NorthStar 6000i User manual

R
AD
4
K
, 6
K
, 12
K AND
25
K RADARS
I
NSTALLATION
M
ANUAL
Part No. GMRadIM
Rev. E1
Northstar
a unit of Brunswick New Technologies Marine Electronics
30 Sudbury Road
Acton, Massachusetts 01720
www.NorthstarNav.com
Service: 978/897-6600
Sales: 800/628-4487

Contents
SECTION ONE: Introducing the Northstar radar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
SECTION TWO: Installing and wiring the radar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
Installing the antenna
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4
Installing the control box
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
Wiring the radar
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9
SECTION THREE: Setting up the radar (new navigator software) - - - 17
Configuring the navigator
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17
Calibrating the radar
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 19
Adjusting the appearance settings
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 22
Finishing up
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 24
SECTION FOUR: Setting up the radar (older navigator software) - - - 25
Configuring the navigator
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25
Calibrating the radar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 26
Gain adjustments
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 31
SECTION FIVE: Using manual control functions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 33
Gain and clutter adjustments
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 33
Other functions
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 35
SECTION SIX: Servicing the radar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 37
Contacting Northstar
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 37
Hearing from you
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 38
Using the Dealer Express web pages
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 38
Returning a radar for service
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 38
APPENDIX A: Specifications and Drawings - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 39
APPENDIX B: Manual Tuning Procedure - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 43
APPENDIX C: Troubleshooting - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 47

Radar Installation Manual, Rev. E1 Page 1
SECTION ONE: Introducing the
Northstar radar
The Northstar radar is designed as an option available for the Northstar 958 and 6000i navigators.
A radar unit should only be installed by a qualified marine technician, as potentially lethal high
voltage is present, along with heavy rotating parts. There is a transmit interlock that prevents radar
transmissions if the array is not rotating. However, high voltage remains for a period of time after the
system is turned off. If you are not familiar with this type of electronics, consult with a trained
service or installation technician before attempting to service any part of the equipment.
Installation includes mechanical mounting and electrical wiring, followed by properly configuring
the navigator to work with the radar, and finally adjusting the radar for proper performance.
Don’t take any shortcuts, and follow these instructions carefully.
Components supplied with each of the four radar models are listed on the next page.
WARNING!
Always stay away from any type of radar antenna to
avoid exposure to radiation!
An open array antenna may start rotating at any time.
Before starting antenna operation, always move all
personnel away from the antenna to prevent accidents.
It is highly recommended that an open array antenna be
installed as high as possible (such as on the fly bridge,
radar mast, etc.) so that no person can ever be near
enough to sustain injury.
NOTE:
For the radar overlay to function properly on the chart screen, you must
correctly
install and calibrate a separate heading sensor (using the
navigator’s NMEA interface connector, pins 1 and 3). Without the heading
sensor, the radar image will not line up properly with the chart.
The Northstar 958 and 6000i accept the following standard NMEA 0183
sentences to obtain heading information from a sensor: HDG, HDT, OSD,
HCC, HCD, and HDM.
For sensor installation and calibration instructions, see the sensor
manufacturer’s installation manual. In addition, the navigator must be
calibrated to the heading sensor as described on page 21