FURUNO Type Radar Imitator

FURUNO TYPE RADAR IMITATOR

Running the Program

Radar selection and radar parameters adjusting see the first section of this chapter.

On the screen of the monitor, after the selection of imitator FURUNO you will see the
radar front control panel with Stand-By message on the plan-position indicator (PPI).

Controls
The outward appearance and arrangement of the radar imitator controls are shown
in Fig. 11.

They are grouped in three sections:

1. Principal controls located in the bottom part of the panel.

2. Instrumentation unit located on the right of the panel top part.

3. Section of ARPA functions and control menus located in the right bottom part
of the panel.

Fig. 11 Display of the FURUNO Radar Imitator

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Controls Located in the Bottom Part of the Panel

“POWER OFF” – to exit from the imitator program to DOS.

“ST-BY/TX” – to switch between Stand-By and transmit. When

transmitting, radar waves are emitted by the antenna, and returning
echoes appear on the display.

“BRILL” – to adjust display brilliance.

“ACQ” – press to acquire target.

“AUDIO OFF” – to silence watch alarm.

“VRM” – rotary encoder. Measure range to a target. Press ON to

display a VRM, then operate rotary encoder to set VRM on the inside
edge of the target. The range appears at the bottom of the display.

“RANGE” – to select radar range.

Ranges (nm): 0.125; 0.25; 0.5; 0.75; 1.5; 3; 6; 12; 16; 24; 32; 48; 72.

“A/C GAIN” – to adjust so noise just disappears from display.

“A/C SEA” – to reduce sea clutter near own ship.

“A/C RAIN” – to reduce reflections from rain, snow and hail.

“ACK ALARM” – to acknowledge the alarm.

“A/C AUTO” – to automatically reduce sea and rain clutter purpose (the
imitation of this function in the simulator is not completed).

“EBL” – rotary encoder. To measure bearing to a target. Press ON to

display an EBL, then operate the rotary encoder to bisect the target with
EBL. Bearing appears at the bottom of the display.

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Instrumentation Unit of Display Controls

“HM OFF” – press and hold down to erase heading mark.

“ECHO TRAILS” – to show trails of targets in afterglow (30 s., 1, 3, 6, 15,

30 min., CONTINUE – see the right bottom corner of the PPI).

“MODE” – to select the display mode (North-Up, True Motion, Head-Up,

Cursor Gyro head-up, Course-Up).

“GUARD ALARM” – to set, disable, cancel the guard alarm.

“EBL OFFSET” – to enable/disable offset EBL.

“OFF CENTER” – to off center the display.

“X 2 ZOOM” – to double the size of area between your ship and a location.

“BKGD COLOR” – to set background colour.

“INDEX LINES” – to show/hide the index lines.

“CU, TM RESET” -in course-up bow bearing is 0; in true motion own ship
position is returned 50% of stern direction.

“INT REJECT” – to reduce interference from other shipborne radars. Set

at “2” for normal use purpose (the imitation of this function in the simulator
is not completed) (see the IR reading in the top left corner of the PPI).

“RINGS” – show/hide range rings and adjust their brightness (range ring
interval: 0.025; 0.05; 0.1; 0.25; 0.25; 0.5; 1; 2; 4; 4; 8; 8; 20 nm).

Section of ARPA Functions and Control Menus

“RADAR MENU” – to display radar menus.

“E, AUTO PLOT MENU” – to display the electronic plot menu (manual
plotting) or auto plot menu (option).

“NAV MENU” – to display navigation menus (this function is available with

connection of FURUNO Video Plotter, is not implemented in the simulator).

“DIGIT BUTTONS” – Plot marks, to enter numeric data.

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“CANCEL/-” – to erase plot marks in electronic or automatic plotting.

“ENTER” – to register option set on menu.

“ORIGIN MARK” – to hide/show origin mark (the imitation of this function

in the simulator is not completed).

“VECTOR TRUE/REL” – to set vector bearing reference.

“VECTOR TIME” – to set vector length (from 1 min. to 10 min.).

“TARGET DATA” – to display data on acquired target.

“TARGET BASED SPEED” – to display ship’s speed (the imitation of this

function in the simulator is not completed).

“AUTO PLOT” – to turn auto plotting on/off (the imitation of this function in
the simulator is not completed).

“TRIAL” – to execute trial manoeuvre (to display the trial manoeuvre menu).

“LOST TARGET” – to erase lost target.

“HISTORY” – to show past positions of targets being tracked.

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Display Markers and Indications

The general view of the display is shown in Fig. 12.

The display is arranged around the PPI in the following order:

• top left corner – information on the PPI adjustment and radar cursor position;
• middle of the top part – information on the vessel’s course and speed;
• top right corner – ARPA information;
• middle of the right-hand part – menus (displayed at the operator’s request);
• bottom right corner – information on the guard zone (GUARD ALARM),
afterglow trails (ECHO TRAILS) and variable range rings (VRM);
• middle of the bottom part – parameters adjusted from the menu (displayed at the
operator’s request);
• bottom left corner – information on PPI off centering (OFF CENTER) and EBLs.

Fig. 12 Display Markers and Indication

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Motion Displays and Display Orientations

This radar has the following motion displays and orientation displays:

1. True motion – Relative and True bearing – North-up.

2. Relative motion – Relative and True bearing – Head-up.

3. Relative motion – Relative and True bearing – Cursor gyro head-up.

4. Relative motion – Relative and True bearing – Course-up.

5. To switch over use “MODE” button.

Head-up Orientation
Head-up displays own ship’s heading at the top of the display at all times. It is useful
for navigating in congested areas or narrow channels, since the display provides a
more immediate indication as to whether the largest lies to port or starboard. A
negative aspect of this orientation is the display is not stabilized against yaw of the
vessel; there may be some smearing of echoes.

Cursor Gyro Head-up

This orientation functions the same as the head-up with the addition that the bearing scale
is engaged to the gyrocompass. This lets you know own ship’s bearing at a glance.

Course-up
Course-up shows ship’s course at the top of the display. To start course-up, steer vessel
in direction desired and then select course-up. The heading mark is first fixed at zero
degrees and then moves with ship’s movement. Because the direction desired is always
at zero degrees, however, you can know if the vessel is off course. The display is
stabilized against yawing of the vessel, so there is no smearing of echoes.

To change heading, steer vessel in direction desired and then press the
“CU, TM RESET” key.

North-up
North-up displays North at the top of the display and the heading marker moves with
ship’s movement. Targets are painted at their measured distances in true directions
from own ship, appearing as if you are viewing a nautical chart. Since targets do not
move, the picture is stabilized against yawing of vessel. This orientation is useful for
long-range navigation, finding ship’s position, monitoring ship’s movement, etc.

True Motion
True motion displays own ship and moving objects in their true motion.
Since the own ship mark also moves, it freezes when its position is 75%
of the range in use. If you want own ship to move continuously on the
display you can automatically return the own ship mark to 50% of the
stern direction.

You may return it manually by pressing the “CU, TM RESET” key.

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Menu Keys and Menu Description

Menu Keys
This radar has three menu keys: “RADAR MENU”; “E, AUTO PLOT MENU”; and
“NAY MENU”. Table 7-2 describes the functions of the menu keys.
Table 7-2 Menu keys description
Menu Key Function
RADAR MENU To display radar function-related menus
E, AUTO PLOT MENU • To set mark size in the electronic target plotting (manual acquisition of target);
• To set plotting conditions in the automatic plotting (optional Auto Plotter
required)
NAV MENU • To select/cancel the navigation data to display: data from the
navigational aids, own ship position, cursor data, WP data, WP
numbers, WP route;
• With Auto Plotter connection (option), it also displays the Video Plotter
menu

How to Set Menu Options

The procedure which follows shows how to set menu options:

1. Press appropriate menu key.

2. Press numeral key to select item. Item number selected appears in reverse video.

3. Press the same numeral key pressed in step 2 to select option. Current selection
appears in reverse video.

4. Press the <Enter> key to register option selected.

5. To change option of another item, repeat steps 2 to 4.

6. To finish, press menu key pressed at step 1.

RADAR Menu Description

Table 7-3 and Fig. 13 describe the Radar menu.

Fig. 13 FURUNO Radar Menus Tree

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Table 7-3 Radar menu description

Item Description
PULSEWIDTH Pulsewidth may be selected for the ranges between 0. 5 and 24 miles.
Two sets of pulsewidths (pulsewidth 1 and 2) are set during installation
and you may select one here

Note: This setting is independent of the pulsewidth set for the function keys.

Item Description
ECHO STRETCH This setting is independent of the echo stretch set for the function keys
(OFF, 1, 2)
ECHO AVERAGE This setting is independent of the echo averaging set for the function keys
(OFF, 1, 2, 3)
ECHO COLOR YEL: Echoes appear in 16 gradations of yellow according to strength.
GRN: As above except in green.
COLOR: Echoes appear in red, yellow or green in descending order
of strength
SHIP’S SPEED Set method of ship’s speed entry; speed log (LOG) or manual (MAN).
When manual is selected, “MAN=**.**KTS”appears on display
INDEX LINES See below for further details (NO.2VRM or MAN)
RADAR To call RADAR menu
RADAR menu
[FUNCTIONS] To return to the previous menu
NO.1 EBL To set bearing reference for each EBL; true or relative
NO.2 EBL
NO.1 VRM To select unit of range measurement for each VRM: kilometres, nautical
miles, or statute miles
NO.2 VRM
TRAIL GRAD To display echo trail in single colour gradation (SGL), or display trails in
multiple gradations (MULT) to show by lighter gradation when trailing time
elapses
PULSEWIDTH 1 To set pulsewidth set No.1, set on “1. PULSEWIDTH” in the previous
menu, for the ranges between 0.75 and 24 miles
PULSEWIDTH 2 To set pulsewidth set No.2, set on “1. PULSEWIDTH” in the FUNCTIONS
menu, for the ranges between 0. 5 and 24 miles
NEXT PAGE To display the next menu page
PREVIOUS PAGE To return to the previous menu page
CURSOR REF To display cursor bearing in relative or true bearing
GUARD ALARM To set alarm type. “IN” generates alarm when echoes enter the guard
zone, and “OUT” when echoes exit the guard zone
BEARING SCALE To show (ON)/hide (OFF) the bearing scale

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VRMs
How to Display and Erase the VRMs
To display and erase the VRMs:

1. Press the “VRM ON” key. The VRM and delineated range reading
will appear in the bottom right-hand corner.

2. Press the “VRM ON” key again. The second range reading delineated
with a frame will appear in the right bottom corner of the display.

3. Each press of the “VRM ON” key now selects the VRM to measure range, by
operating the VRM rotary encoder. The rectangle cursor circumscribes the
active marker.
4. To erase a VRM, press the “VRM OFF” key. The inactive marker and its readout
are erased. Press the key again to erase remaining VRM.
Selecting Unit of Range Measurement
The unit of range measurement for each VRM can be selected to nautical miles
(NM), kilometres (KM) or statute miles (SM), on the RADAR menu (NO.1/2 VRM).

EBLs
How to Display and Erase the EBLs
To display the EBLs:

1. Press the “EBL ON” key. The EBL and delineated bearing reading
will appear in the bottom left-hand corner.

2. Press the “EBL ON” key again. The second bearing reading delineated
with a frame will appear in the left bottom corner of the display.

3. Each press of the “EBL ON” key now selects the EBL to measure bearing, by
operating the EBL rotary encoder. The rectangle cursor circumscribes the active
marker.
4. To erase an EBL press the “EBL OFF” key. The inactive marker and its readout
are erased. Press the key again to erase remaining EBL.
Note: Whenever you display an EBL, both an “are” and a VRM readout appear.
The are automatically follows EBL movement, providing range to the target.

Selecting Bearing Reference

The bearing reference for each EBL can be selected to true (TRUE) or relative
(REL), on the RADAR menu (NO.1/2 EBL).

Offset EBL
Predicting Other Target’s Course
Follow the procedure below to predict other target’s course:

1. Display the No.1 or No.2 EBL.

2. Operate the trackerball to set the cursor on the target you want to
predict its course.

3. Press the “EBL OFFSET” key. The EBL whose readout is circumscribed shifts to
the cursor intersection.

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4. Press the “EBL OFFSET” key again to anchor the EBL.

5. Wait several minutes. Operate the EBL rotary encoder to bisect the target with
the EBL.

6. If the EBL passes through own ship’s position the target may be on a collision
course with own ship.

7. To cancel the offset EBL press the “EBL OFFSET” key.

Measuring Range and Bearing between Two Targets

Follow the procedure below to measure the range and bearing – between two targets:

1. Display No.1 or No.2 EBL.

2. Press the “EBL OFFSET” key. The EBL origin shifts to the cursor
intersection.

3. Operate the trackerball to set the cursor on the target from which you want to
measure range and bearing.

4. Press the “EBL OFFSET” key to anchor the EBL.

5. Operate the rotary knob control so it bisects the other target.

6. Operate the VRM rotary encoder to adjust the No.1 (or No.2) VRM to measure
the range to the other target.

7. The bearing and range between the two targets appear at the bottom of the display.

Setting the Guard Alarm

Overview
The guard alarm sounds when a target violates the user-set guard zone. You may
preset the alarm to sound on targets either entering or exiting the zone. The size of
the guard zone may be set between 0 and maximum range for distance and
between 0 and 360 degrees in bearing.
Note:
1. The alarm is a useful anti-collision aid, but does not relieve the operator of the
responsibility to also keep a visual look-out for possible collision situations.
The alarm should not be relied upon as the sole means for detecting possible
collision situations. The 1972 Convention on the International Regulations For
Preventing Collisions at Sea (1972 COLREGS) provides statutory requirements
for the operation of any vessel, including the posting of lookouts. The operator
of the vessel is responsible for compliance with those requirements whether or
not a radar is in use.
2. The alarm sounds to the targets having a certain level of echo strength.
This level does not always imply a landmass; reef, ships or other surface
target but can mean returns from sea surface or precipitation. As the level
is changeable with the environment, the operator should (proper) adjust
the gain and A/C control. Note that excessively high position of A/C
controls can fail in alerting small targets.

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Alarm Types
In Alarm
This alarm sounds when radar targets enter the guard zone. The target which
entered the zone blinks.

Out Alarm
This alarm sounds when radar targets exit the guard zone.

Selecting Alarm Type

You can select the alarm type to IN or OUT on “GUARD ALARM” in the RADAR menu.

Setting the Guard Zone

To set the guard zone:

1. Operate the trackerball to set the cursor where you want the top
left-hand edge (or bottom left-hand) of the guard zone. Press the
“GUARD ALARM” key. “SET GUARD” appears at the bottom
right-hand corner of the display.
2. Rotate the trackerball in the clockwise direction to set the cursor where you want the
bottom right-hand edge (or top right-hand) of the guard zone. Press the “GUARD
ALARM” key. “GUARD ALM” replaces “SET GUARD”. The guard zone is now set.

Notes on the Guard Alarm

• You may also set a ring-shaped 360 degree alarm zone. After pressing the
“GUARD ALARM” key to set the left-hand edge of the zone, move the cursor in
the counterclockwise direction (rather than clockwise);
• The guard zone remains on the screen when the range is changed. If the radar
range is lower than the guard zone range, however, “GUARD OUT” replaces
“GUARD ALM”. In this case raise the range to display the guard zone.

Deactivating the Alarm

When a target violates the guard zone, the audible alarm sounds and the offending
target blinks. You can silence the audible alarm by pressing the “GUARD ALARM”
key. “GUARD ACKN” replaces “GUARD ALM” on the display when you do so. This
temporarily deactivates the guard alarm. To reactivate, press the “GUARD ALARM”
key again. “GUARD ALM” replaces “GUARD ACKN”.

Cancelling the Guard Alarm

Press and hold down the “GUARD ALARM” (at least three seconds) to
erase the guard zone and the indication “GUARD ALM”.

Off Centering the Display

How to off Center the Display
To off center the display in the forward direction, for example:

1. Operate the trackerball to set the cursor aftward of normal screen center.
2. Press the “OFF CENTER” key. The own ship position shifts to the cursor
location and the view ahead of own ship is lengthened.

Cancelling the Off-center Display

Press the “OFF CENTER” key. Own ship’s position shifts to display center.

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Zoom
Turning on
To double the size of the area adjacent to a small island to the starboard side of own
ship, for example:

1. Operate the trackerball to set the cursor on the location you want to
double in size.

2. Press the “X2 ZOOM” key. The area between the cursor and own ship is
doubled. “ZOOM” appears at the bottom lefthand corner of the display.

Cancelling
Press the “X2 ZOOM” key.

Note: The zoom function is inoperative when the off-center function is turned on.

Index Lines
Introduction
You can display index lines parallel with the No.2 EBL. (The No.2 EBL must be
displayed beforehand.) They are useful for maintaining a constant distance between
own ship and a coastline or partner ship. You control the index lines with the EBL
rotary encoder. The distance between index lines can be adjusted by the No.2 VRM,
or by manual input.

Displaying the Index Lines

To display the index lines:

1. Press the “INDEX LINES” key. The index lines appear on the display.

2. Operate the EBL rotary encoder to rotate the No.2 EBL and the
index lines.

Setting Distance between Index Lines

To set the interval between index lines.

1. Press the “RADAR MENU” key.

2. Press the “6” key to select INDEX LINES.

3. Press the “6” key again to select method to enter distance;

NO.2 VRM: Adjust distance between index lines by the NO.2 VRM.
(NO.2 VRM must be displayed).

MAN: Manually input distance between index lines by numeral keys.

4. Press the <Enter> key.

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Trailing Echoes
Introduction
You can display the trails of all echoes in afterglow to assess target movement.
The trails can be shown in single or multiple gradation.

Trailing Gradation
Target trails may be shown in single or multiple gradations. The multiple gradation
trail shows when trailing time has elapsed, by lighter gradation.
Procedure:

1. Press “RADAR MENU”, “7” and “7” to display the [FUNCTIONS] menu.
2. Press “6” to set TRAIL GRAD to SGL or MULT.

Starting Echo Trailing

Press the “ECHO TRAILS” key to start trailing echoes. Then:

• trailing time appears at the bottom right-hand corner of the display;

• the trail of targets starts extending;
• when the trailing time elapses, the timer freezes and the oldest trails are erased.

Selecting Trailing Time

The trailing time appears on the display for your confirmation. When the
trailing time elapses the oldest trails are erased. You can select trailing
time by pressing the “ECHO TRAILS” key. Each press of the key within
five seconds of previous press changes trailing time in the sequence of
thirty seconds, one minute, three minutes, six minutes, fifteen minutes,
thirty minutes and continuous.

Erasing Trails
Press and hold down the “ECHO TRAILS” key (more than three seconds) until all
trails are erased. Trailing starts again.

Cancelling Trailing
Press the “ECHO TRAILS” key.

Electronic Plotting
Introduction
You may manually acquire ten targets and show their data. For each target you
acquire, this radar plots its latest five positions, displays navigation data and shows
speed and course by vector.
Navigation data are (from own ship):
• Range;
• Bearing;
• Course;
• Speed;
• CPA and
• TCPA.

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The latest past four positions of acquired targets are shown on the display by dots.
The dots are erased one by one to make room for latest past position.

Sequence in Plotting
To acquire a target:

1. Operate the trackerball to set the cursor on the target you want to acquire.

2. Press a plot mark key.

3. Press the “ACQ” key. The plot mark associated with the plot mark key pressed
in step 2 appears at the cursor intersection.

4. More than 30 seconds after acquiring a target its associated plot mark moves
to new location and the previous position is marked by a dot.

Note: More than 30 seconds must elapse before a next position can be plotted.
5. To acquire another target repeat steps 1 to 3.

Vector Display
After a target’s position is plotted more than twice, this radar automatically calculates
the target’s speed and course, displaying them by a vector at the latest position.

VECTOR TIME – the vector tip shows estimated position after the vector
time elapses. You can select vector time (from 1 min. to 10 min) by
pressing the “VECTOR TIME” key (see the top right corner of the display).

VECTOR BEARING REFERENCE – the bearing of vectors may be shown in

true or relative bearing by pressing the “VECTOR TRUE/REL” key (see the
top right corner of the display).

Erasing Acquired Targets

Individually by trackerball:

1. Operate the trackerball to set the cursor on the plot mark you want to
erase.

2. Press the “CANCEL/-” key.

All
Press and hold down the “CANCEL/-” key (more than five seconds) until all acquired
targets disappear.

Acquired Target Data

Navigation data for acquired targets appear at the top right hand corner
of the display. To display data, press plot mark key associated with target.

RNG: Range from own ship to latest plot mark position.

BRG: Bearing from own ship to latest plot mark position, in relative (R) or true (T)
bearing.

CSE: Ship’s course, relative (R) or true (T).

SPD: Ship’s true speed.

CPA: Closest range the target will be from own ship.

TCPA: Time to TCP A.

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Origin Mark Key

Origin Mark
The origin mark (⊕) appears at the cursor position when the “ORIGIN
MARK” key is pressed. It is fixed against land; namely, its position is
absolute position.

Marking a Waypoint
If there is a danger point (such as a reef) along ship’s course, for example, you can
use the origin mark to mark where you should change course to avoid the reef:

1. Using a nautical chart measure the range and bearing from the location
where to change course to a landmass (for example, cape).

2. Display an EBL and a VRM and then press the “EBL OFFSET” key.

3. Operate the rotary encoders to match VRM mark range and EBL bearing with
the range and bearing measured in step 1.

4. Operate the trackerball to set the VRM mark on the cape.

5. Press the “ORIGIN MARK” key to inscribe the origin mark.

Measuring Range and Bearing between Two Targets

The range and bearing between two targets can be measured by using the origin
mark, as well as the offset EBL:

1. Press the “ORIGIN MARK” key.

2. Operate the trackerball to set the cursor on other target.

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