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29 March 2005
Revised 27 June 2006
Upgrading USCG DDF6000 Processors
A Technical Application Note from Doppler Systems Inc.
1. Determining whether to upgrade.
Cycle the power to a DDF6000 processor and note the two special messages displayed immediately after turning the unit ON. The first display (in the Bearing Window) is the firmware revision. A number such as 3.09, 4.14, etc. will be displayed along with a “1” in the S-meter window. After about 1 second, a second message is displayed in the bearing window. This is the CIV address and will appear as 001, 012, etc. followed by a “2” in the S-meter window. Note both of these numbers.
If the firmware revision is 4.19 or later, there is no need to upgrade it. The current revision is 4.24, but the changes since 4.19 do not affect the operation in the Coast Guard applications and there is no need to upgrade 4.19 to 4.24, for example.
If the DF processor does not work, it should be returned for repair. All repaired units will be upgraded as part of the repair process.
2. Replacing the processor.
Take a spare DDF6000 and connect it to a PC. Run the program WinRDFCMD which can be downloaded from the web page Software and Upgrades. Note the initial CIV address of the spare DDF6000 by cycling the power as described above. When connecting the DDF6000 to the PC for this setup, all that is necessary is to connect the serial port on the PC to J1 on the DF and to plug an empty 3.5mm plug into J4. (The receiver and antenna do not need to be connected). When WinRDFCMD asks for the CIV address, enter the value that currently exists on the spare DDF6000. Then click on a command (for example DIM) to verify that the program is communicating with the DDF6000.
Now change the CIV address of the spare DDF6000 to match that of the DDF6000 that you will be returning. Do this by selecting the proper CIV address from the pull-down window marked “DF address”.
You can use the front panel switches or WinRDFCMD to make the other settings on the spare unit the same as on the unit to be returned for upgrade. For example, be sure to set the sweep rate and averages to match the ones normally used.
You can now replace the DDF6000 to be upgraded with the spare unit. Be sure to turn off both units when changing the cables. The spare DDF6000 will have the correct CIV address in the network, but the bearing calibration will be wrong, and you will need to recalibrate it using a known bearing signal. Use the normal calibration process.
3. Returning the processor
Pack the processor in bubble wrap or loose paper in a box that is about 12x10x8 inches. Do not use the white styrofoam fill (peanuts) as they are highly static. Ship the unit with a DD1149 via FedEx or UPS to:
Doppler Systems Inc.
37202 Bloody
Carefree, AZ 85377
480-488-9755
Be sure to include the return address information on the DD1149. Allow 3 days for us to make the upgrade and retest the unit after we receive it.
4. Replacing the
processor after upgrade
The upgraded processor will be shipped with the factory default values for CIV address, bearing calibration, etc. Connect the upgraded processor to a PC as in Step 2 and run WinRDFCMD again. Set the CIV address to match that of the unit it will be replacing (the spare unit installed in step #2 or another unit to be returned to Doppler), then manually set the other controls. Swap the two units with the power off. You will have to recalibrate the bearing after the unit is connected to the antenna.
5. Upgrading the
software
You should also upgrade the software program (BearingTrack) that is running on the network PC to the latest version. This is also available on our web site at Software and Upgrades.
6. Antenna Repair/Replacement
We can generally repair the DDF6052 antennas used with the DDF6000 processors. If the antenna cannot be repaired, we can replace it with a new one which looks like the newer DDF6092 antennas but which contains the older RF summer used in the DDF6052. There is no charge to assess the cost and feasibility of repairing our equipment, so we recommend returning it with a DD1149 to the address shown above before deciding on a repair or replacement.
If a complete new site is required consisting of both processor and antenna, we will provide a DDF6001 processor and a DDF6092 antenna. Although this hardware cannot be directly interchanged with the DDF6000 and DDF6052, the new system is fully compatible on a networking and software basis with the older equipment.
7. Upgrade status
The following table lists the date at which each of the DF processors was upgraded. The units are sorted by the District to which they were originally shipped, not the one from which they were received for upgrade.
| USCG DF Upgrade Status Report | 6/27/2006 | ||||||
| Upgraded | Serial | Model | Ship Date | District | Shipped to | Invoice | % Upgraded |
| 2/14/2006 | 5036 | DDF6000 | 1 | Moriches, NY | |||
| 3/16/2006 | 5035 | DDF6000 | 1 | Moriches, NY | |||
| 3/16/2006 | 5063 | DDF6000 | 1 | Moriches, NY | |||
| 5057 | DDF6000 | 10/14/1997 | 1 | Boston, MA | 5485 | ||
| 2/14/2006 | 5058 | DDF6000 | 10/14/1997 | 1 | Boston, MA | 5485 | |
| 5058 | DDF6000 | 10/14/1997 | 1 | Boston, MA | 5485 | ||
| 10/5/2005 | 5059 | DDF6000 | 10/14/1997 | 1 | Boston, MA | 5485 | |
| 3/16/2006 | 5061 | DDF6000 | 10/14/1997 | 1 | Boston, MA | 5485 | |
| 5062 | DDF6000 | 10/14/1997 | 1 | Boston, MA | 5485 | ||
| 5092 | DDF6000 | 04/01/1998 | 1 | Boston, MA | 5585 | ||
| 2/21/2006 | 5098 | DDF6000 | 04/01/1998 | 1 | Boston, MA | 5585 | |
| 5099 | DDF6000 | 04/01/1998 | 1 | Boston, MA | 5585 | ||
| 5100 | DDF6000 | 04/01/1998 | 1 | Boston, MA | 5585 | ||
| 9/11/2005 | 5322 | DDF6000 | 07/19/2000 | 1 | Boston, MA | 6039 | |
| 9/11/2005 | 5323 | DDF6000 | 07/19/2000 | 1 | Boston, MA | 6039 | |
| 5325 | DDF6000 | 07/19/2000 | 1 | Boston, MA | 6039 | ||
| 5372 | DDF6000 | 09/22/2000 | 1 | Boston, MA | 6089 | ||
| 5373 | DDF6000 | 09/22/2000 | 1 | Boston, MA | 6089 | ||
| 6/6/2005 | 5375 | DDF6000 | 09/22/2000 | 1 | Boston, MA | 6089 | |
| 5376 | DDF6000 | 09/22/2000 | 1 | Boston, MA | 6089 | ||
| 5498 | DDF6001 | 11/20/2003 | 1 | Boston, MA | 6598 | ||
| 5064 | DDF6000 | 10/10/1997 | 1 | E. Moriches, NY | 5488 | ||
| 3/20/2006 | 5214 | DDF6000 | 03/22/2000 | 1 | New Haven, CT | 5951 | |
| 5215 | DDF6000 | 03/22/2000 | 1 | New Haven, CT | 5951 | ||
| 2/14/2006 | 5216 | DDF6000 | 03/22/2000 | 1 | New Haven, CT | 5951 | |
| 5473 | DDF6001 | 04/02/2003 | 1 | S. Portland, ME | 6510 | ||
| 5552 | DDF6001 | 10/27/2004 | 1 | S. Portland, ME | 6749 | ||
| 5553 | DDF6001 | 10/27/2004 | 1 | S. Portland, ME | 6749 | ||
| 3/20/2006 | 5243 | DDF6000 | 05/04/2000 | 1 | Southwest Harbor, ME | 5978 | |
| 5244 | DDF6000 | 05/04/2000 | 1 | Southwest Harbor, ME | 5978 | ||
| 5245 | DDF6000 | 05/04/2000 | 1 | Southwest Harbor, ME | 5978 | ||
| 5208 | DDF6000 | 03/17/2000 | 1 | Staten Island, NY | 5947 | ||
| 5209 | DDF6000 | 03/17/2000 | 1 | Staten Island, NY | 5947 | ||
| 5210 | DDF6000 | 03/17/2000 | 1 | Staten Island, NY | 5947 | ||
| 5211 | DDF6000 | 03/17/2000 | 1 | Staten Island, NY | 5947 | ||
| 3/8/2006 | 5212 | DDF6000 | 03/17/2000 | 1 | Staten Island, NY | 5947 | |
| 2/10/2006 | 5213 | DDF6000 | 03/17/2000 | 1 | Staten Island, NY | 5947 | |
| 5231 | DDF6000 | 04/21/2000 | 1 | Woods Hole, MA | 5969 | ||
| 5235 | DDF6000 | 04/21/2000 | 1 | Woods Hole, MA | 5969 | ||
| 5236 | DDF6000 | 04/21/2000 | 1 | Woods Hole, MA | 5969 | ||
| 5237 | DDF6000 | 04/21/2000 | 1 | Woods Hole, MA | 5969 | ||
| 7/26/2005 | 5238 | DDF6000 |