Dual-Frequency Adaptability
400 kHz with FM chirp for deep and turbid water penetration; 550 kHz for high-resolution shallow-water detail. One system from inland lakes to offshore environments.
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CHCNAV | SKU:
CHCNAV HN-400M Multi-Beam Echosounder
Regular price
$20,000.00
Unit price
CHCNAV HN-400M Dual-Frequency Multibeam Echosounder
The CHCNAV HN-400M is a lightweight, fully integrated dual-frequency multibeam echosounder built for high-resolution bathymetric and hydrographic surveys in challenging waters. Combining a 400 kHz / 550 kHz sonar, high-precision INS-based motion stabilization, GNSS positioning, and surface sound velocity sensing in one compact unit, it delivers dependable underwater mapping from inland lakes and rivers to coastal and offshore environments.
With 512 receive beams, a 145° swath coverage (up to 6 times water depth), and 0.03° roll and pitch accuracy, the HN-400M captures dense, full-coverage bathymetric data even where turbidity, depth variation, and vessel motion would compromise conventional systems. Its 400 kHz FM chirp mode penetrates deep and turbid water down to 200 m, while the 550 kHz mode resolves fine detail for precision shallow-water work — one system for every environment.
Built for real-world deployment, the system weighs just 3.5 kg, installs calibration-free, and mounts in minutes on USVs such as the APACHE 4, APACHE 4 Pro, and APACHE 6, or on manned vessels via a mounting bracket. The EasySail Android app puts vessel control, acquisition, parameter setup, and real-time 3D preview in one touch — no field computer required.
Why Choose the CHCNAV HN-400M?
The HN-400M stands out as a smarter, more adaptable multibeam solution for professionals surveying difficult waters. Intelligent dual-frequency operation, an integrated 0.03° IMU, and roll-stabilized beam steering keep data quality high in waves up to 1 m on USV platforms. Setup that traditionally takes 3 hours is done in 30 minutes, and a complete survey can be run by a two-person crew.
Upgrade your hydrographic capability with the CHCNAV HN-400M and cover more water, in more conditions, with cleaner deliverables and faster mobilization.
Technical Specifications
HN 400M Multi-Beam Echosounder
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Dual-Frequency Integrated Multibeam Echosounder
Wide-swath, dual-frequency bathymetry for challenging waters
The CHCNAV HN-400M combines dual-frequency multibeam sonar, high-precision INS motion stabilization, GNSS positioning, and surface sound velocity sensing in one 3.5 kg unit, giving hydrographic professionals dependable bathymetric data in conditions where turbidity, depth variation, and vessel motion affect data quality.
Why It Stands Out
One system for every environment — shallow, deep, and turbid water
HN-400M is built for surveyors who work across changing conditions. Its 550 kHz mode delivers superior bottom resolution for high-precision shallow-water surveys, while the 400 kHz mode with FM chirp penetrates turbid, high-sediment, and deep water — stably detecting terrain down to 200 m. One transducer array, automatic impedance matching, no power loss when switching.
With 512 beams, a 145° swath covering up to 6 times water depth, and 0.03° roll and pitch accuracy from the integrated IMU, it maintains clean data in waves up to 1 m on USVs and up to sea state 3 on manned vessels.
Where a traditional MBES ships in 5 cases at 80 kg and needs 3 hours of setup, the HN-400M ships in one 8 kg case and is surveying in 30 minutes with a two-person crew.
Full System Integration
Pair the HN-400M with APACHE USVs for safer and faster surveys
The HN-400M mounts directly on the APACHE 4, APACHE 4 Pro, and APACHE 6 USVs — assembled and launched in about 10 minutes. Camera and millimeter-wave obstacle avoidance let the USV work busy channels and close to structures, while integrated PPK post-processing keeps accuracy where GNSS is obstructed.
One EasySail Android app handles vessel control, data acquisition, parameter setup, and real-time 3D point cloud preview — a task that traditionally required six programs running on a field PC.
Key advantages
Built for demanding hydrography, HN-400M combines dual-frequency adaptability, INS-grade motion stabilization, and practical field efficiency in one compact multibeam system.
Precision Motion Stabilization
Integrated IMU delivers 0.03° roll and pitch accuracy with real-time compensation, plus ±10° roll-stabilized beam steering for rough conditions.
Wide Swath Coverage
A 145° swath covering up to 6 times water depth captures more bottom per pass, cutting survey time and operational cost.
Lightweight, Calibration-Free
3.5 kg total weight and factory-fixed sensor offsets mean fast mounting on USVs or manned vessels with no field calibration routine.
EasySail Android Control
One-touch workflow for device connection, configuration, acquisition, and real-time preview. No field computer needed.
CoSail Post-Processing
One-click intelligent filtering with three terrain levels, overnight auto-processing queues, and 2 million points loaded in 1 second. Daily field data mapped in under 2 hours.
Data That Sells the System
From acoustic measurements to clear bathymetric deliverables
The HN-400M produces dense, high-quality bathymetric data for terrain interpretation, engineering review, capacity calculations, sediment assessment, and project documentation — with clean backscatter output even in high-sediment environments.
Its 400 kHz FM mode stably detects terrain changes down to 200 m water depth, extending compact multibeam workflows into deep channels, reservoir deep points, and coastal shelf work.
Why Dual Frequency Matters
One frequency compromises. Two frequencies adapt.
Single-frequency multibeam systems force a trade-off between shallow-water resolution and deep-water penetration. The CHCNAV HN-400M switches between 550 kHz for superior bottom-plane resolution and 400 kHz FM chirp for stable detection in turbid, high-sediment, and deep water — so the same instrument performs at its best in an inland lake on Monday and a 200 m offshore channel on Tuesday.
Adaptability Advantage
FM chirp keeps the bottom in sight where CW signals fade
Conventional fixed-frequency narrowband pulses attenuate quickly in turbid water, causing echo loss, noise, and false terrain. The HN-400M's FM chirp mechanism delivers strong anti-interference performance, consistent accuracy at all ranges, and reliable bottom tracking in sediment-heavy and long-range scenarios.
Combined with ±10° roll-stabilized beam steering and 0.03° attitude accuracy, effective swath coverage stays wide even when sea conditions turn dynamic.
- Stable terrain detection in turbid and deep water
- Superior shallow-water detail at 550 kHz
- Consistent swath coverage in waves up to 1 m on USVs
- Cleaner point clouds with less post-processing effort
400/550
kHz dual-frequency
145°
Swath coverage
0.03°
Roll & pitch accuracy
200 m
Maximum range
Built for Real Projects
Why agencies, consultants, and infrastructure teams choose this workflow
The value is not only the sensor. It is the combination of the integrated HN-400M, the APACHE USV platform, remote operation, dual-frequency multibeam data, and mission-ready workflows for challenging inland, coastal, and offshore environments.
Safer Operations
Reduce the need to place crew on manned boats in shallow, obstructed, corrosive, or high-risk environments.
Deep & Turbid Capability
400 kHz FM chirp keeps data quality high in sediment-heavy rivers, dredging zones, and water down to 200 m where compact systems typically fail.
Faster Mobilization
One 8 kg case, 30-minute setup, calibration-free installation, and a two-person crew get surveys running while traditional systems are still being unpacked.
Remote & Unmanned Capability
Android control, USV integration, and PPK post-processing support efficient field operation without bulky traditional setups — even without NTRIP coverage.
Improved Data Quality
0.03° INS attitude, roll-stabilized beam steering, integrated SVS, and intelligent filtering produce cleaner multibeam deliverables with less editing.
Multi-Mission Flexibility
The APACHE platform carries the HN-400M alongside sensors like iLidar, allowing organizations to scale from bathymetry to full above-and-below-water surveys.
Application Cases
Real-world missions where the HN-400M proves itself
These field cases help buyers immediately understand where the HN-400M and APACHE USV platform fit into actual procurement, engineering, and regulatory workflows.
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Channel Survey
Challenge: busy navigation channel with degraded GNSS signal under bridges.
Solution: APACHE 4 USV with camera and millimeter-wave obstacle avoidance; integrated IMU with PPK post-processing recovers accuracy where RTK drops.
Why it matters: strong fit for port authorities, dredging planners, and waterway maintenance teams.
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High-Sediment Waters
Challenge: heavy sediment absorbs acoustic energy and degrades bottom detection.
Solution: 400 kHz FM chirp delivers stronger penetration, longer range, and stable bottom tracking — with backscatter data free of visible noise.
Why it matters: critical for river surveys, dredging zones, and post-flood assessment.
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Offshore Survey in 1 m Waves
Challenge: high winds and waves interfere with USV attitude; tide windows demand fast completion.
Solution: 0.03° real-time attitude correction and roll-stabilized beam steering keep swath coverage effective; high integration means surveying starts immediately after launch.
Why it matters: enables coastal and nearshore work that smaller systems cannot complete reliably.
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Deep Water — 200 m
Challenge: survey area reaching 200 m water depth, beyond typical compact multibeam range.
Solution: 400 kHz FM mode stably detects terrain changes down to 200 m.
Why it matters: one compact system covers reservoir deep points, coastal shelf, and deep channel work.
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Reservoir Capacity Survey
Challenge: enclosed reservoir with no manned survey vessels and no ideal launching points.
Solution: two people carry, assemble, and launch the USV with HN-400M — survey-ready on launch.
Why it matters: ideal for water authorities, utilities, and consultants needing credible volume data.
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Integrated Above & Below Water Survey
Challenge: drone no-fly restrictions and limited handheld LiDAR coverage.
Solution: APACHE 6 USV carrying HN-400M MBES and iLidar captures underwater and shoreline topography in one mission with auto-routing.
Why it matters: full-scene deliverables for shoreline engineering, flood modeling, and asset management.
Integrated Hardware Design
Compact hardware built for practical survey deployment
Sonar, INS, positioning, heading, and sound velocity sensing are integrated with factory-fixed offsets — the operator connects the wet end to the topside with one cable plus two labeled GNSS cables. No field calibration routine, no cable clutter, no multi-component configuration.
At 3.5 kg in air (1.2 kg in water) and 161.5 × 111.5 × 179 mm, the HN-400M fits compact USV platforms yet delivers offshore-class multibeam performance.
HN-400M FAQ
What is the CHCNAV HN-400M used for?
HN-400M is a dual-frequency multibeam echosounder for high-resolution bathymetric and hydrographic surveys, including offshore mapping, underwater inspection, channel dredging, reservoir capacity measurement, and river and lake surveys.
What does dual-frequency operation give me?
550 kHz provides smaller beam widths and superior bottom resolution for shallow-water precision work; 400 kHz with FM chirp improves penetration in deep and turbid conditions, with stable terrain detection down to 200 m. Modes are switched in software — one transducer does both.
Why is the swath 145° sometimes and 130° at other times?
Roll stabilization steers beams to compensate roll angles up to ±10°, which reserves margin at the sector edges. With stabilization enabled, maximum swath is 130°; in calm water it can be disabled to use the full 145°.
Does the HN-400M require field calibration?
No calibration routine at installation — sonar and INS offsets are factory-fixed; you only measure the offset to the primary GNSS antenna. After one calibration line survey, the roll and pitch values remain valid for subsequent operations.
What platforms can carry the HN-400M?
The APACHE 4, APACHE 4 Pro, and APACHE 6 USVs, or any manned vessel via the mounting bracket. Total weight is 3.5 kg; a two-person crew can deploy in about 10 minutes.
What software works with the HN-400M?
EasySail for Android handles acquisition and USV control; CMS and CoSail handle post-processing. The system is also compatible with Beamworx, Hypack, QPS, EVIA, Caris, and other mainstream hydrographic software.
How is the HN-400M different from the HQ-400?
The HN-400M is the step-up model: dual-frequency 400/550 kHz with FM chirp, 145° swath, 200 m range, ±10° roll-stabilized beam steering, and 0.03° INS-grade attitude accuracy. Choose the HQ-400 for budget-conscious inland work; choose the HN-400M for deep, turbid, or offshore conditions.
HN-400M Multi-Beam Echosounder
Compact and powerful system designed for high-resolution bathymetric and hydrographic surveys.
