Raymarine C80 Radar (Anologue) problem

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yotter

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Me Inverkip, boat Kip in winter, Craobh in summer
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First of all, no prizes for guessing where we were at the weekend:-)

However the C80 radar seemed to be a bit lost. The attached images show the radar picture, one of which is an overlay over the chart display. The radar was working just fine last year until it failed and displayed the Antenna Not Rotating message, this was rectified by my local raymarine agents by replacing the heading sensor. I thought that all was well until the weekend. (the local agents are going to investigate for me, however as expected, they are pretty busy at this time of the year.

I wonder if anyone has seen the attached images, which clearly are not what should be expected.

http:http://www.ybw.com/forums/images/attach/jpg.gif//www.ybw.com/forums/images/attach/jpg.gif

Diagnostics are showing no errors.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Regards
Angus
 

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Have you adjusted the radar bearing alignment so that it corresponds with the chart?

Also, your radar image is Head Up, whereas your chart image is North Up - can't remember whether the C series corrects this on overlay.
 
Many thanks for the response. I have not adjusted the heading pointer and am not sure if the Raymarine agent did either. I could investigate that. However, the echos are much more distant than the closest land, so I suspect the problem may be more than just a rotation issue. I may visit the boat tomorrow evening and investigate the bearing adjustment.
Angus
 
Many thanks for the response. I have not adjusted the heading pointer and am not sure if the Raymarine agent did either. I could investigate that. However, the echos are much more distant than the closest land, so I suspect the problem may be more than just a rotation issue. I may visit the boat tomorrow evening and investigate the bearing adjustment.
Angus
 
You'll also note that the range settings are different on radar and chart - I thought the C series adjusted for this. Have you set it to Sync?
 
You have chart set on 6 miles and radar on 1-1/2. There's a slight wrinkle here in that the chart range refers to distance top to bottom of the screen whereas radar range is measured from you to the outer ring - basically radar range should be half of chart range for the pictures to match. If you turn on range sync, the radar range will be adjusted to 3 miles to achieve this, and the word "Sync" will appear after the purple range figure.

Pete
 
Pete,
Many thanks for that, I shall carry out that procedure tomorrow night. Although the boat is in Kip Marina with a somewhat confused radar picture! I shall look for the sync indication. Fingers crossed since the radar is obsolete and a new digital one will require a plotter upgrade:-( Hopefully since I am getting some sort of picture indicates a set-up or sync problem.
Many thanks again

I shall report back
 
yotter said:
Hopefully since I am getting some sort of picture indicates a set-up or sync problem.
Click to expand...

Looks that way to me.

Set radar to north-up (the professionals' choice anyway :) ) and range 3 miles and you should see the echoes line up with the coastline. If not, first check the bearing offset in the radar settings (this is the adjustment you'd make if you mounted the radar facing off-centre) and if that still doesn't line up then suspect the compass data.

Also turn on range syncing so that you don't need to manually change the radar range when you zoom in and out of the chart.

You also have that arc of close-in echoes - maybe it's real returns from shore stuff surrounding you, but it might be worth at least a play with the gain control.

Pete
 
Pete,
I shall take your advise and set the radar to north up. Will also check that sync is selected. I was also concerned about the close-in echos, there are also there when I am at sea, so not the shore. I suspected system noise but not sure. Could be a matter of adjusting gain, sea and rain clutter.
Angus
 
yotter said:
First of all, no prizes for guessing where we were at the weekend:-)

However the C80 radar seemed to be a bit lost. The attached images show the radar picture, one of which is an overlay over the chart display. The radar was working just fine last year until it failed and displayed the Antenna Not Rotating message, this was rectified by my local raymarine agents by replacing the heading sensor. I thought that all was well until the weekend. (the local agents are going to investigate for me, however as expected, they are pretty busy at this time of the year.

I wonder if anyone has seen the attached images, which clearly are not what should be expected.

http:http://www.ybw.com/forums/images/attach/jpg.gif//www.ybw.com/forums/images/attach/jpg.gif

Diagnostics are showing no errors.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Regards
Angus
Click to expand...
My Raytheon RC70C threw up the message antenna not rotating. It was right! It wasnt! The bearings in the motor were gritty and it didnt rotate. SWMBO went up the mast and got to work with WD40. It started working again. the drive belt looked like a stretched O ring and isnt very tight. It doesnt have to be, the antenna is a light aluminium deflector. I would have asked for the old part that they allegedly changed!
Stu
 
Hello,
I have set the Radar to north up, but it will not allow me to set Sync, but have ensured that chart and radar are on same scale. At boat now (with poor internet connection:-().

There always seems to be a broad echo at about 1 mile range, this disappears at range scale of 6 miles or greater. There are very few echoes within this 1 mile,ish range. have tried fiddling with gain, clutter etc. That does change the picture but not at close range. I am in a marina and surrounded with masts, boats etc!
Best Regards
Angus
 
yotter said:
However the C80 radar seemed to be a bit lost.
Angus
Click to expand...

Angus, could you advise how your C80 obtains absolute heading and/or compass information? (I'm just trying to get to grips with a new-to-me C80 which has no heading or compass until we are on the move).
Cheers
Bob
PS I miss Craobh!
 
: Raymarine C80 Radar (Anologue) problem

RIBW said:
Angus, could you advise how your C80 obtains absolute heading and/or compass information? (I'm just trying to get to grips with a new-to-me C80 which has no heading or compass until we are on the move).
Cheers
Bob
PS I miss Craobh!
Click to expand...

Bob,
This kit is pretty new to me also, only having had the boat for 1 season now. There is a Raymarine autopilot setup, which includes a fluxgate compass. So, I assume that the heading pointer (when static) comes from this via Seatalk. If you only get heading info when on the move, it may come from a GPS on Seatalk. Do you use it heading up or north up?
I am stll at Kip, but hope to be at Craobh by third weekend in May (hopefully with a fully operational radar by then:-)
Angus
 
RIBW said:
Angus, could you advise how your C80 obtains absolute heading and/or compass information? (I'm just trying to get to grips with a new-to-me C80 which has no heading or compass until we are on the move).
Click to expand...

The usual setup is to have a raymarine autopilot on the same seatalk bus, and take the heading from there. If not, you can also add a fluxgate compass on its own. It sounds like you have neither and the radar is resorting to using course over ground. I know that for one reason or another this is not recommended, and I believe the possibility was disabled in later firmware versions.

Pete
 
yotter said:
Bob,
This kit is pretty new to me also, only having had the boat for 1 season now. There is a Raymarine autopilot setup, which includes a fluxgate compass. So, I assume that the heading pointer (when static) comes from this via Seatalk. If you only get heading info when on the move, it may come from a GPS on Seatalk. Do you use it heading up or north up?
I am stll at Kip, but hope to be at Craobh by third weekend in May (hopefully with a fully operational radar by then:-)
Angus
Click to expand...

Thanks Angus (and Pete),
My autopilot is pre-seatalk and you are right it is the GPS/Seatalk that feeds the heading on the move. This obviously not ideal because in weather/conditions that require radar, I will slow right down and probably lose heading!
The radar and autopilot are on the agenda for next winter's revamp. I'd love to find a phased array (no rotating parts) radar, even if it only looks ahead, to replace C80.
Good luck sorting your issue.
Regards
Bob
 
RIBW said:
My autopilot is pre-seatalk and you are right it is the GPS/Seatalk that feeds the heading on the move. This obviously not ideal because in weather/conditions that require radar, I will slow right down and probably lose heading!
Click to expand...

You can still use your radar in Head Up mode. But it's well worth getting a decent compass input so that you can take full advantage of the radar/chart overlay feature.
 
pvb said:
You can still use your radar in Head Up mode. But it's well worth getting a decent compass input so that you can take full advantage of the radar/chart overlay feature.
Click to expand...
Thanks,
I agree about having a decent compass source but I learned about these subtleties too late for last winter's work list (and budget)! Some quick investigation produced prices of £x00s (ignoring the NASA box).

Angus,
Sorry to hijack your thread - I hope all goes well eventually.

Regards to both of you
Bob
 
RIBW said:
Thanks,
I agree about having a decent compass source but I learned about these subtleties too late for last winter's work list (and budget)! Some quick investigation produced prices of £x00s (ignoring the NASA box).

Angus,
Sorry to hijack your thread - I hope all goes well eventually.

Regards to both of you
Bob
Click to expand...

Bob,
No problem.

A wee update on my radar issue

I spoke to Raymarine Technical help today, as soon as I described the circle of "echos", the chap immediately called it a "doughnot" and told me that the IF board PCB needed to be replaced. And he thought they still have some available. When I enquired about the cost, he replied "cheaper than a new radar" , hopefully it will be since a new digital radar required a new plotter as well! My local Raymarine agent (BEE) will obviously have to order and fit this.

Regards
Angus
 
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