Raymarine/Raytheon SL72 Radar

[TonyBuckley]

OK - long shot post, cos I want to hear "just go into this system menu and press this option"...

My radar worked fine last season. In a very recent test it powers up - screen and menus operate without any errors or reports - but fails to show any reflections/echoes.

Apart from a couple of MASSIVE overhead thunderstorms with what sounded like near strikes, I cannot think what could have stopped this working.

Obvious thought is the belt in the scanner, but I will have to find a ladder to check and if I can work out how to remove the lid! Seen many google posts about a self diagnostic function but been unable to find how to achieve.

I will check the voltage at the input plug and trace the wiring, but is there anything really obvious I could have missed? It still receives the GPS feed and tells me where I am and my speed (i.e. zero) but no reflections.

Back on boat tomorrow so any suggestions for diagnosis are welcome.

 

[Gypsy]

OK - long shot post, cos I want to hear "just go into this system menu and press this option"...

Press Menu
Select Radar or chart Set-Up
Press Enter for 5sec + until test buttons show on softkeys
You can see the results of the self-test (I took a photo of the results for my RL80 for future reference)
You can also choose to view incoming data for either Seatalk or NMEA.

The selftest MAY indicate something wrong. Otherwise, it's climb the ladder/halyard.
Ray

 

[TonyBuckley]

Press Menu
Select Radar or chart Set-Up
Press Enter for 5sec + until test buttons show on softkeys
You can see the results of the self-test (I took a photo of the results for my RL80 for future reference)
You can also choose to view incoming data for either Seatalk or NMEA.

The selftest MAY indicate something wrong. Otherwise, it's climb the ladder/halyard.
Ray

Thank you Gypsy!

Apparently I have an SL70 according to the diagnostics! Nothing on the case to say this.

The only 'fail' reported is "Cable test status'. Tracked it as far as I can and can see no problems. So call to Raymarine required. Rotation reported as 1ms which is crazy but not true if cable has a problem.

 

[Martin_J]

if rotation time is reported as being 1ms then my first guess would be that the rotation sensor has died.
I guess the first check would then be to take the lid off and power on to prove that the scanner is indeed rotating.
The rotation time sensor is mounted on a small (approx 2cm x 2cm) pcb within the radone that contains a led source and a led receiver. As the radome rotates the light receiver sees the pulses. I am currently writing from a mobile phone but if you search eBay you should find the board available for a few pounds. a cheaper option is to just solder a new led receiver transmitter pair onto the board.. I could provide part numbers if needed.