NORTHSTAR 941X Addendum Reference Manual

ADDENDUM

to

Northstar 941/941XD GPS Navigator

Reference Manual

(P/N GM1100, Revision D)

This addendum applies to software versions 2.07, 2.10, 3.12,

3.18, and later

Northstar Technologies, Inc.

30 Sudbury Road

Acton, Massachusetts 01720

(978) 897-6600

P/N GM210 Rev. D 03/21/01

Table of contents

About this addendum - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1

Contacting Northstar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1

Software version 2.07 upgrades - - - - - - - - - - - 2

New NMEA output sentence - - - - - - - - - - - 2

NMEA 1-Hz output - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2

Uninstalled DGPS antenna - - - - - - - - - - - - 3

Updated beacon list - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3

Radio frequency interference (RFI) - - - - - - - - - 4

Software version 2.10 upgrades - - - - - - - - - - - 4

Anchor-watch alarm honk - - - - - - - - - - - - 4

Honking for all alarms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5

Selecting an independent NMEA output-port datum - 7

Canadian tide stations - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7

Changes to DGPS stations - - - - - - - - - - - - 7

New DGPS stations - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8

New DGPS status message - - - - - - - - - - - - 8

Change to RMC sentence display - - - - - - - - - 8

New TLL sentence - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8

Changes to GGA output sentence - - - - - - - - - 9

Software version 3.12 upgrades - - - - - - - - - - - 9

Sharing waypoints and routes - - - - - - - - - - - 9

Time display on the tide track screen - - - - - - - - - 17

Software version 3.18 upgrades - - - - - - - - - - 18

WAAS differential capability - - - - - - - - - - 18

New WAAS options - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 19

Using demo mode to simulate WAAS - - - - - - - 22

Viewing distance-to-go on the NAVLOG screen - - 22

Changes to U.S. DPGS stations - - - - - - - - - 23

New U.S. DGPS stations - - - - - - - - - - - - 23

Changes to foreign DGPS stations - - - - - - - - 24

New foreign DGPS stations - - - - - - - - - - - 24

Miscellaneous documentation updates - - - - - - 25

Using the N-S-E-W key - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25

Using the power switch - - - - - - - - - - - - 25

Adding “honk” to table - - - - - - - - - - - - 26

Using the stop key - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 26

Outputting waypoints displayed as numbers - - - 26

Recommended distances between antennas - - - - 26

Mounting a loop antenna - - - - - - - - - - - 27

Flush mounting the 941 - - - - - - - - - - - - 28

Returning a 941 for service - - - - - - - - - - - 28

– 1 –

032101 Addendum P/N GM210

About this addendum

Please read this addendum and keep it with your 941

documentation. This addendum contains all the update details

necessary to properly operate your 941.

This addendum describes several enhancements made to the

941’s software versions 2.07, 2.10, 3.12, and 3.18. Accordingly,

this addendum contains information that supersedes some parts

of the existing 941 Reference Manual (part number GM1100,

revision D). Because the current software is now version 3.18, all

of the features described in “Software version 2.07 upgrades,”

“Software version 2.10 upgrades,” and “Software version 3.12

upgrades” also apply to version 3.18.

Contacting Northstar

For service or sales information on this product, contact

Northstar by email, fax, phone, or U.S. mail as follows:

Table 1: Contacting Northstar

Email:

Service: service@northstarcmc.com

Sales: sales@northstarcmc.com

Fax:

Service: 978/897-1595

Sales: 978/897-7241

Telephone:

Main number: 978/897-6600 or 800/628-4487

U.S. mail:

30 Sudbury Road

Acton, MA 01720

Website:

www.northstargps.com (you can send email to

Northstar directly from this site)

– 2 –

Addendum P/N GM210 032101

Software version 2.07 upgrades

This section describes several software enhancements made in

upgrading the 941 software version 2.06 to software version 2.07.

Please note that all of version 2.07’s enhancements apply to each

later software version, including versions 2.10, 3.12, and 3.18 as

described later in this addendum.

New NMEA output sentence

Northstar has added a new sentence to its NMEA 0183 output

format. The purpose of this new NMEA sentence, “MSS” (MSK

Receiver Signal Status), is to provide status information for the

beacon receiver’s signals (the 941 sends a null sentence if the

beacon receiver isn’t installed). This status information includes

beacon bit rate, frequency, signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio, and signal

strength.

For details about turning on this sentence, see page 118 of the

941 Reference Manual. There, you’ll see a sample screen that

displays the NMEA 0183 sentences; however, version 2.07 will

display the additional MSS sentence in your unit’s actual list. For

further information about NMEA sentences, refer to the National

Marine Electronic Association (NMEA) 0183 Specification.

NMEA 1-Hz output

Version 2.06 normally used the standard NMEA two-second

interval for outputting NMEA sentences (a 0.5-Hz output rate).

Version 2.07 lets you use one-second intervals, a rate of 1 Hz,

under limited circumstances, for NMEA and diagnostic data

output.

NMEA output

Using the 1-Hz output option, however, requires some thought

when specifying either NMEA 0183 (NMEA version 2.0) or

Raytheon (RAY 0183). Since there isn’t enough time to transmit

all available NMEA sentences within one second, you must select

for output only those that are needed. If you select more

– 3 –

032101 Addendum P/N GM210

sentences than can be output in one second, the following error

message is displayed:

SORRY, CAN’T DO THAT. TOO MANY SENTENCES FOR 1 SEC

INTERVAL

If this message is displayed, you must select fewer sentences.

Diagnostic output

The RS-232 diagnostic port also may overflow—when it’s

configured to either COPY PORT1 or COPY PORT2, and one of

the copied ports is in 0183 output mode—unless the diagnostic

port’s baud rate is fast enough to handle the number of

characters. Because the diagnostic port’s baud rate can now be

changed, the 941 will always display this precautionary message

before you actually reset the baud rate:

WARNING: ALL SENTENCES MAY NOT TRANSMIT AT DIAG BAUD

RATE. PRESS “ENTER” TO CONTINUE

Uninstalled DGPS antenna

In version 2.06, the 941 would display the error message DGPS

NOT INSTALLED if the unit was powered on for a short time

without the beacon antenna connected. The only way to clear

the message was to turn power off, then turn power on again.

In version 2.07, if you don’t install the DGPS antenna before

powering up the unit, the 941 displays the status message

SEARCHING. As soon as you connect the antenna, the unit

displays the message OK. You don’t have to turn power off and

on again.

Updated beacon list

Software version 2.07 contains an updated list of beacon names

and their locations.

– 4 –

Addendum P/N GM210 032101

Radio frequency interference (RFI)

A change in the software timing has reduced or eliminated radio

frequency interference that affected certain communications

receivers.

Software version 2.10 upgrades

This section describes several software enhancements made in

upgrading software version 2.07 to software version 2.10. Please

note that all of version 2.10’s enhancements apply to each later

software version, including versions 3.12 and 3.18 as described

later in this addendum.

Anchor-watch alarm honk

In the anchor-watch alarm function, you can set the 941 to honk,

in addition to beep, as long as you’ve connected a honker with

pin #14 on the interface connector. Once you set the anchor-

watch alarm to honk, a continuous honking sequence begins

when either your vessel moves outside the specified anchor-

alarm radius or if the navigation source (e.g., GPS) becomes

unavailable.

Note: On the ALARMS & BACKLIGHT screen, the ANCHOR

ALARM field must be set to ON.

To set the anchor-watch alarm to honk:

1. Press the STAR key once to display the ALARMS &

BACKLIGHT screen.

2. Press the CURSOR PAD to highlight the HONK OUTPUT

field, then press the EDIT ALARM menu key.

3. Press the CURSOR PAD to select ANCHOR ALM, then press

the ENTER key.

If your vessel moves outside the set anchor-alarm radius, for the

next 10 seconds, the exclamation point begins flashing and the

alarm automatically starts beeping (you’ll only hear the beeping

if you’ve set the ALARM AUDIO field to ON). The honk sequence

then starts for a total of 3.5 minutes: 1 second of honking

followed by 14 seconds of silence; 2 seconds of honking followed

– 5 –

032101 Addendum P/N GM210

by 13 seconds of silence; 3 seconds of honking followed by 12

seconds of silence, and so forth, until the honking is up to 14

seconds followed by 1 second of silence. This 3.5-minute honk

cycle repeats forever unless you clear the anchor alarm. This

honk does NOT automatically clear with the following

conditions:

•your vessel moves back into the anchor-alarm radius

•you change the anchor-alarm radius

•you select a new “drop anchor” position

•you turn off the anchor alarm

Instead, you must clear the anchor alarm in either of the

following two ways.

Option #1:

1. Press the STAR key once to display the ALARMS &

BACKLIGHT screen, then press the CLEAR ALARM key.

Option #2:

1. Press the STAR key once to display the ALARMS &

BACKLIGHT screen.

2. Press the CURSOR PAD to highlight the HONK OUTPUT

field, then press the EDIT ALARM key.

3. Press the CURSOR PAD to select either 200 PPNM or ALL

ALARMS, instead of ANCHOR ALM, then press the ENTER

key.

Honking for all alarms

Instead of only a beep for all alarms, you now can set all alarms

to honk. This honking will start simultaneously with the flashing

exclamation point on the ALARMS & BACKLIGHT screen. After

you set all alarms to honk, the system emits an output sound for

half a second, followed by silence for half a second. This

repeatable honking sequence stops when the alarms either

automatically clear or you manually clear them.

Note: If you want all alarms to honk, you must set the ALARM

AUDIO field to ON.

– 6 –

Addendum P/N GM210 032101

To set all alarms to honk:

1. Press the STAR key to display the ALARMS & BACKLIGHT

screen.

2. Press the CURSOR PAD to highlight the HONK OUTPUT

field, then press the EDIT ALARM menu key.

3. Press the CURSOR PAD to select ALL ALARMS, then press

the ENTER key.

Table 2 below illustrates how to set the anchor-watch alarm and

all other alarms to the desired audio.

Table 2: Beep and honk settings for all 941 alarms

Sound Type Setting(s) Description

Beep

Honk

All alarms

Anchor watch

All alarms

Anchor watch

Set alarm audio field to

ON

Set alarm audio field to

ON

Set anchor alarm field

to ON

Set alarm audio field to

ON

Set honk output field to

ALL ALARMS

Set anchor alarm field

to ON

Set honk output field to

ANCHOR ALM

The standard 941 alarm

beep (has not changed).

The standard 941 alarm

beep (has not changed).

Exclamation point

flashes on the ALARMS

& BACKLIGHT screen;

simultaneously emits

an output sound for

half a second, followed

by silence for half a

second.

For 10 seconds, the

exclamation point

flashes on the ALARMS

& BACKLIGHT screen

and the alarm beeps (if

alarm audio is on), then

the honk sequence

starts (see “Anchor

watch alarm honk”

described on page 4 of

this addendum).

– 7 –

032101 Addendum P/N GM210

Selecting an independent NMEA output-port datum

In all past software versions, the geodetic datum you set for the

output ports was the same as the one for positional display. In

software version 2.10 and later, you can adjust output position

for NMEA 0183 ports 1 and 2 to specific geodetic datums,

independently of the datum you choose for positional display.

To select an NMEA output-port datum:

1. At the CHART screen, press the STAR key four times until

you display the USER CUSTOMIZATION screen, then press

the PORT SETUP OPTIONS key.

2. At the PORT SETUP OPTIONS screen, press either the PORT 1

SETUP menu key or the PORT 2 SETUP menu key. Both the

PORT 1 SETUP and PORT 2 SETUP screens have a new field

called OUTPUT DATUM.

3. Press the CURSOR PAD down to select the OUTPUT DATUM

field, then press the EDIT menu key.

4. Press the CURSOR PAD up or down to select the desired

datum.

5. To apply this chosen datum to your lat/lon coordinates in the

NMEA 0183 output sentences, press the ENTER key (or press

the CLEAR key to leave the option unchanged).

Canadian tide stations

Approximately 350 Canadian tide stations (using NOAA’s US

model and data) have been added to the 941’s tide database. In

total, 3540 tide stations are now stored in the 941.

Changes to DGPS stations

The DGPS station “Montauk Point” has been moved to “Moriches,

NY.” The name of the DGPS station “Port Aux Basques” has been

changed to “Cape Ray” (Canada); its frequency and location is

288.0 kHz, 47 38N 59 14W.

– 8 –

Addendum P/N GM210 032101

New DGPS stations

The following new DGPS stations have been added: In Russia,

these are “Baltijsk,” “Shepelevskiy,” “Set. Navolock,” and

“Dgedginsky.” In Finland, “Outokumpu” and “Turku” have been

added, and “Mantyluoto” and “Puumala” have been updated. In

Estonia, “Ristna” has been added.

New DGPS status message

The DGPS status message TOO FEW SATELLITES is now being

displayed on the DGPS STATUS screen. This message means

there are too few satellites for a DGPS fix.

Change to RMC sentence display

Starting at 12:01 AM on January 1, 2000, the RMC sentence

(defined as Recommended Minimum specific GPS/transit data

sentence C), which displays the year using two digits, will display

year as 00. Because all other NMEA 0183 sentences use four

digits, they will display year as 2000.

New TLL sentence

Versions 2.10 and later now support the NMEA TLL sentence,

sometimes referred to as the “rattle” sentence. This sentence

allows the 941 to communicate its position to an interfaced radar

device, which tracks a user-defined target. In turn, the interfaced

radar device communicates to the 941 the target’s position—in

lat/lon coordinates—so that you can see the target symbol,

displayed as a waypoint, right on the CHART screen (after you

save the position).

The target symbol is displayed with the name -RADAR on the

CHART screen as well as on both the alpha and local waypoint

lists (to access these lists, press the WAYPTS/ROUTES key, the

WAYPT LIST key, and the NEXT LIST key until you reach the

desired list). On the alpha and local lists, the -RADAR waypoint is

displayed with the hours/minutes/seconds/day/month/year (for

example, 12:50:20-30JUN95) in the description field.

– 9 –

032101 Addendum P/N GM210

In the 941 Reference Manual, please note that this TLL sentence

should be added to Table 4, “NMEA 0183 Sentence Identifiers,”

on page 120.

Changes to GGA output sentence

“Age of differential correction” (in seconds) and “Beacon station

ID” fields have been added to the NMEA 0183 output sentence

GGA (GPS fix data). “Age of correction” is not available for 941

units containing the NAVCORE GPS 5-channel engine.

Software version 3.12 upgrades

This section describes several software enhancements made in

upgrading software version 2.10 to software version 3.12. Please

note that all of version 3.12’s enhancements apply to each later

software version, including version 3.18 as described later in this

addendum.

Sharing waypoints and routes

The waypoint and route import/export feature allows two or

more 941, 951, or 952 units to conveniently “share” all the same

waypoints and routes. You can use the import/export function to

move all of the waypoints and routes between Northstar units as

follows:

•between two 951’s

•between two 952’s

•between two 941’s

•between a 952 and a 951

•between a 951 and a 941

•between a 941 and a 952

– 10 –

Addendum P/N GM210 032101

Only one unit, designated the “master,” enters the import/export

function. The other unit can remain in normal operation as

long as you don’t actually add or modify its waypoints or

routes during the transfer process. Any screen can be displayed

during the transfer process, including the IMPORT DATA screen

or the EXPORT DATA screen. You can designate either of the two

units as the master because both units are able to import and

export waypoints and routes; but once you select the master,

make sure you select the correct function for what you want to

do (import copies waypoints and routes into the master unit;

export copies waypoints and routes from the master unit).

Connecting the two units

The two units must be properly connected using specific cables/

connectors and the aux-head ports. For interfacing information,

contact your local Northstar dealer.

Moving waypoints and routes into a master unit (import)

When you move waypoints and routes into unit 1 (the designated

master) from unit 2, the entire contents of unit 2 are imported into

unit 1. Also, if any waypoint or route name matches exist, the

waypoints or routes from unit 2 overwrite the waypoints or routes

already in unit 1.

NOTE:

If you want to import or export to/from older units, these units

all must have software version 3.12 or higher; to obtain any

necessary upgrades, please contact your authorized Northstar

dealer.

– 11 –

032101 Addendum P/N GM210

1. Select the unit you’d like to use as the master. Remember:

You can use either of the two units as the master because

both units are capable of importing or exporting waypoints

and routes.

2. At the master unit, press the WAYPTS/ROUTES key to

display the WAYPTS AND ROUTES screen.

NOTE:

If you press any function key on the master unit during the

transfer, the error message TRANSFER ABORTED BY KEY

HIT will be displayed, the process will be aborted, and the

master unit will display the particular screen accessed by that

function keypress. You can press any key on the other unit,

however, without interrupting the transfer process.

To purposely stop the transfer at any time, press the STOP

key. If you press the STOP key, the master unit displays the

dialog-box message TRANSFER ABORTED BY KEY HIT,

and the status bar displays the message TRANSFER

ABORTED. Waypoints and routes transferred up to that point

are in the receiving unit (be aware that a particular route may

not contain all of its waypoints due to the transfer interruption).

Press the START key again to re-start the entire transfer

process (this means that all waypoints and routes, not just the

ones already in the receiving unit and the ones left to be

transferred, are re-transferred).

– 12 –

Addendum P/N GM210 032101

3. Press the IMPORT/EXPORT menu key to display the

IMPORT/EXPORT screen.

4. Press the IMPORT DATA menu key to display the IMPORT

DATA screen. The status bar in the center of the screen

displays the message READY TO TRANSFER to show that the

transfer is ready to start.

– 13 –

032101 Addendum P/N GM210

5. Before transferring, check the communication link between

the two units by pressing the TEST COMM key. The status

bar should display the message REMOTE LINK OK.

6. To move waypoints and routes into this master unit from the

other unit, press the START key. The status bar displays the

message TRANSFERRING and updates every second with the

number of waypoints and routes already received against the

total quantity to be received. The progress bar, located below

the status bar, graphically displays the percentage

completed.

If there’s a problem with the transfer process, the following

messages may appear:

• If the other unit is off-line, the master unit displays the

dialog-box message COULDN’T GET REMOTE WAYPT/

ROUTE COUNT and the status-bar message

COMMUNICATION ERROR.

• If the other unit doesn’t contain any waypoints and routes,

the master unit displays the dialog-box message NO

WAYPTS OR ROUTES TO TRANSFER and the status-bar

message NO TRANSFER DONE.

• If the master unit is completely full of waypoints and routes

(no more room available), the master unit displays the

– 14 –

Addendum P/N GM210 032101

dialog-box message LOCAL UNIT STATUS ERROR [002]

DATABASE FULL and the status-bar message

COMMUNICATION ERROR.

If there isn’t any problem with the transfer process, the master

unit’s status bar displays the message TRANSFER COMPLETE

when done. You can now press any key to resume other

operations.

Moving waypoints and routes from a master unit (export)

When you move waypoints from unit 1 (the designated master)

into unit 2, the entire contents of unit 1 are exported into unit 2.

Also, if any waypoint or route name matches exist, the waypoints

or routes from unit 1 will overwrite the waypoints or routes

already in unit 2.

1. Select the unit you’d like to use as the “master.” Remember:

You can use either of two units as the master because both

units are capable of importing or exporting waypoints and

routes.

NOTE:

If you press any function key on the master unit during the

transfer, the error message TRANSFER ABORTED BY KEY

HIT will be displayed, the process will be aborted, and the

master unit will display the particular screen accessed by that

function keypress. You can press any key on the other unit,

however, without interrupting the transfer process.

To purposely stop the transfer at any time, press the STOP

key. If you press the STOP key, the master unit displays the

dialog-box message TRANSFER ABORTED BY KEY HIT,

and the status bar displays the message TRANSFER

ABORTED. Waypoints and routes transferred up to that point

are in the receiving unit (be aware that a particular route may

not contain all of its waypoints due to the transfer interruption).

Press the START key again to re-start the entire transfer

process (this means that all waypoints and routes, not just the

ones already in the receiving unit and the ones left to be

transferred, are re-transferred).

– 15 –

032101 Addendum P/N GM210

2. At the “master” unit, press the WAYPTS/ROUTES key to

display the WAYPTS AND ROUTES screen.

3. Press the IMPORT/EXPORT menu key to display the

IMPORT/EXPORT screen.

4. Press the EXPORT DATA menu key to display the EXPORT

DATA screen. The status bar in the center of the screen

– 16 –

Addendum P/N GM210 032101

displays the message READY TO TRANSFER to show that the

transfer is ready to start.

5. Before transferring, check the communication link between

the two units by pressing the TEST COMM key. If the status

bar now displays the message REMOTE LINK OK, you may

begin to transfer waypoints.

6. To move waypoints and routes from the master unit into the

other unit, press the START key. The status bar displays the

message TRANSFERRING and updates every second with the

number of waypoints and routes sent compared to the total

quantity to be sent. The progress bar, located below the

status bar, graphically shows the percentage completed.

If there’s a problem with the transfer process, the following

messages may appear:

• If the other unit is off-line, the master unit displays the

dialog-box message TRANSFER ABORTED BY

COMMUNICATION TIMEOUT and the status-bar message

COMMUNICATION ERROR.

• If the master unit doesn’t contain any waypoints and routes,

the master unit displays the dialog-box message NO WAY-

PTS OR ROUTES TO TRANSFER and the status-bar message

NO TRANSFER DONE.

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NORTHSTAR 941X Addendum Reference Manual

NORTHSTAR 941X Addendum Reference Manual

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