Contents 3

Table of Contents

Ch. 1 Introduction 5
Ch. 2 System Overview 7
Ch. 3 Getting Started 9
3.1 Checking the Inventory .................................................................................................. 9

3.2 Connecting the DVL to PC .............................................................................................. 9

3.3 Finding Instrument on PC ............................................................................................. 10

Ch. 4 Interfaces 13
4.1 Web Browser Interface ................................................................................................. 13

4.2 DVL Diagnostics ............................................................................................................ 14

4.3 Command Line Interface .............................................................................................. 15

4.4 Data output ................................................................................................................... 15

Ch. 5 Preparation 17
5.1 Functionality Test ......................................................................................................... 17

5.2 Before Mission .............................................................................................................. 20

Ch. 6 Practical Elements of Operation 21

6.1 Start and Stop .............................................................................................................. 21

6.2 Power Supply ............................................................................................................... 21

6.3 Coordinate System ....................................................................................................... 21

6.4 Control and Timing ....................................................................................................... 23

6.5 Trigger .......................................................................................................................... 23

6.6 DVL Configuration ........................................................................................................ 24

Bottom Track .......................................................................................................... 24
Current Profiling ..................................................................................................... 25

6.7 Installing DVL on Vehicle ............................................................................................. 25

Ch. 7 Maintenance 27
7.1 Instrument Care ............................................................................................................ 27

7.2 Connector Care ............................................................................................................ 27

7.3 Cable Care ................................................................................................................... 28

<%VERSIONNO%>

3
 4 DVL

Ch. 8 Troubleshooting 29
8.1 Communication ............................................................................................................ 29

8.2 Network ........................................................................................................................ 31

8.3 Bottom Track ................................................................................................................ 31

Ch. 9 Appendices 33
9.1 Glossary ........................................................................................................................ 33

9.2 Communication and Ethernet ....................................................................................... 35

9.3 Cable Connector Pin Configurations ............................................................................ 37

9.4 Mechanical Drawings ................................................................................................... 40

9.5 Proforma Invoice .......................................................................................................... 43

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Introduction 5

1 Introduction
This manual is designed to help users of the Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) to get familiar with the
system. The manual includes chapters covering how to get the instrument up and running as quickly
as possible, functional testing, basic software and web interface information, and tips for
maintenance and troubleshooting.

System Integration
For system integrators, there is a DVL Integrator's Guide available, covering modes of operation,
commands and data format.

Nortek online
At our website, [Link], you will find technical support, user manuals, and the latest
software and firmware. General information, technical notes, and user experience can also be found
here.

Nortek FAQ
Our old forum where users from all over the world met to discuss and shared their experience with
Nortek instruments has been converted to an FAQ section. If you have comments, questions,
application tips, suggestions for improvements, or simply want to learn from others or share your own
experience, we encourage you to comment on the relevant FAQ or start a topic in our new forum.

Your feedback is appreciated

If you find errors, omissions or sections poorly explained, please do not hesitate to contact us. We
appreciate your comments and your fellow users will as well.

Contact Information
We recommend first contacting your local sales representative before the Nortek main office. If you
need more information, support or other assistance, you are always welcome to contact us or any of
our subsidiaries by email, phone or fax.
Email: inquiry@[Link] for general inquiries or support@[Link] for technical
support
Phone: +47 67 17 45 00
Fax: +47 67 13 67 70

You can also write us at:

Nortek AS
Vangkroken 2
1351 RUD
Norway

Document Revisions
Version/revision Date Comments
Version 2016.1 01.03.2016 Initial version
Version 2016.2 15.11.2016
Version 2017.1 05.07.2017
Version 2018.1 24.04.2018
Version 2018.2 05.10.2018

© 2022 Nortek AS
6 DVL

Version/revision Date Comments

Version 2022.1 28.02.2022 Minor additions, format changes

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Introduction 7

2 System Overview
A DVL (Doppler Velocity Log) is an acoustic Doppler instrument which has the ability to estimate the
velocity relative to the bottom (Earth being the frame of reference) or relative to the water.

Displayed is a Shallow Water 1 MHz DVL (DVL1000-300m ) and differs from

the deep w ater variants by having the Grounding Plate.

The DVL comes with a high precision pressure sensor, which provides a means to estimate depth,
and a temperature sensor that provides data used for calculating speed of sound. Further to this, it
has acoustic beams oriented in a diverging, convex configuration, and each beam provides an
estimate of range so that the altitude over the bottom may be estimated. The system comes with two
8-pins connectors, for Serial and Ethernet communication. Refer to the Connector Pin Configuration
section for pin outs.

The blue LED will start flashing when power is applied, the flashing means that the DVL is in
measurement mode. There are three settings for the LED: ON allows the LED to indicate operation
and modes; OFF disables the LED completely. ON24H enables the LED for 24 hours after the
instrument starts pinging.

© 2022 Nortek AS
8 DVL

The Nortek DVL family has four main variants as specified below, which each have a shallow and a
deep water version. Full technical specifications are available on our website.

Specification DVL1000 DVL500 Compact DVL500 DVL333

Frequency 1 MHz 500 kHz 500 kHz 333 kHz
Minimum
0.2 m 0.3 m 0.3 m 0.3 m
altitude
Maximum
75 m 175 m 200 m 375 m
altitude
Long-term ± 0.1 % / ± 0.1 ± 0.1 % / ± 0.1 ± 0.1 % / ± 0.1 ± 0.1 % / ± 0.1
accuracy cm/s cm/s cm/s cm/s
Maximum
8 Hz 8 Hz 8 Hz 8 Hz
ping rate
Velocity
0.01 mm/s 0.01 mm/s 0.01 mm/s < 0.01 mm/s
resolution
Depth rating
shallow 300 m (4000 m) 300 m (4000 m) 300 m (6000 m) 300 m (6000 m)
(deep)
Weight in
air/water 1.3 kg / 0.15 kg 1.3 kg / 0.15 kg 3.5 kg / 0.5 kg 3.5 kg / 0.5 kg
shallow (2.7 kg / 1.7 kg) (2.7 kg / 1.7 kg) (5.9 kg / 3.1 kg) (5.9 kg / 3.1 kg)
(deep)

© 2022 Nortek AS
 System Overview 9

3 Getting Started
This chapter is useful when connecting to the DVL for the first time, and deals with connecting the
PC to the instrument and other information that is important for first time use.

3.1 Checking the Inventory

Check the content of the received package against the packing list included in the shipment. See the
Appendix for an example. Do not hesitate to contact us if you find any part of the delivery missing.

3.2 Connecting the DVL to PC

The Nortek DVL offers serial communications and Ethernet to be used separately. If both protocols
are connected then the channel with the greater voltage will be the operating communications
channel. For a first time use, connect using the Ethernet communication.

Ethernet communications
The Ethernet communication has been implemented by using a dedicated network processor, and
needs to be powered by connecting a power supply to the external power breakout on the cable.
Note that powering through the Ethernet cable will also power the rest of the electronics. Note also
that if power is supplied only through the Serial connector, the Ethernet processor is unavailable.
Note: DVL instruments cannot use Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology. Using PoE with your DVL
will damage the electronics board and require repair.
· Connect the supplied test cable to the Ethernet connector and apply power to the breakout cable.
The blue LED should start flashing after a short period of time.
· The first time using the instrument, the network address needs to be properly configured for the
network. For new users who are unaware of how the network is set up, the instrument should be
plugged either directly into a computer (Ethernet cable) or via an Ethernet switch connected to the
computer. For more information consult the Appendix.
· If you use a computer Ethernet port that has status lights, verify that the link is active by looking
for a stable green light on the port. If an Ethernet switch is used, the Ethernet port should also
show an active Ethernet link. If the status light is not lit refer to the Troubleshooting chapter.
· Check the internet access status at the notification area in the taskbar of your PC (see image
below)
· Continue reading the next section on how to find the instrument on the PC

Serial communications
· Connect the Serial communication cable to the serial connector.
· Use a Serial-to-USB converter to connect the cable to the PC. If the converter has light indicators,
confirm that they are lit. It is recommended to connect the cable and instrument to the converter
before plugging the converter into the PC. In this order the possible problem related to automatic
detection of driver is avoided. If necessary, check that the correct software driver is installed.
· Apply power along the line. The blue LED should start flashing the moment power is applied.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 10 DVL

· To change the baud rate and serial protocol, the command line interface can to be used. Refer to
the Integrators Guide for the specific commands, and use a terminal emulator (see next section).
The correct serial port and baud rate can also be specified through the web browser interface or in
the MIDAS software (see next section).

3.3 Finding Instrument on PC

Nortek Discover
The Nortek Discover application is a small Windows program that provides a means to locate and
configure the network information for instruments ([Link] is available on the flash disk
that came with the instrument). Note that it may take minutes the first time connecting. The search
application requires an up-to-date version of Java installed on the computer. All instruments
discovered on the network will be displayed:

Once found, addressing information can be retrieved from the instrument so that a connection can be
initiated. Note: If the Local Interface is highlighted in red, then it will not be possible to connect to the
instrument because the IP configuration does not match that of the computer running the Discover
protocol. The IP settings must then be changed either in the computer or in the instrument to allow
IP connectivity.

Host name: A user defined name assigned to the host. Unless your network or host machine is
configured to specifically associate an IP address with this name, this name cannot be used for
standard network operations (e.g. ping).
Dynamic Address Assignment: Use a dynamically assigned IP address from a DHCP server or
from AutoIP instead of a user supplied IP address. The IP address that gets assigned is also shown

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Getting Started 11

in this panel. AutoIP allows a local domain dynamic IP address to be assigned without the presence
of a DHCP server. An instrument connected directly to the host will be assigned a special address in
the [Link] address range. In order for the Windows host to also select an appropriate
address in this case, the Automatic private IP address option in the Internet Protocol Version 4:
Alternate Configuration menu must be enabled.
Static IP address: IP address: The IPv4 address to manually assign to the network interface.
Netmask : The network mask used to identify the local subnet for the network. Gateway: The router
address used to connect to machines that are on a different subnet from the instrument. The
gateway must be on the same subnet as the IP address selected.
UDP Data Transmit: This toggles UDP data transport on and off. UDP transport may be required if
the client receiving the data doesn’t want to have to re-connect to the instrument after the instrument
has been power cycled. Address: This is the address of the receiving client. Port: This is the port of
the receiving client.
Ethernet Link Layer: Speed: The desired speed of the Ethernet interface (not changeable). Full
Duplex: Whether or not full duplex mode for the Ethernet interface is enabled (not changeable).
Firmware: The version of firmware currently running in the instrument.
Local Interface: Shows which network interface on the computer is being used to communicate
with the instrument and whether or not full IP communications can be established. If the interface is
highlighted in red, then it will not be possible to connect to the instrument because the IP
configuration does not match that of the computer running the Discover protocol.

Note that you can right click in the configuration window to get access to the support file, open the
web browser, browse data disk, change instrument picture, settings for blink location LED or reboot
the network processor.

If you have a specific IP address for the instrument, you can search for it directly under Discover >
Search for Address. Simply type the IP address or domain name. This will open the IP configuration
pane (to the right in the figure above).

Universal Plug and Play

In addition to the proprietary discovery protocol, the UPnP (universal plug and play) protocol is
supported by the DVL's platform. This allow the operating systems which are UPnP capable to
discover the instrument with no need for proprietary software. Note that UPnP will only operate
correctly if the IP address of the instrument is correctly configured for the network. For more
information consult the Appendix. To find the instrument icon in Microsoft Windows, open the
Network view of the computer.

© 2022 Nortek AS
12 DVL

Double clicking on the instrument icon brings up the web page interface. Right clicking and selecting
Properties gives the IP address and other instrument configuration information.

In order for UPnP to operate on Microsoft Windows platform, Network Discovery needs to be enabled.
This is normally enabled by default on "Home" and "Work" networks but disabled on "Public"
networks. To see if Network Discovery is enabled, open the Network and Sharing Center (Control
Panel: Network and Internet: Network and Sharing center) and click on the Change advanced sharing
settings selection This will bring up the various network types (Home/Work/Public). Select the
network type that the instrument is connected to and ensure that Turn on network discovery is
selected for that network.

If the network is a public network, it is recommended that network discovery be turned off after
interaction with the instrument has been completed.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Getting Started 13

4 Interfaces
You have the option of communicating with the DVL through either a web browser interface or through
a command line interface. If you want to use the command line interface, please refer to the DVL
Integrator's Guide for further information. The web browser interface offers a much more intuitive
experience when configuring the DVL for operation. It is not possible to communicate with the
instrument from two different interfaces at the same time.

4.1 Web Browser Interface

By using the IP address for your instrument you can access the browser interface. The first step is to
find the assigned IP address for your system, which implies that you are properly connected to an
instrument. There are two ways to do this:
1. You will find the IP address in the Microsoft Windows dialog, under Network. Double clicking the
instrument icon brings up the browser interface. Right clicking and selecting Properties gives the
IP address and other instrument configuration information. If you are not able to find your
instrument, check out our tips in the section about UPnP.
2. Use the "Nortek Instrument Search" application ([Link] available on the flash disk
that came with the instrument)

Once you have discovered the instrument, find the IP address and type it into your browser. The
instrument specific web site is divided into the following menu options:
· Measurement Configuration
· Instrument Settings
· Additional Online Data Formats
· Display Data
· Network Configuration
· Maintenance
· Logs
· Security
· Data Download

Each parameter within each menu is described in detail in the overview to the right-hand side of the
browser page:

© 2022 Nortek AS
 14 DVL

4.2 DVL Diagnostics

The most straight forward means of visualizing a DVL data stream is to open the Data Display tab
within the DVL's web browser interface. This is simplified presentation of a running time series of the
data output from the DVL. It includes Pressure, Velocity (beam), Figure Of Merit (beam),
Distance,Velocity (XYZ), and Figure Of Merit (XYZ). Note that invalid data is not displayed and such
data is very common when attempting to operate in a bucket or tank with poor acoustic conditions.
Refer to the section on Functionality tests for general DVL checks.

For a more complete data visualization, the MIDAS software (Multi-Instrument Data Acquisition
System) is useful if you are interested in looking at data online for short periods of time. The
installation file can be downloaded directly via the Applications web page (see previous section). The
software requires a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to be installed. The software has been tested with the
Sun JVM available form [Link] but it is also known to be fully functional with other
JVMs. Note that MIDAS has a software manual available for download (Click Help > SW Manual).

The Nortek DVL, together with the MIDAS software, offers a Spectrum Analyzer function. This is
particularly useful when trying to identify sources of acoustic or electronic noise onboard a vehicle.
Consult the MIDAS help files to learn more about this feature.

System requirements:
1 GHz x86 based host machine (dual-core recommended for imaging)
Windows NT, Vista or Windows 7 (32- or 64-bit) with Java Virtual Machine installed (the software
will operate with both 32- and 64-bit JVMs. Using a 64-bit JVM greatly increases the size of the
MATLAB data files that can be exported by the software.
1 GB of RAM (2 GB or higher is recommended)
USB port
Minimum display resolution of 1024x768, 256 color

After a successful installation, continue with the following steps if you connect through the network. If
you are using Serial port communication, jump directly to the next paragraph.

· Open the software and click Connect > Network Discover. This Discovery tool lists all instrument
available on the network, and presents the following:
o IP address: A green background indicates that the IP address is properly configured for the
network it is connected to. If the background is red, the IP address must be reconfigured using
the Discover option from the menu bar. Refer to the MIDAS manual for more details on this
(Click Help > SW Manual)
o Port timeout is the length of time the software will wait for a response from the instrument before
timing out and issuing an error message. Default: 2000 ms
o Username/password fields. Username is the command interface user name to use for
connection. Default username/password: "nortek"/" " (blank).
o Note that it may not be possible to "discover" instruments that are connected to the local
network through a router.
· You can also select Connect > Network parameters if you need to set the IP address and name
explicitly. This mode of operation is useful on networks in which the discovery protocol might not
work (e.g. through multiple routers, firewalls or through VPN connections.
· Click Apply. You will typically be prompted to switch to command mode. An instrument display
panel is created showing the associated data displays for the current configuration as well as the
action buttons for the instrument. Pressing the play button will directly start a measurement with

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Interfaces 15

the current configuration. Check out the MIDAS software manual (Click Help > SW Manual) for
more detailed information about the general operation and functionality of the software.

If you are using Serial port communication:

· Open the software and click Communication > Serial AD2CP. The dialog lists the following:
o Instrument name. Can be specified if desired.
o Serial Port: Shows the available serial ports detected in the system.
o Port speed shows the requested baud rate for connection to the instrument. A baud rate of
115200 is recommended. Note that not all RS232 USB serial converters support data rate above
115200.
o Port timeout is the length of time the software will wait for a response from the instrument before
timing out and issuing an error message. Default: 2000 ms. If you experience connection
problems you may try to increase the timeout value, e.g. 10000 ms.
· Click Apply. The software will then start searching for the instrument by issuing commands on the
selected serial port at various ports speed (starting with the chosen speed). The baud rate will be
changed to the elected baud rate during this process. After the instrument has been connected, an
instrument display panel is created showing the associated data displays for the current
configuration as well as the action buttons for the instrument. Pressing the play button will directly
start a measurement with the current configuration. Check out the MIDAS software manual (Click
Help > SW Manual) for more detailed information about the general operation and functionality of
the software.

4.3 Command Line Interface

The command interface makes it possible to communicate with the instrument using a terminal
emulator and a set of commands. The DVL Integrator's Guide is the recommended manual to consult
for guidance, but as an introduction here are some highlights:

· The interface is ASCII based and line oriented. Commands are terminated with CR/LF.
· Optional encapsulation of commands using NMEA style prefix and checksum to ensure data
integrity
· NMEA style commands will return argument names in their response
· Argument limits can be retrieved through commands
· Comprehensive validation and error handling is implemented
· Invalid configurations return the erroneous argument with limits directly, so that each subsequent
error can be handled until a valid configuration is achieved
· A single command can be used to retrieve the complete configuration of the instrument with
optional output to file
· Commands to set default parameters
· External controllers can use commands to store external data in the raw data file (e.g. GPS
position)
· Note that Telnet is disabled on the newer Windows systems (>Win 7). Consult Microsoft support
for simple steps on how to enable it

4.4 Data output

The DVL can be configured to include both water track and current profile in addition to the standard
bottom track. These three modes have different output data formats and can be output in either
binary or ASCII format. The DVL Integrator's Guide contains a detailed format description for all the
different data outputs. The Nortek DVL supports older protocols which have been available (PDxx
variants). Otherwise, system integrators may choose to use native Nortek data formats which offer

© 2022 Nortek AS
16 DVL

expanded information (independent beam information and quality parameters) and are delivered in
efficient data packets.

Stream data serially:

The easiest way to stream data from the DVL is to:
· Use the Ethernet cable to connect the instrument to the PC and open the web interface.
· After you have configured the DVL, go to the instrument settings option. Select the correct serial
port type (RS232) and serial port baud rate.
· Click Submit. The DVL should enter measurement mode as indicated by the blue LED flashing at
the sampling rate.
· Disconnect the Ethernet cable and power.
· Connect the serial cable and power. Data will stream out over the serial port immediately.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Interfaces 17

5 Preparation
From this point on it is assumed that a stable, reliable connection with the instrument has been
established. This is necessary to continue onwards for the next few sections of the manual. If the
instrument is unable to connect with your PC please revisit the Getting Started chapter or consult the
Troubleshooting chapter.

5.1 Functionality Test

Before every mission, it is strongly recommended that a functionality test is performed to ensure that
the various components work as intended. Before continuing make sure that your instrument is
connected as described in Initial Ethernet Connection. The Functionality Test for the pressure and
temperature sensors may be performed by observing the data output in the Display Data (as plots or
text) page of the web browser interface.

Temperature
To test the temperature sensor simply read off the corresponding value and compare with your room
temperature.

Pressure
The pressure sensor outputs the absolute pressure value in units of dBar. During production, the
sensor is adjusted to 9.5 dBar to output the gauge pressure (pressure relative to the atmospheric
pressure). The pressure sensor cannot output negative values. In air, the pressure sensor will output
a value of 0.2-0.7 dBar, depending on atmospheric conditions. Test the pressure sensor by
submerging the instrument in approximately 0.5 m of water. The value should read 0.5dBar + the
ambient pressure of 0.2-0.7. An alternative way to test whether the sensor is functioning is by
forming a seal around the sensor with your mouth and blowing to observe an increase in pressure.

Recorder
Note: We recommend starting new missions with an empty recorder if you plan to store data
internally. Before you erase the recorder, make sure that you have transferred all the data you want
to retain.
· Go to the Web interface > Maintenance > Erase SD card.
· Or use the ERASE,9999 command (ref. DVL integrator's Guide)

Firmware
The firmware should be the latest version for your instrument. You can check to see if there is an
update on the Maintenance tab of the web interface. Release notes can be found on the Nortek
website. The firmware is upgraded on both the DSPs used within the instrument; the SEC (Serial
Ethernet Converter) and the BBP (Broadband Processor). A progress page on the web interface
showing the status of the firmware upgrade is automatically updated until the process is complete.
Note that after upgrading the SEC, the SEC must be re-booted to use the new firmware. The BBP
automatically re-sets itself when the new firmware has completed loading.

Transducers
A functionality test of the bottom track is often difficult in a laboratory setting. This is because the
acoustic conditions of buckets or tanks are not representative of in-field conditions and more often
than not it just does not work. What is most important to evaluate is the response of the transducers
and not the bottom track capabilities in bucket. The following outlines how one can confidently
evaluate each of the four transducers

© 2022 Nortek AS
18 DVL

In order to confirm that the transducers are functional, one will need to evaluate the change in
response as the DVL pings in the air verses how it pings in the water. This may be done by enabling
the current profile mode in the measurement configuration and to include only a single cell (no
current profiling license required). The configuration is illustrated in the screen shot below. Once the
configuration is complete and the DVL is pinging, you may submerge the DVL in water (a bucket will
do). You will see that the amplitude in this first cell will increase from its noise floor (approximately
27 dB) to a large amplitude (approximately 85 dB). Screen shots for measurements in-air and in-
water are shown below.

Enable the current profile m ode in the m easurem ent configuration and include only a single cell.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Preparation 19

In air, the am plitude in the first cell w illbe at the instrum ent's noise floor, approxim ately 27 dB.

In w ater the am plitude in the first cell w ill increase to a large am plitude, approxim ately 85 dB.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 20 DVL

5.2 Before Mission

With the previous sections of this chapter successfully completed you are now ready for your final
preparations before deployment.

· It is vital to remember to connect the dummy plug in case the connector is not to be used, to
protect it. Before mating, ensure that the connectors are dry and free of debris, look for water
inside the female connector.
· When properly mated, the engaging nut on the cable plug will thread smoothly onto the receptacle
shell until it rather abruptly reaches a point where it cannot be hand-tightened any further. At this
point the mating surfaces of the plug and receptacle are in contact, and have formed a good seal.
The amount of force required to tighten the engaging nut should stay the same throughout (up until
the point where it cannot be further hand-tightened). Otherwise, the connectors are not mating
properly and will not form a good seal.
· We recommend starting new missions with an empty recorder if you plan to store data internally.
Before you erase the recorder, make sure that you have transferred all the data you want to retain.
· Set a pressure offset. The DVL measures absolute pressure. The pressure offset selected is the
pressure reading for offsetting absolute to relative pressure. Atmospheric pressure is typically 10.0
dBar, while factory setting is 9.5 dBar to get non-zero readings out of water. Change this offset
through the web site (under Instrument settings - see screenshot below).
· Online connectors should be lubricated with silicone spray.
· The Mounting Angle should be set to the non-zero value if the DVL's X direction is different from the
vehicle's or INS's forward direction. See the section on Coordinate System for further clarification.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Preparation 21

6 Practical Elements of Operation

6.1 Start and Stop
The DVL retains both its configuration and mode of operation when power is removed. This means
that if the DVL was actively measuring when power was removed it will recommence measurement
using the exact same configuration when powered up again. If the DVL was in command mode when
power was removed it will enter command mode again when powered up. The various modes of
operation are described in the DVL Integrator's Guide.

When the DVL is configured from the instrument web page it will generally be measuring and
outputting data all the time, except for the short time when a new configuration is applied. When
configured manually or through the serial interface, the measurement must be started manually after
the reconfiguration. Once started, the DVL will stay in measurement mode until it is explicitly
stopped. This is also true through power cycles as explained above.

One may note that when the DVL starts in measurement mode During a power up sequence, there is
a short (1-2 second) period when the DVL stops pinging to evaluate its network state.

6.2 Power Supply

Selecting power supply to a Nortek DVL
The DVL input voltage range is 12-48VDC; we recommend 24VDC. The power supply must be able to
deliver an absolute minimum of 15W continuously. 15W is the peak (one-second average) power
consumption of the DVL; we recommend using 20W minimum for power supplies.

The power supply should be made with a continuous current limit. The current limit should not be
less than 1.5A. The DVL will not draw any currents above 1.5A during normal operation. Power
supplies with a hiccup-mode current limit should be avoided.

Note: DVL instruments cannot use Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology. Using PoE with your DVL
will damage the electronics board and require repair.

The switching frequency and harmonics must be outside the DVL’s acoustic bandwidth. Stay away
from the following bands:
· DVL500: 430 kHz – 570 kHz
· DVL1000: 870 kHz – 1130 MHz

Inrush current
On the DVL you can see an inrush current when power is applied, and every time the systems
wakes-up from sleep mode. The reason is a 50µ F capacitor that is charged up during the first 100µ s.
This can make trouble for some power supplies. If the DVL inrush current makes the voltage drop
during startup we recommend a 220µ F capacitor at the output.

6.3 Coordinate System

BEAM: Bottom track: The reported velocities are positive when the motion is towards the transducer.
Current profile: The reported velocities are positive when the motion is away from the transducer.

XYZ: Cartesian coordinate system. A positive velocity in the X-direction goes in the direction of the X-
axis arrow. Use the right-hand-rule to remember the notation conventions for vectors. Use the first

© 2022 Nortek AS
22 DVL

(index) finger to point in the direction of positive X-axis and the second (middle) finger to point in the
direction of positive Y. The positive Z-axis will then be in the direction that the thumb points.

DVL beam num bering and axes convention. Note that positive Z is pointing
out of the page.

The coordinate system definitions differ between DVL manufacturers. The end user does not need to
take any special consideration of the coordinate system. The correct coordinate system is dictated
by the selection of which data format is used. This means the selection of the correct coordinate
system and all necessary conversions are handled by the Nortek DVL.

The only matter which requires attention is that the X-direction is oriented in the vehicles forward
axis. Rotational offsets may be applied to the DVL within the Mounting Angle parameter. The angle is
defined as positive increasing from the vehicle/INS Forward axis to the DVL’s X-axis. In other words,
looking down on a DVL mounted downward-looking on a vehicle, the mounting offset is positive
clock wise from the X-axis.

DVL Origin
Those requiring a reference origin for the DVL may use the figure below. This information is typically
used for the moment arm calculations with an INS. All measurements are in mm.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Practical Elements of Operation 23

Origin for different DVL m odels: DVL1000 300m , DVL1000 4000m , and DVL500 300m /6000m .

6.4 Control and Timing

The Nortek DVL allows for external clock synchronization of millisecond precision through IEEE
1588/PTP. The time stamp for individual beams is provided with 1 millisecond resolution. Precision
timing is yet another feature that permits high precision navigation.

6.5 Trigger
The trigger mode specifies what controls the acoustic pinging. This is either the instrument and its
internal timing mechanism (INTSR), trigger from a command (SERIAL) or a hardware based trigger
(TTL or RS485 input lines). The hardware triggers will be ignored if they occur at a faster rate than
what is possible to process for the configured range.

Internal
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 Hz

Serial
Trigger option through command (Ethernet or serial)

External
TTL or 485 electrical interfaces.
Configurable trigger polarity (configurable Rising edge/Falling edge/Both edges)

Check out the Nortek DVL Integrators Guide for examples showing how to setup the instrument to
use a specific trigger.

When triggered the instrument will perform a complete ping (Tx and Rx) before it goes back to
monitoring the trigger. Any triggers asserted during an ongoing ping will be ignored.
· The pulse length should be minimum 1 ms.
· The latency (trigger to start of transmit pulse) is 8.4 ms
· The max length of transmit pulse is 13.3 ms for the DVL1000, and 26.6 ms for the DVL500. The
actual length of the transmit pulse varies with the distance to the bottom.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 24 DVL

6.6 DVL Configuration

Trigger Mode The trigger mode specifies what controls the acoustic pinging. This is either the
instrument and its internal timing mechanism (INTSR), trigger from a command (SERIAL) or a
hardware based trigger (TTL or RS485 input lines). For the hardware trigger there are three options:
rising edge, falling edge or both edges. The hardware triggers will be ignored if they occur at a faster
rate than what is possible to process for the configured range.

Sample Rate: The data sampling rate (controlled by internal timers) used when INTSR is selected.
The sample rate is ignored for all other configured triggers. The permissible sample rate is limited by
the travel time of the pulse through the water. This means higher sampling rates will have a reduced
maximum range.

Speed of Sound: This is the speed at which sound travels through the water and is important for
estimating velocity in the Doppler processing. The user may select between "Measured" which is
estimated from the measured temperature, the measured pressure and the configured salinity or
"Fixed" which is a fixed value. End user using external estimates of speed of sound wishing to apply
the linear corrections outside of the DVL estimation process should use the fixed setting.

Salinity: This is the estimated salinity (in parts per thousand) for the location the DVL will be
operating. The typical value is 35 ppt for sea water. Configuration of this value is only relevant if the
end user sets the speed of sound configuration to Measured.

Enable Data Recording: Check this box if you wish to log data to the internal SD memory card.

Data Recording Filename: This is the name of the file for the data recording file. If the same name
exists on the recorder then data is appended to the existing file. If the recorder gets full, the
measurement continues but data is no longer stored to the recorder.

6.6.1 Bottom Track

Blanking Distance: This is the distance where the DVL begins to search for bottom. Check out the
section about false detects and blanking distance below.

Range: This is the maximum distance at which bottom is detected (along the DVL's Z-axis). The
maximum range may be reduced if a high sample rate is selected (the new limits will then be shown
after you click submit). If the vehicle is to operate in an environment with multiple reflections (e.g.
shallow waters) it is recommended to set the range accordingly.

Transmit Power: This is the amount of acoustic energy that is output from the DVL. Lower power is
sometimes desirable if there is an interest in reducing power consumption or if only a short profile
shall be measured. The maximum power level is range dependent, so the user may either let the
firmware select the maximum (MAX) given the current configuration or choose a value (USER). If
USER is selected, a power level of 0 dB represents maximum power output. In some configurations,
the maximum power is given as -2. Power is decreased by entering negative values.

Bottom Track Data: This is the data output (and recording if selected) format for the DVL. The DF21
binary data format includes complete DVL data products, while variants of PD# are available for
platforms limited to this legacy format. A complete description is found in the DVL Integrators Guide.

Enable Water Track: Check this box to enable velocity estimates relative to the water.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Practical Elements of Operation 25

Water Track Data: This is the data output (and recording if selected) format for the DVL's Water
track. The DF22 binary data format includes complete DVL data products, while variants of PD# are
available for platforms limited to this legacy format. A complete description is found in the DVL
Integrators Guide.

6.6.2 Current Profiling

Enable Current Profiling: Check this box to enable current profiling.

Interleave Ratio: This determines how frequently current profile data is measured (bottom track and
current profiling do not operate concurrently). The ratio, N, specifies that every Nth measurement is a
current profile measurement. An interleave ratio of 2, for example, will provide alternating pings
between bottom track and current profiles whereas a ratio of 3 will configure two consecutive bottom
tracks measurements followed by one current profile measurement.

Cell Size: This is the size of the cell (along the DVL's Z-axis) for which velocity estimates are
performed.

Blanking Distance: This is the distance at which the current profile begins. Note that position of the
first cell is the sum of the blanking distance and cell size. This follows standard ADCP principles.

Range to Last Cell: This is the distance along the DVL's Z-axis to the last measurement cell.

Velocity Range: This is the velocity range (positive and negative) along the beam axes to estimate
currents. The corresponding horizontal velocity range is scaled the same way as the Bottom Track
velocity range.

Transmit Power: This the amount of acoustic energy that is output from the DVL. Lower power is
sometimes desirable if there is an interest in reducing power consumption or if the DVL will only be
operating close to the bottom. The value of 0 dB represents maximum power output. Power is
decreased by applying negative values.

Coordinate System: This specifies if the data is output in beam coordinates or the DVL's XYZ
coordinates.

Data: Selects the data format for outputting current profile estimates. The DF3 data format is the
most complete and efficient format while the PD0 is complete but contains irrelevant fields and thus
consumes more space. NMEA formats are also available. A complete description is found in the DVL
Integrator's Guide.

6.7 Installing DVL on Vehicle

Mechanical alignment
It is recommended to install the DVL so that the X-axis points in the vehicles forward direction.

Beam clearance
Make sure to keep the area illuminated by the main beam, and a cone of 15 degrees around it, clear
from any physical obstacles. These will interfere with the acoustics and bias the measurements.

© 2022 Nortek AS
26 DVL

Calibration
No calibration of the DVL is required before installation. Once installed, the navigation system will
require that any heading misalignment between sensors is addressed through calibration. Similarly,
the scaling errors of the system and its mounting errors need to be addressed through calibration, to
ensure maximal accuracy. Please refer to your INS manual for calibration procedures.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Practical Elements of Operation 27

7 Maintenance
We recommend a regularly scheduled procedure which will act as a preventative measure to ensure
your instrument continues functioning as intended. The following sections can be used as a
maintenance guideline for the components that may be exposed to wear and tear. In general, there
should be no reason to open a DVL housing, but if this is done pay special attention to the
maintenance guidelines below.

· When cleaning the external surfaces use a mild detergent and pay special attention to the
transducers. Regular cleaning is the best way to avoid problems related to biofouling.
· Check the pressure sensor and remove any dirt from the holes in the lid. Be careful when opening
the pressure sensor cap as it is easy to dent and damage the sensor.
· Pay extra attention when cleaning and lubricating the connectors.
· You very rarely need to expose the electronics, but if you need to, great care should be taken to
keep the sealing surfaces clean and protected from mechanical damage. Always keep water out of
the open housing.
· The grounding point should always be free from biofouling.

We recommend conducting a Functionality Test after the maintenance procedure has been finished,
to ensure that the instruments functionality is as expected. We also recommend adding an entry in
the internal log that is kept within the instrument. This can be helpful in assessing service intervals
etc. The Add Deployment Log Entry box on the Logs pane in the web interface can be used for this.
This log will also keep record of things like formatting or erasing the recorder and firmware upgrades.

7.1 Instrument Care

All Nortek instruments are intended for use in water. Other fluids may have an adverse effect on the
plastic materials used.

If the instrument has been subjected to environmental conditions outside the specified design limits
(refer to the Technical Specification for your specific DVL for the limits) mechanical tolerances of non-
metal components may be affected.

7.2 Connector Care

It is extremely important to keep connectors clean and well lubricated. Before plugging in connectors
we recommend to always blast the pins with compressed air, inspect them for cleanliness and then
protect the cable connector by applying a thin layer of silicone lubricating spray on the pins before
you plug it into the instrument. We recommend the 3M Silicone Spray. Do not use the silicone
grease included in the toolkit on connectors, as this is intended for O-rings only.

Before mission:
· Demate the connector set.
· Flush the connector set with fresh water or compressed air, remove dirt. Remember to also check
the female connector.
· Check that both connectors are dry. If not, let them air-dry.
· Inspect for damage, corrosion and cuts.
· Apply a thin film of 3M Silicone Spray or equivalent.
· Mate the connector halves and check if they are properly mated.

After mission and before storage:

· Flush the connector set with fresh water or compressed air, remove dirt.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 28 DVL

· Check that both connectors are dry. If not, let them air-dry.
· Inspect for damage, corrosion and cuts.
· Mate with dummy plug if available.

7.3 Cable Care

· Do not pull on the cable to disconnect connectors.
· Avoid sharp bends at cable entry to connector.
· Ensure that the cable is fixed to the mounting fixture to avoid mechanical stress to the
connection.
· Elastomers can be seriously degraded if exposed to direct sunlight or high ozone levels for
extended periods.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Maintenance 29

8 Troubleshooting
This section contains information on where to start looking if an instrument does not behave as
intended. If you encounter a problem, you should:

· Get a good overview of the problem; make notes during the troubleshooting process
· Work in a systematic way and do not neglect the obvious. Start by looking at simple causes, such
as power not connected, bad connections, etc.
· If the setup uses custom cables, power supply, etc. first assemble and test the instrument using
the cable that originally came with the instrument. You can always return to the standard setup,
which is the easiest way to get the system to work, to confirm that the problems are not caused
by a faulty instrument.
· If your instrument behaves strangely try updating both your software and firmware to the latest
versions. There may be incompatibility between an older version of firmware and newer version of
software, and vice versa. The maintenance page will show if the versions of firmware and
Applications/Documentations are up to date when accessed from a computer that is also
connected to the internet. Clicking on the Check for Updates button will make sure the version
status is downloaded over internet. MIDAS has a similar option in the Help menu > Check for
updates. This will check for new releases of the MIDAS software when the computer is connected
to Internet. The release state of the instrument firmware is checked at the same time if MIDAS is
connected to an instrument.

To help us give good support, please

· Be specific about the error - a screenshot is often helpful

· Include a sample file showing the error, if possible
· Include information about firmware and software version used
· Include serial number (Head ID, Hardware ID or order number)
· A Support file can be downloaded from the instrument and is used to assist you in the best
possible manner. To retrieve this file through the web browser interface, find it under Maintenance.
A *.gz file is then downloaded and can be sent directly to Nortek for diagnosis.

If it turns out that the instrument will have to be sent back to Nortek for repair, check out this link for
more information, and contact Nortek Support. There is a copy of the required Proforma Invoice for
the return in the Appendices.

For shipping; The Nortek DVL follows the standard codes, and the HS code is 9015.80.80
Oceanographic instruments. The export restrictions list code for the Dual Use functionality is
6A001.b.2.

8.1 Communication
Instrument connected through Ethernet cable
· Does the Ethernet cable have a source of power?
· Check network cabling connection: If your computer has light emitting diodes (LEDs) next to the
connection where the Ethernet cable plugs into the computer, check if the LEDs are lit to indicate
the current status of the network device. If the LEDs are not glowing/blinking, check that the
connector is ok and try to re-plug. Refer to your computer's manual for information about the
Ethernet port LED.
· Check the LED on the switch or router. The LEDs should be lit when there is a connection
between the computer, the network router or switch and the instrument. If not, try switching it on
and off to reset the switch/router.
© 2022 Nortek AS
30 DVL

· If an Ethernet switch is used, its Ethernet port should also show an active Ethernet link. Try
connecting with a different cable. If not, there is a problem with the computer connection.
· If you have a button for turning on/off the wireless network antenna on your computer, turn this off.
· Connect the communication cable directly from the computer to the instrument to bypass all of the
network wiring and router. Is the PC showing that the link is active? Wait a minute or two and
check again.
· If the connection was lost all of a sudden; run a test and analysis function in Windows (see step-
by-step description below)
· If the instrument is visible in the Windows Explorer: Send a Break in the terminal emulator, then
Switch to Command Mode. A confirmation message should now appear. Try connecting to the
instrument as per normal. Check the DVL Integrator's Guide for more information about the
command interface.

Test and Analysis function in Windows:

1. Click "Start"
2. Click "Control Panel"
3. Click "Network and Sharing Center"
4. Click "Change Adapter Settings"
5. Right-click “Local Area Connection". This icon represents your Ethernet connection to the
instrument
6. Click "Diagnose." The analysis function in Windows will examine the failed connection and show
an explanation of the problem and some advices to fix the problem

Unlike the serial port, once you have verified that the link is active, there is no need to do anything
else with configuring the speed or other link characteristics. The next step is to make sure you have
an appropriate IP address assigned. For details about the process of assigning IP addresses, refer to
the Appendix.

Instrument is connected through serial communication cable

· Does the instrument have a source of power?
· Wrong serial port. Check that the correct serial port is selected. Go to Start - Control Panel -
Systems - Hardware - Device Manager - Ports (look for USB device)
· Wrong baud rate. Open a terminal emulator and try to cycle the power on the serial connection. If
gibberish/nonsense or nothing, check the baud rate settings
· There is a problem with the converter. Check that the LED on the converter is lit. If not, confirm that
the correct driver is installed.

The blue LED indicator light on the instrument is not lit

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Troubleshooting 31

· Is the instrument in Command mode?

· Does the LED blink (short) when applying power?

Cable
Cables are often exposed to heavy use and the power connector might break. Using a multimeter to
test pin to pin through the cable may reveal breakage.

8.2 Network
Firewall
Firewalls are usually active by default and could be a possible cause for blocking communication.

Routers
There are some limitations to the discovery protocol. Multicast Ethernet packets are used to
implement the protocol and those packets may not be forwarded through routers (depending on the
router type and configuration). For that reason, the instrument should be either directly connected or
connected through a single Ethernet switch for troubleshooting. Once the IP address is properly
configured, it can be used to access the instrument using normal IP communications. Only the
discovery protocol uses multicast packets. For more details about the Ethernet communication, refer
to the Appendix.

Backup if the web site crashes

There is a way to reboot the network processor even if the WEB page is not working. Do a Discover
from MIDAS or Nortek Discovery, click on the instrument to get up the configuration and then right
click in the configuration window. This brings up a menu where you can select to Reboot Network
Processor. The support file can also be retrieved this way so we would like them to try to read it
before the reboot so we can hopefully find out the cause of this.

IP address
You have the possibility to enable/disable DHCP and set a static IP address, if necessary. Check
out this appendix for details.

8.3 Bottom Track

In order to detect the bottom the transmitted ping must have return characteristics that provide a
sufficiently high enough score to qualify it as a valid bottom detection. Once the bottom detection is
made then the velocity along the beam is calculated. This means that any number of beams may
have valid estimates of velocity, however in order to report a complete XYZ estimate of velocity, the
DVL needs to have a minimum of three valid bottom detections.

The lack of consistent bottom detection may be attributed to a variety of reasons. The following is a
list of reasons:
· Acoustic interference from other acoustic instrumentation operating in the same frequency band
(25% band centered on DVL transmit frequency). Other acoustic instrumentation may also
produce harmonics which interferes with bottom detection. In order to identify acoustic (or
electronic sources) of noise, one may consider using the Spectrum Analyzer function of the DVL.
This works together with the MIDAS software. Further documentation of this functionality is found
in the MIDAS software.
· Highly reverberating environments such as buckets, tanks, and other small enclosures.
· Poor acoustic return from bottom tracking surface such as (a) soft sediment bottoms, (b) seaweed
rich bottoms, (c) or extreme bottom slopes.

© 2022 Nortek AS
32 DVL

· Highly scattered transmit pulse for environments that are rich in bubbles: (a) propeller wash, (b)
breaking waves may produce bubbles in the first several meters of the water column, (c) schools of
fish.
· Extremely close to the bottom.
· Bottom is out of range or configured range of DVL.
· False detections may occur from time to time, particularly at short range when traveling near the
surface where there normally is high particle (or bubble) concentrations near the surface (first 10 m
or so), and especially when the true bottom is out of range.

One way of avoiding false detects is to configure the blanking distance and/or the maximum range so
that it looks for the bottom within a known window. For example, if the vehicle is not going to operate
closer than 5 m from the bottom, the blanking distance can be set to e.g. 3 m. This will eliminate all
detections within the first 3 meters. The larger the blanking distance, the lower the probability of false
detections. Just remember that anything inside the blanking distance is invisible to the DVL.

Highly reverberant environments may also benefit by reducing the transmit power. This is of course
done at the expense of the bottom detection at greater ranges.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Troubleshooting 33

9 Appendices
9.1 Glossary
Accuracy A value giving the degree of closeness of a velocity measurement to the actual
velocity. Refer to the data sheet for specific minimum accuracy.
AD2CP Nortek's broadband signal processing platform.
.ad2cp Nortek raw binary data file
Amplitude (*) See signal strength
ASCII output Data is displayed in ASCII format (text).
Bandwidth Wider signal bandwidth is used to get more information and improve the velocity
precision.
Beam Bottom track: The reported velocities are positive when the motion is towards the
Coordinates transducer. Current profile: The reported velocities are positive when the motion is
away from the transducer.
Blanking Specifies the distance from instrument head to the start of the measurement cell
where no measurements take place, to give the transducers time to settle before
the echo returns to the receiver. The size of the blanking area is user selectable in
the software using the Start of profile parameter.
Bottom Track Bottom tracking is a method where the velocity of the bottom is measured. The
bottom track algorithm is a "single mode" and functions from the minimum depth to
the maximum depth, seamlessly.
Break A break command is used to change between the various operational modes of the
instrument and to interrupt the instrument regardless of which mode it is in. When
break is received in command mode, you can see that the LED is switched off for a
short time.
Broadband In this context it means using a more complex transmit pulse to improve the
measurement accuracy in each ping.
Cell (*) One measurement cell represents the average of the return signal for a given period.
The cell size and transmit pulse are of equal size.
Command An instrument in command mode is powered up and ready to accept your
mode instructions. If no commands are received for about five minutes, it automatically
goes into Power Down Mode, unless Ethernet power is connected. LED is lit
constantly when in command mode.
Connector For example 3M Silicone Spray. Do not use grease.
Lubricant
Correlation (*) Nominal correlation is a function of cell size and velocity range. Nortek
recommends using 50% of the max correlation as a cut-off value, beyond this point
the validity of your data is questionable.
Desiccant Added in the canister to absorb humidity
Bag
Firmware Internal software of the instrument, as opposed to the instrument software running
on a PC. Availability of new firmware versions is shown on the instrument web
interface.

© 2022 Nortek AS
34 DVL

FOM (Figure Measure of the velocity white noise level (single ping precision).
of Merit)
Internal Rate of sampling for internal sensors. Refer to the specific instrument brochure for
sampling rate details.
LED Light Emitting Diode.
License Different capabilities of the instrument are protected under licenses which can be
purchased. Contact your sales representative for more information. You will not
need a license when updating the firmware version.
MIDAS Nortek Multi-Instrument Data Acquisition Software
NMEA Standard data format defined by the National Marine Electronics Association
Noise floor The amplitude of the internal noise of the instrument. This will limit the minimum
detectable signal that can be received.
O-ring Lubricate the O-rings with silicone grease. Properly greased O-rings will help
lubricant maintain sealing integrity and minimize O-ring degradation.
.pd0 Data format defined by RDI, that has been available for a long time. Format is
described in RDI Workhorse manual.
Ping Same as a single transmit pulse.
Precision (*) The value given is a theoretical estimate of the precision of the velocity
measurements based on how the instrument is set up. The nominal value is given
for the horizontal components in a default instrument acoustic beam configuration.
In order to improve the precision the user may consider one of the following options:
(1) larger cell sizes or (2) reduced velocity range
Pressure Due to atmospheric pressure variations, the sensor signal may have an offset. Note
Offset that the sensor does not output negative values. Set the offset before deployment.
Sidelobe The acoustic beams focus most of the energy in the center of the beams, but a
small amount leaks out in other directions. Transducer sidelobes are rays of
acoustic energy that go in directions other than the main lobe. Because sound
reflects stronger from the water surface than it does from the water, the small
signals that travel straight to the surface can produce sufficient echo to contaminate
the signal from the water.
Signal Strength of return signal, presented in dB.
strength
SNR SNR is the Signal-to-Noise ratio and is a data quality indicator.
Trigger A signal to wake up/get attention. In addition to the internal there are two external
options: RS485 and TTL trigger.
XYZ Cartesian coordinate system. A positive velocity in the X-direction goes in the
Coordinates direction of the X-axis arrow. Use the right-hand-rule to remember the notation
conventions for vectors. Use the first (index) finger to point in the direction of
positive X-axis and the second (middle) finger to point in the direction of positive Y.
The positive Z-axis will then be in the direction that the thumb points.
(*) Relevant for current profiling only.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Appendices 35

9.2 Communication and Ethernet

Connections between the instrument and computer can be made in one of two ways.
· Ethernet (via direct connection or router/switch)
· RS232/RS422 through the serial port. Serial communication baud rate: 300-115200, 230400,
460800, 625000, 1250000

Details about the Ethernet connection

Most instruments are shipped with the Ethernet option. The first time using the instrument, the
network address needs to be properly configured for the network. The IP address can be assigned in
one of the three ways:
1. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP): A DHCP server in the network is used to assign an
IP address to the Ethernet interface.
2. AutoIP: Link-local address assignment.
3. Manually assign IP address (by the user)

As shipped, the instrument uses options 1 and 2. This means that it will try to automatically
configure the IP address for the network that the instrument is plugged into.

If a DHCP server is detected it takes approximately 30 seconds to negotiate for and assign an IP
address to the Ethernet interface. If you are using a broadband router, it is likely you are using a
DHCP Server to assign IP Addresses. Common private network address schemes include
192.168.x.x and 10.0.x.x subnets, with the Subnet mask of [Link] or [Link]

If a DHCP server is not detected (usually because of being directly connected to a computer) and the
request for an IP Address is not fulfilled, the instrument will automatically assign itself IP addresses
using the AutoIP protocol. DHCP must first time out before the AutoIP protocol starts, so this will
result in a delay of approximately 90 seconds before an IP address is finally assigned. A standard
AutoIP address sits in the 169.254.x.x range, with the subnet mask being [Link].

When using automatic IP address assignment, there is generally no way of knowing which address
was assigned to the instrument. To determine the IP address assigned, the Discovery protocol is
used to query instruments on the local subnet. The discovery protocol is a Nortek proprietary means
for retrieving information from an AD2CP without requiring any knowledge of the IP address
assigned.

There are some limitations on the Discovery protocol. It uses a special type of Ethernet packets
(known as multicast packets) that may not be forwarded through routers (depending upon the router
type and configuration). For that reason, we always recommend that the computer being used for
Discovery ONLY be either directly connected to the instrument or connected through an Ethernet
switch. Only the Discovery protocol uses multicast packets. Other communications use standard
TCP/IP networking which means that the instrument can be communicated with anywhere that IP
connectivity is supported once the IP address is known.

For more details about the DHCP or AutoIP there are many articles available in the public domain.
These are standard protocols used by most Internet based equipment.

Routers
The discovery protocol uses multicast packets that may not work through firewalls and routers. The
Time-to-Live for the multicast packets is set to 2. This means that at most one router can sit
between the acquisition system and instruments. The router must also be configured to support
forwarding of multicast packets.

© 2022 Nortek AS
36 DVL

The discovery protocol also supports unicast, so if you know the IP address of the system you can
use the Discover > Search for Address and simply type in the IP address or domain name.

Manually assign IP address

Networked instruments can also have their IP address manually assigned. This may be useful on
networks in which the discovery protocol might not work (e.g. through multiple routers or firewalls).

Network Configuration
Click the highlighted instrument in the Instrument Search dialog to get the option of enabling DHCP
or set a static IP address or IP address for a local interface (see section Finding Instrument on PC
for description of parameters), or check out the MIDAS software manual.

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Appendices 37

9.3 Cable Connector Pin Configurations

In these diagrams, "wet end" means the connector on the instrument side of the cable, while "dry
end" means the connector on the computer side of the cable.

8-pin, Ethernet AD2CP with TTL sync (N2550-051)

Wet end Pin # Function Wire color Joint Wire color Pin # Dry end
MCIL8F with 1 Gnd Black Black Jacket 2-pin jack plug
MCDLS-F (red
2 Pwr + Red White Center
sleeve)
3 Rx - White Green 6 RJ 45 Insulation
4 Rx + Blue Green/White 3 connector

5 Tx - White Orange 2
6 Tx + Orange Orange/Whit 1
e
7 Trigger White Blue 1 2-pin terminal
8 NC Green Black 2 strip

8-pin, Ethernet AD2CP with RS485 Sync (N2550-052)

Wet end Pin # Function Wire color Joint Wire color Pin # Dry end
MCIL8F with 1 Gnd Black Black Jacket 2-pin jack plug
MCDLS-F (red
2 Pwr + Red White Center
sleeve)
3 Rx - White Green 6 RJ 45 Insulation
4 Rx + Blue Green/White 3 connector

5 Tx - White Orange 2
6 Tx + Orange Orange/Whit 1
e
7 RS485 Sync White Blue 1 2-pin terminal
A strip
8 RS485 Sync Green Black 2
B

© 2022 Nortek AS
38 DVL

8-pin, RS232 AD2CP with TTL sync (N2550-050)

Wet end Pin # Function Wire color Joint Wire color Pin # Dry end
MCIL8F with 1 Gnd Black Black Jacket 2-pin jack plug
MCDLS-F (red
2 Pwr + Red White Center
sleeve)
3 Tx - White Yellow 2 9-pin DSUB
4 Tx + Blue Purple 7 female

5 Rx - White Blue 3
6 Rx + Orange Brown 8
Black 5
7 Trigger White Blue 1 2-pin terminal
8 NC Green Black 2 strip

8-pin, RS232 AD2CP with RS485 Sync (N2550-053)

Wet end Pin # Function Wire color Joint Wire color Pin # Dry end
MCIL8F with 1 Gnd Black Black Jacket 2-pin jack plug
MCDLS-F (red
2 Pwr + Red White Center
sleeve)
3 Tx - White Yellow 2 9-pin DSUB
4 Tx + Blue Purple 7 female

5 Rx + White Blue 3
6 Rx - Orange Brown 8
Black 5
7 RS485 Sync White Blue 1 2-pin terminal
A strip
8 RS485 Sync Green Black 2
B

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Appendices 39

Internal harness, DVL Serial and Ethernet with SyncIn (TTL trigger) (N2500-001)
Ext. connector Pin # Function Wire color Pin # Function Int. connector
(int.)
Serial 1 Pwr Gnd Black 3 Pwr Gnd Molex Sherlock
2 Pwr + White 2 Pwr + 13-pin

3 RS232 Red 4 Tx RS232 or

Tx/RS422 Tx- Tx 0_Z_DI
4 RS422 Tx+ Green 5 Tx 0_Y_RTS
5 RS232 Orange 6 Rx RS232 or
Rx/RS422 Rx 0_A_DO
Rx+
6 RS422 Rx- Blue 7 Rx 0_B_CTS
7 Sync In Yellow 8 Sync In
8 Shield Red/Black 1 Shield

Ethernet 1 Gnd Black 2 Gnd Molex Sherlock

2 Pwr + White 3 Pwr + 7-pin

3 Rx- Red 4 Rx-

4 Rx+ Green 5 Rx+
5 Tx- Orange 6 Tx-
6 Tx+ Blue 7 Tx+
7 Sync In Yellow 8 (Sync In
on 13-pin
connector
)
8 Shield Red/Black 1 Shield

Insulated ring to Gnd point on endbell (soldered to Gnd point on PCB)

© 2022 Nortek AS
 40 DVL

9.4 Mechanical Drawings

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Appendices 41

© 2022 Nortek AS
42 DVL

© 2022 Nortek AS
 Appendices 43

9.5 Proforma Invoice

© 2022 Nortek AS