Raymarine Combined Pathfinder Radar, RL80CRC PLUS manual Standard Radar Operations, Introduction

Chapter 3: Standard Radar Operations 3-1

Chapter 3: Standard Radar Operations

3.1 Introduction

This chapter provides detailed instructions for the standard radar operations of your hsb2 series Pathfinder Radar. Additional functions, that are available on integrated systems with appropriate data sources, are described in Chapter 4. If you have a combined radar/chart display refer to Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 for information on charting operations.

You can use this chapter with the radar display set to simulator mode, or on the water after you have installed and set up your hsb2 series Pathfinder Plus Radar system.

This chapter covers the following topics:

•Range control.

•Interpreting and adjusting the radar picture, including adjusting the gain, sea clutter and rain clutter, changing the targets display, and tuning the radar.

•Measuring range (distances) and bearings using Variable Range Markers (VRMs) and Electronic Bearing Lines (EBLs).

•Setting up guard zones and handling alarms.

•Using MARPA for target tracking and risk analysis.

Note: Until you are familiar with interpreting the radar display, you should take every opportunity to compare the radar’s display patterns with visual targets, such as other vessels, buoys and coastal structures. You should prac- tice harbour and coastal navigation during daylight and in clear weather con- ditions.

If you have a combined radar/chartplotter, or have an hsb2 series Chartplotter as part of an integrated system, you can identify objects using either the radar/ chart overlay (see Radar/Chart Overlay on page 2-23) or the cursor echo feature: With cursor echo on (see Section 4.5 and Chapter 7) you can select an object on the radar display, the cursor is repeated on the chart display so you can check the object’s identity.

Introduction