User manual NORTHSTAR RAD25K - Install Guide

RAD4K, 6K, 12K AND 25K RADARS INSTALLATION MANUAL Part No. GMRadIM Rev. E1 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 Installing the antenna - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 Installing the control box - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 Wiring the radar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9 SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar (new navigator software) - - - 17 17 19 22 24 Configuring the navigator - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Calibrating the radar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Adjusting the appearance settings - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Finishing up - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SECTION FOUR: Setting up the radar (older navigator software) - - - 25 Configuring the navigator - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25 Calibrating the radar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 26 Gain adjustments - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 31 SECTION FIVE: Using manual control functions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 33 Gain and clutter adjustments - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 33 Other functions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 35 SECTION SIX: Servicing the radar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 37 37 38 38 38 Contacting Northstar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hearing from you - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Using the Dealer Express web pages - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Returning a radar for service - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - APPENDIX A: Specifications and Drawings - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 39 APPENDIX B: Manual Tuning Procedure - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 43 APPENDIX C: Troubleshooting - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 47 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 radar is designed as an option available for the Northstar 958 and 6000i navigators. 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 interface connector, pins 1 and 3). Without the heading sensor, the radar image will not line up properly with the chart. The Northstar 958 and 6000i accept 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 four radar models are listed on the next page. Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 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.) Terminal strip (2 ea.). RAD4KD-A 4kW with dome antenna RSC715 MDS2 WC10D RAD4K35-A 4kW with 3.5' open array antenna RSC716 MDS2 WC10OA RAD6K45-A 6kW with 4.5' open array antenna RSC717 MDS3 WC10OA RAD12K65-A 12kW with 6.5' open array antenna RSC718 MDS3 WC10OA RAD25K65-A 25kW with 6.5' open array antenna RSC719 MDS4 WC10OA MDS2-PK ST165 MDS2-PK ST165 MDS3/4-PK ST165 MDS3/4-PK ST165 MDS3/4-PK ST165 TS101 TS101 TS101 TS101 TS101 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 RAD4KD-A MDS2-PK M10x25 hex bolts WA585 RAD4K35-A MDS2-PK M10x25 hex bolts WA585 RAD6K45-A MDS3-PK M12x55 hex bolts WA585 RAD12K65-A MDS3-PK M12x55 hex bolts WA585 RAD25K65-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 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar System diagram A configuration diagram for a fully-optioned Northstar system with radar, heading sensor and echosounder is shown in Figure 1. This diagram provides an overview of the interconnection between components. 2301, AN150 or AN156 GPS/WASS Antenna Prefabricated Antenna Cable Aux Port VGA out NTSC in Northstar Navigator WA215 I/O cable Scanner Array (4, 6, 12 or 25kW) Northstar 4kW Dome Radar NMEA device (Autopilot repeater, etc.) NMEA Port 1 out NMEA Port 1 in NMEA Port 2 In and Out Ship's power Ship's power I/O & Power Interface (Terminal Strips) 10, 15, 20 or 30m prefabricated cable Heading sensor Northstar Echo Sounder Ship's power Northstar Radar Interface Box MDS 2/3/4 Ship's power Transducer Figure 1: System diagram Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 3 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar Installing the 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 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 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 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 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 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 8. 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) Figure 6: Mounting the radome antenna Page 6 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar Figure 7: Mounting the open array antenna Attaching the 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. Antenna radiation surface Arrows Figure 8: Attaching the array Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 7 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar 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 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 Installing the control box For the control-box dimensional drawing, see Figure 18 on page 41. Do not install the control box in the bilge. 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-2 (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) TABLE 6: Fuse requirements for MDS-2 (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) Page 8 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar TABLE 7: Fuse requirements for MDS-3 (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-3 (12 kW open array) and MDS-4 (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. Figure 9: Control box connectors Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 9 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar Install the radar antenna cable as described below, under either Radome cable connection or Open array antenna connection. The functions of the wires in the antenna cable are shown in Table 9. 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 Important: If connectors are removed for cable routing, check Table 9 above before reconnecting to the radar scanner. 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). 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. 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. Page 10 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar 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 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. "X" numbers are found on the 4kW unit, and "J" numbers on the larger units. 4. Remove the four mounting bolts securing the clamp plate at the cable entrance. 5. Remove the metal clamp plate, rubber seal and washer 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 the cable when reattaching it). 9. 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. Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 11 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar Remove connectors Transceiver unit mounting bolts (2) Cable clamp Keep the cable shield braid as short as possible Mounting bolts (4) Cable shield terminal Washer Scanner housing Cable jacket must not exceed 1/4 inch 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 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar Figure 13: Grounding the antenna to earth Connecting the power cable The MDS-2 and MDS-3 units are designed for 12/24/32-volt installations. The MDS-4 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 receptacle labeled "POWER" on the rear panel of the control box, and connect to power supply as shown below. 2. Place 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 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 13 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar Radar power control Electrical power for the radar's standby state is controlled by the blue and green wires in the data 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 three 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. · Option 3: Connect the blue and green wires to a set of relay contacts controlled by the navigator, so that the radar will turn on to standby mode automatically whenever the navigator is turned on. Control the relay using the pink wire ("Honk" output) from the navigator's NMEA port, and install a spike-suppression diode across the relay coil as shown. Note: Choose a relay that's compatible with the ship's power Figure 16: Using a relay to control radar power An appropriate relay for Option 3 can be obtained from Greenwich Electronics (www.geirelays.com, or 888-554-5561) using P/N HD1-012D-A30PMS for a 12-volt system, or HD1-024D-A30PMS for a 24-volt system. Using this relay, the coil is Page 14 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar connected to the narrow tabs and the contacts are connected to the wide tabs (labelled COM and NO). If the relay is used for power control, the navigator's Honk output must be configured for power control as follows: 1. Press the STAR key to display the alarms page. 2. Press the Cursor Pad down to highlight "Honk Output." 3. Press Edit, press the Cursor Pad up or down to display REMOTE PWR. 4. Press ENTER. The 200ppnm or alarm outputs can not be used when this output is used for power control. Connecting the radar control box to the navigator The WA215 interface cable plugs into the navigator's 18-pin connector. It must be wired to the unfabricated end of the cable from the radar control box using terminal strips as shown in Figure 1 on page 3. See Table 10 for the correct wiring. TABLE 10: Wiring the Navigator to the radar control box RADAR DATA CABLE (P/N MDS­2/3) Wire color Orange Yellow Black x 2 ea Brown Red Function Data Out+ Data OutGround Data In+ Data In- NAVIGATOR I/O CABLE (P/N WA215) Wire color Brown/white White/brown Black Orange Yellow Function NMEA Port 2 In B NMEA Port 2 In A NMEA Port 2 Out Ground NMEA Port 2 Out B NMEA Port 2 Out A Pin # 2 6 10 11 15 HEADING SENSOR NMEA Data Out ­ NMEA Data Out + Blue NAVIGATOR I/O CABLE (P/N WA215) NMEA Port 1 In B NMEA Port 1 In A 1 3 Brown Important: Blue and Green wires from the radar data cable are for power control and must be wired according to one of the options shown in "Radar power control" on page 14. Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 15 SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar Wiring heading sensors 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 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 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar (new navigator software) Important: The following instructions apply to Northstar 958 software versions later than 8.0, and Northstar 6000i software versions later than 1.61. If the navigator has an earlier software version, instead use Section Four of this Installation Manual, starting on page 25. Note: It is important that the navigator's Demo Mode not be used while a radar unit is connected. 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. In many cases, the picture can be improved by using the Range Rider mode, also described below. Configuring the navigator To enable an installed radar to communicate with the navigator, you must first set up the radar option on the navigator's PORT 2 SETUP screen: 1. Press the STAR key several times to display the OPTIONS/SERVICE INFO screen. 2. Press Port Setup Options. 3. Press Port 2 Setup, and use the Cursor Pad to select the Output Format line. 4. Press Edit, and press the Cursor Pad up or down to select Radar. 5. Press Enter. You do not have to re-start the navigator for this option to take effect. Configuring the radar as described also configures the heading sensor wired to NMEA Port 1. IMPORTANT: If the system will be operated without a heading sensor, it is absolutely necessary to change this configuration as described in "Heading sensor requirements" on page 18. Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 17 SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar (new navigator software) Radar transmitter power 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. CAUTION: Be sure to turn the transmitter off using the same procedure, or 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, unless the power control relay has been installed. Heading sensor requirements For all radar functions to operate properly, a heading sensor should be installed as described on page 16 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, 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. Disabling the heading sensor input The heading sensor is configured by default when the navigator is configured for radar. If a heading sensor is not installed and connected, it is absolutely necessary to remove its configuration as described below. If a heading sensor is not installed: 1. Turn the navigator on and let it complete its power-up sequence. 2. Display the radar screen: On the 958, press CHART, Split, and Radar. · On the 6000i, press RADAR. 3. The unit will ask if you want to turn on the radar transmitter. Press Enter turn it on. 4. Press Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, and Install... to access the installation screen. 5. Press Hdg Sensor Installed to change its displayed status to No. 6. Clear the heading sensor alarm by pressing the STAR key to display the alarm screen and press Clear Alarm. · Page 18 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar (new navigator software) Calibrating the radar A newly installed radar must be calibrated by adjusting the trigger delay and heading calibration. 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. For special situations requiring manual tuning, see Appendix B. Preparing for calibration To prepare for calibration, do the following: 1. Display the radar screen: On the 958, press CHART, Split, and Radar. · On the 6000i, press RADAR. 2. The unit may ask if you want to turn on the radar transmitter. If it does, turn it on. At this point, you should see range rings displayed on the screen. You may see the transmitter warm-up countdown displayed (updated every five seconds), followed by the message "Radar is OFF." 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 Page 2 and then Page 3, Page 4, and Restore... . 4. Press Restore factory settings. A new Northstar 958 or 6000i is shipped set up with standard factory settings appropriate for basic operation. 5. Press Return. · Radar tuning Tuning makes the radar receiver frequency match the transmitter frequency. For normal operation of a Northstar radar, setting the tuning mode to Auto is recommended. To tune the unit manually see Appendix B. To check the tuning mode or change it to Auto: Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 19 SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar (new navigator software) 1. From Page 4 (selected above), press Install... and Tune... . 2. If necessary, press Tune mode repeatedly until it displays Auto. 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. 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. From Page 4 (selected above), press Install... and then Tune... . 2. Press STC Curve and use the keypad to enter a curve number from 0 to 8. Setting the Trigger Delay There are two methods that can be used to set the Trigger Delay. The two methods should produce very similar settings. The installer may use either or both methods. Method One is the easier method to perform; Method Two may produce more accurate results. The procedure should be performed after the factory settings have been restored as described above, or by manually turning off the Interference Rejection, Trails and Expand functions. Method 1: This method should be used while the vessel is in open water with few or no nearby echoes. First, we need to set the rain clutter and sea clutter to 0 and the gain to 50. 1. From the main radar screen, press Page 2. 2. Press the zoom IN key several times to zoom in to the most magnified image. 3. If necessary, press Mode to make it read Manual. 4. Press Rain Cutter to activate the control. 5. Press the "0" key on the keypad two times to set the rain clutter value to zero. 6. Press Sea Clutter. 7. Press the "0" key on the keypad three times to set the sea clutter to zero. 8. Press Gain to activate the control. 9. Press "0," "5" and "0" on the keypad to set the gain to 50. Page 20 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar (new navigator software) The screen will display a green ring with black center (assuming you are using the standard green screen colors). If this gain setting does not display the green ring on the screen, try other gain settings until the green ring is displayed clearly. Using too high a gain setting may saturate the image. 10. Press Page 3, Page 4, and Install... . 11. Press Trigger Delay. Set the trigger delay to zero by pressing "000" on the keypad. 12. Increase the trigger delay by pressing the Cursor Pad to the right (or enter a larger number on the keypad). The black circle will shrink as you increase the trigger delay. Set the trigger delay so that the black center just disappears, with a one or two dots remaining in the very center of the screen. Method 2: 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. Adjust the Trigger Delay to make the jetty echo appear as a straight line on the screen as shown in Figure 17. Jetty Vessel Incorrect Incorrect Correct Figure 17: Adjusting Trigger Delay 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. 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 as follows: · on the 6000i, press CHART to display the chart and press Overlay to display radar echoes overlaid on the chart. Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 21 SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar (new navigator software) · on the 958, press Split and select Chart (full screen), press Control if necessary to display Control Chart, press Chart setup, press Radar Overlay if necessary to turn the overlay on, and finally, press Return 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 Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, and Install... . 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. From the installation page (selected above) press Parking and press the cursor pad left or right to adjust the parking position. 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. 2. When you release the cursor pad, the antenna will rotate for about twenty seconds and then stop. A message displays the remaining rotation time. 3. When the antenna stops rotating, observe its position. 4. If necessary, press the cursor pad to try a new position, and repeat the procedure until the position is satisfactory. Adjusting the appearance settings The Mode, Rain Clutter, Sea Clutter and Gain are normally set to automatic mode to obtain an excellent image under most conditions. To access these controls, press Page 2 from the main radar screen. The Mode key determines how the gain and clutter keys work. It has the following settings: Page 22 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar (new navigator software) · Auto 1 and Auto 2 are for normal, open-water use. The two automatic modes can be optimized for two different conditions. · Harbor automatically optimizes the radar settings for use in a harbor. · Range Rider is a Northstar exclusive feature recommended when manual settings are required. The user can freely make any needed gain and clutter adjustments, and these settings are "remembered" for each range. When the range is selected again, the last-used gain setting for that range is reapplied. · Manual is a fully manual function in which the user will usually need to adjust the settings each time the range is changed. In the recommended automatic modes (Auto1, Auto2, and Harbor), the unit continuously evaluates its settings and adjusts them as necessary to obtain the best image. Gain and clutter are evaluated separately in various areas of the screen, and the settings are optimized for each area. Breaking waves often cause stronger clutter echoes on one side of the vessel than on the other, and automatic mode can optimize the image for each area. Optimizing Automatic mode Use the automatic settings described below to adjust the appearance of the radar image to your preference, and the radar will attempt to maintain this appearance over a variety of conditions by monitoring the signals and making adjustments as conditions change. The appearance settings are set to values shown in Table 11 when the unit leaves the factory or when the Restore settings function is used. These values typically provides a useful picture, but the installer should check and fine-tune these values for each range and for each mode (Auto1, Auto2 and Harbor). The installer might choose to make Auto1 produce a slightly light picture, and Auto 2 slightly darker picture. Or, the two modes could be optimized for different conditions or uses of the radar. Table 11: Factory default appearance settings Range 1/8 1/4 1/2 3/4 1 1.5 2 3 Sea clutter 6 12 12 9 10 10 10 11 Gain 8 12 8 7 8 7 7 7 Range 4 6 8 12 16 24 36 Sea clutter 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 Gain 8 9 9 8 8 7 7 To set the appearance of the sea clutter and gain: (there's no appearance setting for rain clutter) 1. From the main radar page, press Page 2. Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 23 SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar (new navigator software) 2. Press Mode if necessary until it reads Auto 1, Auto 2, or Harbor. 3. Set the Sea clutter or Gain to automatic if necessary by pressing the key so that it reads Auto. 4. Use the keypad or cursor pad to enter a new value to change the appearance. Sea clutter settings range from 0 to 50. Higher numbers suppress more sea clutter. Gain settings range from 0 to 50. Higher numbers display more echoes. 5. If necessary, continue adjusting the image until it looks the way you want it. Set the appearance value in this way for each of the radar's ranges and modes. The radar will attempt to maintain this appearance over a wide variety of environmental conditions. Restoring settings Appearance settings and manual settings can be restored to values that normally produce a useful pictures as follows: 1. From the main radar page, press Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, and Install... . 2. Press Restore... . Press Restore Auto, Restore Harbor, Restore Range Rider, and/or Restore Manual to set these items back to their state when the unit was shipped from the factory. Finishing up This completes the installation calibration. Note that the heading correction may need to be adjusted slightly after the gain is optimized to provide a better picture, as described in the next section. Although the basic installation has been completed, it is best to compete Section 4 to check out and optimize the entire system. Restoring all factory settings If you ever wish to restore all radar settings to their factory settings (except trigger delay, heading calibration and whether or not a heading sensor is installed), do the following: 1. From the main radar page, press Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, and Install... . 2. Press Restore... . 3. Press Restore factory settings to return the unit to its state when it was shipped (with the exception of the following: · trigger delay · heading calibration · whether or not a heading sensor is installed · parking calibration This function is used before performing manual tuning (see Appendix B), or any time it is necessary to restore the unit to a known state. Page 24 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION FOUR: Setting up the radar (older navigator software) Important: The following instructions apply to Northstar 958 software versions earlier than 8.0, and Northstar 6000i software versions earlier than 1.61. If the navigator has a later software version, instead use Section Three of this Installation Manual, starting on page 17. Note: It is important that the navigator's Demo Mode not be used while a radar unit is connected. 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. In many cases, the picture can be improved by using the Range Rider mode, also described below. Configuring the navigator To enable an installed radar to communicate with the navigator, you must first set up the radar option on the navigator's PORT 2 SETUP screen: 1. Press the STAR key several times to display the OPTIONS/SERVICE INFO screen. 2. Press Port Setup Options. 3. Press Port 2 Setup, and use the Cursor Pad to select the Output Format line. 4. Press Edit, and press the Cursor Pad up or down to select Radar. 5. Press Enter. You do not have to re-start the navigator for this option to take effect. Configuring the radar as described also configures the heading sensor wired to NMEA Port 1. CAUTION: If the system will be operated without a heading sensor, it is absolutely necessary to change this configuration as described in "Heading sensor" on page 26. Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 25 SECTION FOUR: Setting up the radar (older navigator software) Radar transmitter power As a safeguard, the radar transmitter (rotation and radiation) 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. CAUTION: Be sure to turn the transmitter off using the same procedure, or 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, unless the power control relay has been installed. Heading sensor For all radar functions to operate properly, a heading sensor should be installed and calibrated. The sensor may be stand-alone, 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, 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. The heading sensor is configured by default when the navigator is configured for radar. If a heading sensor is not installed and connected, it is absolutely necessary to remove its configuration as described below: 1. Turn the navigator on and let it complete its power-up sequence. 2. Press CHART. 3. Press the Split menu key. 4. Press the Radar menu key. 5. Press Radar Markers. 6. Press Next page two times to display the third page of settings. 7. Press the fourth menu key to change it from Heading Sensor Installed to Heading Sensor NOT Installed. Calibrating the radar A newly installed radar must be set up for its typical operating environment using the radar trigger delay, tuning, and heading calibration adjustments. These adjustments should be performed in a normal operating environment and under fair weather conditions, with a calm sea. The vessel must not be in an enclosed area or in a highly cluttered location such as a boat yard. It is recommended that a minimum of 3nm forward of the vessel, in an area of known targets including the coastline, be available for evaluation of close and medium range radar returns. Attempts to tune and calibrate under less than recommended conditions will lead to substandard performance. For the radar to perform at its best, a sea trial that allows the selection and use of all ranges is highly desirable. Page 26 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION FOUR: Setting up the radar (older navigator software) To properly and efficiently calibrate the radar, it is important to follow the instructions below in the order they are listed. The major steps are as follows: 1. Put the radar in a known standard state to prepare for calibration. 2. Set the Trigger Delay. 3. Tune the radar. 4. Set the Heading Calibration. 5. Set the Gain. Follow this procedure exactly as written for the fastest and most accurate calibration. After the calibration has been completed, the gain may be adjusted freely by the user to obtain the most useful picture. Important: During the initial calibration of the unit, follow the entire procedure given below, in the order stated. To make a later adjustment to the calibration, always follow the Preparation for Calibration section below; then you may skip to the section needing adjustment. Preparing for calibration Note: A Northstar 958 or 6000i is shipped from the factory with all the following settings already in place. If the unit has been operated after being removed from the shipping container, it is necessary to check all of the settings listed below. Any adjustments that are already correct can be skipped over. 1. Press CHART and Split. Press the Radar menu key to select the full-screen radar display. At this point, you should see range rings displayed on the screen. You may see the transmitter warm-up countdown displayed (updated every five seconds), followed by the message "Radar is OFF." 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. 2. Press Adjust radar. 3. Make sure that the Rain Clutter key is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen. If not, press Next Page until it appears. First, we'll set the Rain Clutter and Sea Clutter to zero, and the Gain to 25. If these values are already correct, you can skip to step 16. 4. Press Rain Clutter. 5. Press the "0" key on the keypad twice to set the rain clutter value to zero. 6. Press Sea Clutter. 7. Press the "0" key on the keypad twice to set the sea clutter value to zero. 8. Press Gain. 9. Press "2" and "5" on the keypad, to set the gain to 25. Now, we'll set the scale to 1/8 nm. Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 27 SECTION FOUR: Setting up the radar (older navigator software) 10. Press the zoom IN key several times to access the 1/8 nm scale. The current scale in shown in the upper left corner of the screen, identified as "RNG." Next, we'll turn off the display options 11. Press Interference Rejection repeatedly (if necessary) to turn it Off. 12. Press Next Page 13. Press Radar Transmitter (if necessary) to turn the transmitter On. 14. Press Trails repeatedly (if necessary) to turn trails Off. 15. Press Expand (if necessary) to turn it Off. And now, we'll set starting values for the radar tuning. 16. Press NEXT to reach screen 3 of the radar adjustments. The Rough tune menu key will appear in the upper right corner of the screen. To continue, you must first enter a password that allows adjustments only by those who have read this manual: 17. Type in the password 7752 (for "TUNE") to access the tuning adjustments. 18. Press Rough Tune 19. Set the rough tune value to 87 (if necessary) by typing "087" on the keypad. Almost finished, we'll zero the heading calibration. 20. Press Heading Calibrate. 21. Set the heading calibration to zero by pressing the Cursor Pad to the left or right (if necessary). The radar is now ready to be calibrated. Setting the Trigger Delay The trigger delay adjustment should be set while the vessel is in open water with few or no nearby echoes. 22. Press Trigger Delay. Set the Trigger Delay to zero by pressing "000" on the keypad. The screen will display a green ring with black center (assuming you are using the standard green screen colors). 23. Increase the Trigger Delay by pressing the Cursor Pad to the right. Set the Trigger Delay so that the black center just turns to solid dark green, with a one or two light green dots remaining in the very center of the screen. Tuning the radar When tuning the radar, it is important to have a good, stable radar image. Keep your heading constant, and maintain your Speed-Over-Ground as close to zero as possible. Any rolling or pitching motion of the vessel will interfere with the tuning procedure. 24. Zoom out to see a good set of typical echoes, including coastline, jetties, boats, navaids, etc. Page 28 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION FOUR: Setting up the radar (older navigator software) A range of 1 or 2nm is usually appropriate. A harbor area is often too crowded -- you may need to move to an area with less crowded echoes. 25. Press Rough Tune. 26. With the Rough Tune value set at 87 (or a number that you have determined to be a better starting point), press Auto Tune and wait two to three minutes for the tuning process to finish. The navigator will create a graph of received signal strength plotted against a number of tuning settings near the selected starting point. The Auto Tune key indicates "Acquiring" during this time. The system automatically locates the peak of the plotted curve. The system may repeat this procedure up to five times if necessary. Auto-Graph 27. When the Auto Tune key indicates "Done," look at the graph to the left of the Rough Tune key. If the graph shows a peak, with data sloping downwards on either side, the tuning is finished. If the highest point of the graph is at either edge of the graph, tuning was not successful. You could try manual tuning, or press Auto Tune again to repeat the procedure, but be aware that this condition might indicate a problem with the installation. Peak not found Proper tuning Peak not found Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 29 SECTION FOUR: Setting up the radar (older navigator software) MANUAL TUNING (Optional -- for special situations only) In the rare event that manual tuning is needed, the following procedure can be used: You can judge the echo strength either by observing the percentage return value displayed below the menu key (the recommended way), or by watching the dark green echoes on the screen. The percentage shows the fraction of the screen covered by strong echoes. Make an adjustment, and wait five seconds before evaluating the change. If the echo is now stronger, make another adjustment in the same direction. If weaker, try the other direction. As you get near the peak, make small adjustments back and forth to find the maximum. The navigator graphs all of the trial settings in a white box to the left of the Rough Tune key. You can watch this graph to see a record of the settings you are trying. Watch for a peak that should begin to form after a dozen or so trials. The peak indicates the best tuning value. Adjust the tuning value so that the red bar is at the peak. Finding a peak should not require more than a minute or two. Little can be gained by continuing for more time than that. Setting the Heading Calibration The heading calibration rotates the radar image to line it up with the displayed chart and the compass. 28. 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. 29. Turn on the radar overlay feature as follows: · press CHART to display the chart · press Split and select Chart (full screen) · press Control to display Control Chart · press Chart setup · if necessary, press the Radar Overlay key to turn the overlay on · press Return 30. Change the chart rotation to North-up by pressing Rotate several times until North up is displayed. 31. Find an echo 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 or line, such as a jetty, lighthouse, or pier. (Avoid beaches and buoys as these may have Page 30 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 SECTION FOUR: Setting up the radar (older navigator software) radar images that don't align with the chart.) Zoom in as necessary to place identifiable objects near the outer edge of the screen. 32. Press the Control key so that it displays Radar. 33. Press Adjust Radar, then press Next page to reach screen 3 of the radar adjustments. Press Heading Calibrate and press the Cursor Pad left and right to rotate the radar image so that the radar echo matches its direction (compass heading) on the chart and lines up with the position shown on the chart. This completes the installation calibration. Note that the heading correction may need to be adjusted slightly after the gain is increased to provide a better picture, as described in the next section. Gain adjustments After the radar calibration has been completed, the gain can be set to produce a clear, crisp image. Gain adjustments will be different for each range scale. Longer ranges generally require more gain. The system includes Range Rider, a Northstar exclusive feature recommended for all normal use. The user can freely make any needed gain adjustments, and these settings are "remembered" for each range. When the range is selected again, the last-used gain setting for that range is reapplied. The unit will gradually learn and apply the best gain settings for each range. As the gain setting is increased, the sea clutter setting may also need to be increased to maintain a good looking image. The Range Rider feature is also applied to Sea Clutter and Rain Clutter adjustments. You will find that Sea Clutter and Rain Clutter settings require more manual adjustment as weather and sky conditions change. A typical calibrated radar image might look like the following: Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 31 SECTION FOUR: Setting up the radar (older navigator software) Page 32 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 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. Some of the functions described in this section are found only in Northstar software version 8.0 and later, and in Northstar 6000i software version 1.61 and later. Gain and clutter adjustments