If you have a fiberglass hull, you are better to install the SI transducer to be over water when on plane and use a shoot thru hull transducer for on-plane 2D sonar operation, using a splitter cable. This is the most reliable setup for fiberglass hull and SI unit users. Someone should post soon all ...
My explanation is valid only for 2D sonar, NOT SI/DI.... Technically, the ping rate for the transducer is hard-coded in the firmware. And is coded to offer the best possible number of returns for a given depth. From my non-scientific test, the ping rate is about 30 pings par second (for single beam)...
For fish, I'm on the fence if they hear it or not. But I'm sure they are not spooked by it. Even if they heard it, it would be no different than the whine of the trolliong motor, or the hull noise that transmit in the water.
All sonars will be influenced by waves... Since it changes the height of the water column you try to scan.
And I don't think that DI sonar will be at it's best below 100 ft of salt water.
Even conventional 2D sonar is influenced by waves. The only way to cancel waves is using a TowFish.
You can't. Since SI data don't include depth readings.. Only the standard 2D sonar can provide depth data to mapping programs. The only difference between Si and regular 2D sonar, is once you have made your bottom profile map, some software can overlay the SI image over the map. The only way you can...