Problem with DRS4D

[colemj]

Hello,

I have a 2019 DRS4D radar connected to a TZT2 via a PSU-17. It was working fine 3 weeks ago when last used. Now it doesn't see anything when put to use again. The very first scan shows targets as expected, then it quickly attenuates to nothing. Randomly, but not often, it shows all targets like normal, but if I change scale or wait a few scans, it attenuates and shows nothing again. Changing gain has no effect. If left on for a period of time, I get an error message that the radar has no power and is disconnected. Do you have any suggestions?

 

[Titanic II]

Please run the RADAR in transmit on th 24NM range and select HOME- SETTINGS - RADAR - RADAR MONITORING attach a picture of the monitor results.

 

[colemj]

Wow that was quick! Thank you. Attached is a pic of what you asked for.

However, I just did a factory reset. The radar came back blank with no change from before, but after 2min it started working and showing targets as expected. I am now letting it run to see if the problem returns. I will also be turning it on/off a few times to see if it continues to work.

I'm concerned about it losing its power and connection. I wouldn't think a factory reset would affect that type of thing.

BTW, with the exception of the ARPA echo parameters, these are the same values the monitoring page was showing when it wasn't working.

 

[Titanic II]

The tune voltage is out of spec. The tune voltage when properly tuned should be around 6V. Put the RADAR into manual tuning see if you can tune in a decent RADAR picture.

 

[colemj]

Thanks. As I mentioned above, the radar started working again. I have been running it for periods of time, shutting it off/on, using over multiple days, etc to see if it stops working again. Today, it stopped again, but after a while started working fine.

Here is what the monitoring shows while it is working fine. We are in a marina, so all of those close targets are other boats.

 

[colemj]

When I manually move the tuning voltage down to 6V all the targets disappear.

 

[Titanic II]

Put the RADAR in STBY and get the total time and TX time from the RADAR STBY display

 

[colemj]

 

[Titanic II]

Your TX-Time is pretty low, if it was close to or over 5,000 hrs. the magnetron would be suspect. Please try the manual tune again and manually tune it up to get the best possible RADAR picture. please get a picture of where the tune voltage is to get a decent picture. The RADAR should be the best at approx. 6V tune voltage. If it is 10V to get the best picture, we would have to get the dome sent in to see if it is a transmit (TX) or receive (RX) problem.

 

[colemj]

The best manual tune is right where the autotune sets the tune voltage (10.8V). There remains a decent return picture down to 10.1V, but it starts to fall off lower than that.

The lowest I can make the tune voltage with manual tune all the way to the left is 7.8V, where there are no returns at all. I cannot achieve 6V, as manual tuning doesn't go any lower. Turning the manual tune all the way up doesn't change much and maxes out ~11.2V

Pic 1 tune voltage turned all the way down (7.8V)
Pic 2 radar monitor page with tune voltage all the way down

 

[colemj]

I am in a marina with a lot of boats all around. Is it possible the radar is attenuating its signal because of all the close by returns, or having problem with timing because of a lot of interfering returns? I don't think I ever notice it doing that in the past, but I hardly ever have it on in a marina.

 

[Titanic II]

The RADAR will tune up regardless of the RADAR environment as it tunes on its' own transmit pulse. You can run it by manually tuning if you want and send it in to us when you have some down time. The standard turn around is 5-10 business days.

 

[colemj]

I can't get it to tune manually any better than it tunes itself automatically. The radar is working with two exceptions:

1) Every so often it seems to attenuate itself, then after a short period it is normal again. This randomly happens and I can't get it to repeat on demand. The attenuation seems to be in the <1nm settings. Greater ranges than that doesn't seem to attenuate much.

2) The tune voltage is much higher than 6V, and I cannot reach 6V even with the manual tune all the way down. Targets disappear if the tuning voltage falls <9V or so. It appears from your posts that this is way too high of a tuning voltage, so something must be wrong even though it is returning targets.

I am in Panama, with no way to return this unit to the US. Do you have a Panama service center?

 

[Titanic II]

Please contact Furuno Panama for further assistance.