Rhotheta RT-500-M User manual

User Manual
RT-500-M

RT-500-M
RHOTHETA Page 2 of 168 User Manual
Edited by:
RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH
Kemmelpark
Dr.-Ingeborg-Haeckel-Str. 2
82418 Murnau
Germany
Tel.: [phone] - 0
Fax: [phone] - 15
Internet: www.rhotheta.de
E-Mail: [email protected]
Copyright © RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH
All rights reserved
-Issue: 2020/03/27 [Rev 1.07]
-Document-ID: 12-9-1-0002-3-1-64
-Valid for RT-500-M systems with revision [Rev 4.08] or higher
Note
The manufacturer reserves the right to make modifications to the product described here at any time
and without previous information.

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Content
1Legend of Signal Words ...............................................................................................................5
2Safety..............................................................................................................................................5
2.1 General Safety Information.....................................................................................................................5
2.2 Basic Safety Instructions ........................................................................................................................6
3Legal Information ..........................................................................................................................7
3.1 Declaration of Conformity (EU)...............................................................................................................7
3.2 FCC Information (USA) ..........................................................................................................................7
3.3 ISED Information (Canada) ....................................................................................................................8
4General Description ......................................................................................................................9
5Quick Start ...................................................................................................................................10
6Overview ......................................................................................................................................14
6.1 Front View.............................................................................................................................................14
6.2 Rear View .............................................................................................................................................16
7Operation .....................................................................................................................................18
7.1 Bearing Page ........................................................................................................................................19
7.1.1 Bearing Indication ....................................................................................................................19
7.1.2 Bearing Operation....................................................................................................................23
7.1.3 Function Channel 16................................................................................................................37
7.1.4 Function Repeat ......................................................................................................................37
7.1.5 Function Clear..........................................................................................................................38
7.1.6 Function Autoset Squelch........................................................................................................38
7.2 Scan Page ............................................................................................................................................39
7.2.1 COSPAS-SARSAT Scan .........................................................................................................41
7.2.2 Monitoring ................................................................................................................................43
7.2.3 Fast Channel Scan (Licensed Option).....................................................................................49
7.2.4 Marine Scan.............................................................................................................................54
7.2.5 SAR Scan ................................................................................................................................57
7.2.6 Scan List ..................................................................................................................................63
7.3 Decode Page ........................................................................................................................................67
7.3.1 Selecting a COSPAS-SARSAT frequency ..............................................................................69
7.3.2 COSPAS-SARSAT List View...................................................................................................69
7.3.3 COSPAS-SARSAT Bearing View............................................................................................70
7.3.4 COSPAS-SARSAT Bearing and List .......................................................................................71
7.3.5 Export to Bearing Page............................................................................................................72
7.4 Setup Page ...........................................................................................................................................73
7.4.1 General ....................................................................................................................................73
7.4.2 Display .....................................................................................................................................82
7.4.3 System .....................................................................................................................................98
7.4.4 Interface .................................................................................................................................116
7.4.5 Service ...................................................................................................................................131
7.5 Other Operational Functions ..............................................................................................................140
7.5.1 Standby Mode........................................................................................................................140
7.5.2 Adjusting the Volume.............................................................................................................140
7.5.3 Adjusting of the Squelch........................................................................................................142
7.5.4 Dimming and Day/Night Mode...............................................................................................143

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7.5.5 MOB (Man Over Board) Operation........................................................................................145
8Interfaces and Installation ........................................................................................................147
8.1 Power & I/O ........................................................................................................................................147
8.2 Necessity of a DC/DC-converter ........................................................................................................148
8.3 Antenna Unit (Connecting Cable DCU ÙAU) ...................................................................................149
8.3.1 Pinning Antenna Unit Connector ...........................................................................................149
8.3.2 Connecting Cable DCU ÙAU...............................................................................................149
8.4 NMEA COM-Interfaces.......................................................................................................................150
8.5 LAN Interface......................................................................................................................................151
8.6 USB Service Interface ........................................................................................................................152
8.7 Ground Connector ..............................................................................................................................152
8.8 Guideline for Optimal DF Antenna Position........................................................................................153
9Technical Data ...........................................................................................................................154
9.1 Electrical Characteristics ....................................................................................................................154
9.2 Mechanical Characteristics.................................................................................................................156
9.2.1 Mechanical Data ....................................................................................................................156
9.2.2 DCU Mounting Cutout............................................................................................................157
9.2.3 AU Mast Flange .....................................................................................................................157
10 Disposal within the European Union.......................................................................................158
11 Disposal outside the European Union.....................................................................................158
12 Maintenance and Cleaning .......................................................................................................159
12.1 Maintenance .......................................................................................................................................159
12.2 Cleaning..............................................................................................................................................159
13 Appendix ....................................................................................................................................160
13.1 Error Messages ..................................................................................................................................160
13.2 Warnings.............................................................................................................................................160
13.3 Setup Tree View (Settings).................................................................................................................161
13.4 Default / User System Configuration Table ........................................................................................162
13.5 Scan Page Tree View (Settings) ........................................................................................................164
13.6 Frequencies of Channels in Marine Band ..........................................................................................165
13.7 Channel Spacing UHF / VHF Air Band...............................................................................................166
13.8 Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................167
14 Notes ..........................................................................................................................................168

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1 Legend of Signal Words
Note
This symbol designates tips or additional notes that must be paid attention to and make work
easier.
Caution
Means that ignoring the instructions may lead to property damage or loss of data.
Warning
Means that ignoring the instructions, there may be a danger to health or life.
2 Safety
2.1 General Safety Information
RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH is constantly trying to keep the safety standard of their products up to
date and to offer their customers the highest possible level of safety.
RHOTHETA products are designed and tested in accordance with the valid safety regulations. The
compliance with these standards is continuously monitored by our quality assurance system.
This product is tested and left the factory in perfect technical and safety-relevant condition. To
maintain this condition and to ensure safe operation, the user must pay attention to all instructions and
warnings given. For any questions regarding these safety instructions, RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH
can be contacted at any time.
The observance of the safety instructions will help to prevent personal injury or damage caused by all
kinds of dangers. This requires that the following safety instructions must be read carefully and
understood before using the product, as well as observed while using the product. Other additional
safety instructions, such as for protecting persons, appear in relevant parts of the product
documentation and must also be paid attention to.
In addition, it is the responsibility of the user to use the product appropriately. The product RT-500-M,
a professional VHF direction finder system, shall not be used in any way that results in personal injury
or property damage.
The use of this product for other than its designated purpose or in disregard of the instructions of the
manufacturer is the responsibility of the user. The manufacturer takes no responsibility for the misuse
of the product.
The manufacturer is not liable beyond the scope of legal rules!
This guide is part of the product RT-500-M and must be kept with the product throughout its lifetime.

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2.2 Basic Safety Instructions
Caution / Warning
Read and observe the following instructions, warnings and safety guidelines from the
manufacturer!
.
xAt all times, the local or national safety and accident prevention regulations must be
observed.
xWhen installing or operating with the product, always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
xOnly place the product on appropriate locations.
xDo not expose the product to environmental conditions (heat, humidity, wind load etc.) that
exceed the specified conditions in the manuals.
xUse only the manufacturer’s prescribed components and/or use only recommended
materials and do not change them. Any other use or unauthorized modifications to the
product will void the authorization to operate it.
xConnect only approved accessories kits or additional equipment.
xEnsure that the connections with information technology equipment, e.g. industrial
computers, comply with the IEC 60950-1/EN 60950-1 standards that applies in each case.
xThis product may only be opened by authorized personnel. The connector must always be
disconnected before opening.

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3 Legal Information
3.1 Declaration of Conformity (EU)
Hereby RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH declares that the product RT-500-M complies with the essential
requirements and other relevant provisions of:
xDirective 2014/53/EU relating to radio equipment (relevant for RT-500-M AU)
xDirective 2014/30/EU relating to electromagnetic compatibility (relevant for RT-500-M DCU)
xDirective 2014/35/EU relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment
designed for use within certain voltage limits (relevant for RT-500-M DCU)
xDirective 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and
electronic equipment (relevant for RT-500-M AU and RT-500-M DCU)
The full text of the Declaration of Conformity can be found at:
https://www.rhotheta.com/products/rt_500_m
3.2 FCC Information (USA)
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance
(RHOTHETA) could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
Note
RT-500-M AU has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
xReorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
xIncrease the separation between the equipment and receiver.
xConnect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
xConsult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Note
RT-500-M DCU has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,
pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case
the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

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3.3 ISED Information (Canada)
This device complies with Industry Canada’s licence-exempt RSSs. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference; and
(2) This device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d'Industrie Canada applicables aux appareils radio
exempts de licence. L'exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes : (1) l'appareil ne doit
pas produire de brouillage, et (2) l'utilisateur de l'appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique
subi, même si le brouillage est susceptible d'en compromettre le fonctionnement.
A radio license must be obtained prior to possession and use of this scanner receiver.
Une licence radio doit être obtenue avant la possession et l’utilisation de ce récepteur de scanner.

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4 General Description
The RT-500-M is a wideband radio direction finder system for professional use in maritime sector.
The system operates within a frequency range from 118 to 470 MHz (the whole range can be
unlocked to the full extend by using the options F1 – F4 listed below).
Designed for professional use under extremely rough conditions, the SAR standard version covers the
whole VHF marine band and all relevant distress frequencies, such as emergency frequencies 121.5 /
243 MHz, marine channel 16 (156.8 MHz) and all 19 frequencies of the international satellite search
and rescue system COSPAS-SARSAT (406 MHz). While locating a COSPAS-SARSAT EPIRB, the
direction finder can also decode and display its transmitted information (e.g. Beacon ID and GPS
Position). The wide frequency range and frequency steps of 5 kHz allow using the system not only for
search and rescue operations but also for detecting illegal vessels operating in a non-standard
frequency grid or using PMR (446 MHz) and LPD (433 MHz) radio transmitters. Therefore the system
is also widely used by police, coast guards and other maritime law enforcement organisations.
The MOB (Man Over Board) surveillance for the crew safety is a standard function of the RT-500-M.
The fine frequency steps (5 kHz) allow discovering hidden transmitters in the marine band and in the
additional UHF band.
RT-500-M Frequency Range
Standard Range Optional Extended Range
VHF emergency band
VHF marine band1
UHF emergency band
COSPAS - SARSAT
UHF FM band
118.000 … 124.000 MHz
154.000 … 163.000 MHz
240.000 … 246.000 MHz
400.000 … 406.092 MHz
406.100 … 410.000 MHz
F1: VHF air band
F2: extended VHF marine band
F3: UHF air band
-
F4: additional UHF FM band
118.000 … 136.992 MHz
137.000 … 224.995 MHz
225.000 … 399.975 MHz
-
406.100 … 470.000 MHz
Table 1. RT-500-M frequency ranges
The DF-system consists of two units: the bearing device AU (antenna unit) and the operating device
DCU (display control unit).
The antenna unit accommodates all the direction-finding electronics within its housing. Thus, short
signal paths with low loss and insensitiveness to external disturbing fields are achieved.
The display control unit indicates bearing signals and acts as an instrument for operating and
controlling the direction-finding system. External devices can be connected to the DCU, such as an
external speaker, a PTT (push-to-talk) switch, etc. It is also possible to input and read data coming
from various interfaces, such as external compass data via an NMEA interface. This allows the
integration of compass data into the bearing data, which can be indicated on display.
1Inclusive all maritime channels (ship / coast): channels 00 … 88 (156,000 … 162,025 MHz)

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5 Quick Start
1. Connect the power supply to the DCU.
2. Establish the connection of the AU and the DCU.
(“Guideline for Optimal DF Antenna Position” can be found under 8.8)
Figure 1. General connection schematic
3. Any additional devices like external speaker, compass etc. can be also connected to the DCU.
For further information about the installation of the system please refer to chapter 8.
4. Push the ON/OFF button .
5. When the DCU is turned on, the ON/OFF button lights green and the DCU indicates the
loading screen (s. Figure 2).
Figure 2. Loading screen