Garmin GPSMAP 700 - Optimizing the Radar Display

68 GPSMAP
®
700 Series Owner’s Manual
Radar
Optimizing the Radar Display
You can optimize the radar display for each radar mode.
1. From the Home screen, select
Radar.
2. Select
Cruising, Harbor, Offshore, or Sentry.
3. Select a radar range (
page 68).
4. Restore the default value of the gain setting (
page 69).
5. Restore the default value of the sea clutter setting (
page 70).
6. Restore the default value of the
rain clutter setting (page 71).
7. Restore the default value of the FTC setting (
page 71).
8. Restore the default value of the crosstalk setting (
page 72).
9. Adjust the gain setting manually (
page 69).
10. Adjust the sea clutter setting manually (
page 70).
11. Adjust the rain clutter and FTC settings manually (
page 71).
About the Range of Radar Signals
The range of the radar signal indicates the length of the pulsed signal transmitted and received by
the radar. As the range increases, the radar transmits longer pulses in order to reach distant targets.
Closer targets, especially rain and waves, also reect the longer pulses, which can add noise to the
Radar screen. Viewing information about longer-range targets can also decrease the amount of space
available on the Radar screen for viewing information about shorter-range targets.
Tips for Selecting a Radar Range
Determine what information you need to see on the radar display. For example, do you need
information about nearby weather conditions or targets and trafc, or are you more concerned
about distant weather conditions?
Assess the environmental conditions in which the radar is being used. Especially in inclement
weather, longer-range radar signals can increase the clutter on the Radar screen and make it more
difcult to view information about shorter-range targets. In rain, shorter-range radar signals can
enable you to view information about nearby objects more effectively, if the Rain Clutter and
FTC settings are congured optimally.
Select the shortest effective range, given your reason for using radar and the current
environmental conditions.
Selecting a Radar Range
See “Adjusting the Zoom Scale on the Radar Screen” (page 60).
About Gain and Clutter
The gain controls the sensitivity of the radar receiver. The default setting for the gain, Auto, sets
the gain automatically one time, based on average conditions, the range of the radar signal, and
the selected radar mode. The chartplotter does not readjust the gain automatically in response to
changing conditions. To optimize the radar appearance for specic conditions, manually adjust the
gain (page 69).
Clutter is interference caused by the unwanted reection of radar signals off of unimportant targets.
Common sources of clutter include precipitation, sea waves, and nearby radar sources.
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