Alewijnse Marine Systems is introducing a revolutionary river radar based on the latest technology and including many new features.
The Inland Navigation Radar is being presented for the first time at the Europort exhibition from November 8 to 11 in Ahoy, Rotterdam, and will be available in early 2012. Innovative features of the new Alewijnse radar include the simultaneous overlay of AIS information on the radar image, and the exceptional quality of the digital signal transmitted between the radar scanner and 22-inch widescreen display. The introduction of this radar is in response to new
legislation coming into force in 2012 to address the large number of obsolete radar types still in use on inland waterways and which must now be replaced by 31 December 2011.
The most striking innovation of the new radar display, the Explorer R4, is the use of an extra-wide, 22-inch widescreen display that allows more information to be displayed than on conventional screens. It also allows the radar image can be enlarged and enhanced.
The large screen also enables multi-display menus. With these flexible menus the user can access a wide range of information including personal settings and a mini-conning page which shows critical information such as speed, heading and depth. This is an example of how the user-friendly interface and ergonomic design make this radar simple and intuitive to operate.
Alewijnse is the first participant in this market to launch a digital PC-based radar. The new radar uses an innovative technique developed by Alewijnse whereby the data exchange between the scanner and radar computer is processed using digital technology instead of analogue. This offers substantial advantages as switching between antennas and radar processors is easy and the data is transferred faster. The radar picture is also much clearer as the digital technology detects and eliminates false echoes, showing only those that are real.
Another advantage is the fact that the need for complex wiring is removed as the antenna is Ethernetbased. The result is that the radar cable is much more flexible than usual; a great advantage to existing ships in case a new radar cable has to be installed.