VMFT Radar Installation

VMFT Turning Unit and
Transceiver Training
August 23-26, 2016 – David Oake

New Orleans, USA
VMFT Radar Turning Units and Transceivers
Radar Installation
General Information
Mark pages according to the proprietary level of information as described in Company Procedure J103 (or remove)
VMFT-Installing Top Units
● Optimal radar performance depends on the correct sitting of the

systems Scanner Unit (Turning Unit and Antenna).
● Consider the following:

– Compass safe distance.
– Protection of cables and waveguide.
– Easy access for safe servicing.
– Minimum cable and waveguide lengths.
– Freedom from blind arcs and false echoes, particularly on the starboard side of the
vessel.
● Own ship usually has to give way to vessels approaching from starboard side.
Friday, April 30, 2021 4
VMFT-Installing Top Units
● The scanner must be installed as high as necessary to clear major

objects.
● Avoid interference from adjacent radar antennas. The glare angle

between antennas should not be greater than 70 degrees.
VMFT-Installing Bulkhead Units
● Compass safe distance
● Ease of access for servicing.
● Avoid moisture.
● Position away from doors that are frequently used.
● Environmental conditions such as ventilation, dust, dirt and clean air.
● Position the workstation away from strong magnetic fields.
● Vibration.
X-Band Radar Installation

VMFT-Installing X-Band Radars
● Lift the Turning Unit using the four fixing holes at the base of the unit.
● Bolt the Turning Unit to the mounting platform using four Neoprene
isolating pads between the Turning Unit casting and the mounting
platform, to prevent galvanic corrosion.
● Additional washers or pads may be used to level the mounting.

● Remove the waveguide plug from the underside of the antenna and
yellow sealing cap from the waveguide aperture on top of the turning
unit. Do not remove the plastic membrane.
● Apply Denso Paste to all threads and nuts before securing.
● Bolt the Antenna to the support casting.
● Apply a bead of sealant around the joint between the antenna and
support casting.
● Bend the lock tab ends as shown.
● Make sure the link settings on the Motor Drive Board and the Pulse
Bearing Board are set for the required antenna speed.
● Motor Drive PCB LK1 – LO (pins 1&2), 28rpm. HI (pins 2&3), 45 rpm.
● Pulse Bearing PCB LK1 - LO (pins 1&2), 28rpm. HI (pins 2&3), 45 rpm.
● Turning Unit Input PCB.
● Note: The video cable does not connect to the input PCB but
goes directly to the receiver.
● Mains Input TSE Aloft Transceiver.

– Located under the input PCB.
● Cable Entry.
● Fitting the Cable Glands.
● X-band Bulkhead Transceiver

– Maximum performance is achieved by keeping the distance between the transceiver
and the scanner unit.
– Loss per meter of X-band waveguide is typically 10dB per 100m (2dB for 20m).
– Loss applies to both the transmitted and received signal.
– Maximum cable lengths using standard coaxial cable is;
● 67m between display unit and transceiver unit.
● Greater separation is possible by using a lower lost cable.
– AC Mains input is connected to TSE located underneath the cover plate.
● Waveguide.
– Andrew Antennas Type EW85.
– 12 inch flexible waveguide (supplied) must be fitted between the elliptical waveguide
and the turning unit.
– Maximum permissible twist is 3 degrees/meter.
– Fit the upper (TU) connector prior to the waveguide installation.
– Waveguide kits supplied by Sperry have one connector fitted.
– Secure the waveguide using waveguide supports.
– Assemble the waveguide connector as per VMFT Ships Manual – Volume 1 section
4.8.1.
● Sealing the top unit.

– Apply Petroleum Jelly to all gaskets.
– Apply Denso Paste to the 4 bolts securing the top casting.
S-Band Radar Installation

VMFT-Installing S-Band Radars
● The S-Band turning unit includes 3 lifting eyebolts which are secured
into tapped holes on top of the turning unit.
● The turning unit, support casting and antenna can be lifted as a

complete assembly using three lifting slings attached to the lifting
eyebolts using a chocker hitch.
● Protect the antenna during lifting using the two edge protectors.
● Remove edge protectors after the unit has be secured in place.
● Securing the turning unit.

– Coat all threads with Denso Paste.
– Bolt the turning unit directly to the support platform.
● Securing the support casting to turning unit.

– Two support casting dispatch kits available;
● Support casting 65612100, dispatch kit 65612610 uses fixing kit 65612611-1.
● Support casting 65612603, dispatch kit 65612620 uses fixing kit 65612611-3.
● Securing the support casting to the turning unit.

– Bolts must be tightened to achieve a torque of 47nM.
– Align the bolt head corner of the flats with the V shape of the tap washer when fully
tight. If not tighten further.

– Once tightened the tabs on the tab washer must be bent up using a flat bladed screw
driver or pliers.
● Fitting the antenna to the support casting.
● Fitting the antenna to the support casting.

● Support casting 65612100
– Apply Denso Paste to al threads.
– Torque Binx nuts or Nyloc nuts to 55Nm. Do not use plain nuts!
– Lock tabs must be bent to stop the nuts from rotating.

– Apply Denso Paste to al threads.
– Fit spacers and hard lock nuts to the rear studs first.
– Torque first nut to 55Nm and second nut to 35Nm.
● Connecting Coaxial Cable

– The connector must be wrapped with self-amalgamating tape to prevent water
ingress.
● Motor Connections.
– Various motor types are available for different mains supply and standard/high-speed
antenna rotation rates.
● Make connections as per the label on the inside of the termination box
cover.
– Motor must match mains supply.
– Wrong antenna rotation direction (should rotate anti-clockwise when viewed from below)
indicates incorrect motor connections.
● Dual Voltage Single Phase Motor Connections.
● Dual Voltage Three Phase Motor Connections
● Turning Unit Cable Entry Locations.

– RF cable input is only required with bulkhead transceiver.
– Motor supply is connected directly to the motor itself.
● Cable Glands
● S-band Bulkhead Transceiver

– Maximum performance is achieved by keeping the distance between the transceiver
and the scanner unit.
– Loss per meter of S-band coaxial cable is typically 8.31dB per 100m (1.7dB for
20m).
– Loss applies to both the transmitted and received signal.
– Maximum cable lengths using standard coaxial cable is;
● 67m between display unit and transceiver unit.
● Greater separation is possible by using a lower lost cable.
● Bulkhead Transceiver.
● RF Feeder (Coaxial Cable).

– Andrews Antennas Heliax AVA 5-50 50 ohm.
– Protect against strain or kinking.
– No bend may be closer than 250mm (10in) from the end of the cable.
– Cable should be secured using waveguide supports.
– Connectors should be assembled as per VMFT Ships Manual – Volume 1 section
5.8.2.
● Scanner Control Unit –SCU

– Mounted so that it is accessible to the operator but it must be mounted so a service
engineer can access the isolator to remove the mains supply to the turning unit
motor.

– Single phase supply.

– Three phase supply.
● Scanner speed option.

– Two scanner speed options are available, Standard and High, depending on the type
of scanner motor. Note: Thermal Current Trip Settings in table.
VMFT-Commissionioning X & S-Band Radars
● Commissioning Menu
● Login
– Username: service
– Password: sperry..
– Logged In User service should appear on screen.
● TX/RX Settings
– A group of settings are stored in each display for all the transceivers with which the
display can operate.
– Set the display to transmit mode.
● Note: Navigate to Interswitch in the radar menu and select the required transceiver.
– Marker Offset
● The value of the heading marker that is required to align the heading marker with the
compass of the ship. This compensates for the errors in the physical positioning of
the scanner unit.
– Coarse Tune
● Adjust the centre tune frequency of the transceiver.
– Select transmit, LP, manual tune and a range of 12NM or above.
– Move the coarse tune bar to a minimum then slowly move the mouse to the right
to increase the tune bar percentage. Adjust so that the tuning bar in the bottom left
corner is at a maximum. Select AFC.
● TX/RX Settings
– Video Level
● Coarse tune must be set first.
● Select LP.
● Click on the Video Level button to initiate the set up procedure.
● Video set should appear when complete.
– Sample Start
● Displays the sample pulse start for all pulse lengths in meters. Min = 6 and Max =
350 for all pulse lengths. Values are dependent on the Antenna height above sea
level.
● Sample Width
– Sample pulse width in meters (Min=6, Max=70, default=14)
– Set at default only.
● Turndown
– Video turndown for all pulse lengths. (Min=0,Max=15)
– Default values are 6(SP), 7(MP) and 8(LP).
– Set at default only.
● Trigger Delay
– Trigger delay in meters. (Min=6, Max=350, default=12)
– Value is adjusted by the RF feeder length in initialization if Bulkhead Transceiver is fitted.
– Set the radar to the most practical range, and adjust value to display known targets at
the correct range. Echoes should appear straight without ‘pushing’ or ‘pulling’ near the
centre of the picture.
● AC Law
– Anti-Clutter law. (Min=0, Max=7, default=3)
– AC Law is set according to the height of the antenna above sea level.
● AC Spike
– Default = 3.

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VMFT Turning Unit and

August 23-26, 2016 – David Oake

VMFT-Installing Top Units

● Optimal radar performance depends on the correct sitting of the

● Consider the following:

Friday, April 30, 2021 4

● The scanner must be installed as high as necessary to clear major

● Avoid interference from adjacent radar antennas. The glare angle

Friday, April 30, 2021 5

● Compass safe distance

● Ease of access for servicing.

● Position away from doors that are frequently used.

● Environmental conditions such as ventilation, dust, dirt and clean air.

● Position the workstation away from strong magnetic fields.

Friday, April 30, 2021 6

X-Band Radar Installation

● Additional washers or pads may be used to level the mounting.

● Apply Denso Paste to all threads and nuts before securing.

● Bolt the Antenna to the support casting.

● Bend the lock tab ends as shown.

Friday, April 30, 2021 9

Friday, April 30, 2021 10

● Turning Unit Input PCB.

● Mains Input TSE Aloft Transceiver.

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Friday, April 30, 2021 13

● Fitting the Cable Glands.

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● X-band Bulkhead Transceiver

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Friday, April 30, 2021 16

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● Sealing the top unit.

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Friday, April 30, 2021 19

Friday, April 30, 2021 20

S-Band Radar Installation

● The turning unit, support casting and antenna can be lifted as a

Friday, April 30, 2021 22

● Remove edge protectors after the unit has be secured in place.

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● Securing the turning unit.

Friday, April 30, 2021 24

● Securing the support casting to turning unit.

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● Securing the support casting to the turning unit.

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● Securing the support casting to the turning unit.

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● Securing the support casting to the turning unit.

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● Fitting the antenna to the support casting.

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● Fitting the antenna to the support casting.

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● Support casting 65612603

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● Support casting 65612603

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● Connecting Coaxial Cable

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● Dual Voltage Single Phase Motor Connections.

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