Lowrance Radar Operation Instruction Manual
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Lowrance Radar Operation Instruction Manual

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Pub. 988-0161-012
www.lowrance.com

Radar Operation

Instruction Manual

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Summary of Contents for Lowrance Radar Operation

  • Page 1: Radar Operation

    Pub. 988-0161-012 www.lowrance.com Radar Operation Instruction Manual...
  • Page 2 National Marine Elec- tronics Association. Lowrance Electronics may find it necessary to change or end our poli- cies, regulations and special offers at any time. We reserve the right to do so without notice. All features and specifications subject to change without notice.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Warnings and Cautions ............iii Section 1: Introduction............. 1 Models Covered ................1 Update Display Unit Software (2006 Units only) ....... 2 Checking Software Version............2 Installing Software Update ............2 How to use this manual: typographical conventions ....3 Section 2: Radar Setup .............
  • Page 4 Adjust Radar PPI Offset ............24 Recenter Radar PPI..............24 Log Radar Data ............... 25 Radar Setup ................29 Radar Orientation ..............29 Radar Color Scheme..............29 Adjust Antenna Park .............. 29 Radar Information..............31 Radar Power ................31 Turns the radar on and off............31 Radar Simulator ..............

  • Page 5: Warnings And Cautions

    Warnings and Cautions Caution: Use this radar at your own risk. This radar was designed for use as a navigation aid. It should not be used for purposes that require precise measurements of direction, distance, topography or location. Always compare the navigation information received from your radar with data from other navigation aids and sources.
  • Page 6 WARNING: Microwave Radiation Hazard The microwave energy radiated by a radar antenna is harmful to humans, especially to the eyes. NEVER look directly into an open waveguide or into the path of ra- diation from an enclosed antenna. Radar and other ra- dio frequency radiation can upset cardiac pacemakers.

  • Page 7: Section 1: Introduction

    Section 1: Introduction Thank you for buying a Lowrance Radar with the RIM 200 radar inter- face module. Your radar consists of three main components: the radar scanner unit (antenna), your display unit (sold separately) and the RIM 200 radar interface module which connects the scanner and display units.

  • Page 8: Update Display Unit Software (2006 Units Only)

    1.7.0 or greater, you do not need to install the software update. You can also acquire the software version 1.7.0 update from Lowrance customer service or download it from our web site, www.lowrance.com. Checking Software Version 1.

  • Page 9: How To Use This Manual: Typographical Conventions

    We've made it easy for you to keep up with our latest updates — just subscribe to our free e-mail software release notices. Look for the link at the bottom of our Product Software Upgrades web page. What is radar? The word "radar"...
  • Page 10 to select this command or option from a menu or take an action of some kind with the menu item. Text that you may need to enter or file names you need to select are show in italic type, such as trail name. Instructions = Menu Sequences Most functions you perform with this unit are described as a sequence of key strokes and selecting menu commands.
  • Page 11 Basic Radar Display Components Range Ring Interval Range Gain level Anti-Sea Interference Clutter Rejection status Display mode Anti-Rain Clutter Echo Trail Radar Radar Echo status Cursor Boxes Expansion status Electronic Bearing Lines Variable Range Markers Your unit has three electronic bearing lines and three variable range markers.
  • Page 12 This manual is printed in black and white, but a free color version ® (in Acrobat PDF format) is available for display or download from the Lowrance web site. The color manual is particularly useful for understanding Sec. 5, Radar Interpretation.

  • Page 13: Section 2: Radar Setup

    Section 2: Radar Setup This section will teach you how to prepare your radar for operation. Be- fore you begin radar setup, the radar scanning unit, RIM 200 module and display unit all must be installed and their cables connected. WARNING: Do NOT attempt to execute Radar Setup, while the ves- sel is moving.
  • Page 14 Caution: Leave the radar in Standby Mode for 30 minutes when activat- ing it the first time. This will help maximize the life of the mag- netron. After the radar has been activated the first time, ignore the Radar Notice. , then use ←...

  • Page 15: Auto Power-On

    9. To set the radar to Heading Up, highlight and press EADING 10. To display the radar images in full color, press ↓ to select ADAR and press OLOR CHEME 11. Use ↑ ↓ to highlight one of the three full color options and press .

  • Page 16: Trigger Delay Preparation

    NOTE: Before starting radar setup, take your vessel out on open water with fairly calm seas, like an open bay. The three setup features we want to modify are Adjust Trigger Delay, Adjust Main Bang Suppression and Adjust Heading Line. We will set them up in that order, but before making any adjustments, make sure the display is set to a range of 0.125 nautical miles and that Gain, Anti-Sea Clutter (STC), Anti-Rain Clutter (FTC), Main Bang...

  • Page 17: Main Bang Suppression

    2. That will launch the Anti-Rain Clutter vertical scrollbar. Press ↓ un- til the Anti-Rain Clutter is set to zero percent. Press . (Notice the EXIT corresponding value in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.) Main Bang Suppression 1. To set Main Bang Suppression to zero, press , select MENU ADAR...
  • Page 18 Before adjusting the Trigger Delay for 4 kW radars, two rings will be shown on the screen (left). As Trigger Delay is increased, the larger ring will start to get smaller. The small ring will disappear (right). You may have to increase gain in the previous step if the rings are not visible.

  • Page 19: Adjust Main Bang Suppression

    Adjust Main Bang Suppression Main Bang Suppression is only for 4kW units — LRA 2000, LRA 4000 and This feature filters out electronic noise close to your vessel. It LRA 5000. gives you control of radar sensitivity in the area surrounding your ves- sel, approximately 180 feet in all directions.

  • Page 20: Adjust Heading Line

    Main Bang Suppression begins with the same red ring we resized dur- ing Trigger Delay setup (left). Slowly increase Main Bang Suppression to make the ring as thin as possible (enlarged view, right). 6. Press to clear the scrollbar from the screen. Now reset Gain, EXIT Anti-Sea Clutter and Anti-Rain Clutter back to a desired level.

  • Page 21: Adjust Transmit Off Zone

    3. Use ← → to adjust the position of the green heading line, so its line to the reference point's radar image matches your bow's actual line to the reference point. 4. Press to remove the heading line arrows from the display. EXIT Adjust Transmit Off Zone The Transmit Off Zone is a feature that allows you to select an area in...

  • Page 22: Adjust Tune

    1. Press , highlight and press . Press →|↓ to se- MENU ADAR ETUP lect and press . That will launch the Adjust DJUST RANSMIT Transmit Off Zone dialogs in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. 2, Use ↑ ↓, ← → to set up the Transmit Off Zone in the desired area. The zone will be colored red on the radar display.

  • Page 23: Section 3: Basic Operation

    Section 3: Basic Operation Pages The Radar Page has six display options: Radar Only, Digital Data, Ra- dar with Map, Radar with Sonar, Radar with Gauges and Radar, Map and Sonar. GPS only units do not support the Radar with Sonar page, so they have four display options: Radar Only, Digital Data, Radar with Map and Radar with Gauges.

  • Page 24: Radar Only

    Radar Only Choose Radar Only if you want to display the radar full screen. Radar Only will be the only page option for the following units: X510c, X515c DF, LMS-520c, LMS-522c iGPS, LMS-525c DF, LMS-527c DF iGPS, GlobalMap 5200c, GlobalMap 5300c iGPS and the GlobalMap BAJA 540c.

  • Page 25: Radar, Map And Sonar

    Radar, Map and Sonar page display Radar, Map and Sonar The Radar, Map and Sonar page is broken up into three windows, al- lowing you to monitor the radar, map and sonar signal simultaneously. NOTE: For instructions on customizing the gauges window with digital in- formation or analog gauges, refer to the overlay data entry in your unit's instruction manual.

  • Page 26: Radar Menu

    Radar Menu. Radar Menu When a radar page is the active page, you can access the radar menu by pressing . To access the main menu, press MENU MENU MENU Gain The Gain feature allows you to adjust the sensitivity of the receiver. Setting Gain to a low level will clear up some of the clutter on the screen, but also could eliminate some desired echoes.

  • Page 27: Anti-Sea Clutter (Stc)

    Gain vertical scrollbar (left) with Anti-Sea Clutter scrollbar (right). Anti-Sea Clutter (STC): The Anti-Sea Clutter feature lowers receiver sensitivity at shorter ranges to reduce or eliminate echoes that reflect back at the antenna due to wave action close to the vessel. Caution Increasing STC may reduce or eliminate weak echoes, like small vessels.

  • Page 28: Interference Rejection

    Anti-Rain Clutter vertical scrollbar (left) with Interference Rejection scrollbar (right). Interference Rejection This feature filters out signals from other radars close to your location. To adjust Interference Rejection: 1. From the radar page, press , select MENU NTERFERENCE EJECTION press .

  • Page 29: Radar Echo Expansion

    Radar Range selected (left). List of radar ranges (right). Tip: Once you are comfortable with the various radar range options, you can easily switch ranges by pressing the keys. ZOUT Radar Echo Expansion The Radar Echo Expansion feature will make weak signals more visible on the display by lengthening radar echoes.

  • Page 30: Clear Radar Trails

    Clear Radar Trails This feature is used to clear radar trails created with the Echo Trail Interval command. To clear radar trails: 1. From the Radar Page, press , highlight MENU LEAR ADAR RAILS press . All radar trails are now cleared off the radar display. Adjust Radar PPI Offset Adjusts vertical and horizontal offset of the PPI, allowing you to see more of what is in front, behind or on either side of you.

  • Page 31: Log Radar Data

    Recenter Radar PPI highlighted (left). PPI has moved back into the center of the radar display (right). To recenter radar PPI: 1. From the Radar Page, press , select MENU ECENTER ADAR press . The PPI is moved back to the center of the display. Press to return to the main menu.
  • Page 32 To record a radar log: 1. From the Radar Page, press , select and press MENU ADAR . The Radar Chart Logging menu will appear. 2. Press to start logging. NOTE: Remember — you will NOT be able to log radar data, unless you have a unit with a hard drive.
  • Page 33 To copy data files: 1. From the Radar Page, press , select and press MENU ADAR , which will open the Radar Chart Logging menu. Select ROWSE and press ILES 2. Select the desired file from the Browse Files menu and press 3.
  • Page 34 To stop or play a data file: 1. From the Radar Page, press , select and press MENU ADAR , which will open the Radar Chart Logging menu. Select ROWSE and press ILES 1. Select the desired file from the Browse Files menu and press 2.

  • Page 35: Radar Setup

    Radar Setup The Radar Setup menu allows you to set up and adjust basic radar set- tings, like Heading Line, Trigger Delay, Main Bang Suppression, Transmit Off Zone and Tune, all of which are addressed in the section on Radar Setup. You can also modify Radar Orientation, Radar Color Scheme and Antenna Park from the Radar Setup menu.
  • Page 36 Selecting Adjust Antenna Park will place a dialog box in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Use Arrow keys to adjust it. NOTE: Each antenna is different, so there is no recommended setting for Antenna Park. You must use the trial and error method of making an adjustment then check the result.

  • Page 37: Radar Information

    Radar Simulator Your unit has a simulator that gives you the opportunity to get familiar with radar operation before heading out on the water. Simulators highlighted on the System Setup menu (left). Radar Simu- lator On selected on Radar Simulator menu (right). Notice the simula-...

  • Page 38: Radar Overlay

    To access the Radar Simulator: , use ↑ ↓ to highlight 1. Press and press MENU MENU YSTEM ETUP 2. Use ↑ ↓ to highlight then press IMULATORS 3. Press ← → to scroll to the tab. If you have only one ADAR IMULATOR radar log or if you want to use the current radar log, press ↓...

  • Page 39: Radar Options Menu

    Radar Overlay feature in use on the Radar with Map page. Radar Options menu The Radar Options menu allows you to access radar settings and com- mands from the Map page menu. You, however, will ONLY be able to access the Radar Options menu when Radar Overlay has been enabled. Radar Options highlighted on the Map menu (left).

  • Page 40: Overlay Options Menu

    2. Highlight and press , which will open the Radar ADAR PTIONS Options menu with the following options: Radar Range, Gain, Anti-Sea Clutter (STC), Anti-Rain Clutter (FTC), Interference Rejection, Radar Echo Expansion, Echo Trail Interval, Clear Radar Trails and Overlay Options.
  • Page 41 To access Overlay Options menu: 1. From any Map Page, press , highlight and press MENU ADAR PTIONS 2. Select and press . The Radar Overlay Options VERLAY PTIONS menu will appear. Overlay Options selected on Radar Options menu (left). Radar Overlay Options menu (right).
  • Page 42 To select Overlay Color: 5. Highlight and press , which will open the Overlay VERLAY OLOR Color drop-down menu with the following options: Yellow, Red, Orange, Green, Magenta and Black. Red selected on the Overlay Color menu. 6. Use ↑ ↓ to select the desired color and press .

  • Page 43: Section 4: Advanced Operation

    Section 4: Advanced Operation Radar Only page display. Reading the Display The radar page displays digital information on the screen which covers, Range Rings, Gain, Anti-Sea Clutter (STC), Anti-Rain Clutter (FTC) and when active, Electronic Bearing Lines (EBL) and Variable Range Markers (VRM).

  • Page 44: Anti-Sea Clutter (Stc)

    Anti-Sea Clutter (STC) The STC percentage displays the current Anti-Sea Clutter setting on your radar screen. Anti-Rain Clutter (FTC) The FTC percentage displays the current Anti-Rain Clutter setting on your radar screen. Electronic Bearing Line (EBL) A radial line that can be rotated 360°, the electronic bearing line is used to monitor the bearing of a radar target in relation to your loca- tion.
  • Page 45 NOTE: If you are on a page where the screen is split between radar and another page display, make sure the radar is the active page. With the exception of the map page, the active page on the screen will be denoted by a blue bar at the top of its window.
  • Page 46 Check the display in the bottom right-hand corner to see your distance from the target in nautical miles. 3. To adjust the position of the EBL, press ← → to move the EBL around the display. Line up the EBL with a radar target to determine the target's relative bearing.
  • Page 47 3. Press ← → to move the EBL around the display. Line up the EBL with a radar target to determine another target's relative bearing. Check the display in the lower left-hand corner to see the target's rela- tive bearing displayed digitally. 4.
  • Page 48 VRM2 EBL2 EBL3 VRM3 VRM1 EBL1 When using multiple EBL/VRMs, the size of the dashes and the dis- tance between dashes allows you to distinguish between the different EBL/VRMs on the display.

  • Page 49: Section 5: Radar Interpretation

    Section 5: Radar Interpretation Interpreting images on your radar screen involves as much art as it does science. If you want to be confident with your radar at night, you need to practice in daylight. To be ready for fog or a blinding rain squall, you must practice in fair weather.
  • Page 50 Anti-Rain Clutter (FTC) fig. 2. FTC set to 12% Anti-Rain Clutter (FTC) fig. 3. FTC set to 25 %.
  • Page 51 Anti-Rain Clutter (FTC) fig. 4. FTC set to 50%. Anti-Rain Clutter (FTC) fig. 5. FTC set to 62%. The rain has virtually disappeared from the screen.

  • Page 52: Echo Trails

    Echo Trails This four-figure sequence shows how Echo Trails tracks target move- ment over time. The boat is stationary. Several boats will be trailed. Color mode is default. Echo Trail update interval set to 30 seconds. Targets Land mass is red; trail green will replace red as time...
  • Page 53 In fig. 3, note the target off the bow approaching at high speed from the north. The "dotted" trail indicates higher speed than targets with more solid trails. Be alert; this boat is a collision risk. Echo Trails fig. 3. Elapsed time = 8 seconds. Echo Trails fig.

  • Page 54: Typical Small Boat Targets

    Typical Small Boat Targets Boats Birds Wave action Boat Small boat targets fig. 1. Bow is headed into the wind. Here, boats ap- pear as larger red targets. Birds are smaller green targets. Boats Wave action Boats Small boat targets fig. 2. Boat has turned, with the wind (and wave clutter) off port quarter.
  • Page 55 Boats Wave action Boat Small boat targets fig. 3. Landmasses return a strong echo and thus appear red in default color mode. Bird Boat Wave action Boats Small boat targets fig. 4. Three targets, with one boat just offshore.

  • Page 56: Shoreline Images

    Shoreline Images This sequence illustrates a boat entering a channel. The green line is the track the vessel will take. The magenta line from the stern is a GPS trail. Study these radar returns with their corresponding maps and you'll get a feel for how radar displays a shoreline. This channel is sur- rounded by steeply sloping, rocky hills.
  • Page 57 Shoreline fig. 3. Shoreline fig. 4.

  • Page 58: Recommended Reading

    Recommended Reading For additional instruction check out these two books and a U.S. gov- ernment manual: The Radar Book: Effective Navigation and Collision Avoidance, by Kevin Monahan. ISBN 1-932310-05-3, 235 pages, paperback. Published in 2003 by FineEdge.com LLC, 14004 Biz Point Lane, Anacortes, WA 98221 USA.

  • Page 59: Appendix I: Glossary

    Appendix I: Glossary Anti-Rain Clutter (FTC): used to reduce or eliminate massive num- ber of small echoes that clutter the display during rain or snow storms. Anti-Sea Clutter (STC): lowers receiver sensitivity at shorter ranges to reduce or eliminate sea clutter echoes, which are most prevalent around the vessel.
  • Page 60 Heading Line Adjustment: the Heading Line is used to make sure the green heading line (zero point) on your radar display is lined up the bow of your vessel. Heading Up: when your heading is displayed at the top of the screen, you are in Heading Up mode.
  • Page 61 Time Base: line that rotates around the radar display, updating im- ages on the display. Transmit Off Zone: an area set up in the radar transmission path where the radar will not transmit a microwave pulse. Tuning: intermediate frequency adjustment that enhances the per- formance of the radar.
  • Page 62 Notes...
  • Page 63 Notes...

  • Page 64: Fcc Compliance

    FCC Compliance This device complies with Part 15 and Part 80 of the U.S. Fed- eral Communications Commission (FCC) Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause un- desired operation.
  • Page 65 LOWRANCE ELECTRONICS FULL ONE-YEAR WARRANTY "We," "our," or "us" refers to LOWRANCE ELECTRONICS, INC., the manufacturer of this product. "You" or "your" refers to the first person who purchases this product as a consumer item for personal, family or household use.
  • Page 66 …in the USA: We back your investment in quality products with quick, expert service and genuine Lowrance parts. If you're in the United States and you have technical, return or repair questions, please contact the Factory Customer Service Department. Before any product can be returned, you must call customer service to determine if a return is necessary.
  • Page 67 To locate a Lowrance dealer near you, visit our web site, www.lowrance.com and look for the Dealer Locator. Or, you can consult your telephone directory for listings.
  • Page 68 Visit our web site: Lowrance Pub. 988-0161-012 © Copyright 2007 All Rights Reserved Printed in USA 071607 Lowrance Electronics, Inc.

This manual is also suitable for:

Lra-1000Lra-1500Lra-2000Lra-4000Lra-5000

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