RT 6-3000
Overview
Deploy, track, moor and recover your equipment
Deep water instrument mooring or structure installation; RT 6-3000 takes the hard work out of deploying your ocean sensors and heavy lifting from the seabed. It features an impressive battery life of over 32 months and a depth rating of 3,000 m.
Acoustic release transponders are a vital pieces of ocean equipment; relied upon by energy, defence and science users to secure valuable equipment subsea for years at a time and, when commanded to do so, reliably return equipment and logged data to the surface.
What's possible
You need transponders to be tough, reliable and easy to work with. RT 6-3000 meets these requirements.
Part of our range of acoustic releases, RT 6-3000 combines our extensive mechanical design track record and many years of subsea mooring experience with the flexibility of our 6G platform. The result is an enhanced battery life and, perhaps most significantly, compatibility with our Ranger 2 USBL family.
Deploy. Track. Locate. Recover.
With RT 6-3000, you can use your Ranger 2 USBL to deploy, track, locate and command the instrument – removing the need for a separate topside unit.
If you don’t have access to a Ranger 2 USBL, our rugged and lightweight Deck Topside with an over-the-side dunker is all you need to configure and command your RT 6-3000s.
RT 6-3000s are used to anchor oceanographic moorings to the seabed. However, their compact size and compatibility with Ranger 2 makes them ideal for incorporation into instrument frames or lowered platforms to enable deployment of sub-system packages. Depth rated to 3,000 m, the maximum slant range for operation is dependent on the noise environment and topside used, but ranges to 4,500 m are achievable.
A battery disconnect fob is located on the transducer and uses an internal magnetic switch to electronically disconnect the battery when not in use. This means you don’t have to open the unit to manually disconnect the battery, saving time and reducing the risk of incorrect re-assembly.
Standard features include a Working Load Limit (WLL) of 1,275 kg (at 4:1) and the same trusted spring-assisted release mechanism used on thousands of Sonardyne transponders globally for many years. RT 6-3000 is compatible with our standard tandem and high-load release frames for scenarios requiring a higher WLL.
Speak to us about your requirements as custom frames are also an option.
Acoustics
• Medium Frequency (19-34kHz) band, Wideband 2
• Omni-directional transducer. Track it all the way to the surface
• Sonardyne Wideband 2 signal architecture supporting over 300 unique addresses
• Compatible with any Ranger 2 USBL system and Deck Topside
Design
• 700 x 142 mm, 15 kg weight in water
• Aluminium bronze, duplex stainless steel construction. ROHS compliant
• Configured with iWand hand-held acoustic transponder test and configuration device
• Compatible with our standard tandem and high-load release frame
Performance
• 3,000 m depth rated
• 4,500 m working range
• >32 months battery life; alkaline battery
• 1,275 kg Working Load Limit
• Secure and robust two-way acoustic communications. Only release what you want to release
Ownership
• What’s in the box: RT 6-3000, shackles, manual on USB
• Warranty: 1 year return to Sonardyne service centre
• ITAR Controlled: no
• UK Export Licence: not required
Specifications
| Feature | Type 8320-3411 |
|---|---|
| Depth Rating | 3,000 m* |
| Maximum Slant Range | 4,500 m |
| Operating Frequency | MF (20–34 kHz) |
| Transducer Beam Shape | Hemispherical |
| Transmit Source Level (dB re 1 µPa @ 1 m) | 186 dB |
| Tone Equivalent Energy (TEE) | 192 dB |
| Receive Threshold (dB re 1 µPa) | <90 dB |
| Working Load Limit (4:1) | 1,275 kg |
| Proof Load | 2,550 kg |
| Breaking Load | 5,100 kg |
| Maximum Safe Release Load | 1,700 kg |
| Battery Life (Alkaline) | >32 months active |
| Inclinometer Accuracy | ±5° |
| Surface Unit | Deck Topside, Ranger 2 USBL |
| Mechanical Construction | Aluminium bronze and duplex stainless steel |
| Operating Temperature | -5 to 40°C |
| Storage Temperature | -20 to 55°C |
| Dimensions (Length x Diameter) | 700 x 142 mm (27.5 x 5.6”) |
| Weight in Air/Water | 20/15 kg |
| Standards | CE Marked to EN-60945, EN-61010 |
| Options | Shallow Water Deck Kit (Deck Topside) – 602-0175 |
| Mid Water Deck Kit (Deck Topside) – 602-0179 | |
| Heavy Duty Release Frames (7.5 T, 15 T and 25 T) | |
| *RT 6-3000 is pressure rated to 4,000 m; however, due to operating range constraints of MF, its use at depths greater than 3,000 m is not recommended. |
Frequently asked questions
What is an Acoustic Release and how does it work?
Why isn’t serial communication available using the iWand in RT 6 Dunker Mode?
6G Terminal Lite Range Test
What is the safe working load for different RT 6 products?
What should I use instead of an ORT and DORT?
How to change the battery on an RT 6-3000 or RT 6000
How to load the release on an RT 6-3000 and RT 6-6000
Which RT 6 is correct for my operations?
How to release an RT 6 acoustic release transponder using Ranger 2
How long can an RT 6-3000 and RT-6 6000 be deployed for?
Deployment
Downloads
STP files
Software and control hardware
Manuals and quick start guides
Did you know?
RT 6-3000 can be used with our Ranger 2 USBL family or Deck Topside
