Frequently Asked Questions
In this FAQ section you will find short articles written by our support staff that can help you answer questions we often receive from our customers. The content can be accessed using the Search function
Troubleshooting
- Why can't I open my Signature .deploy file?
- Deployment file issue
- Instrument current draw
- Basic termination RS232 and RS422
- Loopback test
- Testing your cable
Deployment
- Will my ADCP negatively affect marine animals?
- How do I find the Equivalent two-way beam angle Ψ for my echo sounder?
- Torque procedures for screws in threaded plastic
- Voltage
- Calculating weight and buoyancy
- Is Z always up relative to the earth (independent of the ADCP orientation), or does it just point up the ADCP tube?
Ocean Currents
- Why do I have two .ad2cp files from my Signature?
- How to calculate current speed and direction from ADCP velocity components
- Does the fourth beam on the AWAC measure along-beam velocity also?
- What is the maximum horizontal profiling range for a 2D profiler?
- What is the maximum configurable baud rate for Signatures?
- How do I change the orientation on my Signature from horizontal to vertical?
Ocean Waves
- What is the difference between AST and LE?
- My instrument is set up to measure in XYZ, but the waves are presented in ENU?
- What is the Wave Velocity Cell and how is it used?
- What is the effect of temperature gradients when estimating the surface level?
- What effect does the "mounting height" selection have in the deployment planning?
- Does White capping cause problems for the AST beam?
Software
- How does adjustable transmit power work?
- The binary to ASCII data conversion is not working. What is the problem?
- How can I download data from my Signature?
- How can we get the Nortek standard control software to start-up automatically?
- How does the AWAC estimate ice thickness?
- Where can I find the relevant USB driver version?
Subsea Navigation
System Integration
- Why do I have extreme values in my Signature telemetry data?
- Why do I have extreme values in my Signature telemetry data?
- I want to develop my own application to be used with a Nortek instrument. Can you provide me with some information to get me started?
- How to sync the Signature clock over Ethernet (PTP or NTP)?
- What is the maximum number of files on the recorder?
- What should typical power drain be?
Velocimeters
- Does the Vectrino flag bad data?
- The Vectrino probe is not recognized. What is the problem?
- What does the accuracy specification mean?
- How do I synchronize Vectrinos?
- How do you figure out the time to assign to Vector velocity samples?
- Is it possible to post-process data for speed of sound errors?
Vessel-mounted Systems
- How do I calibrate my vessel mounted AWAC?
- Where does the AWAC VM get time/date information from?
- Can I use my AWAC for moving boat application?
- How should I mount the VM system?
- Why do I see a high Vertical Velocity?
- Is there a minimum working water depths with the AWAC?