YEOMAN
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the power requirements? How much current does the unit draw?
What is a YEOMAN Plotter, and how does it work?
YEOMAN Plotters were introduced in 1985 as electronic replacements for traditional plotting instruments. As positioning devices became more sophisticated, it was possible to interface Loran and GPS receivers to the YEOMAN to provide real time positioning information as well as plotting.
The YEOMAN plotter consists of a electronic grid under a map board and an intelligent mouse that understands where it is on the grid and is programmed to think like a navigator. This "Mouse for Maps"™, when linked to a GPS receiver, enables the user to see where he is on a conventional paper chart. A GPS can only tell you where you are with respect to latitude and longitude; the YEOMAN will show you directly on the chart!
When it comes to navigation, YEOMAN combines two proven technologies, GPS positioning and paper charts. A chart is secured on the plotting board, and the mouse reads its position on the mat and translates this into navigational data displayed on it's LCD window. A set of indicator arrows point the direction to move the mouse so that the plotting spot is over your vessel’s position. With the simple click of a key, bearings, ranges, speed, course, and time-to-go are also displayed. Waypoints may be uploaded directly from the chart into most GPS units.
All YEOMAN plotters have integral lighting and radar interface capability. They require 12V power, either through a direct connection to your vessel's batteries, an optional cigarette lighter plug, or a 110VAC to 12VDC adapter.
YEOMAN technology offers a different way to participate in the electronic charting revolution. It is a valuable addition to a suite of navigation instruments, serves as a data entry tool to the GPS, and provides back-up if there is a power failure.
Does the YEOMAN need special charts?
No. YEOMAN will work on any chart anywhere in the world. It's secret is not in the chart, but in the digitized mat the chart rests on.
What is the difference between the Sport XL and the Navigator Pro models?
The Sport XL models are designed to go anywhere-- they're splash-resistant for use in the cockpit, on the flying bridge, or on the nav table. Many users extend their wires out to the cockpit or the bridge; parallel connections are supported through accessory extension cables.
The Navigator Pro models are designed to be mounted permanently, either on top, or underneath a chart table. The mouse can read through non-conductive material up to one inch thick. Diagrams of different mounting options for the Nav Pro are available.
What is YEOMAN's resolution?
The resolution of the YEOMAN is about the width of a pencil mark-- better than 2 mm.
Does it matter how you orient the chart on the map board?
No. You can place a chart in any orientation on the YEOMAN before referencing. Once you do reference the chart, however, it must remain in its original position to remain accurate.
I want to reference a chart and enter it in the "USER" library. How do I do this?
1.
First, fold your chart so your working area fits on the YEOMAN. Choose 3
points of latitude and longitude in the following pattern:
Two
points of equal latitude and two points of equal longitude are aligned to
form a right angle (three points are now identified--A, B, and C).
Points
A and B should be on the same line of latitude.
Points
B and C should be on the same line of longitude.
Make
sure that no points are not too close to the edge. The chart will not
reference if they are within an inch and a half from the edge of the board Pick an easy intersection--
use even minutes; you cannot use reference points with fractions of a
minute. Write down the Lat/Lon of your
reference points. This will make it easier for you enter them into the
YEOMAN. Choose a number for the chart.
The YEOMAN User Chart Library has memory to store 99 user charts, so pick a
number between 1 and 99. It's a good idea to write this number on the chart.
2.
Press the "SCROLL" Key until "LIBR USER" is in the screen.
If any other library is shown, press the up arrow to advance to the user library.
3.
Press "ENTER" to select the user library. Using the four
directional arrow keys, change the chart # to the one that you have selected for
this particular chart. Press "ENTER". The screen will have
a series of 0's with the far top left 0 flashing.
4.
Enter in the three positions were selected in Step 1. Start with the latitude
and longitude of your "A" position and toggle this into the mouse.
Use the left and right arrows to highlight each digit and the up and down arrows
to select the number required. Continue doing this for the lat and lon and N/S,
E/W selection as well.
5.
When you have the correct position in the mouse with "PA" in the
center, press "enter". You will see that the same latitude of your
"A" position is showing on the mouse and that the longitude is able to
be edited. Enter the longitude for Position B. "PB" will be in the
center of the mouse, Press "ENTER". Now the latitude for Position C
should be entered; the longitude cannot be changed. With
"PC" showing in the mouse and the proper latitude now adjusted for the
third.
6.
The Mouse will now show" "REF POS A" on its screen. Place the
plot spot on Position A and press ENTER. Repeat for positions B and C.
Your chart is now referenced, and your YEOMAN plotter will be in YEOMAN or
Plotter mode.
How do I
reference a Maptech ChartKit®?
Using
the YEOMAN Sport XL with a Maptech ChartKit is easy:
1. Press the "SCROLL" button (lower left) until "LIBR Chrtkt"
or "LIBR USER" appears. If "USER" appears as the library
choice, press the up button to toggle to the ChartKit library selection (marked
on the ChartKit page). Press "ENTER" (top left button).
2.
YEOMAN now asks you for the Maptech Chartkit region number that you are using.
Use the up or down button to choose your region. Press "ENTER" to
accept this selection.
3.
Now the YEOMAN asks you to select a chart number. This is the page number of the
ChartKit. "Select Chart 01" or another page number will be in the
screen. Change
the flashing digit by using the up or down arrow, then press the Left arrow to
highlight the first digit. You can change this digit using the arrows. When you
have entered the correct page number press "ENTER".
4. "REF
POS A" now appears in the screen. Place the Mouse Plot Spot over the
intersection of latitude and longitude that is designated as "YEOMAN A"
on the page . Press "ENTER". Repeat for points B and C.
What happens if the chart moves after
I reference it?
If
the chart moves after you reference it, it can cause the mouse information to be
inaccurate. There are different ways to prevent this from this happening:
Make
sure the YEOMAN's Sport models' Velcro strips are secure, and the zipper
closed tightly on the chart holder.
On
Navigator Pro models, make sure that the clips are securing the chart to the
mat.
If
you feel that the chart has moved, scroll through to YEOMAN mode, move the
mouse to a known spot (possibly an cross intersection), and check the
readout on the mouse against the coordinates of the position. If the
mouse is off, simply re-reference the chart. An easy trick on the Sport
models is to mark a small dot at the reference positions on the chart holder's
plastic overlay. If the chart has shifted even slightly, you can simply
adjust the chart back into place where the dot and the cross intersections meet.
This technique will also give you an easy visual reference to be sure that the
chart has not moved.
Does the mouse have to stay in contact with the
mat? No,
the mouse does not have to stay in contact with the mat at all times. Once
the chart is referenced the placement of the mouse on the mat is entirely up to
your navigation needs. There is no roller ball on the bottom of the YEOMAN
mouse. The mouse contains a magnetic coil that senses its position on the mat. When the mouse is out of
sensing range of the mat the lights will continually flash to let you know it is
unhappy and feeling lonely.
Do I have to connect a GPS to my YEOMAN for it to
work? No.
The YEOMAN will be useful as a trip planner, plotter or Dead Reckoning computer
without the GPS. When combined with GPS positioning, however, YEOMAN
plotters become a very powerful navigation tool; however, the plotter is fully-functional
without the interface. How do I interface my GPS with the YEOMAN Plotter? You
will need to purchase a cable/plug specific to your GPS unit. These generally
come with bare wires on one end and a plug to fit your GPS on the other.
Waypoint stocks a complete selection of Garmin cables; consult your GPS users
manual for specifications for other brands. Look
for the wiring diagrams in the back of the YEOMAN manual for general
guidance. Every GPS model names connections differently, but there are
always a GPS transmit data wire, a GPS receive wire, and a ground/signal return
wire (which can be the same as 12V ground on some GPS models).
You
will need to set your GPS to output in NMEA 0183/NMEA 0183 format. Your GPS
owner’s manual should assist you on the proper procedure. The YEOMAN comes
defaulted from the factory for NMEA 0183. The
Power/Data cable provided with a YEOMAN Plotter is designed to be connected to a
vessel's 12V power system. The Red wire is for 12V positive and the black/shield
is your ground. If your GPS cable is also a power/data cable you should connect
the designated power input wire (conventionally this will be red) to YEOMAN red
and the ground (conventionally black) to YEOMAN black/shield. On
a simple GPS to YEOMAN connection, you will make 4 connections. Connect YEOMAN
Red to the GPS power wire. Next is the Black/Ground cable. Connect the black
wire on the YEOMAN to the 0 volts cable on the GPS . Then connect NMEA IN
on the YEOMAN to the NMEA OUT on the GPS. Then connect the NMEA OUT
on the YEOMAN to the NMEA IN on the GPS. Then check your GPS
interface to be sure it is outputting in NMEA format and you should be up and
running. What are the power requirements? How much current does the unit
draw? Nominally
12 volts; input for the Navigator Pro and the Sport XL can be between
10-15 volts. Power consumption is 250 mA. Why do I have to enter the year when I’m in
setup? The
year needs to be correctly set for the YEOMAN to accurately adjust for magnetic
variation. A YEOMAN plotter will automatically calculate the magnetic
variation for the chart you are using. Since variation changes yearly. the
setting should be kept up to date. How does the radar interface work? When
your YEOMAN Sport XL or Navigator
Pro is interfaced with a compatible radar, the position of the YEOMAN mouse
on the chart is sent directly to the radar screen in the form of a
"lollipop". This feature gives you a direct link from the paper chart
to the radar screen. The radar interface will help identify targets on your
radar screen. Complete instructions are in your YEOMAN manual for this
interface. The
Radar interface works in Navigation mode "NA" on the center of the
screen. Push the "Range and Bearing Button" and move your mouse to a
feature on the chart that you want to see up on the Radar screen. Push the
"Enter" button and the "lollipop" should appear.
If
you hold the "Enter" button down for 5 beeps, the
"lollipop" will remain on the screen and as you move your mouse it
will track in real time on the radar. With this feature activated you can move
the "lollipop" onto a target on the screen and see if it matches up
with a chart feature. Radar
plotting is standard on all YEOMAN models. Radars from Autohelm,
Furuno, ICOM, JRC, and Ratheon have been tested; however,
any radar which accepts waypoint information from a GPS in NMEA
format should be able to be successfully interfaced. You must have an electronic compass interfaced to the radar
(see individual radar
manufacturers handbook or dealer for details of suitable compass units). A
toggle switch can be installed to allow the radar to take waypoint information
from the GPS and YEOMAN plotters as you desire. YEOMAN,
together with a radar option, is an aid to plotting data combined with a
variety of electronic sources. Occasional and independent manual checks are
recommended, especially if a safety-critical decision needs to be made. It is
the user’s responsibility to exercise common prudence and navigational judgment. I just connected power to my brand new YEOMAN
plotter and I am trying to reference a chart, but I keep getting a reference
error. What do I do?
Your
YEOMAN was supplied with a practice chart for you to become familiar with its
many different features. When you connect power to your YEOMAN for the first
time, it will automatically be in demonstration mode. You should reference in the practice chart printed on the poster
that is supplied with the unit. This practice reference chart is there so that
you can get up and running with your new YEOMAN plotter even if you don’t have
any other charts to work with.
If the mouse asks you to
reference "REF 1" instead of "REF A" you know your are in
this initial demo mode and need to follow the procedure below:
1.
Place
the Mouse Plot Spot over the point marked "REF 1" and press the
"ENTER" Key (upper left button). Repeat for points 2 and 3.
2.
Pressing
the "SCROLL" Key (lower left) allows you to practice further with this
chart using it’s simulated position and speed.
3.
In Demonstration mode, all four red indicator lights will flash together every 10
seconds.
The
YEOMAN will automatically exit Demonstration mode once you reference a real
chart
If you discarded the practice chart, there is a simple procedure to
continue. When REF 1 appears,
push the Range & Bearing Key. Your display will now say "Demo Yes/No";
"No" will be flashing. Push the "Enter" key, and your YEOMAN will go directly to the
chart library