Pub. 988-0161-011 www.lowrance.
Copyright © 2006 Lowrance Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be copied, reproduced, republished, transmitted or distributed for any purpose, without prior written consent of Lowrance Electronics. Any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual is strictly prohibited. Lowrance is a registered trademark of Lowrance Electronics, Inc. NMEA 2000 is a registered trademark of the National Marine Electronics Association.
Table of Contents Warnings and Cautions .......................................................... iii Section 1: Introduction............................................................. 1 Models Covered ............................................................................. 1 Update Display Unit Software ..................................................... 2 What is radar? ............................................................................... 2 Basic Radar Display Components .............
Browse data files: ................................................................ 24 Copy data files: .................................................................... 25 Delete a data file:................................................................. 26 Stop or play a data file: ....................................................... 26 Rename a data file:.............................................................. 26 Radar Setup ..................................................................
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.
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 radiation from an enclosed antenna. Radar and other radio frequency radiation can upset cardiac pacemakers. If someone with a cardiac pacemaker suspects abnormal operation, immediately turn off the radar equipment and move the person away from the antenna.
Section 1: Introduction Thank you for buying a Lowrance Radar with the RIM 100 radar interface module. Your radar consists of three main components: the radar scanner unit (antenna), your display unit (sold separately) and the RIM 100 radar interface module which connects the scanner and display units. WARNING: Radar radiation can be harmful to you and bystanders. Radar misuse or misunderstanding radar operation could lead to a collision, which could result in property damage, personal injury or death.
This manual covers the following radar units: LRA-1000, LRA-1500, LRA-2000 radomes; and LRA-4000, LRA-5000 open array radars. Update Display Unit Software Your display unit must have software version 1.3.0 or later to work with radar. Depending on when you bought your display, it may require a software update. To avoid delays in setting up your radar system, your radar package includes an MMC or SD memory card with a basic software upgrade.
When the echo returns, it is processed by a computer to determine relative distance, position and bearing of the object that reflected the signal. This information is displayed on the display unit's screen. Other boats or ships, navigational markers, landmasses and the like are referred to as targets. By knowing how long it takes for a signal to return, the distance to a target can be determined.
Basic Radar Display Components Range Display mode Range Ring Anti-Sea Interval Clutter Gain level Interference Rejection status Anti-Rain Clutter PPI Position status Echo Trail status Radar Echo Expansion status Electronic Bearing Lines Variable Range Markers Your unit has three electronic bearing lines and three variable range markers. An enlarged example of EBLs and VRMs is on the next page. Variable Range Marker position for VRMs 1, 2 and 3.
Basic Radar Display Components PPI (radar screen's 360º overhead view of the area) Heading line (in green) EBL2 EBL3 EBL1 VRM1 VRM2 VRM3 Bearings, in degrees (in Heading Up mode, relative to bow) VRMs and EBLs allow you to track the distance and bearing of multiple radar targets. NOTE: 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.
Notes 6
Section 2: Radar Setup This section will teach you how to prepare your radar for operation. Before you begin radar setup, the radar scanning unit, RIM 100 module and display unit must all be installed and their cables connected. The display unit must be running software version 1.3.0 or later. WARNING: Do NOT attempt to execute Radar Setup, while the vessel is moving. Some motion from wind and wave action is acceptable, but these setup instructions are NOT intended for vessels moving across the water.
Radar only highlighted on Radar Pages menu (left). Radar menu with Radar Power selected (right). 6. Press MENU, then use ↑ ↓ to select RADAR POWER from the radar menu and press ENT. A confirmation message will appear. Press ← to select YES and press ENT. A warm-up countdown will commence that will vary depending on the model of radar you have. 7. After the countdown is finished, the unit will enter STANDBY mode. 8.
Radar Setup The Radar Setup menu allows you to setup and adjust radar settings, like Transmit Off Zone and Antenna Park. Most of the settings in the Radar Setup menu will only have to be set once, but we recommend you check the settings periodically for general maintenance. 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.
Anti-Rain Clutter 1. To set Anti-Rain Clutter to zero, press MENU, select ANTI-RAIN CLUTTER (FTC) and press ENT. 2. That will launch the Anti-Rain Clutter vertical scrollbar. Press ↓ until the Anti-Rain Clutter is set to zero percent. Press EXIT. (Notice the corresponding value in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.) Main Bang Suppression 1. To set Main Bang Suppression to zero, press MENU, select RADAR SETUP and press ENT. 2. Press →|↓ to ADJUST MAIN BANG SUPPRESSION and press ENT.
The 2 kW models, the LRA-1000 and LRA-1500, will have only one ring on the display. The 4 kW radars — LRA-2000, LRA-4000 and LRA-5000 — will have two rings on the display. See the following figures. 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.
If you over apply the Trigger Delay, the black circle will disappear. Decrease the Trigger Delay level and it will reappear. 3. Press EXIT to return to the main page display. Adjust Main Bang Suppression Main Bang Suppression is only for 4kW units — LRA 2000, LRA 4000 and LRA 5000. This feature filters out electronic noise close to your vessel. It gives you control of radar sensitivity in the area surrounding your vessel, approximately 180 feet in all directions.
Main Bang Suppression begins with the same red ring we resized during Trigger Delay setup (left). Slowly increase Main Bang Suppression to make the ring as thin as possible (enlarged view, right). 5. Press EXIT to clear the scrollbar from the screen. Now reset Gain, Anti-Sea Clutter and Anti-Rain Clutter back to a desired level. Adjust Heading Line The Heading Line command is used to make sure the green heading line (zero point) on your display is lined up with the bow of your vessel.
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 EXIT to remove the heading line arrows from the display. Adjust Transmit Off Zone The Transmit Off Zone is a feature that allows you to select an area in the radar's 360° transmission path where the radar beam will not be transmitted. WARNING: ALL targets inside the Transmit Off Zone will NOT be displayed on the screen.
1. From the Radar Setup menu, press →|↓ to select ADJUST TRANSMIT OFF ZONE and press ENT. That will launch the Adjust 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. 3. Press EXIT when the Transmit Off Zone is set. To remove the zone, repeat Step 1, then set both dialog boxes back to zero and press EXIT.
Notes 16
Section 3: Basic Operation Pages The Radar Page has four display options: Radar Only, Radar with Map, Radar with Sonar and Radar with Gauges. GPS only units do not support the Radar with Sonar page, so they have three display options: Radar Only, Radar with Map and Radar with Gauges. Radar Page Menu with Radar Only selected. To access Radar page display options: 1. Press PAGES, then use ← → to highlight the radar tab. 2. Use ↑ ↓ to select the desired radar page configuration. 3.
Radar Only option (left) with Radar with Map display (right). Radar with Sonar The Radar with Sonar option allows you to monitor radar information, while viewing sonar returns. Not available on GPS only units. Radar with Gauges The Radar with Gauges display will split the screen between the radar page and the gauge page. The gauge page can be customized to display sonar and GPS information in digital and analog gauge formats.
Radar Menu When a radar page is the active page, you can access the radar menu by pressing MENU. To access the main menu, press MENU|MENU. Radar Menu. Gain This is used 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. A high level of the Gain, allows you to see greater detail around you, but will clutter the screen.
Gain vertical scrollbar (left) with Anti-Sea Clutter scrollbar (right). Anti-Sea Clutter (STC): This 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. Use only the minimum amount needed, then check back periodically to see if the STC level may be decreased. To adjust Anti-Sea Clutter: 1.
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. Select INTERFERENCE REJECTION from the radar menu and press ENT. That will launch the Interference Rejection vertical scrollbar. 2. Use ↑ ↓ to adjust the Interference Rejection setting to a desired level. Press EXIT to remove the scrollbar from the screen.
Radar Range selected (left). List of radar ranges (right). To turn on or turn off Radar Echo Expansion: Highlight RADAR ECHO EXPANSION on the radar menu, then press ENT to turn it on (check) or turn it off (uncheck). Press EXIT to clear the radar menu. Radar Echo Expansion is good for seeing weak echo returns — like birds — at a distance. Remember, when Echo Expansion is on, all signals on the display will be enlarged, including clutter.
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. To Adjust Radar PPI Offset: 1. Select ADJUST RADAR PPI OFFSET from the radar menu and press ENT. 2. Four arrows will surround the PPI. Use ↑ ↓ , ← → to move the Plan Position Indicator (PPI) to the desired location. Press ENT to keep it at its new location or press EXIT to return the PPI to its default position. Adjust Radar PPI Offset selected (left).
Log Radar Data If your unit has a hard drive (LCX-26cHD, LCX-111cHD, GlobalMap 6600cHD & GlobalMap 7600cHD) the Log Radar Data feature allows you to save radar logs. Saving a radar log allows you to reuse the log in the unit's simulator, which can aid you in being more proficient at radar interpretation. To record a radar log: 1. Select LOG RADAR DATA from the radar menu, then press ENT. The Ra- dar Chart Logging menu will appear. 2. Press ENT to start logging. Log Radar Data selected from radar menu.
Browse Files selected from the Radar Chart Logging menu (left). Browse Files menu (right). When you select a file from the file browse menu, you can copy, delete, play or stop playing a data file. To copy data files: 1. Select the desired file from the Browse Files menu and press ENT. 2. The File Information window will appear with three buttons, copy, delete and either stop or play. NOTE: Stop will only appear in the File Information menu if the file is currently being used by the unit.
4. Next use ↑ ↓ to highlight the COPY FROM dialog box. Select your unit's hard drive as the Copy-From location and press ENT. 5. Highlight the COPY button and press ENT. To delete a data file: 1. Highlight DELETE from the File Information window and press ENT. 2. A confirmation message will appear. Press ← to YES and press ENT. To stop or play a data file: 1. Select the desired file from the Browse Files menu and press ENT. 2. If the file is currently in use, the Stop button will be on the menu.
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. Radar Orientation Displays the orientation of your radar, which by default is set to Heading Up. Radar Color Scheme Your radar has eight color options: Full Color on Black, Full Color on Gray, Full Color on White, Green on Black, Yellow on Black, Yellow on Blue, Night Viewing and Green CRT.
Selecting Adjust Antenna Park will place a dialog box in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Use Arrow keys to adjust it. To adjust Antenna Park: 1. Make sure the vessel is not moving, then, from the Radar Setup menu, press →|↓ to ADJUST ANTENNA PARK and press ENT. That will display the Adjust Antenna Park dialog box in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. 2. Use ← → to input the desired setting. 3. Test your settings by putting the radar into STANDBY Mode.
Radar Information screen (left). Radar Power confirmation message (right). Radar Power Turns the radar on and off. To turn radar on or off: 1. To turn the radar on or off, highlight RADAR POWER on the radar menu and press ENT. 2. A confirmation message will appear. Press ← to YES to continue. Press EXIT to get back to the main page display. 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 Simulator On selected on Radar Simulator menu (right). Notice the simulator has not been turned on, since the checkbox is unchecked. 5. Press ↓ to RADAR SIMULATOR ON and press ENT to turn on (check) the simulator checkbox. Repeat these steps to turn off the simulator. Press EXIT repeatedly to get back to the main page display. NOTE: You can turn on the GPS Simulator from the Radar Simulator menu.
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). Gain The percentage listed next to Gain, displays the current Gain setting for your radar display.
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 location. The EBL and VRM selection menu appears in a small box on the left side of the radar display (left).
To find the distance to a radar target, increase the size of the VRM until it is lined up with the target. Check the display in the bottom righthand corner to see your distance from the target in nautical miles. 4. Use ← → to move the Electronic Bearing Line around the display. Line up the EBL with a radar target to determine the target's relative bearing. Check the display in the lower left-hand corner to see the target's relative bearing displayed digitally.
3. Press ↓ to call up the EBL-VRM menu. Select the last EBL-VRM option and press ENT. Press ↑|→ to make the VRM and EBL visible on the screen, then press ENT. Variable Range Marker Radar Target Electronic Bearing Line This is a zoomed in view from the previous image, clearly showing the radar target, Variable Range Marker and Electronic Bearing Line. To reposition EBL and VRM: 1. Press ↓ to launch the EBL-VRM selection menu. 2. Select the EBL-VRM you want to reposition and press ENT. 3.
Radar screen with all three EBL-VRM options visible on the display. Notice the EBL and VRM readings in the bottom left and right-hand corners of the screen. To remove EBL-VRM from the display: 1. Press ↓ to call up the EBL-VRM menu. Select the EBL-VRM you want to remove and press ENT. 2. Press EXIT and the desired EBL-VRM will be removed from the screen. 3. Repeat these steps to remove each EBL-VRM from the display.
VRM2 EBL2 EBL3 VRM3 VRM1 EBL1 VRMs and EBLs allow you to track the distance and bearing of multiple radar targets.
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. Making you an expert radar reader is beyond the scope of this operation manual. We strongly suggest you seek additional sources of information.
Anti-Rain Clutter (FTC) fig. 2. FTC set to 12% Anti-Rain Clutter (FTC) fig. 3. FTC set to 25 %.
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.
Echo Trails This four-figure sequence shows how Echo Trails tracks target movement 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 passes. Small boat targets appear as red spots. Trails are green. Trail Target Echo Trails fig. 1. Elapsed time = zero. Echo Trails fig. 2. Elapsed time = 5 seconds. Arrows show travel direction.
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. T1 T2 T5 T4 T3 Echo Trails fig. 4. Elapsed time = 12 seconds. Target 5 veered by your starboard side and is now astern. Targets 1-4 reached port or left the area.
Typical Small Boat Targets Boats Birds Wave action Boat Small boat targets fig. 1. Bow is headed into the wind. Here, boats appear 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.
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.
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 surrounded by steeply sloping, rocky hills. Radar signals are strictly lineof-sight, so this causes land further inland to show no return.
5 7 8 6 7 5 8 9 6 9 4 3 4 10 11 2 3 10 1 12 2 11 13 1 12 13 Shoreline fig. 3. 5 5 6 4 6 4 7 3 8 10 2 1 7 9 8 3 11 9 2 10 12 1 11 12 Shoreline fig. 4.
Recommended Reading For additional instruction check out these two books and a U.S. government 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. Radar for Mariners, by David F. Burch. ISBN 0-07-139867-8, 248 pages, paperback, includes CD-ROM with a radar simulator and other radar resources. Published in 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Co.
Appendix I: Glossary Anti-Rain Clutter (FTC): used to reduce or eliminate massive number 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. ARPA: automatic radar plotting aid; MARPA: mini automatic radar plotting aid.
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. Interference Rejection: filters out signals from other radars close to your location. North Up: when North is set at the top of the radar display, you are in North Up mode.
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 performance of the radar. VRM (Variable Range Marker): a range ring used to measure the precise distance to a target, the variable range marker may be adjusted to measure any distance within the radar's range.
FCC Compliance This device complies with Part 15 and Part 80 of the U.S. Federal 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 undesired operation. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
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. We warrant this product against defects or malfunctions in materials and workmanship, and against failure to conform to this product's written specifications, all for one (1) year from the date of original purchase by you.
How to Obtain Service… …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. Many times, customer service can resolve your problem over the phone without sending your product to the factory.
Accessory Ordering Information for all countries To order Lowrance accessories for your unit, please contact: 1) Your local marine dealer or consumer electronics store. Most quality dealers that handle marine electronic equipment or other consumer electronics should be able to assist you with these items. 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. 2) U.S. customers: LEI Extras Inc.
Visit our web site: Lowrance Pub. 988-0161-011 Printed in USA 033106 © Copyright 2006 All Rights Reserved Lowrance Electronics, Inc.
