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Kelvin Hughes "SmartEye"

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by NEO56, Oct 21, 2014.

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  1. NEO56

    NEO56 Member

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    It was always my contention that Kelvin Hughes made the best Radars on the market. They have come out with a new technology called SmartEye Radar. I was very impressed with this...and I was wondering if any body had any real experience with this. It makes a lot of sense to me, and whatever I end up buying, I want to retrofit my boat with this Radar. Any thoughts or Comments?
  2. CaptPKilbride

    CaptPKilbride Senior Member

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    Sharpeye?
  3. Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno
    Hope you take the time to correctly spell your request,

    when retrofitting. o_O

    http://www.kelvinhughes.com/marine/products/sharpeye
  4. NEO56

    NEO56 Member

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    Ooopps, Sharp Eye...It was a long day OP...my bad.
  5. vlafrank

    vlafrank Senior Member

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    Where does one have to go (on the internet) to find a flippin' pic of their monitors, keyboards and associated hardware? Their own website doesn't seem to have much in the way of illumination! Bizarre....
  6. NEO56

    NEO56 Member

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    You can download the pdf brochure, and try the owners manual as well. I'll admit they really aren't interested in showing very much are they? I guess they figure that the name Kelvin Hughes should be enough. There is a U.S. office that can help you, and possibly send out some information. In addition to fantastic software, the fact that the open array antenna does not contain a magnetron is pretty cool, my brain is fried enough without having an antenna pound me with microwaves.
  7. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    The Kelvin Hughes "Sharp Eye" XS series radar is a Black Box transceiver modulator with a proprietary scanner antenna. The transceiver can be data linked to any TFT monitor like KEP or Vartech's products. K.H. seems to be pushing the Seacross Xs monitors for this transceiver so as always Google Seacross Xs radar monitors for some photo's . K.H. was always ship board gear or Mega Yacht gear until 20 years ago and from what I've encountered with their intermediate electronics for small boats 50 meter and under they're playing catch up with Simrad and the others.
  8. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    A slotted open array radar antenna with a beam angle of 12 degrees has defused or spread out the RF energy to the point that you don't have to worry about hair loss or fried man parts. Even high powered 30 KW radars don't pose a threat for being dosed unless your looking down the cavity of the Gunn Diode / Magnetron. When RCA marine was developing marine radars @ 60 and 100 KW back in the day there were some color blind and bald technicians running around but then again they were in close proximity to hard wave guides connecting to crude antennas or more like semi parabolics @ extremely high RF output. I do get a kick out of the signs in marinas requesting that you turn your radars off or place them in standby mode . I know that this is a very debatable subject for many but the facts and research have proven that if a radar is installed to the manufacturers specifications and safe distances and common sense is followed than you won't go color blind or have any body parts fall off due to cancer. Kelvin Hughes might make this argument a thing of the past by using digital amplifiers at 20 watts output and if the technology is proven to be good it could change the playing field of radar costs associated with expensive components in the modulator like high voltage fly back transformers, maggies and such. I wouldn't be surprised if the other manufactures put their spin on it but wait, Didn't Garmin release a digitally amplified radar transceiver five years ago?? Yes they did... Don't think it changed much in the business but maybe KH has a better mouse trap.
    Last edited: Oct 29, 2014
  9. NEO56

    NEO56 Member

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    O.K. Just got off the phone with Kelvin Hughes, very nice guy unfortunately he is in Military sales...but he told my how to get to where we need to go. Go the the KH website, at the top of the tabs, click on Surveillance Systems....then click on the tab "Resources" and there's a ton of PDF files along with screen shots, and a video as well.
  10. Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno

    Too easy. o_O


    http://www.yachtforums.com/index.php?threads/kelvin-hughes-smarteye.23778/#post-205996



    http://www.yachtforums.com/index.php?threads/kelvin-hughes-smarteye.23778/#post-206414


    Some examples posted, without a response.


    http://www.yachtforums.com/index.php?threads/kelvin-hughes-smarteye.23778/#post-206432
  11. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    Done & Done, Still couldn't isolate the "Sharp Eye" system displays but rather all of K.H. bridge integration displays. Let me know if I missed something by not continuing to drill down on this site. I was speaking with my electronics Guru in La Ciotat / Monaco Marine this morning about a on going refit that I'm involved with and I segued into a K.H. discussion and he's the tech that told me about the Seacross Xs displays that KH is paring with this Black box radar transceiver. He also set me straight that Garmins digitally amplified transceiver only related to the I.F side ( receiver ) cyclotron or circulator side and not the X-mitter as it still used a Gunn Diode or Maggie @ 4 KW.
  12. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    I had no idea of the history behind the Parent Co. of Kelvin Hughes, Interesting reading that had interest's in Tampa with Si-Tex Koden.
    Go figure. Kelvin Hughes hand book / www.emforensics.com/main/kelvinhughes.htm
    Hope that I haven't violated any YF rules with this link, I'm never sure so please delete Admin if I've muffed it.
  13. NEO56

    NEO56 Member

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    Link didn't work captholli, I'd be interested to know as well...awhile back I went to go find KH, and was informed that someone had bought them out...and two, three years later, boom KH has their website back up and don't look the worst for wear. I have been wondering what happened to them.
  14. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    n
    I tried it also and it didn't function. Sorry bout that! Cut and paste or just copy it down and Bing it as its the correct address. Neat stuff with the likes of chronometers for Pitcairn Captains that were cast adrift from the HMS Bounty etc. I don't want to give to much away but Smith industries is steeped in maritime lore and salt water & goes back a long way to say the least.
    www.emforensics.com/main/kelvinhughes.htm