Installation and Set up
Problem Reported
The transducer connector is supplied pre-wired, but if it has to be re-wired by a dealer or on a boat, what are the pin-outs of the 3 pin XLR connector?
Solution
Pins 1 and 2 are to the transducer
Pin 3 is connected to the shield or earth conductor.
Problem Reported
Optoisolators are increasingly used between GPS units and PC's. These are often so called "port powered" and use handshake signals to provide power for the internal electronics.
RoxMap may require to be set to activate the handshake signals correctly.
Solution
This problem is solved by modification of the Roxmap.ini file. This file is located in the Windows directory.
Open this file with an editor such as notebook. There will be a section towards the top of the file of the form:-
[NMEA0183]
GLL=1
GGA=1
VTG=1
AssertHandshake=0
Setting AssertHandshake=1 will enable the handshake lines RTS and DTR.
Once Roxmap.ini has been saved, the RoxMap program must be closed and then re-opened to guarantee activation of the handshake signals.
Problem Reported
There are a set of LED's on the RoxAnn GD PCB which can be used for fault finding. These are identified below.
Solution
| LED No | Indication |
|---|
| | |
| 1 | Noise Balance (+ve swing) |
| 2 | Noise Balance (-ve swing) |
| 312 | -5V Analog Supply |
| 311 | +5V Analog Supply |
| 404 | CPLD RFBAND1 |
| 403 | CPLD RFBAND0 |
| 402 | CPLD STATE 2 |
| 401 | CPLD STATE 1 |
| 307 | CPU Port P4.6 Pin 42 |
| 306 | CPU Port P4.5 Pin 41 |
| 305 | CPU Port P4.4 Pin 40 |
| 304 | CPU Port P4.3 Pin 39 |
| 303 | CPU Port RoxAnn Data |
| 302 | CPU Port Wait |
| 301 | CPU Port Reset CPU |
| 313 | Comms RXD (off for data) |
| 314 | Comms TXD (off for data) |
| 308 | USB Connected |
| 310 | 5Vin Supply |
| | |
| | CPLD States |
|---|
| | |
| Off | Wait for TXP |
| ST1 On | Wait for 1st Echo |
| ST2 On | 1st Echo Received |
| Both | Wait till end E2 |
| | |
| | CPU States |
|---|
| | |
| 301 | CPU is Reset |
| 302 | CPU "booting" |
| 303 | CPU Wait for RoxAnn signals |
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Plotters and Hydrographic Software Package Interfaces
Problem Reported
The plotted position of the RoxAnn data on the RoxAnn square (RoxMap and similar plotters) appears very close to the bottom left hand corner most of the time.
Solution
RoxMap has the ability to scale the square axes to match the data. This allows the RoxAnn data (E1, E2) to fill the square and provides best resolution for ground classification. Refere to the RoxMap manual for details on how to do this.
Third party plotters may have limitations in this respect and have fixed scales for the axes. Discuss this with the plotter manufacturer.
Note that high frequency systems generally give lower E1 & E2 values than low frequency systems.
Also note that RoxMap and some other plotters calculate the square root of the E1 and E2 values before displaying on the screen. This does not affect the accuracy of classification and is intended only to improve the appearance of the display.
Problem Reported
Olex wouldn't communicate with RoxAnn GD over USB link, but the USB link had been working with RoxMap on the same port.
Solution
The problem was solved by using the serial link, via a serial to USB adaptor.
There wasn't a good reason for this, so may have been hardware related, but watch for repeat occurrences.
If both are to be used simultaneously on different PC's, use the USB output for RoxMap, and the serial port for Olex.
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RoxMap
Problem Reported
When RoxMap is executed a RoxMap Setup Manager popup appears with the message :-
"Can't Read chart.ini
OK"
Pressing OK clears the fault and RoxMap continues to execute.
Does not appear to affect operation - merely annoying.
Solution
The problem is caused by a corrupt Euronav charting file: chart.ini, located in the RoxMap directory.
The solution is to replace the file with a valid chart.ini from
< http://www.sonavision.co.uk/site_graphics/RoxmapFix/chart.ini >
Note: there is also a charts.ini in the directory. This must not be replaced.
Problem Reported
Transfer of RoxMap data between computers
Solution
RoxMap data is stored in a database within the RoxMap folder. The folder named "database" contains the stored data and other files used to manage the data. The complete structure can be moved to another computer installed with RoxMap using Windows Explorer. Simply copy and then paste the complete database folder contents to a database folder on the other machine.
Never try to copy individual or blocks of track files alone. RoxMap will not recognise them.
Boxfiles can also be moved by copying the .box files as required between the boxfile folders.
Problem Reported
RoxMap showed the ship position jumping around in large steps rather than smoothly.
Solution
The RoxMap accepts both GLL and GGA strings from the GPS. GLL strings have two decimal places precision whilst GGA have three decimal positions. The GGA strings should always be used if available.
Always set the GPS to output GGA strings and not GLL strings if possible. Alternatively locate the roxmap.ini file in the windows folder and edit such that GGA = 1 and GLL = 0.
Problem Reported
A RoxAnn GD is being used in conjunction with a GPS system, which requires RS232 handshake signals RTS and DTR. Because these are not present, RoxMap is not receiving the GPS NMEA string therefore all data is plotted at one position on the chart.
Solution
This problem is solved by modification of the Roxmap.ini file. This file is located in the Windows directory.
Open this file with an editor such as notebook. There will be a section towards the top of the file of the form:-
[NMEA0183]
GLL=1
GGA=1
VTG=1
AssertHandshake=0
Setting AssertHandshake=1 will enable the handshake lines RTS and DTR.
Once Roxmap.ini has been saved, the RoxMap program must be closed and then re-opened to guarantee activation of the handshake signals.
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