Becker SAR-DF 517 Manual
Becker SAR-DF 517 Manual
4-Band Precision
Direction Finder
Titlepage 01/2002
ISO 9001
Table of Contents
Section 2 Installation
Page
Page
Section 3 Operation
Page
Page
Fig. 3-5 Display Page 2 (Expanded +/- 45° Bearing Display) 3-5
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1.1. Introduction
The SAR-DF 517 4-Band Precision Direction Finder System is described in ”Installation and
Operation” DV 77513.03 and “Maintenance and Repair” DV 77513.04 manuals.
1 General Information X X
2 Installation X X
3 Operation X X
4 Theory of Operation X
6 Parts List X
8 Circuit Diagrams X
1.2. Purpose
This modern precision direction finder was mainly developed for professional SAR (search and
rescue) purposes. It offers the possibility to bear and analyse traditional emergency frequencies in the
UHF and VHF band, the general calling channel 16 of maritime radio and the common Cospas/Sarsat
emergency signal. Because of its very short pulse length this signal cannot be beared reasonably by
conventional direction finders.
The excellent bearing results become possible by our newly developed patented antenna concept
(small, robust and wide-banded) and the sophisticated bearing analysing algorithms, which deliver a
quick but nevertheless steady display.
The direction finder was developed for working under rough conditions as mobile uses on helicopters
or vehicles.
Internal resolution 1°
Trainings mode
118.000 ....122.975 MHz
156.000 .....157.975 MHz
240.000 .....245.975 MHz
400.000 .....409.975 MHz
Polarisation Vertical
Note
(1) Undisturbed wave field and sufficient field strength proposed. Measuring by changing the angle of
incidence , the bearing antenna rotates on a revolving table in order to eliminate influences of
environment for the bearing result.
(2) Very weak signals can increase considerably the time of response!
1.3.2. Interface
External connections (optional / at Sub-D 9pol. Connector X4 male)
Dimming:
Audio/LF:
Display:
permissible operating temperature (3): - 20 °C ... + 60 °C
permissible storage temperature: - 30 °C ... + 80 °C
Note
Protective System:
Bearing Antenna: IP 67
Weights:
Display Unit: 250 g
Bearing Antenna: 2000 g
Dimensions:
Display unit: 82mm x 82mm x 43mm
(width x height x depth)
Bearing antenna: ∅270mm x 185mm
1.6. Accessories
Connector set for cable (antenna ß-à display unit) and power supply
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2.1 General
The installation of the display unit and antenna unit depends on the type of aircraft and equipment
and therefore only a general information can be given in this section.
Place the packed unit on a clean, flat surface. Open the reusable package, carefully remove the units
and check for completeness. Replace the packaging material in the shipping container and keep it so
that the unit can again be properly packed for storage or shipping.
Before installing the dispaly unit and antenna unit in an aircraft, carry out a visual inspection for any
transport damage, paying particular attention to the following:
Dirt, dents, scratches, corrosion, broken attaching parts on the housing and housing parts.
Dirt and scratches on the identification plate, front panel, LC display and marking.
Dirt and mechanical damage on the rotary switches, push-buttons and knobs.
Missing screws.
A convenient position of the monopole bearing antenna is decisive for good bearing results. The
antenna needs an effective ground connection to the body of the helicopter or to the roof of the
vehicle. If no metallic mounting surface available, a metallic sheet or similar (net) with connection to
ground has to be applied first between vehicle-body and antenna.
Direction
Aircraft
Nose
The aircraft manufacturer usually provides information concerning the location of the antenna, which is
usually also suitable for locating the antenna. It is mandatory that the following requirements be
checked prior to installing the antenna in the absence of any other information :
The antenna can be mounted either above or below the fuselage, however, as near as possible to the
aircraft centreline. In addition, the selected location should be away from projecting components (fixed
undercarriage, tail plane or radar), and as far away as possible from other antennas. This is essential
to avoid signal distortion and thus inaccurate bearing indication. Furthermore, the antenna and its
feeders must no be located in the vicinity of sources of RF interference such as inverters, motors,
regulators, generators and their wiring. It should also be noted that inverters can give rise to magnetic
interference and thus detriment reception even though good screening may be provided.
In aircraft having a wooden or plastic airframe an electric counterweight plate or panel must be located
within the fuselage at the antenna location with minimum dimension 80 x 80 cm. A good connectron
between electrical counterweight plate or panel and ground is required.
In all cases, comply with FAA AC 43.12-2A requirements to ensure that the mounting location has
sufficient strength. The installation dimensions are given in Fig. 2-3.
2.5.1. General
Only suitable aircraft cable should be used. Use AWG 22 or AWG 24 for all wiring.
Before switching on the equipment, carefully check the wiring, making particularly sure that
the positive and negative poles have not been confused anywhere.
CAUTION !
No high-frequency cables should be tied in together with the wiring of the direction finder. The
connecting lines must also not be laid together with cables carrying audio signals or pulsed
information (e.g. IFCS, DME, XPR, slaved gyro). The same holds for the supply and control lines of
autopilotes.
6-pol. Amphenol plug, female max. length of cable ca. 10m 9-pol. Sub-D plug
PTG06SE10-6S(SQ) (GND connected to cable-shield) (female/male)
The display unit is equipped with a panel lighting. The panel lighting may be connected to 1 V DC, to
33 V DC supply voltage.
A functional check after installation is only reasonable for all system components (display unit, and
antenna unit) together.
a. The test equipment fastening to the antenna unit and align with the marking (see illustration).
Angle
270°
Angle 90°
Angle 0°
b. Connect the test equipment at the signal geneator. Set an output frequency of 121.500 MHz.
c. Switch on the Display unit, adjust to the correct frequency and observe the indication in the
Bearing operating mode (Operating instruction see section 3).The Display should indication 0°
relative bearing.
d. Turn the Test equipment to position 90°; the Display should indication 90°.
e. Turn the Test equipment to position 180°; the Display should indication 180°.
f. Turn the Test equipment to position 270°; the Display should indication 270°.
With the engines running and the aircraft electrical system on, check whether radio beacons at
boundary range can still be received without interference (compare with post- installation check as
described above).
Should the reading be influenced by local interference, trace the source by systematically switching off
the electronic equipment, generators, etc. on the aircraft to establish which component is causing
interference. Then suppress interference accordingly.
1. Generators, regulators :
a) When fitting the antenna and the associated feeders wiring, make sure that these
items of equipment are as far away as possible from the positive lead (from generator to
battery).
b) Block the positive lead from the generator to the regulator with an electrolytic capacitor
( max.500µF) at the regulator end.
c) In the case of alternators, insert a filter (10 - 50µH, 10 - 100 nF, e.g. Bosch 0290 002 002)
in the lead connecting the regulator to the alternator field winding.
d) Insert a filter (e.g. Bosch 0290 003 009/75A) in the positive lead from the generator to the
battery in the vicinity of the generator.
Proceed with suppression work as described in a) above until no further interference is detected.
For interference suppression we suggest inserting a filter (e.g., Bosch 0290 003 006/6A)
into the positive power supply lead close to the item concerned in order to isolate
the harmonics of the chopper frequency from the aircraft wiring system.
3. RF interference :
It is mandatory to always proceed in accordance with FAA AC 43.13-1A and FAA AC 43.13-2A
requirements!
Section 3 Operation
In order to achieve best use of the direction finder, the user is able to perform several adjustments of
configuration. These adjustments can be set up in the edit-menu (display: page 5).
3.2. Operating
Operating the direction finder is deliberately very simple with its clearly arranged layout. Except the
upper page rotary switch and the ON/OFF push button the function of the operating elements depend
always on the active page. All relevant adjustments can be controlled on the display.
2 >Page / Select Mode< rotary switch for selection of the operating mode after power-on.
1 >DIM< In order to adjust “internally” the background brightness of the display press simultaneously
the REP key while selecting the brightness with the PAGE rotary switch. The adjusted
brightness of the display will remain stored after switching off the unit. The background of the
LC-graphic display is equipped with a LED-array, whose brightness may be adjusted
continuously (from 0 to 100%). Dimming will be performed in an exponential curve, thus
allowing very accurate adjusting under night- resp. NVG-conditions.
Always active, if external dimming input not connected, or applied voltage < 1V DC. (See plan
interwiring).
As soon as there’s a voltage >1V DC at the dimming input the brightness is controlled
externally, but remains additionally adjustable on the display unit. (See plan interwiring and
operating/edit-menu).
2 >PAGE< Rotary switch to select the displayed active page and its corresponding operating mode.
The current page number (1 to 6) is indicated in the display top right.
On the device works in the bearing mode. As soon as a signal is received (receiving level above
squelch level) the unaveraged maximal bearing values (spread) are indicated and, if interpretable, the
averaged bearing value. Having received a signal, the last bearing value is shortly shown flashing,
until the internal average bearing value store is cancelled after the time-hold span (see edit-menu)..
1 >FREQUENCY< Rotary switch selecting the active frequency. The last selected frequency re-
mains stored after switching off/on the device. The selected frequency is shown on the graphic
display bottom right. Following the order of possible frequencies:
2 >VOLUME< Rotary switch for the AF-audio exit. A linked external speaker resp. amplifier can
be adjusted in a range from 0% (off) to 100% (max). The selected volume is shown in the
graphic display bottom left. The volume remains stored after switching off/on the device.
3 >Squelch level< Adjusts the squelch level, which has to be above the receiving level without
signal (noise). For each frequency exists a squelch level, which has to be adjusted separately.
4 >CLR< Pushbutton for erasing the internal bearing value averaging store. The sophisticated
averaging store increases bearing precision and effects at all a usable bearing display for bad
receiving signals (if there is a far away transmitter and/or temporary complete loss of a receiving
signal). Caused by the averaging procedure a drag error may occur, which might be disturbing
after quick changes of course. In this case the indicated bearing value lags by the real bearing
value for about two seconds (for very weak signals even longer). By pressing this pushbutton
after a quick change of course the display will show the new bearing value without drag error.
6 >REPEAT< Pushbutton, when pressed, showing the last valid bearing value with corresponding
receiving level.
2 >Spread<, maximum deviation of unaveraged bearing values as indicator of bearing quality. The
wider the range, the worse is the received signal. The excellent averaging procedure effects even
with a spread of 45° good bearing results.
3 >Receiving level< (field strength) of the signal in the range of 0% to 100%. Even without a
received signal a certain noise level may be displayed..
4 >Squelch level< -marker (free adjustable>Squelch level< -marker (free adjustable for each
frequency). A usable bearing and Cospas/Sarsat analysis can only be achieved, if the squelch
level is above the noise level (without received signal). If the bearing antenna is situated near
strongly disturbing electronic devices, the squelch level has to be raised, thus making the direction
finder less sensitive.
6 >Mounting< -indicator of the mounted bearing antenna. Shows the mounting arrangement of the
antenna (can be adjusted in the edit-menu) as verification. ( = TOP mounted, =BOTTOM
mounted)
7 >LS: ---:---< (last signal) internal timer, indicating the time span of the last received signal. (Display
in min:sec).
The scanning mode is possible with the frequencies: 406,025 MHz ⇔ (121,500 MHz and 243,000
MHz) or the respective training frequencies.
Timer > LS: --:-- always displays time span Frequency display in scanning mode:
since last received CP-Sarsat pulse signal
(406,025 MHz)
2 >STORE< pushbutton. Present displayed massage will be stored. An already existing stored
message will be overwritten. The messages will remain stored after switching off the device.
6 First part, complete Hex Message: complete short-data signal, hexadecimally coded (bit 25...112)
10 GPS-data of position, (data of latitude and longitude), if contained in transmitter signal. Solution
between 15 minutes and 4 seconds of arc.
11 Time: Timer displaying time span since last received valid CP-sarsat message.
5 >TimeHold< Duration [sec] of internal storage of the averaged bearing value. In case that there
are weak signals with signal gaps (e.g. temporary blind spots caused by rough sea) the bearing
values are still summed up despite lacking signals, thus enabling a good signal analysis (normal
TimeHold value: 10 = secs.).
7 >Mounting< Order of antenna mounting. If the antenna is mounted upside down (e.g. on bottom
side of a helicopter) Bottom has to be selected. If mounted on top of a vehicle, Top has to be
selected. If > Mounting< not properly selected, the bearing value resp. display will be shown mirror
inverted!
8 >Ext. Dim. Volt. Range< Range of voltage, which controls the dimming of the display (here:
28.0V=100%; 10.0V= 0% of brightness). In order to cover the whole range of brightness, the
minimum resp. maximum values of the dimming voltage may be adapted to the given controlling
voltage (e.g. of the airplane). The values are adjustable in between min. 1,5V and max. 33V DC.
(See plan interwiring)
(5) Training frequency on maritime band: Channel [1…28] and [60..88] of sea-station / look
apendix.
If an internal error of the device is recognised, a corresponding error message will be shown on the
flashing display. At coincidence of various errors the error with highest priority will be displayed.