User manual NORTHSTAR ETHERNET RADAR - Install Guide

NORTHSTAR ETHERNET RADAR INSTALLATION MANUAL Part No. GMEKRadIM Rev. A Northstar 30 Sudbury Road Acton, Massachusetts 01720 a unit of Brunswick New Technologies Marine Electronics www.NorthstarNav.com Service: 978/897-6600 Sales: 800/628-4487 Contents SECTION ONE: Introducing the Northstar radar SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar ------------------- 1 -------------------- 3 3 4 8 9 System diagram - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Installing the radar antenna - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Installing the control box - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Wiring the radar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17 Calibrating the radar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 18 SECTION FIVE: Using manual control functions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 23 Gain and clutter adjustments - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 23 Other functions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 24 SECTION SIX: Servicing the radar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25 Contacting Northstar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25 Hearing from you - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 26 Returning a radar for service - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 26 APPENDIX A: Specifications and Drawings - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 27 APPENDIX B: Troubleshooting - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 31 SECTION ONE: Introducing the Northstar radar WARNING! Always stay away from any type of radar antenna to avoid exposure to radiation! An open array antenna may start rotating at any time. Before starting antenna operation, always move all personnel away from the antenna to prevent accidents. It is highly recommended that an open array antenna be installed as high as possible (such as on the fly bridge, radar mast, etc.) so that no person can ever be near enough to sustain injury. The Northstar Ethernet Radar is designed as an option available for the Northstar 972 navigator. A radar unit should only be installed by a qualified marine technician, as potentially lethal high voltage is present, along with heavy rotating parts. There is a transmit interlock that prevents radar transmissions if the array is not rotating. However, high voltage remains for a period of time after the system is turned off. If you are not familiar with this type of electronics, consult with a trained service or installation technician before attempting to service any part of the equipment. Installation includes mechanical mounting and electrical wiring, followed by properly configuring the navigator to work with the radar, and finally adjusting the radar for proper performance. Don't take any shortcuts, and follow these instructions carefully. NOTE: For the radar overlay to function properly on the chart screen, you must correctly install and calibrate a separate heading sensor (using the navigator's NMEA Input Port 1 interface connector, pins 1 and 3). Without the heading sensor, the radar image will not line up properly with the chart. The Northstar 972 accepts the following standard NMEA 0183 sentences to obtain heading information from a sensor: HDG, HDT, OSD, HCC, HCD, and HDM. For sensor installation and calibration instructions, see the sensor manufacturer's installation manual. In addition, the navigator must be calibrated to the heading sensor as described on page 21. Components supplied with each of the five radar models are listed on the next page. Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 1 SECTION ONE: Introducing the Northstar radar TABLE 1: Radar parts list Radar: Description (Qty.) Scanner (1 ea.) Control box (1 ea.) 10-meter cable (1 ea.) Parts kit (1 ea.) Power Switch (1 ea.) R4KDE-A 4kW with dome antenna RSC715 MDS5 WC10D R4KE35-A 4kW with 3.5' open array antenna RSC716 MDS5 WC10OA R6KE45-A 6kW with 4.5' open array antenna RSC717 MDS6 WC10OA R12KE65-A 12kW with 6.5' open array antenna RSC718 MDS6 WC10OA R25KE65-A 25kW with 6.5' open array antenna RSC719 MDS6 WC10OA MDS2-PK ST165 MDS2-PK ST165 MDS3/4-PK ST165 MDS3/4-PK ST165 MDS3/4-PK ST165 Optional cables are available in 15-, 20- and 30-meter lengths. TABLE 2: Parts kit contents Radar: Parts kit: Mounting bolts (4 ea.) Power cable (1 ea.) Screws (4 ea.) Spare fuses 4KDE-A MDS2-PK M10x25 hex bolts WA585 R4KE35-A MDS2-PK M10x25 hex bolts WA585 R6KE45-A MDS3-PK M12x55 hex bolts WA585 R12KE65-A MDS3-PK M12x55 hex bolts WA585 R25KE65-A MDS4-PK M12x55 hex bolts WA585 TPT5x20U self-tapping screws MF61NN10 10A fuse (2 ea.) MF61NN8 8A fuse (1 ea.) MF51NN250V5A 5A fuse (2 ea.) ES3-3150 3.15A fuse (1 ea.) TPT5x20U self-tapping screws MF61NN10 10A fuse (2 ea.) MF61NN8 8A fuse (1 ea.) MF51NN250V5A 5A fuse (2 ea.) ES3-3150 3.15A fuse (1 ea.) TPT5x20U self-tapping screws MF61NN10 10A fuse (2 ea.) MF61NN8 8A fuse (1 ea.) MF51NN250V5A 5A fuse (2 ea.) ES3-3150 3.15A fuse (1 ea.) TPT5x20U self-tapping screws MF61NN10 10A fuse (2 ea.) MF61NN8 8A fuse (1 ea.) MF51NN250V5A 5A fuse (2 ea.) ES3-3150 3.15A fuse (1 ea.) TPT5x20U self-tapping screws MF61NN10 10A fuse (2 ea.) MF61NN8 8A fuse (1 ea.) MF51NN250V5A 5A fuse (2 ea.) ES3-3150 3.15A fuse (1 ea.) Page 2 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar System diagram A configuration diagram for a fully-optioned Northstar 972 system with radar, heading sensor and echosounder is shown in Figure 1. This diagram provides an overview of the interconnection between components. 2301 GPS/WASS Antenna GPS Port Aux Port VGA out NTSC in Northstar 972 Processor Data Control Ethernet 972 Display Scanner Array (4, 6, 12 or 25kW) Dome Radar (4kW) Ship's power NMEA Port Ship's power Northstar Radar Interface Box MDS 5/6 WA215 I/O cable NMEA Port 1 out Ship's power 10, 15, 20 or 30m prefabricated cable Northstar Echo Sounder Ship's power NMEA Port 1 in NMEA device (Autopilot repeater, etc.) Transducer Ship's power Heading sensor Figure 1: System diagram Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 3 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar Installing the radar antenna CAUTION! To eliminate interference, install the antenna away from GPS and radio receiver antennas, including SatNav and satellite TV antennas. Choosing the antenna location The radar's ability to detect targets depends greatly on the position of its antenna. The ideal antenna location is high above the ship's keel line where there aren't any obstacles. This ideal location is limited by various factors; therefore, consider the following when choosing the antenna location: · Do install the antenna as high as possible (after considering the structure of the vessel's hull, the weight of the antenna, and how easy it will be to maintain the antenna). The higher the installation position, the longer the radar ranging distance. · Do install the antenna away from masts or other obstructions. If the antenna isn't higher than obstructions, radar waves may be blocked, creating shadow zones or generating false echoes. · Do install the antenna closer to the vessel's bow, for a clear view to the front. When installing the antenna on a mast, place it in front of the mast. If obstacles can't be avoided for vessel structural reasons, see "Shifting the antenna away from the keel line," described below. · Do install the antenna as far away as possible from the antennas of other equipment, such as direction finders, GPS equipment, radio receivers, etc. Radar scanners may cause interference with radio receivers. · Do keep the connecting cable as short as possible. Whenever possible, keep the distance from the antenna to the control box within the standard cable length of 10 meters. If you must use longer cable, do not exceed 30 meters. · Don't install the antenna where it may be subjected to smoke or hot air from smokestacks or heat from lamps. Shifting the antenna away from the keel line By shifting the antenna position from the keel line to starboard, it's possible to move shadow zones to the port side. This makes it possible to keep a clear view to the bow. You can calculate the distance to be shifted, depending on the distance from the antenna to any obstacles, by using the following equation (Ls = distance to be shifted from keel line; D = diameter of obstacle on keel line; and R = distance from antenna to obstacle): Ls=0.4R+D/2 (when R<15m) Ls=0.025R+D/2 (when R>=15m) Page 4 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar Figure 2: Shifting from the keel Obtaining sufficient dip angle Raise the antenna position above on-board obstacles to avoid shadow zones. Dip angle is the angle between a horizontal line and the line of sight from the antenna to the obstacle. By maintaining a dip angle greater than 5 degrees, you may be able to prevent mid- and long-distance shadow zones. The radar can't detect objects below its line of sight. Figure 3: Sufficient dip angle Mounting the radar antenna It may be easier to install the antenna by fabricating a mounting base, as shown below, but you can also install the antenna directly to a rigid, flat surface, such as the roof. Pay attention to the water drain tube at the bottom of the antenna. Figure 4: Using a mounting base Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 5 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar NOTE: When the radar platform or mounting bracket has a curvature of more than 2mm, repair it or use spacers. Referring to Figure 5 below and the supplied full-size antenna mounting templates, drill holes at the specified locations in the mounting base. Using these holes and hexagonal bolts, install the antenna to the mounting base. Use silicone to stop the bolts from loosening. The bolts supplied will suffice for mounting base thicknesses of 0.35 to 0.55 inch (9 to 14 mm). If the mounting base is thicker or thinner than that, use bolts specified in Table 3 or Table 4 on page 7. See Figure 6 or Figure 7 below for details on bolting the antenna to the mounting base. Figure 5: Hole positions for mounting antennas (radome or open array) Page 6 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar Mounting a radome Figure 6: Mounting the radome antenna TABLE 3: Bolts for mounting radome antenna Thickness of mounting base 0.04-0.16 in. (1 - 4mm) 0.16-0.35 in. (4 - 9mm) 0.35-0.55 in. (9 -14mm) 0.55-0.75 in. (14 -19mm) Radome mounting bolts M10 × 15 (1.5mm pitch) M10 × 20 (1.5mm pitch) M10 × 25 (1.5mm pitch) M10 × 30 (1.5mm pitch) Material Stainless Stainless Stainless Stainless Comments Included Mounting an open array Remove the protective cap covering the rotary coupler on the top of the antenna. Match the antenna radiation direction to the direction of the arrows on the rotation base as shown in Figure 8, and secure the antenna into place using four M8 bolts. Figure 7: Mounting the open array antenna Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 7 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar TABLE 4: Bolts for mounting open array antenna Thickness of mounting base 0.04-0.16 in. (1 - 4mm) 0.16-0.35 in. (4 - 9mm) 0.35-0.55 in. (9 -14mm) 0.55-0.75 in. (14 -19mm) Open array mounting bolts M12 × 45 (1.5mm pitch) M12 × 50 (1.5mm pitch) M12 × 55 (1.5mm pitch) M12 × 60 (1.5mm pitch) Material Stainless Stainless Stainless Stainless Comments Included Antenna radiation surface Arrows Figure 8: Attaching the array Installing the control box For the control-box dimensional drawing, see Figure 17 on page 29. Do not install the control box in the bilge or areas with high level of humidity. The control box is not waterproof. Replacing the fuse You must use proper rating fuses to safely operate the radar control box. Fuses marked with an asterisk () in the following tables are installed in the set when shipped. TABLE 5: Fuse requirements for MDS-5 (with 4 kW radome) Supply voltage 12 VDC 24 VDC Main fuse 8A/250V or 125V (6.3Ø x 32mm) 8A/250V or 125V (6.3Ø x 32mm) Motor fuse T3.15A/250V or 125V (5Ø x 20mm) T3.15A/250V or 125V (5Ø x 20mm) Page 8 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar TABLE 6: Fuse requirements for MDS-5 (with 4 kW open array) Supply voltage 12 VDC 24 VDC Main fuse 10A/250V or 125V (6.3Ø x 32mm) 8A/250V or 125V (6.3Ø x 32mm) Motor fuse 5A/250V or 125V (5Ø x 20mm) T3.15A/250V or 125V (5Ø x 20mm) TABLE 7: Fuse requirements for MDS-6 (with 6 kW open array) Supply voltage 12 VDC 24 VDC Main fuse 8A/250V or 125V (6.3Ø x 32mm) 8A/250V or 125V (6.3Ø x 32mm) Motor fuse 5A/250V or 125V (5Ø x 20mm) T3.15A/250V or 125V (5Ø x 20mm) TABLE 8: Fuse requirements for MDS-6 (12 kW or 25 kW open array) Supply voltage 12 VDC (MDS-3 only) 24 VDC Main fuse 10A/250V or 125V (6.3Ø x 32mm) 8A/250V or 125V (6.3Ø x 32mm) Motor fuse 5A/250V or 125V (5Ø x 20mm) T3.15A/250V or 125V (5Ø x 20mm) Wiring the radar Regardless of the type of antenna, when connecting the cables, keep in mind the following: · Do not tie the radar cables, especially the power supply cable, together with the cables of other equipment · Do leave service and drip loops so you can easily remove the control box · Do mount the control box in a dry area protected from moisture and humidity · Do lay the cable along the vessel's hull or wall surface, and secure it at intervals of about 16" (40 centimeters) · The 25 kW unit operates on a 24- or 32-volt system only Figure 9 shows the connections to the radar control box. Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 9 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar Figure 9: Control box connectors Install the radar antenna cable as described below, under either Radome cable connection or Open array antenna connection. Important: If connectors are removed for cable routing, refer to Table 9 below when reconnecting to the radar scanner. TABLE 9: Antenna cable wire functions X11 Connector Pin 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Yellow Red Yellow Green Blue X12 Connector Pin 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Orange Braid of Red Red Braid of Brown Brown Braid of Gray Gray Color Violet Function +250V N/C GND Ships + Ships + Ships ­ Ships ­ Color Blue Function +24V N/C +12V DAT-R DAT BP/SHF-R BP/SHF V/TRG-R V/TRG Radome cable connection Use the following instructions for connecting to cable to an enclosed radome. 1. Turn the power off. 2. Remove the upper part of the radome from the scanner, lifting it vertically to avoid bumping it against the antenna (four screws hold it in place). 3. Remove the tape securing the antenna. 4. Remove the shield cover located on the backside (there are four screws). Page 10 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar 5. See Figure 10 on next page: Remove the cable compression plate and rubber ring and pass the cable up through the opening. Replace the rubber ring and secure the cable with the compression plate. Attach the 7-pin connector to X11 and the 9-pin connector to X12 of the printed circuit board (PCB). 6. Replace the aluminum shield cover. Lay the cable shield into the channel machined into the aluminum housing. Be careful that the cable won't get caught between the main unit and the cover. Make sure the antenna rotates freely and that the scanner cable does not obstruct the rotation of the antenna. 7. Replace the upper part of the radome, making sure you don't bump it against the antenna. Make sure the radome cover is positioned in the correct direction, as shown in Figure 11. The upper and lower parts of the radome each have four alignment markings indicating screw positions. 8. Connect the antenna cable to the plug labeled SCANNER on the rear panel of the control box. Be sure to secure the rubber boot around the cable connector rim. Figure 10: Connecting the radome cable Figure 11: Attaching the radome cover Open array cable connection 1. Turn the power off. 2. Use a socket wrench to remove the four bolts securing the back cover of the scanner. Remove the two bolts securing the transceiver (see Figure 12). 3. Remove the connectors to the motor (labeled X1 or J5) and to the heading switch (X2 or J3). Pull out the transceiver. Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 11 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar "X" numbers are found on the 4kW unit, and "J" numbers on the larger units. 4. Remove the two mounting bolts securing the clamp plate at the cable entrance. 5. Remove the metal clamp plate and rubber seal that secure the cable. Pass the cable through as shown in the diagram; replace the above items and tighten the bolts. 6. Return the transceiver to its original position and secure it with the bolts you removed. 7. Connect the 7-pin connector to the point labeled either X11 or J2 and the 9-pin connector to either X12 or J1 on the printed circuit board. Reconnect the two connectors that you removed in Step 4. 8. Re-attach the scanner cover (be careful not to pinch any internal cables when reattaching it). 9. Connect the antenna cable to the SCANNER connector on the control box. Be sure to secure the rubber boot around the cable connector rim. Remove connectors Transceiver unit mounting bolts (2) Cable clamp Keep the cable shield braid as short as possible Mounting bolts (2) Cable shield ring terminal Cable jacket must not exceed 1/4 inch Scanner housing Rubber ring Connecting cable Cable inlet Figure 12: Connecting the open array antenna cable Connecting a ground wire Connect a grounding wire from one of the bolts on the scanner base, as shown in Figure 13 below (the crimp terminal and grounding wire are installer-supplied). Page 12 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar Figure 13: Grounding the antenna to earth Connecting the power cable The MDS-5 and MDS-6 units are designed for 12/24/32-volt installations when used at 4, 6 or 12kW. The MDS-6, when used at 25kW operates on 24 or 32 VDC only. CAUTION! Do not apply over 41.6V to the radar or it may be damaged. Power should be fed through a switch and protective fuses (or circuit breakers). To connect the power cable: 1. Plug the power cable into the POWER on the control box, and connect to power supply as shown below. 2. Locate the fuse and connector part in a dry area with no water splash. Figure 14 shows the power connector wiring, to be used if the installer chooses to remove and reinstall the connector to run the cable through small openings. Radar Power Cable Connector End View Gnd DC ­ Pin 1 2 3 4 5 Function DC Power ­ Gnd DC Power ­ A+ Not Connected Not Connected Equipment Ground Color (new style) Color (old style) Black Red Green Black White Gray 5 4 1 2 3 NC NC DC + Figure 14: Power cable pin connections Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 13 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar Radar power control Important: Blue and Green wires from the radar control box are for power control and must be wired according to one of the options shown below. Electrical power for the radar is controlled by the blue and green wires in the power control cable. When these wires are connected to each other, the radar powers up and enters standby mode. When they are not connected, the radar is turned off (although it still draws a tiny amount of power). Connect the blue and green wires in any one of the following ways: · Option 1: Connect the blue and green wires to an S.P.S.T switch as shown in Figure 15 to control the radar's power An appropriate switch is included with the radar. Figure 15: Using a switch to control radar power · Option 2: Permanently connect the blue and green wires to each other, and control the radar's power from a switched circuit breaker at the mains circuit panel. Note: The option of controlling the radar power using the "honk" output of the 972 processor is not available at present. Connecting the radar control box to the navigator The radar control box is connected to the 972 Processor by means of a standard Ethernet cable. If no other devices are connected to this network, use a "crossover cable." If other devices are connected, such as additional control heads, use an Ethernet switch and "straight cables." Wiring the heading sensor See Table 10 for general heading sensor wiring. Page 14 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar TABLE 10: Wiring the heading sensor HEADING SENSOR NMEA Data Out ­ NMEA Data Out + Blue Brown NAVIGATOR I/O CABLE (P/N WA215) NMEA Port 1 In B NMEA Port 1 In A 1 3 Wiring for Robertson RFC35N and KVH AutoComp 1000 Heading Sensors is shown below. ROBERTSON RFC35N HEADING SENSOR Wire Color Brown White Green Yellow Pink Gray NORTHSTAR NMEA 18-PIN CONNECTOR Pin No. 1 3 Not Connected Not Connected Ship's Power Supply, Fused, 12 VDC Ship's Power Ground Description Tx­ Data Ground Tx + Data Transmit Rx­ Data Ground Rx+ Data Receive Vin+ Power A+ Vin­ Power Ground Wire Color Blue Brown Description NMEA Port 1 in B NMEA Port 1 In A Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 15 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar KVH AUTOCOMP 1000 HEADING SENSOR (P/N 01-0118-0001) Wire Color Orange Green White Brown Blue Red Black Drain, Foil, Shield NORTHSTAR NMEA 18-PIN CONNECTOR Pin No. 1 3 Description NMEA 0183 Out ­ NMEA 0183 Out + Damping 0 Damping 1 AutoComp Disable 12 VDC Power Power Ground not used Wire Color Blue Brown Description NMEA Port 1 in B NMEA Port 1 In A Connect to Power Ground Connect to Power Ground Do not connect. Cap and Insulate Ship's Power Supply, Fused, 12 VDC Ship's Power Ground Not Connected Page 16 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar Several menu keys need to be activated before the adjustment they control can be changed. Here's how they work: · any key displayed in red is active and can be adjusted by pressing it or (in many cases) by using the keypad or cursor pad to change its value · any key displayed in blue is inactive and must be pressed once to activate it before changing its value. The radar normally provides a good picture when used in its automatic modes, described below. Radar transmitter status As a safeguard against antenna rotation and radiation, the radar transmitter must be turned on manually each time the navigator is turned on, as described below. Be sure no injury will be caused when the antenna starts rotating. On the radar screen, press the Transmit menu key to turn the transmitter on or off and start or stop the antenna rotation. Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 17 SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar CAUTION: Be sure to turn the transmitter off by removing radar power, before servicing the unit or working in the vicinity of the rotating antenna. The radar does not automatically turn off when the navigator is turned off. Heading sensor requirements For all radar functions to operate properly, a heading sensor must be installed as described on page 14 and calibrated as described on page 21. The sensor may be a stand-alone unit, or may be integrated into an autopilot system, provided it outputs the NMEA 0183 HDG, HDT, OSD, HCC, HCD or HDM heading sentence to the navigator. If the heading sensor requires sea trial calibration, you must perform the manufacturer's recommended calibration procedure before attempting to perform the radar heading calibration described below. Heading calibration should be performed during initial setup, annually, and after any major structural changes that are made to the vessel. If a heading sensor is not correctly interfaced, the system will continuously alarm "No Heading Data." Calibrating the radar A newly installed radar must be calibrated by adjusting the trigger delay, heading calibration, and the presets. Calibration and check-out should be performed in a normal operating environment and under fair weather conditions. A wave height of approximately one to two feet, causing some sea clutter, is ideal. The vessel must not be in an enclosed area or in a busy location such as a boat yard. Ideally, an area of at least 3nm forward of the vessel, containing known targets including the coastline, should be available for evaluation of close and medium range radar returns. Attempts to tune and calibrate under less than recommended conditions may lead to substandard performance. A sea trial that allows the selection and use of all ranges is highly desirable. The Northstar radar uses a fully automatic tuning procedure that continuously checks for optimum adjustment during operation. Northstar recommends using auto tuning mode for normal operation. Preparing for calibration To prepare for calibration, do the following: 1. Display the radar screen by pressing RADAR. 2. Press Transmit to turn the radar on. Page 18 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar At this point, you should see range rings displayed on the screen. You'll next see the transmitter warm-up message." If no messages or range rings appear, then the radar control box is not powered or is not properly interfaced to the navigator. Check power wiring, interface wiring, and navigator configuration as described above. 3. Press Adjust radar... to access the setup functions. Setting the Trigger Delay Trigger delay compensates for cable transmission delays which vary depending on cables lengths and other factors in each particular installation. In general, longer cables require a higher trigger delay setting. Typical settings are between 125 and 160. An incorrect setting causes a doughnut-shaped ring in the center of the screen. Trigger delay can be roughly set by reducing the dark hole in the center until it just disappears. The vessel should be located 50 to 100 yards from a straight jetty or other landmark that should produce a straight-line echo on the screen. 1. Adjust the gain to obtain a reasonably good image of the jetty echo. 2. On the Adjust radar... page, press Setup... 3. Press Trigger delay to activate the key. 4. Adjust the Trigger Delay to make the jetty echo appear as a straight line on the screen as shown in Figure 16. Jetty Vessel Incorrect Incorrect Correct Figure 16: Adjusting Trigger Delay Radar tuning Tuning makes the radar receiver frequency match the transmitter frequency. After the initial setup, the radar's tuning is maintained automatically. Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 19 SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar Set the tuning preset value as follows: 1. Press Adjust radar... and Presets. 2. Press Auto tuning to activate the key. 3. Starting with a reasonably good radar image, adjust the tuning preset downwards until the image begins to deteriorate. Note the value of this setting. 4. Adjust the tuning preset up, past the point where the image looks good, until the image starts to deteriorate. Note the value of this setting. 5. Set the tuning preset between the two settings, where the quality of the image is at its best. The system will automatically maintain the proper tuning. Presets Presets are available for both manual and automatic settings. For manual modes, presets adjust the range over which the manual adjustment operates. For automatic modes, each preset adjusts the desired appearance of the image, which the system attempts to maintain. Preset values should be set up for both automatic and manual modes. Manual presets To set manual presets: 1. Press Adjust radar... and Image... 2. Press the Gain key to activate it, and press it again if necessary to set it to Manual. 3. Use the keypad or cursor pad to set a mid-range value such as 30. 4. Press Return, and repeat for Sea clutter. 5. Return to the presets page and adjust the Gain preset and Sea preset for the desired image appearance. Automatic presets Set the Auto Gain preset before setting the Sea Clutter preset. Auto Gain preset 1. On the Image page, press the Gain key to activate it, and press it again to set it to Auto. 2. Press Return and Presets... 3. Press Gain preset to activate it, and use the cursor pad to adjust the gain. Increase the gain if the image looks too faint. Decrease the gain if the image looks too weak. Auto Sea Clutter preset 1. On the Image page, press the Sea clutter key to activate it, and press it again to set it to Auto. 1. Press Return and Press Presets... 2. Set the Auto Sea preset to 10. Set the STC Curve preset to 4. 3. Press Return and Image... 4. Adjust the gain to show secondary echoes throughout the image. 5. Press Return and Presets... Page 20 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar 6. Adjust the Auto Sea preset until most of the weak echoes for an 8nm radius are eliminated. 7. Zoom in to a 1.5nm range and verify that strong echoes from nearby vessels or land are not eliminated. If land or vessel echoes are eliminated, follow the above steps to decrease the sea clutter preset. Setting the STC Curve The Sensitivity Time Control (STC) attempts to compensate for the high strength of nearby echoes compared with the very weak echoes from distant objects. It lowers the receiver gain when the pulse is transmitted, and raises the gain as echoes return from longer distances. Ideally, the result is that all echoes are displayed with strengths proportional to the object reflectivity. A graph of the receiver gain versus time is called the STC curve. The user can select different curve shapes, if required for special applications. Setting the STC curve to a lower number applies the Sea Clutter function closer to the vessel. A larger value applies Sea Clutter over a wider area. Curve 4 is recommended for all normal applications. Higher curve numbers might be appropriate for installations where the radar antenna is located high on the vessel. Lower curve numbers might be appropriate for installations where the radar antenna is located low on the vessel. To select a different curve: 1. On the radar screen, press Adjust radar... and then Presets... . 2. Press STC curve and use the keypad to enter a curve number from 0 to 8. Setting the Heading Calibration The heading calibration rotates the radar image on the screen to line it up with the displayed chart and the compass. Accurate heading calibration is especially important when overlaying the radar image onto the chart. (radar/chart image alignment). 1. Make sure the heading sensor is calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions. When sea trialing the vessel, set a straight course for a solid object such as a lighthouse, jetty, or radar nav marker that is at least 1 nm away as referenced on the chart. 2. Turn on the radar overlay feature: Press CHART to display the chart and press Overlay to display radar echoes overlaid on the chart. 3. Set the chart rotation to North-up by pressing Rotate several times until North up is displayed. 4. Find a target that appears on both the radar image and the chart. An appropriate choice would be a land pattern or solid object about a mile or more from the vessel, with a fixed point, such as a jetty, lighthouse, or pier. (Avoid beaches and buoys as these may have radar images that don't align with the chart.) Zoom in as necessary to place identifiable objects near the outer edge of the screen. 5. Press the Control key so that it displays Radar. 6. Press Adjust radar... and Setup... . Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 21 SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar 7. Press Heading Calibrate and press the Cursor Pad left and right to rotate the radar image so that the radar target matches its compass heading on the chart and lines up on top of the position shown on the chart. Antenna parking position When the radar is turned off, the antenna coasts to a stop. If the user wishes to have the antenna stop at a specific location for cosmetic reasons, the Parking function can be used to control the stopped position. This function only controls the antenna position at which power to the motor is cut off. The distance through which it coasts to a stop from this point depends on temperature and wind conditions. Setting the parking position is entirely optional -- it does not affect the operation of the radar at all. Setting the parking position is a matter of trial and error: finding the number which achieves the desired result. To set the parking position: 1. Press Transmit if necessary to start the antenna rotating. 2. Press Adjust radar... and Setup... 3. Press Park angle and use the cursor pad or keypad to adjust the parking position (between 0 and 90). The displayed calibration number represents the change from the factory setting. The final setting that parks the antenna straight ahead will likely be a few degrees left or right from the factory setting. 4. Press Transmit to stop the antenna rotation and observe its position. 5. As necessary, press the cursor pad to try a new position, and repeat the procedure until the position is satisfactory. Page 22 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A SECTION FIVE: Using manual control functions SECTION FIVE: Using manual control functions This section contains an overview of the radar's manual control functions and how to use them. All radar adjustments take effect immediately -- pressing ENT, Done or Return is not necessary. Gain and clutter adjustments The Mode, Rain Clutter, Sea Clutter and Gain can be set to automatic mode to obtain an excellent image under most conditions. Some situations may require manual settings. To access these manual controls, press Adjust radar... from the main radar screen. Sea Clutter and Gain controls can be individually set to manual, to override the overall automatic automatic setting. Simply press each key when highlighted to change its mode from one to the other Any clutter or gain setting can be overridden manually by pressing the key once to activate it, and pressing a second time to switch its function from auto to manual. Then, in manual, a value can be set using the cursor pad or the keypad. Rain Clutter Enter the rain clutter setting on the keypad or by using the cursor pad. Manual settings range from 0 to 99. Higher settings suppress more rain echoes. Sea Clutter Enter the sea clutter setting on the keypad or by using the cursor pad. Manual settings range from 0 to 99. Higher settings suppress more sea clutter echoes. Gain Enter the gain setting on the keypad or by using the cursor pad. Manual settings range from 0 to 99. Higher settings display more echoes. Manual gain adjustments will be different for each range scale. Longer ranges generally require more gain. Using the Range Rider function described above minimizes the need for frequent adjustments. Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 23 SECTION FIVE: Using manual control functions Other functions See the 972 Reference Manual for information on using the following functions: · Radar Markers (EBL, VRM, Guard Zones) · Interference rejection · Expand function · Range rings · Bearings (relative or True/Mag) Page 24 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A SECTION SIX: Servicing the radar NOTE: Please have the radar serial number ready before contacting the Northstar Service Department. The serial number is located on the radar control box. Contacting Northstar After you've followed the instructions in this manual, if you need technical assistance or have any other service-related questions, you can contact the Northstar Service Department. Please be as complete and accurate as possible when describing the problem so that a service technician can research the problem and provide the quickest response. You can reach Northstar by e-mail, fax, U.S. mail, or phone as described in Table 11 below. The Northstar Service Department is available between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays. To buy spare, replacement, or missing parts, and to get brochures and product information, contact the Northstar Sales Department. TABLE 11: Contacting Northstar Email: Service: service@NorthstarNav.com Sales: sales@NorthstarNav.com Fax: Service: 978/897-1595 Sales: 978/897-7241 Telephone: Main number: 978/897-6600 or 800/628-4487 U.S. mail: Northstar 30 Sudbury Road Acton, MA 01720 USA Website: www.northstarnav.com (you can send e-mail to Northstar directly from this site, and access additional technical information and download manuals in PDF form under either the Manuals or Support links). NOTE: For radars still under warranty, field repairs are not authorized and will void the warranty! Please contact the Northstar Customer Service Department if you need clarification, or need assistance with having repairs done. Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 25 SECTION SIX: Servicing the radar Hearing from you Your feedback is important and helps Northstar ensure that this manual is a valuable resource for all marine technicians. E-mail your comments or suggestions about this manual to the following address: manuals@northstarnav.com. Returning a radar for service Radar repairs are performed only by authorized Northstar dealers or at the Northstar factory. Service includes a complete hardware and software check-out. For systems out of warranty or for non-warranty repairs, an estimate will be provided prior to repair. The repaired radar will be returned via prepaid economy ground freight (units returned overseas are chargeable). Any radar units or accessories returned for warranty repair that are determined to be without fault are subject to a handling charge. NOTE: Before returning the radar to the Northstar factory, to prevent delays, it is critical that you first obtain a Service Call Number from the Northstar Service Department. If the radar was purchased through a dealer, call the dealer with the radar serial number so they can help you get an Service Call Number. The radar serial number is on the label at the back of the unit. Shipments without a proper Service Call Number will not be accepted. The radar should be shipped only in a properly designed carton with packing material, and to the Northstar factory at the following address: Northstar Service Department, 30 Sudbury Road, Acton, MA 01720 USA. Page 26 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A APPENDIX A: Specifications and Drawings APPENDIX A: Specifications and Drawings TABLE 12: Radar specifications R4KDE-A ANTENNA SCANNER CONTROL BOX POWER REQUIREMENT PEAK POWER OUTPUT FREQUENCY BEAM WIDTHS Horizontal Vertical ROTATION PULSE LENGTH (sec) / PRF (Hz) 3.9° 25° 24 RPM S: 0.8/2000 M: 0.25/1500 L: 0.8/600 60 MHz S, M: 15,20 MHz L: Less than 5MHz -13° to 131°F (-25° to +55°C) 100 knots IPX5 (IEC529) 2.5° / 1.8° 22° 24 RPM S: 0.8/2000 M: 0.25/1500 L: 0.8/600 60 MHz S, M: 15,20 MHz L: Less than 5MHz -13° to 131°F (-25° to +55°C) 100 knots IPX5 (IEC529) 1.8° / 1.2° 22° 24 RPM S: 0.8/2000 M1: 0.3/1500 M2: 0.6/1000 L: 1.0/500 60 MHz S, M: 15,20 MHz L: Less than 5MHz -13° to 131°F (-25° to +55°C) 100 knots IPX5 (IEC529) 1.8° / 1.2° 22° 24 RPM S: 0.8/2000 M1: 0.3/1500 M2: 0.6/1000 L: 1.0/500 60 MHz S, M: 15,20 MHz L: Less than 5MHz -13° to 131°F (-25° to +55°C) 100 knots IPX5 (IEC529) 1.8° / 1.2° 22° 24 RPM S: 0.8/2000 M1: 0.3/1500 M2: 0.6/800 L: 1.2/450 60 MHz S, M: 15,20 MHz L: Less than 5MHz -13° to 131°F (-25° to +55°C) 100 knots IPX5 (IEC529) 25" radome RSC715 MDS-5 10.1­40.1VDC 55W max 4 kW 9410 ± 30MHz R4KE35-A 3.5' open array RSC716 MDS-5 10.1­40.1VDC 70W max 4 kW 9410 ± 30MHz R6KE45-A 4.5' open array RSC717 MDS-6 10.1­40.1VDC 100W 6 kW 9410 ± 30MHz R12KE65-A 6.5' open array RSC718 MDS-6 10.1­40.1VDC 110W 12 kW 9410 ± 30MHz R25KE65-A 6.5' open array RSC719 MDS-6 18­40V DC 150W 25 kW 9410 ± 30MHz IF CENTER FREQ. IF BANDWIDTHS TEMPERATURE WIND VELOCITY (relative) WATER RESISTANCE Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 27 APPENDIX A: Specifications and Drawings TABLE 12: Radar specifications (cont.) R4KDE-A PRESENTATION MODE North-, Leg-, Course-, and Heading-up overlay 36 Better than 8m or 0.9% of max. range of scale in use Better than 1° R4KE35-A North-, Leg-, Course-, and Heading-up overlay 48 Better than 8m or 0.9% of max. range of scale in use Better than 1° R6KE45-A North-, Leg-, Course-, and Heading-up overlay 64 Better than 8m or 0.9% of max. range of scale in use Better than 1° R12KE65-A North-,Leg-, Course-, and Heading-up overlay 72 Better than 8m or 0.9% of max. range of scale in use Better than 1° R25KE65-A North-,Leg-, Course-, and Heading-up overlay 96 Better than 8m or 0.9% of max. range of scale in use Better than 1° RANGE NM RANGE ACCURACY BEARING ACCURACY Sensor Dimensions and Weight 25" W by 10.06" H, 22.5 lbs 3.5' W by 17.7" H, 46 lbs 4.5' W by 17.7" H, 51 lbs 6.5' W by 17.7" H, 56 lbs 6.5" W by 17.7" H, 64 lbs Interface Cable length: 33' (standard); longer cables available Page 28 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A APPENDIX A: Specifications and Drawings Figure 17: Control box outline drawing Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 29 APPENDIX A: Specifications and Drawings Figure 18: Open-array outline drawing Page 30 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A APPENDIX B: Troubleshooting APPENDIX B: Troubleshooting Appendix C outlines the questions that you will probably be asked if you call the factory for help in getting a system running. You'll save yourself a considerable amount of time if you check these items before placing the call; plus, you're likely to find the problem right away. Confirming the equipment installed 1. Confirm the type of navigator used with the radar (Northstar 972 only) Serial number: ________________ Software version: _________________ 2. Confirm that the NMEA Port 2 interface option is set to RADAR. 3. Confirm the type of radar installed: 4 kW Dome 4 kW Array 6 kW Array 12 kW Array 25 kW Array 4. Make sure the control box and voltage input are correct for the system being installed: MDS-5 MDS-6 MDS-6 used with 4 kW Domes and Arrays used with 6 kW and 12 kW Arrays used with 25 kW Arrays 12 or 24 VDC 12 or 24 VDC 24 or 32 VDC Make sure the power is present and correctly wired. 1. Check the in-line fuse. 2. Re-verify that the correct system voltage is being used for the MDS box type and that the power is properly wired. If the MDS box has incorrect power, the system may not initialize properly or the MDS box may be damaged! Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 31 APPENDIX B: Troubleshooting Note: There are two styles of power cords with two different wiring configurations. Radar Power Cable Connector End View Gnd DC ­ Pin 1 2 3 4 5 Function DC Power ­ Gnd DC Power ­ A+ Not Connected Not Connected Equipment Ground Color (new style) Color (old style) Black Red Green Black White Gray 5 4 1 2 3 NC NC