ADDENDUM to Northstar 941/941XD GPS Navigator Reference Manual (P/N GM1100, Revision D) This addendum applies to software versions 2.07, 2.10, 3.12, 3.18, and later Northstar Technologies, Inc. 30 Sudbury Road Acton, Massachusetts 01720 (978) 897-6600 P/N GM210 Rev. D 03/21/01 Table of contents About this addendum - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 Contacting Northstar ---------------1 2 2 3 3 4 Software version 2.07 upgrades - - - - - - - - - - - 2 New NMEA output sentence - NMEA 1-Hz output - - - - - Uninstalled DGPS antenna - - Updated beacon list - - - - - Radio frequency interference (RFI) Software version 2.10 upgrades - - - - - - - - - - - 4 Anchor-watch alarm honk - - - - - - - - - Honking for all alarms - - - - - - - - - - - Selecting an independent NMEA output-port datum Canadian tide stations - - - - - - - - - - - Changes to DGPS stations - - - - - - - - - New DGPS stations - - - - - - - - - - - - New DGPS status message - - - - - - - - - Change to RMC sentence display - - - - - - New TLL sentence - - - - - - - - - - - - Changes to GGA output sentence - - - - - - - --4 --5 -7 --7 --7 --8 --8 --8 --8 --9 Software version 3.12 upgrades - - - - - - - - - - - 9 Sharing waypoints and routes - - - - - - - - - - - 9 Time display on the tide track screen - - - - - - - - - 17 Software version 3.18 upgrades - - - - - - - - - WAAS differential capability - - - - - - New WAAS options - - - - - - - - - - Using demo mode to simulate WAAS - - - Viewing distance-to-go on the NAVLOG screen Changes to U.S. DPGS stations - - - - - New U.S. DGPS stations - - - - - - - - Changes to foreign DGPS stations - - - - New foreign DGPS stations - - - - - - - - 18 - - - 18 - - - 19 - - - 22 - - 22 - - - 23 - - - 23 - - - 24 - - - 24 Miscellaneous documentation updates Using the N-S-E-W key - - - - - - 25 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25 Using the power switch - - - - - - - - Adding "honk" to table - - - - - - - - Using the stop key - - - - - - - - - - Outputting waypoints displayed as numbers Recommended distances between antennas Mounting a loop antenna - - - - - - - Flush mounting the 941 - - - - - - - - Returning a 941 for service - - - - - - - - - - - 25 26 26 26 26 27 28 28 About this addendum Please read this addendum and keep it with your 941 documentation. This addendum contains all the update details necessary to properly operate your 941. This addendum describes several enhancements made to the 941's software versions 2.07, 2.10, 3.12, and 3.18. Accordingly, this addendum contains information that supersedes some parts of the existing 941 Reference Manual (part number GM1100, revision D). Because the current software is now version 3.18, all of the features described in "Software version 2.07 upgrades," "Software version 2.10 upgrades," and "Software version 3.12 upgrades" also apply to version 3.18. Contacting Northstar For service or sales information on this product, contact Northstar by email, fax, phone, or U.S. mail as follows: Table 1: Contacting Northstar Email: Service: service@northstarcmc.com Sales: sales@northstarcmc.com Fax: Service: 978/897-1595 Sales: 978/897-7241 Telephone: Main number: 978/897-6600 or 800/628-4487 U.S. mail: 30 Sudbury Road Acton, MA 01720 Website: www.northstargps.com (you can send email to Northstar directly from this site) ­1­ 032101 Addendum P/N GM210 Software version 2.07 upgrades This section describes several software enhancements made in upgrading the 941 software version 2.06 to software version 2.07. Please note that all of version 2.07's enhancements apply to each later software version, including versions 2.10, 3.12, and 3.18 as described later in this addendum. New NMEA output sentence Northstar has added a new sentence to its NMEA 0183 output format. The purpose of this new NMEA sentence, "MSS" (MSK Receiver Signal Status), is to provide status information for the beacon receiver's signals (the 941 sends a null sentence if the beacon receiver isn't installed). This status information includes beacon bit rate, frequency, signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio, and signal strength. For details about turning on this sentence, see page 118 of the 941 Reference Manual. There, you'll see a sample screen that displays the NMEA 0183 sentences; however, version 2.07 will display the additional MSS sentence in your unit's actual list. For further information about NMEA sentences, refer to the National Marine Electronic Association (NMEA) 0183 Specification. NMEA 1-Hz output Version 2.06 normally used the standard NMEA two-second interval for outputting NMEA sentences (a 0.5-Hz output rate). Version 2.07 lets you use one-second intervals, a rate of 1 Hz, under limited circumstances, for NMEA and diagnostic data output. NMEA output Using the 1-Hz output option, however, requires some thought when specifying either NMEA 0183 (NMEA version 2.0) or Raytheon (RAY 0183). Since there isn't enough time to transmit all available NMEA sentences within one second, you must select for output only those that are needed. If you select more ­2­ Addendum P/N GM210 032101 sentences than can be output in one second, the following error message is displayed: SORRY, CAN'T DO THAT. TOO MANY SENTENCES FOR 1 SEC INTERVAL If this message is displayed, you must select fewer sentences. Diagnostic output The RS-232 diagnostic port also may overflow--when it's configured to either COPY PORT1 or COPY PORT2, and one of the copied ports is in 0183 output mode--unless the diagnostic port's baud rate is fast enough to handle the number of characters. Because the diagnostic port's baud rate can now be changed, the 941 will always display this precautionary message before you actually reset the baud rate: WARNING: ALL SENTENCES MAY NOT TRANSMIT AT DIAG BAUD RATE. PRESS "ENTER" TO CONTINUE Uninstalled DGPS antenna In version 2.06, the 941 would display the error message DGPS NOT INSTALLED if the unit was powered on for a short time without the beacon antenna connected. The only way to clear the message was to turn power off, then turn power on again. In version 2.07, if you don't install the DGPS antenna before powering up the unit, the 941 displays the status message SEARCHING. As soon as you connect the antenna, the unit displays the message OK. You don't have to turn power off and on again. Updated beacon list Software version 2.07 contains an updated list of beacon names and their locations. ­3­ 032101 Addendum P/N GM210 Radio frequency interference (RFI) A change in the software timing has reduced or eliminated radio frequency interference that affected certain communications receivers. Software version 2.10 upgrades This section describes several software enhancements made in upgrading software version 2.07 to software version 2.10. Please note that all of version 2.10's enhancements apply to each later software version, including versions 3.12 and 3.18 as described later in this addendum. Anchor-watch alarm honk In the anchor-watch alarm function, you can set the 941 to honk, in addition to beep, as long as you've connected a honker with pin #14 on the interface connector. Once you set the anchorwatch alarm to honk, a continuous honking sequence begins when either your vessel moves outside the specified anchoralarm radius or if the navigation source (e.g., GPS) becomes unavailable. Note: On the ALARMS & BACKLIGHT screen, the ANCHOR ALARM field must be set to ON. To set the anchor-watch alarm to honk: 1. Press the STAR key once to display the ALARMS & BACKLIGHT screen. 2. Press the CURSOR PAD to highlight the HONK OUTPUT field, then press the EDIT ALARM menu key. 3. Press the CURSOR PAD to select ANCHOR ALM, then press the ENTER key. If your vessel moves outside the set anchor-alarm radius, for the next 10 seconds, the exclamation point begins flashing and the alarm automatically starts beeping (you'll only hear the beeping if you've set the ALARM AUDIO field to ON). The honk sequence then starts for a total of 3.5 minutes: 1 second of honking followed by 14 seconds of silence; 2 seconds of honking followed ­4­ Addendum P/N GM210 032101 by 13 seconds of silence; 3 seconds of honking followed by 12 seconds of silence, and so forth, until the honking is up to 14 seconds followed by 1 second of silence. This 3.5-minute honk cycle repeats forever unless you clear the anchor alarm. This honk does NOT automatically clear with the following conditions: · · · · your vessel moves back into the anchor-alarm radius you change the anchor-alarm radius you select a new "drop anchor" position you turn off the anchor alarm Instead, you must clear the anchor alarm in either of the following two ways. Option #1: 1. Press the STAR key once to display the ALARMS & BACKLIGHT screen, then press the CLEAR ALARM key. Option #2: 1. Press the STAR key once to display the ALARMS & BACKLIGHT screen. 2. Press the CURSOR PAD to highlight the HONK OUTPUT field, then press the EDIT ALARM key. 3. Press the CURSOR PAD to select either 200 PPNM or ALL ALARMS, instead of ANCHOR ALM, then press the ENTER key. Honking for all alarms Instead of only a beep for all alarms, you now can set all alarms to honk. This honking will start simultaneously with the flashing exclamation point on the ALARMS & BACKLIGHT screen. After you set all alarms to honk, the system emits an output sound for half a second, followed by silence for half a second. This repeatable honking sequence stops when the alarms either automatically clear or you manually clear them. Note: If you want all alarms to honk, you must set the ALARM AUDIO field to ON. ­5­ 032101 Addendum P/N GM210 To set all alarms to honk: 1. Press the STAR key to display the ALARMS & BACKLIGHT screen. 2. Press the CURSOR PAD to highlight the HONK OUTPUT field, then press the EDIT ALARM menu key. 3. Press the CURSOR PAD to select ALL ALARMS, then press the ENTER key. Table 2 below illustrates how to set the anchor-watch alarm and all other alarms to the desired audio. Table 2: Beep and honk settings for all 941 alarms Sound Beep Type All alarms Setting(s) Set alarm audio field to ON Description The standard 941 alarm beep (has not changed). Beep Anchor watch Set alarm audio field to ON Set anchor alarm field to ON Set alarm audio field to ON Set honk output field to ALL ALARMS The standard 941 alarm beep (has not changed). Honk All alarms Exclamation point flashes on the ALARMS & BACKLIGHT screen; simultaneously emits an output sound for half a second, followed by silence for half a second. For 10 seconds, the exclamation point flashes on the ALARMS & BACKLIGHT screen and the alarm beeps (if alarm audio is on), then the honk sequence starts (see "Anchor watch alarm honk" described on page 4 of this addendum). Honk Anchor watch Set anchor alarm field to ON Set honk output field to ANCHOR ALM ­6­ Addendum P/N GM210 032101 Selecting an independent NMEA output-port datum In all past software versions, the geodetic datum you set for the output ports was the same as the one for positional display. In software version 2.10 and later, you can adjust output position for NMEA 0183 ports 1 and 2 to specific geodetic datums, independently of the datum you choose for positional display. To select an NMEA output-port datum: 1. At the CHART screen, press the STAR key four times until you display the USER CUSTOMIZATION screen, then press the PORT SETUP OPTIONS key. 2. At the PORT SETUP OPTIONS screen, press either the PORT 1 SETUP menu key or the PORT 2 SETUP menu key. Both the PORT 1 SETUP and PORT 2 SETUP screens have a new field called OUTPUT DATUM. 3. Press the CURSOR PAD down to select the OUTPUT DATUM field, then press the EDIT menu key. 4. Press the CURSOR PAD up or down to select the desired datum. 5. To apply this chosen datum to your lat/lon coordinates in the NMEA 0183 output sentences, press the ENTER key (or press the CLEAR key to leave the option unchanged). Canadian tide stations Approximately 350 Canadian tide stations (using NOAA's US model and data) have been added to the 941's tide database. In total, 3540 tide stations are now stored in the 941. Changes to DGPS stations The DGPS station "Montauk Point" has been moved to "Moriches, NY." The name of the DGPS station "Port Aux Basques" has been changed to "Cape Ray" (Canada); its frequency and location is 288.0 kHz, 47 38N 59 14W. ­7­ 032101 Addendum P/N GM210 New DGPS stations The following new DGPS stations have been added: In Russia, these are "Baltijsk," "Shepelevskiy," "Set. Navolock," and "Dgedginsky." In Finland, "Outokumpu" and "Turku" have been added, and "Mantyluoto" and "Puumala" have been updated. In Estonia, "Ristna" has been added. New DGPS status message The DGPS status message TOO FEW SATELLITES is now being displayed on the DGPS STATUS screen. This message means there are too few satellites for a DGPS fix. Change to RMC sentence display Starting at 12:01 AM on January 1, 2000, the RMC sentence (defined as Recommended Min ...