Si-tex SP-70 - Using Your Navigation Interface

Using Your Navigation Interface
To be safe, learn to use your Navigation
Interface at slow speeds, away from other
vessels.
Turn on the navigation device.
This could be a LORAN, GPS or plotter.
Give it time to find its position accurately and
turn off its warning indicators.
Enter a Waypoint into the navigation
device.
With some navigation devices, it is necessary
to tell them to send information to the
Autopilot.
With all navigation devices, make sure that it
is sending information in the NMEA 0183
format.
Look at the Control Unit display. Press
the Nav Key.
The autopilot is now in NAV MODE. The
Autopilot will display [xxxn}. The large lower
case “n” at the right side of the display shows
the Autopilot is in NAV MODE.
If the SI-TEX Autopilot receives usable data
from your navigation device, the display will
show the course changing towards the new
bearing. The SP-70 or SP-80 will bring your
boat onto the new course. It will steer
towards the Waypoint using the information
from the Nav device and the compass.
If the vessel seems to steer away from the
course line, or back to it’s starting point,
push and hold the Flush Key and press the
Green Key once. Please read the section
called “Navigation Interface.”
If the autopilot consistently beeps every five
seconds and displays [n’dAt] (No Data) then
it is not receiving usable data from the
navigation device. The Autopilot will stay in
the N
AV MODE and WILL CONTINUE TO STEER
TO THE PRESENT HEADING USING COMPASS
INFORMATION
.
Please remember that all SI-TEX SP-70 and
SP-80 Autopilots are tested at the factory, so
the first things to check are your wiring and
your navigation device. Read your owner’s
manual for the navigation device to make
sure that it is sending out NMEA 0183
language. Also see the next section:
“Problem Solving”, for further help.
If the Autopilot intermittently displays [F’dat]
(Faulty Data), then it is receiving a warning
signal from the navigation device.
Caution
It is strongly recommended that you do not
continue to use the NAV MODE if [F’dat] is
displayed.
This signal indicates that the navigation
information may not be accurate. Check your
navigation device for warning indicators such
as a flashing light or message.