RDP149 Radar stopped working.

[robjl]

I have just replaced a Navnet VX2 RDP149. I just can't get the radar (1823C) to work. The radar was working fine before the RDP 149 replacement. Now I get what looks like rain return from 3miles range out, but nothing at shorter range. The RDP149 was my spare and has latest avail software and was working when used before.
PS, I just ran "RADAR OPTIMIZATION" and now have a return. I also have an alarm "no heading pulse detected". The image is good on longer ranges ... but when set to .500/.125nm the return even when set to maximum gain is very weak. Is there anything in the configuration that could lose the heading? Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[Locrasto]

Did you check to see if your replacement unit has the correct antenna type set? Is your setup part of a network or a single rdp149?

 

[TheReaper]

Try this to see if it helps...

 

[robjl]

This is a single RDP149 and yes antenna type is set to "A" the smaller 24m radome. What has me stumped is the radar worked perfectly before I replaced the head unit.

 

[robjl]

Thanks TheReaper I did all that and have a better picture but still getting "no heading pulse detected". Is it possible that in changing over the RDP149 I have disturbed something. I inspected the radar connecting plug, the pins and sockets all look fine. I'm thinking that two possibilities exist ... 1, one cable pin is not making contact or 2, the heading sensor in the radome has failed?

 

[TheReaper]

The pin or cable thing could be the problem. It's also possible that the reed switch has gone bad, especially if you're not also getting "no bearing pulse" and the array isn't spinning in the dome. If you take the upper cover off of the dome and look at the bottom of one side of the array, you'll see a magnet...that magnet is supposed to cross over the mounted reed switch (within a quarter inch). This tells the processor when to start drawing the radar picture. You may need someone to look at it and possibly replace it if it's bad.

 

[robjl]

I have just put the old RDP149 back (with a screen that goes dark after a while) I connected the radar plug, power plug and gps antenna plug) The screen is now working perfectly and the radar now has a heading .. no alarms after ten minutes ... everything is working. I hate intermittent faults. I suspect the screen goes dark when the case gets hot, is this plausable? There was no direct sun on the screen, but a bit of direct sun on one side. But on feeling the case it seemed no hotter than the RDP149 next to it? They are not networked.
So I don't think the radar or cable has a problem.
Any Ideas?

 

[TheReaper]

If the screen goes dark on its own and it's not a setting change to night or twighlight mode, it may be caused by heat or by a failing LCD screen.