3. Confirming Sensor Operation

Introduction

Please follow the instructions below to confirm sensor operation after retro-fitting a Direct Drive.

3. Confirming Sensor Operation

In order to test the output of the radar sensor, you will require:

A portable computer running Windows 10 or later
The SPx RadarView application (which can be obtained from the ‘tools’ folder on the supplied RPU)
A CAT 5, 5e or 6 network cable (straight or crossover wiring)

3.1 Preparing & Connecting Your Computer

IMPORTANT: Ensure that your computer has its IP address set to operate within the same subnet as the Radar Sensor.

The IP address of the radar sensor is preset before leaving Navtech Radar Limited to a default value of 192.168.0.1 unless otherwise specified by the client.
The subnet mask of the radar sensor is often preset to 255.255.255.0 but could also be set wider (such as 255.255.0.0) if requested.
Thus, if the sensor IP address is 192.168.0.1 and the mask is 255.255.255.0, then your computer must use an IP address in the range: 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254.

NOTE: If you are connecting to the radar via an Ethernet switch rather than making a direct link, it is important that no other radar client software, such as Bloodhound, is already connected before using radar view.

For further details about preparing a computer, please see 3.1.1 - Preparing a computer to link with a radar sensor.

Connecting Your Computer

You can connect your computer at any point along the signal link from the radar sensor, either directly into the sensor mounted socket; at the pole mounted enclosure (if the signal link is joined there) or at the far end of the link where it will join the RPU (Radar Processing Unit) system.

NOTE: The sensor can be powered on or off while connecting and disconnecting the network link.

The network controller within the radar sensor is autosensing so that you can use either straight through or crossover cables and it will adjust its operation accordingly.

Connect a link cable between your computer and the network port, either on the sensor or elsewhere along the signal path.
Ensure that the radar sensor is powered on and is rotating.

3.1.1 Preparing a Computer to Link with a Radar Sensor

Setting the IP address in Windows 7

Click the Windows Start button.
Select Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Centre > Change Adapter settings:
Right click Local Area Connection and select Properties.
Highlight Internet Protocol Version (TCP/IPv4), and then click the Properties button.
Set the IP address:
For example, if the radar IP address is 192.168.0.1 then set laptop to 192.168.0.10 or higher. Click Subnet mask to automatically set to 255.255.255.0. Leave Default Gateway blank. Click OK.
Close the window.

3.2 Setting the Service Date & Checking Vital Signs

The CTS350-X radar sensor has a built in web interface (known as Vertex) which provides default user level access to the radar. This means you can view information but no changes can be made. There is a useful summary of key radar setup and diagnostic information – e.g. IP address, serial number, System Uptime and Radar health (temperature and rotation).

To use the Vertex Interface

On the computer that is linked to the sensor, open a suitable web browser: Internet Explorer (v10 or above) or Chrome.
Type in the address of the sensor in the format http://192.168.0.1 and press return. This will redirect you to a secure http (https) connection. Accept any security warnings – these are raised because the browser does not recognise the certificate from the radar.
To avoid seeing this warning every time you connect, save the IP address of the radar in the secure/trusted sites zone of your browser (although the certificate is regenerated every time the radar reboots). You should now see the Vertex interface opening page:

Within the basic view (when not logged in to the sensor), Vertex provides four main pages, accessible from the four buttons in the top left corner:

Status: Displays basic static settings (i.e. auto-hostname, serial number, IP address, etc.) plus dynamic graphs (arranged on two tabs in the lower portion of the page) that provide Temperature and Rotation details.

System Information: Provides three pages of detailed settings under the sub headings of System, Radar and Advanced. Click the System Information option to reveal the three sub-headings.

Log Viewer: A full list of all sensor activities. Viewing is possible while not logged- in, however, you must log in if you wish to download the record.

Radar Data: Allows you to view the live radar data.

Two other buttons are shown in green at the top right corner of the page:

Report: Click on this option to display a configuration summary report that details all of the key sensor settings.

Login: Click on this option to login so that changes can be made to the service date. See setting the service date below for details.

Using the Log Viewer

The radar stores a record of activities in order to assist diagnostics. Due to memory restrictions, newer entries will overwrite the oldest and so the log does not retain all historical information.

Enter the number of records that you wish to view and click Go.
The requested number of log entries will be displayed with the most recent at the top of the page:
The numbering starts from the latest entry and work backwards in time.

Viewing Radar Data

Click on the Radar Data button to view live radar data:

Setting the Service Date

Following a service procedure you need to register the service date within the radar sensor.

In order to do this, you first need to login to Vertex.
Access the Vertex interface as discussed earlier in this section.
Click the Login button in the top right hand corner of the screen.
Enter the correct Username and Password. By default these are:
Username: user (all lower case)
Password: Navtech. (including the capital ‘N’ and the full stop)
Click Login or press Return. This level of access allows basic configuration changes and log downloads.
Click on the Factory > Radar Hardware button on the left side to display the following page:
In the Service Date option, enter the next date the sensor is due a service and then click the blue Apply button in the lower right corner.
Click the green Commit Changes button to save the settings to the sensor memory.
A message will be displayed when this action has been carried out.
Click the red Action button at the top of the page.
Click the Reboot option to restart the radar sensor.

3.3 Testing Radar Operation using SPx RadarView

The SPx RadarView application consists of two files which must be located in the same folder (any folder) on your computer: SPXRadarView.exe and SPXRadarView.cpv.

The default .cpv file should be adequate to endure the radar is operating correctly.

To make a recording or for detailed site analysis a radar specific .cpv file may be required.

To use SPx RadarView

Run SPXRadarView.exe. You should see a blank main screen:
NOTE: In the lower panel, the Video and Turn indicators will be red to indicate that there is no communication with the sensor.
Click the Channel-A menu and select the Source... option.
Ensure that the Selection option is set to Network and in the section below, enter the IP Address of the sensor.
The Port must be set to 6317.
Click OK.
Once the IP address and port are correctly set and the application makes contact with the sensor, the Video and Turn indicators should turn green. Shortly after, you should begin to see radar scan information within the main window:
If you see a response similar to that shown here, then you can be assured that the sensor is functioning correctly and can be remounted on its post and returned to service.