Page 31: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 15, 1985)

Read this page in Pdf, Flash or Html5 edition of May 15, 1985 Maritime Reporter Magazine

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 30, May 15, 1985

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 31, May 15, 1985

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 32, May 15, 1985

16 and other channels is pro- grammed into the scan memory. An emergency override permits direct selection of channel 16 during emer- gencies.

The Voyager's memory with scan feature is controlled by the micro- processor, and permits monitoring of all active channels including aux- iliary (future) channels. Backup power keeps the memory circuit alive when the main power switch is turned off. A two-station intercom and six-watt hailer may be selected at any time by pressing a single switch.

The unit's large numerical LCD display is a mini-information center in itself. The display shows channel in use, power level, and programs selected. A three-position dimmer enhances visibility in any lighting condition, including bright sun- light.

Circle 77 on Reader Service Card

TELEDYNE

Teledyne Hastings-Raydist of

Hampton, Va., manufacturer of me- dium-range, precision radioposi- tioning systems, is currently con- ducting final testing on its revolu- tionary TRAK IV system.

Raydist TRAK IV is an improved version of the well-known Raydist

DRS radiopositioning system uti- lizing "atomic clock" frequency standards and state-of-the-art tech- nology to achieve practically unlim- ited user capability in the rho/rho mode on a single frequency alloca- tion anywhere in the MF/HF band.

The new unit is particularly well suited to radiopositioning applica- tions in which a relatively large number of simultaneous users must operate at ranges up to several hundred kilometers with a geodetic accuracy of a few meters. The rho/ rho (circular) geometry makes the

TRAK IV ideal for coastal applica- tions, regardless of whether the coastline is concave, straight, or even convex. The comparatively broad lane widths (typically 100 me- ters or more) make lane recovery much easier than with other phase comparison systems.

The ability to track up to four

LOPs continuously and simulta- neously greatly increases system re- liability. When used with the Ray- dist Director (microcomputer), in- terchecking is permitted between the redundant position data to achieve a statistically desired "best- fit" position solution and a "figure of merit" indication of probable ac- curacy. The Raydist Director also permits op-area initialization so that the correct fractional values of the several LOPs can be established and/or verified in the actual area of operations.

Circle 78 on Reader Service Card

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS

Texas Instruments of Dallas has announced a new addition to its TI 4100 Navstar navigator product line, an enhancement that makes the Global Positioning System (GPS) more productive as a naviga- tion/positioning tool.

Called Satplan™, the new soft- ware product provides specific sat- ellite visibility times and position dilution of precision (PDOP) infor- mation. It helps the operator select the best time at which the satellites are in a geometry that will produce a more accurate position.

Satplan selects the four best sat- ellites available to the user, and pro- vides information on precise GPS satellite rise and set times, satellite azimuth and elevation, satellite visi- bility, profile, and the recom- mended navigation mode.

The benefit to the user is said to be that Satplan displays and prints the information in tabular and graphic form so that a detailed schedule of satellite availability can be quickly prepared, including an analysis of the most efficient times for GPS use in each location and on each date desired.

Using the TI Color Professional or Portable Professional Computer, with 256K RAM and 8087 numeri- cal co-processor, the easy-to-use

Satplan complements the TI 4100

GPS receiver. Satplan almanac data can be taken directly from the re- ceiver's display, or can be updated from government or user sources.

Almanac nomenclature is the same as that used by the TI 4100.

Circle 97 on Reader Service Card

TRACOR

The Bridgestar satellite navigator from Tracor Instruments of Austin,

Texas, offers more value for 1985, with outstanding features and an economical price. In addition to all standard navigation functions, the

Bridgestar calculates distance and bearing to 15 waypoints, with route planning between any two way- points, Special software features providethe user with about 10 per- cent more usable satellite fixes than most other satnav receivers. In addi- tion, a built-in speed and heading interface enables automatic dead reckoning between fixes.

The unit draws a maximum of 1.2 amperes at 12 volts DC. To conserve power, an innovative "Sleep Mode" allows the receiver to go into stand- by status between satfixes, and drops power usage to 0.2 amps. The receiver will then "wake up" 20 min- utes before the next satellite pass and be ready to calculate the next fix.

Continuous, accurate navigation data translates into time and fuel savings for an oceangoing vessel.

Tracor's integrated Bridgestar sat- nav and Omega navigator, mounted on a single yoke, provide this essen- tial information, with updates every 60 seconds. This compact, low-cost global navigation system combines the advantages of both satnav and

Omega.

The greatest advantage of the

Bridgestar is its very accurate posi- tion-fix capability. At each satellite fix, the Omega navigator is auto- matically updated by the satnav re- ceiver. Between satellite fixes, the

Omega receiver provides continuous navigation data as an invaluable aid to satnav dead reckoning. Because the system is comprised of two stand-alone units that can also op- erate independently, the user is as- sured of having a dependable navi- gation system available at all times.

Circle 79 on Reader Service Card

TRIMBLE

The Model 300 Loran computer offered by Trimble Navigation, Ltd. of Mountain View, Calif., is the

Loran that continues navigating even where no Loran signals exist.

The unit dead reckons position right through the signal interrup- tions that make other Lorans use- less. It provides a constantly up- dated estimate of position even when the Trimble's normal Loran positioning capability is unavail- able.

The Model 300 will stand alone as (continued on page 32)

Circle 301 on Reader Service Card