Northstar ETHERNET RADAR Installation Guide
ORTHSTAR
N
NSTALLATION
I
Northstar
a unit of Brunswick New Technologies Marine Electronics
30 Sudbury Road
Acton, Massachusetts 01720
E
Part No. GMEKRadIM
THERNET
ANUAL
M
Rev. A
RADAR
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
System diagram
Installing the radar antenna
Installing the control box
Wiring the radar
SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar
Calibrating the radar
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SECTION FIVE: Using manual control functions
Gain and clutter adjustments
Other functions
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SECTION SIX: Servicing the radar
Contacting Northstar
Hearing from you
Returning a radar for service
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APPENDIX A: Specifications and Drawings
APPENDIX B: Troubleshooting
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SECTION ONE: Introducing the Northstar radar
WARNING!
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.
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.
Don’t take any shortcuts, and follow these instructions carefully.
NOTE:
Components supplied with each of the five radar models are listed on the next page.
Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 1
For the radar overlay to function properly on the chart screen, you must
correctly
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.
install and calibrate a separate heading sensor (using the
SECTION ONE: Introducing the Northstar radar
TABLE 1: Radar parts list
Radar: R4KDE-A R4KE35-A R6KE45-A R12KE65-A R25KE65-A
Description
(Qty.)
Scanner
(1 ea.)
Control box
(1 ea.)
10-meter
∗
cable
(1 ea.)
Parts kit
(1 ea.)
Power
Switch
(1 ea.)
∗
Optional cables are available in 15-, 20- and 30-meter lengths.
4kW with dome
antenna
RSC715 RSC716 RSC717 RSC718 RSC719
MDS5 MDS5 MDS6 MDS6 MDS6
WC10D WC10OA WC10OA WC10OA WC10OA
MDS2-PK MDS2-PK MDS3/4-PK MDS3/4-PK MDS3/4-PK
ST165 ST165 ST165 ST165 ST165
4kW with 3.5’
open array
antenna
6kW with 4.5’
open array
antenna
12kW with 6.5’
open array
antenna
25kW with 6.5’
open array
antenna
TABLE 2: Parts kit contents
Radar: 4KDE-A R4KE35-A R6KE45-A R12KE65-A R25KE65-A
Parts kit: MDS2-PK MDS2-PK MDS3-PK MDS3-PK MDS4-PK
Mounting
bolts (4 ea.)
Power
cable (1
ea.)
Screws
(4 ea.)
Spare
fuses
M10x25 hex bolts M10x25 hex bolts M12x55 hex bolts M12x55 hex bolts M12x55 hex bolts
WA585 WA585 WA585 WA585 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.
GPS/WASS
Antenna
Aux Port
VGA out
NTSC in
Northstar
Echo
Sounder
2301
GPS
Port
Northstar
972
Processor
Ship's
power
Transducer
Ship's
power
Display
Data
Control
Ethernet
NMEA Port
972
Ship's
power
WA215
I/O cable
Scanner Array
(4, 6, 12 or 25kW)
Northstar
Radar
Interface
Box
MDS 5/6
NMEA Port 1 out
NMEA Port 1 in
Dome Radar
10, 15, 20 or 30m
Ship's
power
NMEA device
(Autopilot
repeater, etc.)
Heading
Ship's
power
sensor
(4kW)
prefabricated
cable
Figure 1: System diagram
Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A Page 3
SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar
Installing the radar antenna
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
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:
•
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.
•
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.
•
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.
•
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.
•
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
Mounting a radome
SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar
Figure 6: Mounting the radome antenna
TABLE 3: Bolts for mounting radome antenna
Thickness of
mounting base
0.04-0.16 in. (1 - 4mm) M10 × 15 (1.5mm pitch) Stainless
0.16-0.35 in. (4 - 9mm) M10 × 20 (1.5mm pitch) Stainless
0.35-0.55 in. (9 -14mm) M10 × 25 (1.5mm pitch) Stainless Included
0.55-0.75 in. (14 -19mm) M10 × 30 (1.5mm pitch) Stainless
Radome mounting bolts Material Comments
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) M12 × 45 (1.5mm pitch) Stainless
0.16-0.35 in. (4 - 9mm) M12 × 50 (1.5mm pitch) Stainless
0.35-0.55 in. (9 -14mm) M12 × 55 (1.5mm pitch) Stainless Included
0.55-0.75 in. (14 -19mm) M12 × 60 (1.5mm pitch) Stainless
Arrows
Open array mounting bolts Material Comments
Antenna
radiation
surface
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 (
Supply voltage Main fuse Motor fuse
12 VDC 8A/250V or 125V
24 VDC 8A/250V or 125V (6.3Ø x 32mm) T3.15A/250V or 125V (5Ø x 20mm)
Page 8 Ethernet Radar Installation Manual, Rev. A
∗
) in the following tables are installed in the set when shipped.
TABLE 5: Fuse requirements for MDS-5 (with 4 kW radome)
∗
(6.3Ø x 32mm) T3.15A/250V or 125V
∗
(5Ø x 20mm)
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