Simrad NSS evo 3 - radar orientation and overlay

[Bowlerhat]

I have the Simrad NSS evo 3 display in my mobo. The radar works well, but the orientation of it appears out of whack for 2 reasons. Firstly, on the display the orientation says “HUP”, whereas actually it is displaying ‘north up’. Secondly, in the display menu under ‘orientation’ the option to actually select “NUP” is greyed out (you can read it, but the text is clearly dulled and won’t respond when you prod it). Another issue is that I can‘t display the radar overlay on the chart. The manual says that for the overlay to display, a heading sensor must be on the network. It could be that the two issues are related, but I can‘t see how to select/connect a heading sensor (the only one I have is GPS). Before I try and reset the whole thing, does anyone have any clues as to how I could fix it. Thank you.

 

[pvb]

I have the Simrad NSS evo 3 display in my mobo. The radar works well, but the orientation of it appears out of whack for 2 reasons. Firstly, on the display the orientation says “HUP”, whereas actually it is displaying ‘north up’.

That seems to suggest that it's getting a heading input.

Secondly, in the display menu under ‘orientation’ the option to actually select “NUP” is greyed out (you can read it, but the text is clearly dulled and won’t respond when you prod it). Another issue is that I can‘t display the radar overlay on the chart. The manual says that for the overlay to display, a heading sensor must be on the network. It could be that the two issues are related, but I can‘t see how to select/connect a heading sensor (the only one I have is GPS). Before I try and reset the whole thing, does anyone have any clues as to how I could fix it.

That suggests it isn't getting a heading input! Simrad offer the Precision-9 heading sensor, which is NMEA2000 plug'n'play. It is around £500, but it will work well and give you a stable radar/chart overlay.

 

[Martin_J]

For North up chart display and for correct radar overlay onto the chart you will need a heading sensor.
Radar will work on its own screen in head up but will need it's orientation set up since you can guarantee the radome was mounted in prefect fore-aft alignment.
You can even find the radome has been mounted facing aft or sideways on some boats but one of the first things to do in initial setup is the radome alignment on the NSS.
Easiest answer is to buy an NMEA2000 heading sensor and add to the backbone.. not cheap but MARPA will then work on the radar. I assume you have a 3G or 4G type radome.

 

[Martin_J]

As to why heading up is possible. Is the NSS just taking GPS course over ground as heading (due to the lack of actual heading)?

 

[Bowlerhat]

As to why heading up is possible. Is the NSS just taking GPS course over ground as heading (due to the lack of actual heading)?

I’m not sure what’s going on. The display (with ‘HUP’ displayed) shows the radar with north at the top. It’s neither heading nor track at the top, so I don‘t think the radar is taking track to be equal to a ‘rough heading’. However, for it to ‘know’ where north is, it must be taking its reference from somewhere, which I can assume can only be the GPS (which is ultimately track/COG).

 

[Jamie Dundee]

Cheapest option for a heading sensor is the GS25, this will allow radar overlay on the chart but won’t give you MARPA capability for which you need Precision 9 or better. If you get either be careful where you mount them as they are susceptible to magnetic interference, much like a traditional compass. If you don’t have a heading sensor and are stationary the plotter will show you north up, when you start to move the plotter will show heads up by COG. GS25 is also NMEA 2k.

 

[Bowlerhat]

If you don’t have a heading sensor and are stationary the plotter will show you north up, when you start to move the plotter will show heads up by COG. GS25 is also NMEA 2k.

Thanks Jamie. When I’m underway and making way (at any speed) the top of the display reads “000” (i.e. north) … if it were actually displaying HUP by COG, I would have expected the top of the display to show COG, which it doesn’t. The configuration you describe I could live with - HUP is my default preference. ?

 

[Jamie Dundee]

Thanks Jamie. When I’m underway and making way (at any speed) the top of the display reads “000” (i.e. north) … if it were actually displaying HUP by COG, I would have expected the top of the display to show COG, which it doesn’t. The configuration you describe I could live with - HUP is my default preference. ?

I’ve not experienced this problem but have you updated the software on the evo3? The latest update upgraded much of the radar related software. Presumably you have the display set to relative motion (RM) rather than true motion (TM), although this shouldn’t affect the heading display.

Out of interest, is your chart set to heads up or north up?

 

[Jamie Dundee]

You could try setting to course up, which would default to heads up when not navigating, just to see if the display changes.

 

[Bowlerhat]

Thanks again Jamie. I’m going to visit the boat today and have a play. I’ll see what else I can find/conclude. I switch the chart between north and heading up quite routinely, but haven’t noticed a difference/change with the radar display. The radar stays in RM. Good point on software - I‘ll check!

 

[Bowlerhat]

I did a software update (which it needed) and it may have at least cured the HUP displaying while making way. Problem is the boat faces almost exactly north in the stack. Sea trial tomorrow on passage to Dartmouth. Thanks for everyone’s help - and I still need a heading sensor.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

- and I still need a heading sensor.

Here’s one. Doesn’t do MARPA but does give heading and allow radar overlay on chart. SIMRAD GS-25 - NSS7 - NSS8 - NMEA 2000 GPS Antenna & Compass

 

[Bowlerhat]

Radar tested. It definitely displays HUP now (with the surrounding graticule displaying 000 at the top). Fixed!

Now the depth only shows 3 dashes! Echosounder is tracking depth; fish finder working etc. In system settings there are 2 ES to select from; the first is selected (when I select the other one the ES trace stops). Additionally there is a ‘network’ selection, which is ticked and ‘auto detect’ (or similar) which is also selected. I haven’t adjusted the settings since the upgrade, but not having depth when solely looking at the chart, for example, is disconcerting.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

Try going into ‘network’ ‘autoselect’. If that doesn’t work try manual selection. If you don’t have the installation/user manuals you can download here Downloads

 

[Bowlerhat]

Try going into ‘network’ ‘autoselect’. If that doesn’t work try manual selection.

Thanks again Jamie. I’ll have another tinker this weekend. I’ve never used an Evo 3 before, and while I’m growing to love it, it’s a darn sight more complicated to set up and use (properly) than the analogue steam driven dials and switches on our previous boat. Good fun to tinker about with though, while swinging around an anchorage and the long-haired Admiral is sipping her G&T!

 

[lustyd]

You could try setting to course up, which would default to heads up when not navigating, just to see if the display changes.

It's interesting that the manual says "rotates the radar image" on Heading Up. I'd have thought the whole issue here is that without a heading in the system it wouldn't know how to rotate the radar image, so HUP is by definition not rotated at all!

 

[Jamie Dundee]

It's interesting that the manual says "rotates the radar image" on Heading Up. I'd have thought the whole issue here is that without a heading in the system it wouldn't know how to rotate the radar image, so HUP is by definition not rotated at all!

It will as you say always default to heads up without a heading sensor although the compass will show north unless the boat is moving. I generally love my Simrad gear but the manuals have quite obviously been written by someone who knows the system inside out and assume far too much knowledge from the user The two big advantages of the heading sensor for me are chart overlay and the correct positioning of AIS targets on the radar screen.

 

[lustyd]

Interestingly the Zeus 3s came with a user guide as well as the manual, and that was excellent. My Vulcan didn't have this so I was fairly in the dark!