Radar App Guide

ENGLISH
Software version: 1.3.257

www.simrad-yachting.com
CONTENTS
4 Overview
4 Requirements
5 Radar sensor setup
7 Radar screen
8 Source selection
8 Transmit and standby mode
9 Panning the screen
10 Radar modes
11 Point information
12 Targets
12 Dangerous targets
12 Target alert messages
13 Radar target symbols
14 Watching targets for tracking
14 Stop tracking a watched target
15 Pin watched target information
16 ZoneTrack
17 Guard zones
17 Define a guard zone
18 Sensitivity
18 Adjust target filters
19 VelocityTrack
20 VelocityTrack settings
20 VelocityTrack examples
21 Electronic Bearing Line (EBL) and Variable Range Marker (VRM)
22 Radar overlay
23 Radar settings

2
Disclaimer
⚠ WARNING: Refer to important safety information in the user app guides, product documentation and review all
warnings, limitations, and disclaimers before using this product.

This product is not a substitute for proper training and prudent seamanship. It is the owner’s sole responsibility to install and use
the equipment in a manner that will not cause accidents, personal injury or property damage. The user of this product is solely
responsible for observing maritime safety practices.
Navigational features that appear in this guide are not a substitute for proper training and prudent seamanship. They do not
replace a human navigator and SHOULD NOT be relied on as a sole or primary source of navigation. It is the operator’s sole
responsibility to use more than one navigational methods to ensure the route suggested by the system is safe.
NAVICO HOLDING AS AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, BRANCHES AND AFFILIATES DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY USE OF THIS
PRODUCT IN A WAY THAT MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS, DAMAGE OR THAT MAY VIOLATE THE LAW.
This manual represents the product as at the time of printing. Navico Holding AS and its subsidiaries, branches and affiliates
reserve the right to make changes to the product and/or specifications at any time without notice. Please contact your nearest
distributor if you require any further assistance.

Copyright
Copyright © 2023 Navico Holding AS.

Trademarks
®Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off, and ™ common law marks. Visit www.navico.com/intellectual-property to review the global trademark
rights and accreditations for Navico Holding AS and other entities.
• Navico ® is a trademark of Navico Holding AS.
• Simrad® is a trademark of Kongsberg Maritime AS, licensed to Navico Holding AS.
• NSX™ is a trademark of Navico Holding AS.
• VelocityTrack™ is a trademark of Navico Holding AS.
• ZoneTrack ® is a trademark of Navico Holding AS.
• NMEA® and NMEA 2000® are Trademarks of the National Marine Electronics Association.

Internet usage
Some features in this product use an internet connection to perform data downloads and uploads. Internet usage via a connected
mobile/cell phone internet connection or a pay-per-MB type internet connection may require large data usage. Your service
provider may charge you based on the amount of data you transfer. If you are unsure, contact your service provider to confirm
rates and restrictions. Contact your service provider for information about charges and data download restrictions.

About this manual

Product features
Features described and illustrated in this guide may vary from your display unit due to continuous development of the software.

More information
Document version: 003
For the latest version of this document in supported languages, visit: www.simrad-yachting.com/downloads/nsx.

3
OVERVIEW
Radio technology is used to detect objects above or on the water and weather patterns relative to
your current location.
A radar system consists of a transmitter that produces electromagnetic waves, a transmitting
and receiving antenna, and a receiver and signal processor. Radio signals (pulsed or continuous)
from the transmitter reflect off an object and return to the receiver, giving information about the
object’s location, direction, and speed.

REQUIREMENTS
To use the Radar app, a radar must be connected to the system. This guide describes features
and options for a variety of supported radars. The features and options available on your display
will vary based on the connected radar.

The following features require a good-quality 10 Hz electronic compass connected via NMEA
2000®:
• ZoneTrack
• VelocityTrack
• Watched targets (MARPA)
• North up orientation
• Chart radar overlay function

4
RADAR SENSOR SETUP
When you connect a radar sensor to the system, access to the radar setup guide is shown on the
screen. Select the alert to begin setting up your radar sensor or go to Settings > Setup guide.

or
1 1

5
Once setup is complete, your radar will appear under Boat network > Devices > Other
devices along with other connected devices.

6
RADAR SCREEN
The Radar app screen contains a number of elements that provide a vast amount of information.

A B C D E

A Power button – select to toggle between transmit and standby mode.

B Radar source button – select to open/close a pop-up which lists radar sources.
C Source list – if more than one radar source is available, select it here.
D Mode settings – select the mode to open the radar screen settings menu and make adjustments.
E Settings button – select to open the radar screen settings.
F Current zoom level (based on instrument range)
G Zoom buttons
H Center vessel button
I Maximize button – select to maximize the screen. When the screen is maximized, it changes
to a minimize button.

¼ Note:
• The white radar palette is used for most of the radar screen images in this document. You can
select the palette you prefer from the radar settings menu.
• After 30 seconds of inactivity, the screen enters declutter mode and the radar screen settings
and maximize buttons are hidden. Tap the screen to see these buttons.

7
SOURCE SELECTION
Select the radar source button to view a list of sources connected to the system. Select the source
you want to view on the radar screen.

TRANSMIT AND STANDBY MODE

Select the power button to toggle between power off (standby) and power on (transmit) modes.

8
PANNING THE SCREEN
You can pan (drag) the radar screen in any direction to view in front, behind or to the side of your
vessel. However, you cannot pan so your vessel disappears off the screen.
To center your vessel on the screen, select the center vessel button (A).

9
RADAR MODES
Radar modes are available with preset control settings for different environments.
¼ Note: Not all modes are available for all radar sensors.

1
2

Custom mode
All radar settings can be adjusted. By default, settings are for general purpose use.

Harbor mode
The radar settings are optimized for areas such as busy waterways and large structures where
good target discrimination and rapid image updates are needed.

Offshore mode
The radar settings are optimized for offshore sea conditions, making isolated targets larger and
easier to see.

Weather mode
The radar settings are optimized for best detection and presentation of rain clutter. The image
update rate is slowed and color depth is increased.

Bird mode
The radar settings are optimized for best detection of birds. The radar is set up for maximum
sensitivity. This mode is not recommended for use in busy harbor environments.

10
POINT INFORMATION
The Cursor panel displays information about the selected position or target.
To open the Cursor panel, select a position or target and then select More from the extended
pop-up.

11
TARGETS
The MARPA function (Mini Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) can be used to watch up to ten radar
targets. MARPA tracking can be an important tool for collision avoidance.
¼ Note: MARPA requires heading data.

Dangerous targets
Dangerous targets are defined in the Vessels & targets menu’s TCPA/CPA (Time to Closest Point
of Approach and Closest Point of Approach) settings.

Target alert messages

If a vessel meets the dangerous target criteria set in the Vessels & targets menu, and if the
Dangerous vessel alerts are turned on, a dangerous vessel alert message dialog displays.

12
Radar target symbols
The system shows the target symbols below.

Symbol Description

Radar target, not moving.

Selected radar target.

Lost radar target.

Tracked radar target, not moving. Tracked radar targets have a ring around
them. They also show the target ID number.

Tracked radar moving target with trail when target history is enabled. Shows the
tracked target ring and the target ID number.

Tracked, moving radar target with no course extension (short line indicating the
direction where the target moves). Shows the tracked target ring and the target
ID number.

Tracked, moving radar target with course extension. Shows the tracked target
ring and the target ID number.

Dangerous, tracked, moving radar target, with trail when target history is
enabled. Shows the tracked target ring and the target ID number.
The icon color is:
• Yellow when the radar color palette is black/red or black/green.
• Purple when the radar color palette is white/red.
• Red when the radar color palette is black/yellow.

13
Watching targets for tracking
Select the target on the radar screen, and then select Watch from the expanded pop-up to track
a target.

Stop tracking a watched target

Select the watched target on the radar screen and then Stop watching to stop tracking it.

3
1

14
Pin watched target information
You can pin multiple watched targets to show details on the screen. Repeat steps to pin multiple
targets.

1 3

Select Unpin target to remove the details from the screen.

1 2

Navigate to a target
You can navigate to a target of interest. Select a position on the radar screen, then from the
expanded pop-up, select Go. A Navigating to confirmation displays briefly.

15
ZONETRACK
ZoneTrack automatically tracks and alerts you of all targets that enter or exit either of two pre-
determined user-set zones.
¼ Note: ZoneTrack is compatible with Halo20+ and Halo24 domes, Halo2000, and Halo3000.
When a compatible radar is connected to the system, navigate to Settings > Target tracking >
ZoneTrack.

• Two zones are available per range, each zone can have independent settings.
• A maximum of 50 targets can be tracked per range.
• Every target entering a zone is automatically tracked, tracking stops when the target exits
the zone. You can manually watch the target to continue tracking.
• Target entry and exit alarms can be set up per zone.
• Sea and rain clutter is automatically suppressed.

Specifications:
High resolution tracking:
• up to 3nm: 4.8m
• 4-6nm: 9.6m
• 8-12nm: 19.2m
• >=16nm: 38.4m
• Maximum tracking range: 42nm
• Min tracking range:
• 19m for instrumented range <=12nm
• 38m for instrumented range >=16nm

16
GUARD ZONES
A guard zone is a user-defined area on the radar screen. When a guard zone is turned on, an
alarm sounds if a radar target enters or exits the guard zone.

¼ Note: The guard zone function does not track targets automatically. An alert is only raised if a guard
zone has been defined for the target.

Define a guard zone

On the Radar settings menu, select Guard zones and then the guard zone you want to define.
You can select if the alarm is activated when a target enters or exits the zone or both (5).

3
4

2 5

Adjust the zone using the toggles (6) or select the guard zone parameters Start range, End
range, Bearing or Width and use the slide bar to set the different values.

17
Sensitivity
The guard zone sensitivity can be adjusted to eliminate alarms for small targets.

¼ Note: A guard zone must be turned on to adjust the sensitivity.

Adjust target filters

You can specify the targets to display on the radar screen. Go to Radar settings > Vessels and
targets to define dangerous targets, targets of interest and create target filters.
Watched targets and AIS targets are automatically considered safe or dangerous based on the
TCPA/CPA settings.

18
VELOCITYTRACK
VelocityTrack is a navigation aid that identifies targets approaching or diverging from your vessel.

⚠ WARNING: VelocityTrack is intended only as an aid to navigation. It is not a

substitute for proper training or prudent seamanship, and should never be relied on
as the operator’s only reference source. The operator is responsible for observing
maritime safety practices and maintaining situational awareness at all times.
The feature works when:
• The target’s relative speed is greater than the VelocityTrack speed threshold.
• The target is not geostationary (e.g. land or a marker buoy).
To turn on VelocityTrack, go to Radar settings > VelocityTrack and select Normal or
Approaching only. Set the speed threshold appropriately to avoid excessive warnings.

¼ Note: Antenna rotation speed might be reduced when VelocityTrack is enabled.

¼ Note: When operating the radar in dual range mode with one of the ranges set to 36 NM or
more, you might see increased VelocityTrack coloring noise over land areas.

The following options are available:

• Off - turns off VelocityTrack.
• Normal - colors approaching targets and diverging targets.
• Approaching targets - colors approaching targets only.
¼ Note: The color of approaching and diverging targets depends on your image palette.

Radar image palettes

Diverging targets are blue on all radar image palettes. Approaching target colors on radar image
palettes are:
• Black/Red palette - Yellow
• White/Red palette - Yellow
• Black/Green palette - Red
• Black/Yellow palette - Red

Radar overlay palettes on charts

• Diverging targets are dark gray
• Approaching targets are yellow

19
VelocityTrack settings
Set the speed thresholds of targets to be colored.
The speed threshold can be defined for the radar source of the selected radar panel only, or to all
radar sources connected to the system. The setting is only applied to those radars powered and
connected when the setting is made. If all radar sources are selected, newly connected radars use
the specified values automatically.

VelocityTrack examples
Approaching and diverging moving targets can be indicated as neutral (not colored) in some
circumstances. The navigator should be aware of these situations to safely use the VelocityTrack
feature as an aid for collision avoidance.
Examples of how VelocityTrack behaves in two navigation scenarios are illustrated below. The
illustrations show a target (A) crossing your vessel’s (B) path with a steady COG (Course Over
Ground).

150

A 0° 0°

1
5 4 3 2 1 2
3
4
5

B
C D

The examples show the target movement (1-5) over five radar scans with the radar in relative
motion mode.
• In example C, your vessel’s COG is 0°, and speed is 0 knots.
• In example D, your vessel’s COG is 0°, and speed is 10 knots.
• In both examples, the target’s COG is 270°, and the speed is 20 knots.

The colors in the examples are based on the colors used for black/green and black/yellow radar
palettes:
• Red (C1/C2 and D1/D2) indicates a target is on an approaching path to your vessel. The
target’s relative speed at that point is greater than the VelocityTrack speed threshold.
• Not colored (C3 and D3 ) indicates a target is temporarily neutral because its relative speed at
that point is less than the VelocityTrack speed threshold.
• Blue (C4/C5 and D5) indicates a target is diverging from your vessel and its relative speed at
that point is greater than the VelocityTrack speed threshold.

20
ELECTRONIC BEARING LINE (EBL) AND VARIABLE
RANGE MARKER (VRM)
The EBL and VRM allow quick measurements of range and bearing to vessels and landmasses
within radar range. Two different EBL/VRMs can be placed on the radar screen.
By default, the EBL/VRMs are positioned from the center of the vessel. You can offset the
reference point to any selected position on the radar screen.

Defining an EBL/VRM
In Radar settings, select EBL/VRM and then the EBL/VRM you want to define. This creates the
EBL/VRM on the radar screen.
Enter values or use the slide bar to set the different values (distance, angle, and offset from your
vessel) for the EBL/VRM. You can also change the marker position by dragging it on the screen.

21
RADAR OVERLAY
You can overlay the radar image on the chart. This can help you easily interpret the radar image
by correlating the radar targets with charted objects.
Turn on the Radar overlay function from the Chart Settings panel in the Chart app.

¼ Note: A heading sensor must be connected to the system for radar overlay to work.

22
RADAR SETTINGS
The radar settings menu gives you access to radar options and settings.

¼ Note: Only some of the options and settings are described in this guide. Available settings may
also vary based on the radar hardware connected to your vessel network.

Gain
The gain controls the sensitivity of the radar receiver.
A higher gain makes the radar more sensitive to radar returns, allowing it to display weaker
targets. If the gain is set too high, the image might be cluttered with background noise. Gain has
manual and automatic modes.
Auto gain automatically adjusts the signal returns to optimal levels.
Use manual gain to decrease or increase clutter and detect details.

Sea
Sea clutter filters the effect of random signal returns from waves or rough water near the vessel.
Sea clutter can also be set in Auto which provides directional adaptive clutter rejection. To allow
fine tuning in Auto, the setting can be offset above and below the auto setting. The system
includes predefined sea clutter settings for harbor and offshore conditions when set in respective
modes.
When you increase sea clutter, you reduce the filtering of on-screen clutter caused by the signal
returns of waves.

23
Rain
Rain clutter reduces the effect of rain, snow or other weather conditions on the radar image.
The value should not be increased too much as this might filter out real targets.

VelocityTrack
Refer to the “VelocityTrack” section in this document.

Color palette
Use to select the color scheme for the radar screen.

Orientation
Use to select radar screen orientation. Choose between Heading up, North up or Course up.

Position
Select where you would like to see your vessel on the radar screen. Choose between Center,
Look-ahead or Offset. Alternatively, select a custom position by simply selecting and dragging
anywhere on the radar screen.

Symbology
Select to turn on radar symbols and markers. You can then choose from a number of display symbols.

Trail duration
Move the slider to display radar image trails.

Vessels and targets

Refer to the Vessels and targets section in this document.

Guard zones / Zone track

Refer to the Guard zones section in this document. Zone track is only available when compatible
radar hardware is connected, refer to the ZoneTrack section in this document.

EBL/VRM
Refer to the EBL/VRM section in this document.

Noise rejection
Sets the amount of noise filtering applied by the radar. Target sensitivity is increased at
longer ranges when this control is set to low or high, but this does cause some loss of target
discrimination.
¼ Note: To get maximum range performance from the radar, transmit on one range only, set the noise
rejection control to high and the threshold as low as possible. The default is 30% for less clutter on
the screen. In areas of extreme high interference, turn off noise rejection for the best radar image.

24
Threshold
The threshold sets the required signal strength for the lowest radar signals. Radar return signals
below this limit are filtered and are not displayed.

Interference rejection
Interference could be caused by radar signals from other radars operating on the same
frequency.
A high setting reduces the interference from other radars.
Where no interference exists, a low setting helps you detect weak targets.

Target separation
Controls the target discrimination of the radar (the separation between objects is more
prominent).

Fast scan
Move the slider to set the speed of the radar antenna rotation. Higher speed gives faster target
updates.
¼ Note: Maximum speed might be limited by the radar’s settings, mode and range. The radar
rotates as fast as the control settings allow.

Target boost
The target boost control increases pulse length or reduces radar bandwidth to increase radar
sensitivity and make targets appear larger.

25
®Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off, and ™ common law marks.
Visit www.navico.com/intellectual-property to review
the global trademark rights and accreditations for
Navico Holding AS and other entities.
www.simrad-yachting.com