The Instruments

The Radar instrument

The Radar instrument simulates NMEA sentences from a radar unit.

The value of many input fields can be changed with the up-down buttons located at the right side of the input boxes, or typed directly into the input boxes. Note that decimals are ignored when using up/down buttons.

Operation

After clicking the "Start" button the Radar instrument simulation will start, and NMEA sentences will be sent to the selected serial port of the PC, until the "Hold" or "Exit and Save" buttons are pressed. Only those NMEA sentences are send that are checked in the "NMEA sentences" panel.

When the "Open Log file" option from the main "File" menu was selected, the sentences will also be written to the user selected logging file.

To view the sentences being sent select the "View trace window" option from the main menu.

Clicking the "Hold" button will suspend operation, until "Cont." is clicked. "Exit and Save" will exit the instrument and save all current values in the windows registry, so that next time the instrument is used it can continue where it stopped.

A short description of each field will follow below.

Number
Target number, 00-99.

Name
Target name, any combination of alphanumeric characters. No checking.

UTC offset, UTC time
These fields cannot be modified here. UTC time is your computer time modified with the UTC offset taken from the generic settings.

Status
Target status: L (lost), Q (query) or T (tracking)

Reference target?
Tick this box if the target is a reference target to obtain own position

Latitude/Longitude
Geographical position of target used in TLL sentence

Status
Target status: L (lost), Q (query) or T (tracking)

Distance of CPA
Distance of closest point of approach

Time to CPA
Time to closest point of approach in minutes ("-" is increasing)

Bearing, True or Relative
Bearing to target in degrees, true or relative to own ship

Course, True or Relative
Course of target in degrees, true or relative to own ship

Distance
Distance to target from own ship

Speed
Target speed

Units
K (kilometers), N (knots) or S (statute miles)

Automatic/Manual
Type of acquisition of target data: automatic or manual