I tried out all the range choices, as well as gain, and some of the other features. The only downside for me so far is actually getting it to transmit. You have to remember the sequence or start over, at least I do. Not real intuitive for me. Unless someone knows a shortcut after warmup. It was clear out when I was practicing and I could visually see boats ahead and within 200 yards or so I could see them on the screen, but they were much stronger and greater distance from the sides. All in all, a pretty nice unit. I mounted the screen suspended from the shelf, and it tilts up out of the way when not in use. I also noticed it likes the amps.
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installing radar
- Thread starter lloyds
- Start date
It sounds like the user interface is more complicated than on the older models. On my 1712. there was no special sequence of events. You just turned the unit on, waited for a minute until it was ready and hit the Tx button.lloyds":1lm77rsm said:I tried out all the range choices, as well as gain, and some of the other features. The only downside for me so far is actually getting it to transmit. You have to remember the sequence or start over, at least I do. Not real intuitive for me. Unless someone knows a shortcut after warmup. It was clear out when I was practicing and I could visually see boats ahead and within 200 yards or so I could see them on the screen, but they were much stronger and greater distance from the sides. All in all, a pretty nice unit. I mounted the screen suspended from the shelf, and it tilts up out of the way when not in use. I also noticed it likes the amps.
On the 1623 you hold in the menu button while pushing the on, then release them, and a couple seconds later it beeps and you hit the power button again, then scroll down to "setup radar" and punch the arrow, then the warmup countdown starts. When finished you then have to hit the mode to start transmitting and then exit the menu and the sweep starts. At least that is how I remember it today. But it seems like I usually have to open the manual to that page to get it right. I have a six year old grandson that could probably fire it right up.
journey on
New member
It's been said above, but:
It's really, really, really important to practice using the radar on a regular basis. Changing range, setting gain, sea state, all the adjustments. Also looking at the blips that go by and the ships that cause them. Selecting the range that matches the conditions. A real need often occurs in a stressful setting, when you can't re-learn.
This was brought home to me last year as we started to leave Ventura Harbour last year. It was foggy, good swell, fishing boats coming in, etc. I finally gave up, the stressful weather and not being used to the radar wasn't the time to start guessing. Went back to the dock.
I firmly believe radar is one of the best safety devices on the boat, but please practice.
Boris
It's really, really, really important to practice using the radar on a regular basis. Changing range, setting gain, sea state, all the adjustments. Also looking at the blips that go by and the ships that cause them. Selecting the range that matches the conditions. A real need often occurs in a stressful setting, when you can't re-learn.
This was brought home to me last year as we started to leave Ventura Harbour last year. It was foggy, good swell, fishing boats coming in, etc. I finally gave up, the stressful weather and not being used to the radar wasn't the time to start guessing. Went back to the dock.
I firmly believe radar is one of the best safety devices on the boat, but please practice.
Boris
Thanks, I do intend to turn it on each time I go. The lake was a good starter, no stress. But there aren't many decent targets there either. I will hit the coastal waters in a week or two and give it a real test. Might run up tidewater as a start, plenty of markers to follow, and some large hulls moving around.
Small glass boats you are hitting the engine blocks for an echo return.
The horizontal beam is 20 to 30 degrees, and in the C Dory, which runs fairly level, tilt is not really necessary, unless you are going to run in the very ineffecient semi displacement speed range, where the boat is bow up.
You need to experiment with the gain, sea clutter, rain supression etc--to get the best echo return. "Auto tune" does not give you the best result.
The horizontal beam is 20 to 30 degrees, and in the C Dory, which runs fairly level, tilt is not really necessary, unless you are going to run in the very ineffecient semi displacement speed range, where the boat is bow up.
You need to experiment with the gain, sea clutter, rain supression etc--to get the best echo return. "Auto tune" does not give you the best result.