AD
R
Northstar
a unit of Brunswick New Technologies Marine Electronics
30 Sudbury Road
Acton, Massachusetts 01720
K
4
NSTALLATION
I
, 6
K
, 12
Part No. GMRadIM
K
AND
Rev. E1
25
M
K
RADARS
ANUAL
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
Installing the antenna
Installing the control box
Wiring the radar
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SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar (new navigator software)
Configuring the navigator
Calibrating the radar
Adjusting the appearance settings
Finishing up
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SECTION FOUR: Setting up the radar (older navigator software)
Configuring the navigator
Calibrating the radar
Gain adjustments
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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
Using the Dealer Express web pages
Returning a radar for service
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APPENDIX A: Specifications and Drawings
APPENDIX B: Manual Tuning Procedure
APPENDIX C: Troubleshooting
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SECTION ONE: Introducing the Northstar radar
WARNING!
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.
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 four radar models are listed on the next page.
Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 1
For the radar overlay to function properly on the chart screen, you must
correctly
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
install and calibrate a separate heading sensor (using the
SECTION ONE: Introducing the Northstar radar
TABLE 1: Radar parts list
Radar: RAD4KD-A RAD4K35-A RAD6K45-A RAD12K65-A RAD25K65-A
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.).
∗
Optional cables are available in 15-, 20- and 30-meter lengths.
4kW with dome
antenna
RSC715 RSC716 RSC717 RSC718 RSC719
MDS2 MDS2 MDS3 MDS3 MDS4
WC10D WC10OA WC10OA WC10OA WC10OA
MDS2-PK MDS2-PK MDS3/4-PK MDS3/4-PK MDS3/4-PK
ST165 ST165 ST165 ST165 ST165
TS101 TS101 TS101 TS101 TS101
4kW with 3.5’
open array
antenna
6kW with 4.5’
open array
antenna
TABLE 2: Parts kit contents
12kW with 6.5’
open array
antenna
25kW with 6.5’
open array
antenna
Radar: RAD4KD-A RAD4K35-A RAD6K45-A RAD12K65-A RAD25K65-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 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
Echo
Sounder
Transducer
Northstar
Navigator
Ship's
power
Ship's
power
WA215 I/O cable
I/O & Power
Interface
(Terminal Strips)
Scanner Array
(4, 6, 12 or 25kW)
NMEA Port 1 out
NMEA Port 1 in
NMEA Port 2
In and Out
NMEA device
(Autopilot
repeater, etc.)
Heading
Ship's
power
Northstar
Radar
Interface
Box
MDS 2/3/4
sensor
Northstar
4kW Dome Radar
10, 15, 20 or 30m
prefabricated
cable
Ship's
power
Figure 1: System diagram
Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 3
SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar
Installing the 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 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
Arrows
radiation
surface
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) 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
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
Open array mounting bolts Material Comments
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 Main fuse Motor fuse
12 VDC 8A/250V or 125V∗ (6.3Ø x 32mm) T3.15A/250V or 125V∗ (5Ø x 20mm)
24 VDC 8A/250V or 125V (6.3Ø x 32mm) T3.15A/250V or 125V (5Ø x 20mm)
TABLE 6: Fuse requirements for MDS-2 (with 4 kW open array)
Supply voltage Main fuse Motor fuse
12 VDC 10A/250V or 125V (6.3Ø x 32mm) 5A/250V or 125V (5Ø x 20mm)
24 VDC 8A/250V or 125V∗ (6.3Ø x 32mm) 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 Main fuse Motor fuse
12 VDC 8A/250V or 125V (6.3Ø x 32mm) 5A/250V or 125V (5Ø x 20mm)
24 VDC 8A/250V or 125V∗ (6.3Ø x 32mm) 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 Main fuse Motor fuse
12 VDC (MDS-3 only) 10A/250V or 125V (6.3Ø x 32mm) 5A/250V or 125V (5Ø x 20mm)
24 VDC 8A/250V or 125V∗ (6.3Ø x 32mm) 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 X12 Connector
Pin Color Function Pin Color Function
1 Violet +250V 1 Blue +24V
2 N/C 2 N/C
3 Yellow GND 3 Orange +12V
4 Red Ships + 4 Braid of Red DAT-R
5 Yellow Ships + 5 Red DAT
6 Green Ships – 6 Braid of Brown BP/SHF-R
7 Blue Ships – 7 Brown BP/SHF
8 Braid of Gray V/TRG-R
9 Gray 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
e
Figure 10: Connecting the radome cabl
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
Keep the cable shield braid
as short as possible
Mounting bolts (4)
Cable shield
terminal
Washer
Scanner
housing
Remove connectors
Connecting
cable
Transceiver unit
mounting bolts (2)
Cable clamp
Cable jacket
must not exceed
1/4 inch
Rubber ring
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
Connecting the power cable
SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar
Figure 13: Grounding the antenna to earth
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
NC
5
4
NC
DC –
1
2
3
DC +
Pin Function Color (new style) Color (old style)
1 DC Power – Gnd Black Black
2 DC Power – A+ Red White
3 Not Connected
4 Not Connected
5 Equipment Ground Green Gray
Figure 14: Power cable pin connections
Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 13
SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar
r
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 powe
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 MDS–2/3)
Wire color Function Wire color Function Pin #
Orange Data Out+ Brown/white NMEA Port 2 In B 2
Yellow Data Out- White/brown NMEA Port 2 In A 6
Black x 2 ea Ground Black NMEA Port 2 Out Ground 10
Brown Data In+ Orange NMEA Port 2 Out B 11
Red Data In- Yellow NMEA Port 2 Out A 15
HEADING SENSOR NAVIGATOR I/O CABLE (P/N WA215)
NMEA Data Out – Blue NMEA Port 1 In B 1
NMEA Data Out + Brown NMEA Port 1 In A 3
NAVIGATOR I/O CABLE (P/N WA215)
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
power control” on page 14.
“Radar
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
NORTHSTAR NMEA 18-PIN CONNECTOR
SENSOR
Wire Color Description Pin No. Wire Color Description
Brown Tx– Data Ground 1 Blue NMEA Port 1 in B
White Tx + Data Transmit 3 Brown NMEA Port 1 In A
Green Rx– Data Ground Not Connected
Yellow Rx+ Data Receive Not Connected
Pink Vin+ Power A+ Ship’s Power Supply, Fused, 12 VDC
Gray Vin– Power Ground Ship’s Power Ground
KVH AUTOCOMP 1000 HEADING
NORTHSTAR NMEA 18-PIN CONNECTOR
SENSOR (P/N 01-0118-0001)
Wire Color Description Pin No. Wire Color Description
Orange NMEA 0183 Out – 1 Blue NMEA Port 1 in B
Green NMEA 0183 Out + 3 Brown NMEA Port 1 In A
White Damping 0 Connect to Power Ground
Brown Damping 1 Connect to Power Ground
Blue AutoComp Disable Do not connect. Cap and Insulate
Red 12 VDC Power Ship’s Power Supply, Fused, 12 VDC
Black Power Ground Ship’s Power Ground
Drain, Foil,
Shield
not used 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
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.
not
be used while a radar unit is connected.
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
3. Press
4. Press Edit, and press the Cursor Pad up or down to select Radar.
5. Press
Port Setup Options.
Port 2 Setup, and use the Cursor Pad to select the Output Format line.
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 proce-
dure, 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
5. Press Return.
Restore factory settings.
A new Northstar 958 or 6000i is shipped set up with standard factory settings appropriate
for basic operation.
Radar tuning
Tuning makes the radar receiver frequency match the transmitter frequency.
For normal operation of a Northstar radar, setting the tuning mode to
the unit manually see Appendix B. To check the tuning mode or change it to Auto:
Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 19
Auto is recommended. To tune
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 Sea clutter Gain Range Sea clutter Gain
1/8 6 8 4128
1/4 12 12 6129
1/2 12 8 8129
3/4 9 7 12 12 8
1108 16 12 8
1.5 10 7 24 12 7
2107 36 12 7
3117
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
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.
not
be used while a radar unit is connected.
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
3. Press
4. Press Edit, and press the Cursor Pad up or down to select Radar.
5. Press
Port Setup Options.
Port 2 Setup, and use the Cursor Pad to select the Output Format line.
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 proce-
dure, 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
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
CHART.
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
3. Make sure that the
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.
Adjust radar.
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.
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.
Proper tuning Peak not foundPeak 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
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 Page 2 from the main radar screen.
The Mode key has the following settings:
• Auto 1 and Auto 2 are for normal, open-water use.
• 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 and clutter settings for that range are reapplied. In addition, the Sea State control can
apply further adjustments to sea clutter over all ranges as needed for current conditions.
• Manual provides fully manual control, in which the user usually needs to adjust the
settings each time the range is changed.
Automatic settings are described on page 22, “Adjusting the appearance settings.”
Manual settings directly control Rain Clutter, Sea Clutter and Gain. They may be applied in either of
two ways, depending on the setting of the Mode control on this screen.
• Mode = Manual: settings usually need to be adjusted every time the range is changed
• Mode = Range Rider: settings are saved separately for each range, and the last-used
settings for each range (modified by the sea state control) are reapplied when that range is
selected
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
Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 33
SECTION FIVE: Using manual control functions
The modes of rain clutter and sea clutter are always locked together: if the user sets one to manual,
the other automatically switches to manual, and vice-versa.
Even when an automatic mode (Auto1, Auto2, or Harbor) is selected, 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, 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 214. 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
299. 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.
Other adjustments
Sea state
The Sea State control is only available when the radar’s Mode is set to Range Rider. Sea State adjusts
the sea clutter up or down slightly to correspond with the expected echoes from whitecaps and
breaking waves. The normal or “0” setting applies no changes, and is used when the sea state is the
same as when the settings were entered. Positive numbers are used when the sea is rougher, and
negative numbers when the sea state is calmer.
For safety reasons, the Sea State is automatically set back to “0” each time the unit is turned on.
To set the Sea State (when in Range Rider mode):
1. From the main radar screen, press Page 2 and Page 3.
2. Press
3. Use the cursor pad to enter a new number.
4. Press
Sea State.
Done to return to the main radar screen.
Page 34 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1
SECTION FIVE: Using manual control functions
Sweep type
The Northstar radar can be set to display images in either of three ways:
• displaying digital data in quadrants directly as it comes from the radar receiver
• simulating the analog sweep of traditional radars
• simulating the analog sweep of traditional radars, including a sweep line
Choose whichever display is more pleasing to the operator.
To change the sweep type:
1. From the main radar screen, press Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, and Preferences.
2. Press Sweep to select Digital (quadrant by quadrant), Analog (traditional, without sweep
line), or Classic (traditional, with sweep line).
3. Press Return and Done.
Other functions
See the 958 or 6000i Operator’s manual for information on using the following functions:
• Radar Markers (EBLs, VRMs, Guard Zones)
• Interference rejection
• Trails control
• Echo Expand function
• Preferences, including:
• Range rings
• Bearings (relative or True/Mag)
• Echo colors
• Echo fading
Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 35
SECTION FIVE: Using manual control functions
Page 36 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1
SECTION SIX: Servicing the radar
NOTE:
Please have the radar serial number ready before contacting the
Northstar Service Department.
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 12 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 12: 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
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.
Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 37
or Support links).
NOTE:
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.
Using the Dealer Express web pages
Northstar dealers can get service information online by going to the Dealer Express area on
Northstar’s website. Contact Northstar for your dealer password before clicking on the Dealer Express
link. This area includes the following topics:
• service bulletins (for known issues and solutions)
• software update information (for new software features)
• service request form (for sending systems back)
• service status request form (for systems currently under repair)
• owner registration form (for registering new products)
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 Return
Materials Authorization (RMA) 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 RMA number. The radar serial
number is on the label at the back of the unit. Shipments without a proper RMA 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 38 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1
APPENDIX A: Specifications and
Drawings
TABLE 13: Radar specifications
RAD4KD-A
ANTENNA 25” radome 3.5’ open array 4.5’ open array 6.5’ open array 6.5’ open
SCANNER RSC715 RSC716 RSC717 RSC718 RSC719
CONTROL BOX MDS-2 MDS-2 MDS-3 MDS-3 MDS-4
POWER REQUIREMENT 10.1–40.1VDC
PEAK POWER OUTPUT 4 kW 4 kW 6 kW 12 kW 25 kW
FREQUENCY 9410 ± 30MHz 9410 ± 30MHz 9410 ± 30MHz 9410 ± 30MHz 9410 ± 30MHz
BEAM WIDTHS
Horizontal 3.9˚ 2.5˚ / 1.8˚ 1.8˚ / 1.2˚ 1.8˚ / 1.2˚ 1.8˚ / 1.2˚
Vertical 25˚ 22˚ 22˚ 22˚ 22˚
ROTATION 24 RPM 24 RPM 24 RPM 24 RPM 24 RPM
PULSE LENGTH (µsec) /
PRF (Hz)
55W max
S: 0.8/2000
M: 0.25/1500
L: 0.8/600
RAD4K
3.5-A
10.1–40.1VDC
70W max
S: 0.8/2000
M: 0.25/1500
L: 0.8/600
RAD6K
4.5-A
10.1–40.1VDC
100W
S: 0.8/2000
M1: 0.3/1500
M2: 0.6/1000
L: 1.0/500
RAD12K
6.5-A
10.1–40.1VDC
110W
S: 0.8/2000
M1: 0.3/1500
M2: 0.6/1000
L: 1.0/500
RAD25K
6.5-A
array
18–40V DC
150W
S: 0.8/2000
M1: 0.3/1500
M2: 0.6/800
L: 1.2/450
IF CENTER FREQ. 60 MHz 60 MHz 60 MHz 60 MHz 60 MHz
IF BANDWIDTHS S, M: 15,20
TEMPERATURE -13˚ to 131˚F
WIND VELOCITY
(relative)
WATER RESISTANCE IPX5 (IEC529) IPX5 (IEC529) IPX5 (IEC529) IPX5 (IEC529) IPX5 (IEC529)
Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 39
MHz
L: Less than
5MHz
(-25˚ to +55˚C)
100 knots 100 knots 100 knots 100 knots 100 knots
S, M: 15,20
MHz
L: Less than
5MHz
-13˚ to 131˚F
(-25˚ to +55˚C)
S, M: 15,20
MHz
L: Less than
5MHz
-13˚ to 131˚F
(-25˚ to +55˚C)
S, M: 15,20
MHz
L: Less than
5MHz
-13˚ to 131˚F
to +55˚C)
(-25˚
S, M: 15,20
MHz
L: Less than
5MHz
-13˚ to 131˚F
(-25˚ to +55˚C)
APPENDIX A: Specifications and Drawings
TABLE 13: Radar specifications (cont.)
RAD4KD-A
PRESENTATION MODE North-, Leg-,
RANGE NM 36 48 64 72 96
RANGE ACCURACY Better than 8m
BEARING ACCURACY Better than 1˚ Better than 1˚ Better than 1˚ Better than 1˚ Better than 1˚
Sensor Dimensions
and Weight
Course-, and
Heading-up
overlay
or 0.9% of
max. range of
scale in use
25” W by
10.06” H,
22.5 lbs
Interface Cable length: 33’ (standard); longer cables available
RAD4K
3.5-A
North-, Leg-,
Course-, and
Heading-up
overlay
Better than 8m
or 0.9% of
max. range of
scale in use
3.5’ W by
17.7” H,
46 lbs
RAD6K
4.5-A
North-, Leg-,
Course-, and
Heading-up
overlay
Better than 8m
or 0.9% of
max. range of
scale in use
4.5’ W by
17.7” H,
51 lbs
RAD12K
6.5-A
North-,Leg-,
Course-, and
Heading-up
overlay
Better than 8m
or 0.9% of
max. range of
scale in use
6.5’ W by
17.7” H,
56 lbs
RAD25K
6.5-A
North-,Leg-,
Course-, and
Heading-up
overlay
Better than 8m
or 0.9% of
max. range of
scale in use
6.5” W by
17.7” H,
64 lbs
Page 40 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1
APPENDIX A: Specifications and Drawings
Figure 18: Control box outline drawing
Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 41
APPENDIX A: Specifications and Drawings
Figure 19: Open-array outline drawing
Page 42 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1
APPENDIX B: Manual Tuning Procedure
Important: The following manual tuning procedure is provided only for possible situations where
the unit’s automatic tuning does not perform well. At present, Northstar is not aware of any such
situation and recommends that automatic tuning be used unless a reason is found to use this
manual procedure.
Begin by restoring all radar settings to their factory settings (except trigger delay, heading calibration
and whether or not a heading sensor is installed), as follows:
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 trigger delay, heading calibration and whether or not a heading sensor is
installed).
4. Press Return and Done. to return to the main radar screen.
Next, we need to set the rain clutter and sea clutter to 0 and the gain to 50.
5. From the main radar screen, press Page 2.
6. If necessary, press Mode to make it read Manual.
7. Press Rain Cutter to activate the control.
8. If necessary, press Rain Clutter again to make it read Manual.
9. Press the “0” key on the keypad twice to set the rain clutter value to zero.
10. Press Sea Clutter.
11. Press the “0” key on the keypad twice to set the sea clutter to zero.
12. Press Gain to activate the control.
13. If necessary, press Gain again to make it read Manual.
14. Press “0,” “5” and “0” on the keypad to set the gain to 50.
15. Press Return and then Done to return to the main radar screen.
Now, we’ll set the scale to 1/8 nm.
16. 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.”
17. From the main radar page, press Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, and Install... .
18. Press Tune... to display the tuning screen.
19. Press Tune Mode repeatedly (if necessary) to set it to Manual)
20. Set the rough tune value to 87 (if necessary) by typing “087” on the keypad.
Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 43
APPENDIX B: Manual Tuning Procedure
21. Press Tune.
22. With the Tune preset value set at around 125 to 130 (or a number that you have determined
to be a better starting point), press Wizard 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 Wizard key indicates “Working” 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.
Tune mode
Wizard
Tun e
Tun e
preset
23. When the Wizard key indicates “Done,” look at the graph to the left of the Tune Mode 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.
Proper tuning Peak not foundPeak not found
Page 44 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1
APPENDIX B: Manual Tuning Procedure
MANUAL TUNING (Optional — for special situations only)
In the rare event that fully 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.
Set the Tune mode key to Manual
Make an adjustment with the Tune key, 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.
Finding a peak should not require more than a minute or two. Little can be
gained by continuing for more time than that.
Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 45
APPENDIX B: Manual Tuning Procedure
Page 46 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1
APPENDIX C: 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 (958, 6000i, etc.)
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-2 used with 4 kW Domes and Arrays 12 or 24 VDC
MDS-3 used with 6 kW and 12 kW Arrays 12 or 24 VDC
MDS-4 used with 25 kW Arrays 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!
Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 47
APPENDIX C: Troubleshooting
Note: There are two styles of power cords with two different wiring configurations.
Radar Power Cable
Connector End View
Gnd
NC
5
4
NC
DC –
1
2
DC +
3
Old style:
To radar control unit Power cable
Newer style, Rev C or later:
To radar control unit Power cable
Pin Function Color (new style) Color (old style)
1 DC Power – Gnd Black Black
2 DC Power – A+ Red White
3 Not Connected
4 Not Connected
5 Equipment Ground Green Gray
Note: Some older cables used a Gray wire for ground
and white for DC+.
Gray
Ground
Black
DC –
White
DC +
Note: Some older cables used a Gray wire for ground
and white for DC+.
Green
Ground
Black
DC –
Red
DC +
To power source
To power source
Are Range Rings displayed?
Yes, range rings are displayed
1. Confirm that the installation setup has been performed.
2. Verify that the array is turning. If it's a dome, with the power off, remove the dome cover
(weather permitting). Apply power to the system. After the warm-up countdown has
completed, and the transmit option is set to ON, verify that the array is turning.
If the antenna does not turn, skip to the next section titled If the array or antenna fails to turn.
No, range rings or range scale information are not displayed.
1. Verify that the serial data cable wiring is correct as shown in Table 14 below.
2. Disconnect the WA215 data cable connector from the navigator, apply power to the MDS
box, and confirm that the voltage on each wire is correct as shown in Table 14. Check the
voltages for each data pin using pin 10 as the ground reference. All must be present, plus or
minus 0.1 VDC.
Page 48 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1
APPENDIX C: Troubleshooting
Table 14: Checking the data cable
MDS Box Wiring Voltage check WA215 Connector
Wire Color Description Voltage Pin No. Wire Color Description
Orange Data Out + 4.8 VDC 2 Brown/White NMEA Port 2 in B
Yellow Data Out – 0.60 VDC 6 White/Brown NMEA Port 2 In A
Black (2 wires) Ground Gnd Ref. 10 Black NMEA Port 2 Out
Ground
Brown Data In + 3.10 VDC 11 Orange NMEA Port 2 Out B
Red Data In – 3.10 VDC 15 Yellow NMEA Port 2 Out A
WA215 I/O Cable
2
1
3456
7811 10 9
15 14 13 12
18 17 16
Pin-side view.
If the array or antenna fails to turn
1. If the array or antenna fails to turn, turn the power off and investigate.
2. Verify that the blue and green power control wires in the MDS cable harness are correctly
terminated and connected using one of the recommended termination methods described in
“Radar power control” on page 14 (direct connection, SPST switch, or relay control using the
Remote Power option from the navigator.)
3. Check the MDS box scanner motor fuse.
4. Open the dome or array and perform an internal inspection.
5. Check to make sure that nothing is interfering with the motor and gears, is binding or
preventing the antenna from turning.
6. Check for any disconnected, pinched or broken wires.
7. For older open array units, check for worn or broken motor brushes.
8. Verify that the scanner cable is correctly pinned, all wires are in the correct locations and the
connectors are correctly locked to the mating connectors on the modulator board.
Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 49
APPENDIX C: Troubleshooting
TABLE 15: Scanner cable wiring
X11 Connector X12 Connector
Pin Color Function Pin Color Function
1 Violet +250V 1 Blue +24V
2 N/C 2 N/C
3 Yellow GND 3 Orange +12V
4 Red Ships + 4 Braid of Red DAT-R
5 Yellow Ships + 5 Red DAT
6 Green Ships – 6 Braid of Brown BP/SHF-R
7 Blue Ships – 7 Brown BP/SHF
8 Braid of Gray V/TRG-R
9 Gray V/TRG
Checking these connections is especially important if the installer removed the connectors for easy
of routing when installing the scanner cable.
Page 50 Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1
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