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Ranger 2 USBL

Underwater tracking, DP reference and telemetry system

Engineered for

AUV ROV Towfish
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Overview

Ranger 2 – it's anything but standard

Ranger 2 is your complete subsea USBL workshop. Trace, track, command or position everything, in any depth, from any vessel, anything that your underwater operations may demand. Track a towfish, position an ROV, dynamically position your vessel, communicate with an AUV – or do all of this simultaneously.

What is possible

Ranger 2 comes with an impressive list of features including our award-winning 6G (sixth generation) acoustic hardware platform and Sonardyne Wideband 2 digital signal architecture. It provides stable and repeatable acoustic position referencing for your ship’s DP system, including those from GE, Kongsberg, MT, Navis, Thrustmaster and Wärtsilä.

As your needs grow and become more complex, bolt-on software packs unlock additional capability and protect your investment. Take the DP pack and enable your acoustic ranging to be aided by our inertial navigation technology (DP-INS). Add the robotics pack and commanding a swarm of up to 99 AUV’s is at your fingertips.

Ranger 2 can do even more, it also supports robust two-way data telemetry, allowing you to control our range of seafloor deployed, long-endurance sensors and recover your all-important data.

Track everything, in any depth, from any vessel

Why choose it?

  • Tracks multiple targets to 11 km;
  • Compatible with all makes of DP system – GE, Kongsberg, MT
  • System accuracy: when fully optimised it will deliver 0.04% of slant range
  • Works with a global inventory of pre-deployed Sonardyne 6G hardware
  • Configurations available for USV and temporary vessel installations
  • Valuable features included as standard
  • Bolt-on packs available for growth with your operations and ambitions
  • Developed and supported by a company with over 50 years of experience in innovative underwater technology

Learn more about Ranger 2 USBL

The kit

Transceivers

Our High Performance Transceiver (HPT), is available in a range of different designs to suit your operations whether they are in deep or shallow water or over a long layback.

HPT 5000 / 7000 are acoustic and telemetry transceivers designed for use with Ranger 2 USBL system. HPT 5000 enables targets offer wide range of water depths to be tracked; HPT 7000 is optimised for noisy DP drilling and construction vessels and in deep water.

HPT 5000 offers full hemispherical acoustic coverage so is a popular choice for tracking multiple targets (ROVs, AUVs, towfish, seafloor sensors) over a wide range of depths and elevations. The unit is also suitable for dynamic positioning reference on survey, research and offshore support vessels.

HPT 7000 is engineered for ultra-deepwater operations, tracking targets far below (rather than to the side of) a vessel, and for high vessel noise operating environments such as those typical of DP, drilling and construction where activity from thrusters is liable to cause signal interference.

If you need a solution for a vessel of opportunity, our pre-calibrated, all-in-one Gyro USBL transceiver is perfect. Lighter, smaller and just as capable, our second-generation Gyro USBL transceiver works seamlessly with Ranger 2 to track the position of your subsea targets from a USV, vessel of opportunity or from a pipelay vessel’s stinger over extreme ranges.

  • All-in-one instrument; combined 6G acoustic transceiver and AHRS
  • Choose between standard or ‘plus’ variants to suit your project’s specifications
  • Optimises the performance of Ranger 2; eliminates lever arm offsets, pole bending and ship flexing errors
  • Calibrated in-water before delivery – saving you time; install it and go to work

Transponders

The flexibility of the Ranger 2 family is further extended by our range of transponders to support a wide variety of your operations. WMT is a high-power transponder capable of operations to 7,000 m, while AvTrak 6 is our most capable acoustic vehicle instrument, combining the functions of a USBL transponder, LBL transceiver and modem for demanding applications such as AUV command and control.

Performance

• Up to 0.04% of slant range system accuracy
• Up 99 targets tracked, sequentially
• Up to 11,000 m tracking range (LMF)
• 1 Hz position update rate
• Supports all industry standard DP telegrams
• Supports acoustically aided INS

Acoustics

• MF frequency (19–34 kHz) or LMF (14-19.5 kHz)
• Compatible with a wide range of 6G transponders
• Supports Sonardyne Messaging Service for data exchange up to 9,000 bps
• Sonardyne Wideband 2 acoustics for reliable performance in both shallow and deep-water environments

Ownership

• ITAR Controlled: No
• Warranty: 1 year return to Sonardyne service centre
• UK Export Licence: Required
• What’s in the box: HPT 5000 / 7000 / Gyro USBL, deck cables, software, manual

Overview

• Can be used for both survey and construction phases
• Configurable to work in the LMF band enabling you to track targets to beyond 11 km
• Supports complex tracking scenarios such as structures and vehicles with multiple transponders and multiple remote offsets

Specifications table

Feature Specification
Design The most powerful USBL system on the market
Incorporates 30 years of USBL innovation and know-how
Recommended for installation on large vessels and USVs
Global vessel track record; offshore, research, cable-lay, salvage and naval
Shares common platform with other Sonardyne USBLs
Performance Up to 0.04% of slant range system accuracy
Up to 99 targets tracked, simultaneously
Up to 11,000 m tracking range (LMF)
1 Hz position update rate
Support all industry standard DP telegrams
Supports acoustically-aided INS
Acoustics MF frequency (19-34 kHz) or LMF (14-19.5 kHz)
Sonardyne Wideband 2 digital acoustics for reliable performance in both shallow and deep environments
Supports Sonardyne Messaging Service for data exchange up to 9,000 bps
Compatible with a wide range of 6G transponders

Frequently asked questions

Planning 6G beacon deployments

CASIUS calibration recommendations

What is a USBL and how does it work?

How to use Auto Discover to scan the water for unknown transponder addresses

How to format the sound speed profile for Marksman and Ranger 2

How to use HPR418BCD telegrams for DP

How to mount and extract an ISO image

How to track an underwater locator beacon

How to Compensate for Responder Latency

How to set up an SSB_LBP Telegram

Marksman/Ranger 2 DP INS indicator sequence explained

How to create an alarm to warn that the transceiver deployment pole has been left deployed

How to import waypoints into Ranger 2

How to enter Transceiver & Lodestar Offsets for Optimised USBL

Frequency management is obsolete. Here’s why.

How to set up Responder Mode

Opening a .DJF file on Sonardyne De Novo Job Viewer

How to Skip Telemetry Options in Rangers 2 and Marksman LUSBL

What should I do if my Sonardyne security dongle expires or reports a problem?

How to Capture a cef in Marksman and Ranger 2

How to download or upload files using Filezilla

Why am I getting old / incorrect data from my GyroCompatt 6+?

How to turn on a Lodestar Gyro Compatt using Ranger 2 or Fusion 2

I’m outputting a GGA from Fusion 2 / Ranger 2 to NaviPac but the position isn’t appearing in the correct location?

Health check for your acoustic system

How do I mark where my RT 6-1000 is deployed?

Will Compatt 6+ work with Ranger 2 and Marksman?

The transponder isn’t replying to interrogation or commands

Can I get USBL position updates from my AUV with Ranger 2/ Mini-Ranger 2?

How quickly can I start tracking beacons with Ranger 2?

Has anyone ever installed an echosounder and Ranger 2 USBL transceiver directly beside each other? Would this work?

Can I perform a USBL verification in shallow water without an ROV to deploy or recover the beacon?

How do USBLs work?

Which USBL Deployment Machine is most suitable for my vessel?

Advantages of using Ranger 2 for ROV tracking

When to use Depth Aiding

What’s new in Micro Ranger 2?

What to consider when mounting acoustic transducers

What acoustic address should I use for my USBL transponder

What do my CASIUS results tell me about my USBL calibration

Calibration tips for Ranger 2 USBL systems

How to align Gyro USBL to the vessel frame of reference

How to interface Ranger 2 into a 3rd party survey system

How can an uncrewed system interact with Ranger 2 software?

How can I synchronise a clock on my AUV to a GNSS reference using Ranger 2?

What is Telemetry Tracking, and why would I need it?

How to release an RT 6 acoustic release transponder using Ranger 2

How to set up an update rate in Ranger 2

How to set the operating range in Ranger 2

How to configure sound speed in Ranger 2

Ranger 2 – How to release an RT6 acoustic release transponder

Manuals and quick start guides