not over it.

I'm happy enough to buy a new unit but would rather not mess with the
through-hull transducer (which looks fine from the inside). Does
anyone know whether a 2008 depth sounder is compatible with a 1983
transducer, or how to check?

Thanks in advance

Richard


Don't know, but a quick google of "Standard Communications" company marine
returns StandardHorizon.com, which seems to have some archived manuals call
DS. They've been in business since 1969.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

I would first check if it is the depth sounder or the transducer giving the
problem.
Get a hold of another transducer and just hang it over the side to see if the
readings
improve.

Sherwin

" wrote:

The depth sounder on our 1978 San Juan 28 dates from around 1983. It's
a Standard Communications DS-1. I suspect that company no longer
exists. We get crazy readings or blanks in both deep and shallow water
whatever adjustments we make. The alarm works only too well so it
thinks it's detecting something. The electric connections all look
good and clean and the PO has always painted around the transducer,
not over it.

I'm happy enough to buy a new unit but would rather not mess with the
through-hull transducer (which looks fine from the inside). Does
anyone know whether a 2008 depth sounder is compatible with a 1983
transducer, or how to check?

Thanks in advance

Richard

In article
,
" wrote:

It's
a Standard Communications DS-1. I suspect that company no longer
exists.

Seems like you, suspected , WRONG..... Look up Standard/Horizon
Communications, in your favorite Search Engine. They are still
a Big Player in the non-commercial Marine Electronics Business,
and doing quite well.....

On Feb 27, 12:10 pm, wrote:
On Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:00:00 GMT, You wrote:
In article
,
" wrote:

It's
a Standard Communications DS-1. I suspect that company no longer
exists.

Seems like you, suspected , WRONG..... Look up Standard/Horizon
Communications, in your favorite Search Engine. They are still
a Big Player in the non-commercial Marine Electronics Business,
and doing quite well.....

Bought by Vertex, and still in operation

http://www.standardhorizon.com/

They are out of the instrument biz, but still have "some" old parts
laying around. The tech department is very helpful if you CALL them
and ask nicely.

Yes,you're right, their tech dept is very helpful but they have
nothing left that fits my need.

If I can't get the old DS-1 working I may try a cheap inside the hull
depth sounder, eg Uniden QT 206 which you can get for under $100 and
doesn't need a hole in the hull. Some say they work fine.

Thanks for the help

Richard

wrote in message
...
On Feb 27, 12:10 pm, wrote:
On Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:00:00 GMT, You wrote:
In article
,
" wrote:

It's
a Standard Communications DS-1. I suspect that company no longer
exists.

Seems like you, suspected , WRONG..... Look up Standard/Horizon
Communications, in your favorite Search Engine. They are still
a Big Player in the non-commercial Marine Electronics Business,
and doing quite well.....

Bought by Vertex, and still in operation

http://www.standardhorizon.com/

They are out of the instrument biz, but still have "some" old parts
laying around. The tech department is very helpful if you CALL them
and ask nicely.

Yes,you're right, their tech dept is very helpful but they have
nothing left that fits my need.

If I can't get the old DS-1 working I may try a cheap inside the hull
depth sounder, eg Uniden QT 206 which you can get for under $100 and
doesn't need a hole in the hull. Some say they work fine.

Thanks for the help

Richard


I used one of those... different manufacturer... it worked great (on a Cal
20). I glued a piece of PVC pipe to a centrally location spot, filled it
with mineral oil, then put the transducer in. I fitted a piece of PVC in the
top of the pipe with enough room for the wire to come out. It was enough to
preserve the oil level even with fairly extreme heel.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

On Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:31:42 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:

On Feb 27, 12:10 pm, wrote:
On Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:00:00 GMT, You wrote:
In article
,
" wrote:

It's
a Standard Communications DS-1. I suspect that company no longer
exists.

Seems like you, suspected , WRONG..... Look up Standard/Horizon
Communications, in your favorite Search Engine. They are still
a Big Player in the non-commercial Marine Electronics Business,
and doing quite well.....

Bought by Vertex, and still in operation

http://www.standardhorizon.com/

They are out of the instrument biz, but still have "some" old parts
laying around. The tech department is very helpful if you CALL them
and ask nicely.

Yes,you're right, their tech dept is very helpful but they have
nothing left that fits my need.

If I can't get the old DS-1 working I may try a cheap inside the hull
depth sounder, eg Uniden QT 206 which you can get for under $100 and
doesn't need a hole in the hull. Some say they work fine.

Thanks for the help

Richard


Generally recent depth sounders work on one of two different
frequencies. you might try to determine what frequency your instrument
works at and try a new transponder of the same frequency.

You can but standard transponder heads designed to epoxy inside a
fiberglass hull. I have been using one for ten years with no problems.
I believe with a 'Standard" display.


Bruce-in-Bangkok
(Note:remove underscores
from address for reply)

Transducers will work throught the hull from the inside if properly mounted
in a bed of epoxy.

Here's one example:

http://www.starmarinedepot.com/Rayma...ransducer.html

I've mounted a thru-hull inside the hull bedding in epoxy (make sure no air
bubbles in epoxy) and it works great.

Make sure the mechanical connection of your current transducer is good. If
loose from the hull you will get erratic readings. Also, did you put
anything new/different mounted to the hull (on the inside) and then the
problems came about?


wrote in message
...
The depth sounder on our 1978 San Juan 28 dates from around 1983. It's
a Standard Communications DS-1. I suspect that company no longer
exists. We get crazy readings or blanks in both deep and shallow water
whatever adjustments we make. The alarm works only too well so it
thinks it's detecting something. The electric connections all look
good and clean and the PO has always painted around the transducer,
not over it.

I'm happy enough to buy a new unit but would rather not mess with the
through-hull transducer (which looks fine from the inside). Does
anyone know whether a 2008 depth sounder is compatible with a 1983
transducer, or how to check?

Thanks in advance

Richard

"Phil Abuster" wrote in message
...
Transducers will work throught the hull from the inside if properly
mounted in a bed of epoxy.

Here's one example:

http://www.starmarinedepot.com/Rayma...ransducer.html

I've mounted a thru-hull inside the hull bedding in epoxy (make sure no
air bubbles in epoxy) and it works great.


They don't need to be mounted in epoxy (those not going through the hull) to
work properly. They do need to not shoot through air. If you mount them in
epoxy, you'll find it difficult to remove them if they fail. In the method I
mentioned elsewhere, you don't have to be concerned with bubbles in the
epoxy because the transducer sits in mineral oil in a stable container (one
that is epoxied to the hull in the appropriate spot). The main issue is
finding a spot via testing (as another suggested) before placing the
transducer holder.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

wrote in message
...
On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:39:45 -0800, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

"Phil Abuster" wrote in message
...
Transducers will work throught the hull from the inside if properly
mounted in a bed of epoxy.

Here's one example:

http://www.starmarinedepot.com/Rayma...ransducer.html

I've mounted a thru-hull inside the hull bedding in epoxy (make sure no
air bubbles in epoxy) and it works great.


They don't need to be mounted in epoxy (those not going through the hull)
to
work properly. They do need to not shoot through air. If you mount them in
epoxy, you'll find it difficult to remove them if they fail.

Not difficult at all.

Well, it's not impossible, but it certainly easier if you don't have to do
it at all.

In the method I
mentioned elsewhere, you don't have to be concerned with bubbles in the
epoxy because the transducer sits in mineral oil in a stable container
(one
that is epoxied to the hull in the appropriate spot).

The epoxy may not have bubbles in it to begin with, and if it does, it
is a very simple matter to remedy.

I'd really like to know how... how can you be sure one doesn't develop after
it hardens? I thought you said that it happened to you? Maybe I mis-read
that... a friend is contemplating the exact same type of installation.


The main issue is
finding a spot via testing (as another suggested) before placing the
transducer holder.




--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com