How to Tell Which Simrad 3-in-1 Transducer You Have
Important Lowrance/Simrad note: Lowrance and Simrad are sister brands within Navico Group. TotalScan, Active Imaging 3-in-1, and Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 are shared Navico transducer families, which is why the Fish Finder Coach selector may show a Lowrance name even when you use a Simrad display. Choose by the transducer model and part number, not by the logo on the screen.
If you are choosing a 3-in-1 settings guide on Fish Finder Coach, there are three Simrad-compatible families you need to tell apart:
- TotalScan 3-in-1
- Active Imaging 3-in-1
- Active Imaging HD 3-in-1
All three combine traditional/CHIRP 2D sonar, DownScan, and SideScan in one transducer. The most reliable way to identify yours is the white tag wrapped around the transducer cable. The housing is a useful clue, but the part number is the final answer.
Use This Chart to Choose on Fish Finder Coach
| Cable tag or part number | Your transducer | Choose this on Fish Finder Coach | Visual clue |
|---|---|---|---|
|
000-12568-001 Transom skimmer 000-14257-001 Thru-hull version |
TotalScan | Lowrance/Simrad TotalScan 3-in-1 | Older, bigger, boxier housing. The transom model has a thick rounded black body. |
|
000-14489-001 Standard cable 000-14814-001 Short-cable version |
Active Imaging 3-in-1 | Lowrance/Simrad Active Imaging 3-in-1 | Slim long bar. It looks very similar to Active Imaging HD, so verify the tag. |
|
000-16062-001 Standard HD model 000-16061-001 High/Wide FishReveal model |
Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 | Lowrance/Simrad Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 | Slim long bar with newer HD hardware. Do not try to separate it from non-HD Active Imaging by shape alone. |
Common Transducer That Came With Each Simrad Fishfinder
Simrad packages vary by year, region, chart card, radar bundle, and dealer. This table lists the most common factory pairings, not a guarantee. A package marked no transducer may still have one now because the installer or previous owner added it later. Useful shortcut: if an evo3S or newer NSX/NSS package came with a SideScan transducer, it is most likely the regular Active Imaging 3-in-1, not Active Imaging HD. Only select HD when the cable tag says Active Imaging HD or the documented installation uses NSS 4 or an S3100/S3100H.
| Simrad fishfinder | Most common in-box transducer | Other documented package options | What to select on Fish Finder Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise 5 / 7 / 9 | Cruise / HOOK2 83/200 skimmer | Regional chart variations | None of the 3-in-1 choices |
| GO5 XSE | TotalScan on the common sonar bundle | Display-only packages | TotalScan if confirmed by the cable tag |
| GO7 XSE / GO7 XSR | Active Imaging 3-in-1 on newer packages | TotalScan, HDI, or no transducer | Use tag: TotalScan or Active Imaging |
| GO9 XSE | Active Imaging 3-in-1 | 83/200 HDI, radar bundles, or no transducer | Active Imaging only if tag confirms it |
| GO12 XSE | No transducer is common | Older TotalScan and Active Imaging packages | Use the installed transducer's tag |
| NSX 3007 | Active Imaging 3-in-1 | No transducer | Active Imaging if the package included sonar |
| NSX 3009 | Active Imaging 3-in-1 | Medium/High HDI or no transducer | Active Imaging only if tag confirms it |
| NSX 3012 | Active Imaging 3-in-1 | No transducer; radar bundles | Active Imaging if the package included sonar |
| NSX 3012UW / 3015UW | Active Imaging 3-in-1 | No transducer | Active Imaging if the package included sonar |
| NSS7 / 9 / 12 / 16 evo3 and evo3S | Active Imaging 3-in-1 is most likely if the package included SideScan | Many chart/radar packages included no transducer and told the buyer to add one | Choose regular Active Imaging unless the tag specifically says HD |
| NSS 4 10 / 12 / 16 | No transducer is common; dealer sonar bundles may vary | Regular Active Imaging 3-in-1 or Active Imaging HD may be added | Use the cable tag; do not assume HD from the display alone |
| NSO evo3 / evo3S / NSO 4 | No transducer | System packs include display/control hardware, not a standard 3-in-1 transducer | Identify the transducer connected to the sonar module |
Bottom line: the package chart helps narrow the search, but the cable tag still wins. A GO9 can be sold with Active Imaging, HDI, or no transducer, and any previous owner can change the installation.
Simrad 3-in-1 Compatibility List by Unit
This table covers the three transducer choices available in the Fish Finder Coach selector. Direct means the transducer connects to the display's sonar port. Module means an external Simrad sonar module is required. Compatibility does not mean the transducer came in the box.
| Simrad fishfinder | TotalScan 3-in-1 | Active Imaging 3-in-1 | Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise 5 / 7 / 9 | No | No | No | Cruise uses its dedicated 83/200 skimmer and is not a SideScan unit. |
| GO5 XSE | Direct | Direct | No official support listed | One 9-pin xSonic sonar port. |
| GO7 XSE / GO7 XSR | Direct | Direct | No official support listed | Both TotalScan and Active Imaging packages were sold. |
| GO9 XSE | Direct | Direct | No official support listed | Do not assume Active Imaging; HDI and display-only packages also exist. |
| GO12 XSE | Direct | Direct | No official support listed | Many GO12 units were sold without a transducer. |
| NSX 3007 | Direct | Direct | Module: S3100/S3100H | Active Imaging and display-only packages are documented. |
| NSX 3009 | Direct | Direct | Module: S3100/S3100H | Active Imaging, HDI, and display-only packages exist. |
| NSX 3012 | Direct | Direct | Module: S3100/S3100H | Active Imaging and display-only packages are common. |
| NSX 3012UW / 3015UW | Direct | Direct | Module: S3100/S3100H | Official packages list Active Imaging 3-in-1 or no transducer. |
| NSS7 / 9 / 12 / 16 evo3 and evo3S | Direct | Direct | Module: S3100/S3100H | Dual transducer ports; most packages tell you to add your choice of transducer. |
| NSS 4 10 / 12 / 16 with built-in sonar | Direct | Direct | Direct | NSS 4 is the direct-connect Simrad platform for Active Imaging HD. |
| NSS 4 12 without built-in sonar | Module required | Module required | Module required | This version has no direct sonar input. |
| NSO evo3 / evo3S / NSO 4 | Module required | Module required | S3100/S3100H required | NSO displays depend on a network sonar module rather than a direct transducer port. |
Compatibility shortcut: GO, NSX, and NSS evo3/evo3S owners usually choose between TotalScan and regular Active Imaging 3-in-1. On evo3S and newer units, an included SideScan transducer is most likely regular Active Imaging 3-in-1 unless the tag says HD. Active Imaging HD is direct on a sonar-equipped NSS 4; NSX and NSS/NSO evo3-series systems need an S3100 or S3100H.
Step 1: Find the Cable Tag
Follow the transducer cable from the transom or thru-hull fitting toward the display. Look for a white or silver identification tag. Installers often leave it near the plug behind the dash, inside the console, or where the cable enters the bilge.
Look for one of these names:
- TotalScan
- Active Imaging 3-in-1
- Active Imaging HD 3-in-1
Or look for a Navico part number beginning with 000-.
The cable tag is stronger evidence than the fishfinder model. Simrad sells display-only packages, regional bundles, and dealer-created packages. Two boats with the same GO9 XSE can have different transducers.
Do not rely on the transducer name selected in the menu. The installer can manually choose the wrong model. A networked Simrad can also display sonar from a transducer connected to another screen or sonar module.
Step 2: Compare the Housing
TotalScan 3-in-1
TotalScan is the easiest of the three to recognize by sight. The transom version has an older, thicker, boxier body with a rounded black underside. It looks bulkier than either Active Imaging model.
The standard transom-mount TotalScan part number is 000-12568-001. The single thru-hull TotalScan is 000-14257-001. If you have the thru-hull model, the housing will not match the transom-skimmer photo, so the cable tag matters even more.
On Fish Finder Coach, choose Lowrance/Simrad TotalScan 3-in-1. The Lowrance wording refers to the shared Navico transducer family, not the logo on your display.
Active Imaging 3-in-1
Active Imaging 3-in-1 has a slimmer long-bar housing than TotalScan. The standard part number is 000-14489-001. A short-cable version may show 000-14814-001.
This is a common transducer on newer GO, NSX, and NSS packages. That display association is only a clue. The exact package and cable tag still decide the answer.
On Fish Finder Coach, choose Lowrance/Simrad Active Imaging 3-in-1.
Active Imaging HD 3-in-1
Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 is the newer high-definition family. The standard model is 000-16062-001. The High/Wide FishReveal version is 000-16061-001.
It can reach imaging frequencies up to 1.2 MHz on compatible Simrad hardware. Depending on the display, Active Imaging HD may connect to an NSS 4 sonar-equipped model or work through an S3100/S3100H sonar module.
The housing is slim and long, just like non-HD Active Imaging. Small bracket and cable-routing differences may appear in photos, but production versions and viewing angles can make those clues unreliable. If the cable tag does not say HD, do not assume it is HD.
On Fish Finder Coach, choose Lowrance/Simrad Active Imaging HD 3-in-1.
Simrad Transducers That Are Not 3-in-1
The Fish Finder Coach 3-in-1 selector only applies when one housing provides 2D sonar, DownScan, and SideScan. You may own a Simrad transducer without having one of the three choices above.
| Transducer type | What it provides | Is it one of the 3-in-1 choices? |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise / HOOK2 83/200 | Traditional 2D sonar only | No |
| xSonic Airmar 2D or CHIRP | Traditional/CHIRP 2D sonar only | No |
| HDI | 2D sonar plus DownScan, but no SideScan | No |
| Active Imaging 2-in-1 | DownScan plus SideScan, but no built-in 2D element | No |
| StructureScan HD | DownScan and SideScan imaging, normally paired with a separate 2D source | No |
| ForwardScan or ActiveTarget | Forward-looking or live sonar | No |
If your installation uses separate 2D and imaging transducers, do not pick a 3-in-1 model just because your Simrad display shows 2D, DownScan, and SideScan. Those views may be coming from more than one transducer.
What If the Cable Tag Is Missing?
Use this order:
- Look at the housing. A thick, rounded TotalScan body is easier to separate from the slimmer Active Imaging bars.
- Check the transducer menu. On many GO and NSS units, look under Settings, Sonar, Installation, and Transducer type. Treat the result as a clue.
- Check the original receipt or package SKU. Simrad package names often list HDI, TotalScan, or Active Imaging.
- Photograph the transducer and plug. Get the top, bottom, bracket, cable entry, and plug face.
- Do not guess between Active Imaging and Active Imaging HD. They are too similar for a reliable visual-only decision.
Official Sources Used
- Simrad TotalScan Skimmer, SKU 000-12568-001
- Simrad TotalScan thru-hull, SKU 000-14257-001
- Simrad Active Imaging 3-in-1, SKU 000-14489-001
- Simrad Active Imaging HD 3-in-1, SKU 000-16062-001
- Simrad Active Imaging HD High/Wide, SKU 000-16061-001
- Simrad Cruise package with 83/200 transducer
- Simrad GO7 XSR package with TotalScan
- Simrad GO9 XSE package with Active Imaging 3-in-1
- Simrad NSX 3007 package with Active Imaging
- Simrad NSX 3009 package with HDI
- Simrad NSX 3012UW package with Active Imaging 3-in-1
- Simrad NSS evo3S sonar compatibility
- Simrad NSS 4 built-in sonar and Active Imaging HD support
- Simrad S3100 sonar module
Choose the Guide That Matches Your Transducer
Select TotalScan, Active Imaging 3-in-1, or Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 using the cable tag and chart above.
Choose Your 3-in-1 Sonar Bundle
