Radar Tuning Problem

[jimcurley]

I have a Raymarine MFD System, with an E-120 display and an E-80 display, a Gyro Plus 2 unit, a Pathfinder Smart Heading System, a Seatalk switch, a DSM-300 Sounder and a 4KW radar Radome (E02011 1250295); all components are only several years old. I have developed several problems, the most serious of which is that the "Tune" function of the radar system is apparently not functioning properly. The symptoms are as follows:

When I turn the radar on and go thru the normal start-up sequence, the radar sweep usually shows no targets. I set the "gain" softkey to "75" and the sweep will -- at random -- eventually display targets. At that point, I press the "tune" softkey to "man" and adjust the "tune" function" to a value of about 30 (less than 30 decreases the targets, and likewise more than 30 decreases the targets). The "Sea" softkey must be set to "man" or no targets display, and if the "tune" function is in "auto", targets display only sporadically. The "tune" bars never illuminate to show peak tuning! Also, if I cycle the "tune" softkey to 'auto' then back to 'man', it never returns to the prior value which had been set... it randomly returns to various different and apparently arbitrary values, so I have to start all over.

This is a very haphazard situation, and I don't think I am getting all targets displayed, particularly out past a mile or two!

I presume that the source of the problem is in the scanner, since both the E-80 and the E-120 display the same symptoms, simultaneously.

I'd appreciate any clues as to what my problem may be, and any troubleshooting tests which I can perform. I have already spent $1100 to repair the E-80 display in this system last year, and I'm getting frustrated with the amount of money I'm pouring into it! I have a fair amount of money invested in all these components, and there always seems to be something going wrong with one of them! In addition to the above problem, the boat's heading is 'locked' so that it is never displayed properly (the boat icon goes through life always pointed in the same direction!) but that's minor when compared to the radar problems described above!

Raymarine, through their web site tech support, tells me that I need to pack up the scanner and send it to them... I'm hesitant to do that without further testing/troubleshooting. I hate to give them a blank check!

Your suggestions and advice would be appreciated!

Jim Curley

[s/v Jedi]

It sounds like the magnetron is shot, so their request to send the scanner makes sense. We have the same problem and I refuse to spend more money on it and am buying Furuno.

cheers,
Nick.

[David M]

Good choice Nick. I think Furuno is top of the line. One only has to look at all the ships, work boats and the Coast Guard with Furuno electronics. I know saying this does not help you Jim. My suggestion is to send it in to Raymarine and pay whatever it is that they want to repair the unit. At least you know a professional has had a chance to analyze the problem. Ask them for a cost estimate before authorizing the repair.

[jimcurley]

Thanks, gentlemen... I appreciate your input!

Jim