I am considering replacing my broken radar with a the Nobeltec Radar
system. I am a long time user of Nobeltec software and comfortable
with using a PC on board. Any experience or feedback on this
integrated radar/pc system would be appreciated in helping make this
decision.

LarryR

LarryR wrote:
I am considering replacing my broken radar with a the Nobeltec Radar
system. I am a long time user of Nobeltec software and comfortable
with using a PC on board. Any experience or feedback on this
integrated radar/pc system would be appreciated in helping make this
decision.

LarryR


Hi Larry,

I installed the 4kw radar 2 years ago; works wonderfully. I really like
the radar overlay and side-by-side functionality.

This year I upgraded to the Ethernet version of the radar-box; I now
have 960x960 resolution of the radar image (helps to discern smaller
blobs). I also added a solid state gyro to keep the image stabilized and
upgraded the CPU from a 1 GHz VIA to a 600-1600 MHz Pentium M to get the
redraw rate up. I suggest you make sure you have enough horsepower in
the PC as the radar image's fast redraw sure eats cycles.

Here's an image of the radar display side-by-side with a radar overlay
in combination with AIS targets from this year's trip:
http://www.scanner391.net/e107_plugi...album=35&pos=3
(click on the image to view the screendump 1-on-1)

Kees

Kees, Thanks very much for your feedback. For the last couple of
weeks I have been looking for both positive and negative information,
but typically have found mostly promotional product literature.
Nobeltec's new IR2, 2KW with 20" radardome, would probably work best
for me.

I have upgraded my computer to 2.4Ghz so that is not a concern. My big
concern is the heading sensor. I have a steel hulled sailboat and I am
told a flux-gate compass does not function well inside a metal boat.
My Simrad autopilot system produces a 10Hz NMEA signal, but pulls it
from a traditional compass. I am not sure if this will give an
adequate update of my heading to have a stable radar image.

Your website is very impressive.

Larry

LarryR wrote:
My big
concern is the heading sensor. I have a steel hulled sailboat and I am
told a flux-gate compass does not function well inside a metal boat.
My Simrad autopilot system produces a 10Hz NMEA signal, but pulls it
from a traditional compass. I am not sure if this will give an
adequate update of my heading to have a stable radar image.

If it's 10Hz that's as quick as any of the other compasses send out
data, and plenty fast enough. Whether the heading data it reports has
the desired accuracy is up to you.

My shot would be to give it a try first; you can always throw more money
at the problem later.

Note that you should give the fast heading data a separate serial input,
as it's likely to overwhelm other data if you try to share it using a
NMEA multiplexer (this happened to me).

You can also read the newsgroup hosted by Nobeltec itself at
news.nobeltec.com; plenty of independently minded folk can be found there.

Kees

"Kees Verruijt" wrote in message
...

If it's 10Hz that's as quick as any of the other compasses send out
data, and plenty fast enough. Whether the heading data it reports has
the desired accuracy is up to you.

My shot would be to give it a try first; you can always throw more money
at the problem later.

Note that you should give the fast heading data a separate serial input,
as it's likely to overwhelm other data if you try to share it using a
NMEA multiplexer (this happened to me).

Now I am curious: which type of multiplexer was that?
The reason is ask is this: I have seen this problem too with my
multiplexers, and have therefore added a so called "real-time" option on
the -42 models, which effectively bypasses the internal NMEA buffer for that
channel. This removes the delay on the heading signal that otherwise would
build up, up to 20 seconds.

Raymarine has extensively tested this feature on a boat, moving at 40 knots
and still following a GPS route automatically, where the a fast heading
sensor was used to keep the radar north-up. The GPS, heading sensor and
wind/depth instruments were all coupled through the my multiplexer to an E
series chart plotter.

Meindert

"Meindert Sprang" wrote in message
...
Now I am curious: which type of multiplexer was that?

Aha, I see you bought one of mine back in 2004 :-)
This one does not have the real-time option though....

Meindert

Meindert Sprang wrote:
"Meindert Sprang" wrote in message
...

Now I am curious: which type of multiplexer was that?


Aha, I see you bought one of mine back in 2004 :-)
This one does not have the real-time option though....

Meindert



jesting
Not :-), :-( as I don't have that feature!

Can't you make your multiplexers field upgradable?
/jesting

Actually, I am perfectly happy with the current set-up; everything is
reliable as it is. It just meant an extra day setting up the 3rd serial
port. I was lucky: my mini PC has 4 serial ports, and they can be set to
be RS-422 ports instead of RS-232. The multiplexer is USB, so plenty of
ports.

Your multiplexer still handles the important job of switching from
either GPS + Yeoman to/from Nobeltec sourced autopilot data.

Still, NMEA input port priority makes for less hassle if I had to do it
again and would start with a new multiplexer.

Regards,
Kees

"Kees Verruijt" wrote in message
...
jesting
Not :-), :-( as I don't have that feature!

Can't you make your multiplexers field upgradable?
/jesting

Yes, I can probably. But I'm pretty low on internal memory, so adding a
loader to handle a field upgrade is a challenge, especially the decryption
algorithm takes up valuable space.
So for now, we offer upgrades by letting the customer return the units. This
also gives us the opportunity to swap boards if necessary on very old
multiplexers.

Actually, I am perfectly happy with the current set-up; everything is
reliable as it is. It just meant an extra day setting up the 3rd serial
port. I was lucky: my mini PC has 4 serial ports, and they can be set to
be RS-422 ports instead of RS-232. The multiplexer is USB, so plenty of
ports.

Your multiplexer still handles the important job of switching from
either GPS + Yeoman to/from Nobeltec sourced autopilot data.

Ah, the Auto Mode. That is indeed a greatly valued option :-)

Cheers/groeten,
Meindert

Kees, My concern was if the compass which is dampened would be
responsive enough for stable overlay, so I think we were thinking the
same. If I make the purchase, I agree that it is worth while to give
the existing system a chance to work properly.

Last season I purchased a USB NMEA multiplexor(Brookhouse) and have
hardwired my autopilot output to it. My compass heading comes through
the autopilot and is converted in the autopilot from sine/cosine data
to NMEA data. If it overpowers other data, I will at least have
understanding why and maybe can reroute to a serial port.

My goal is to find a system I can install with minimal problems since I
will be purchasing it in the states and installing myself on the boat
in Mexico where there will be no easy access to customer support.

Thanks again for your insights.

Larry

Kees Verruijt wrote in
:

Can't you make your multiplexers field upgradable?
/jesting


Just send it back to Meindert for the "Newsgroup Free Upgrade". Everyone
on the newsgroup is eligible.

Isn't he great?!

--
Larry