The Raymarine Pathfinder 24 is an IMO type-approved, solid-state X-band commercial radar system categorized as a CAT 2 SOLAS system. Engineered for professional commercial deep-water vessels, offshore supply vessels (OSVs), large workboats, and megayachts between 500 GT and 10,000 GT, this model brings the same high-end solid-state performance as the Pathfinder 22 but upgrades the bridge presentation to a larger, higher-resolution 24-inch WUXGA display for critical target assessment.

By replacing high-maintenance magnetrons with a long-lasting 110W solid-state transmitter featuring CHIRP pulse compression and beam sharpening, the system delivers target resolution that exceeds traditional 12kW units with zero warm-up time.

Detailed Architectural & Functional Overview

1. High-Resolution 24″ WUXGA Display & Interface

The bridge interface centers around the E70664-IMO 24-inch display, which upgrades the screen real estate to a 1920 x 1200 pixel (16:10 aspect ratio) configuration. Featuring an impressive 1,300-nit backlight illumination, it ensures readability at a viewing distance of up to 0.9 meters under harsh direct sunlight. The monitor uses Raymarine’s HydroTough™ hydrophobic nano-coating to repel water, salt crystals, and oils, while its passive fan-less cooling ensures silent bridge operation and fewer mechanical failure points.

2. Core Transceiver Processing & Pulse Profiles

The system shifts through precisely engineered pulse lengths and Pulse Repetition Frequencies (PRF) dynamically mapped to the operating range scale (up to 96 Nautical Miles) to optimize both close-range target discrimination and long-range tracking:

• Short Range (0.25 to 1.5 NM): Operates on an ultra-short 46 ns pulse width at a high 4.8 kHz PRF for near-field clarity, ensuring small targets (like wooden hulls, buoys, or jet skis) are resolved within sea clutter.

• Medium Range (3 to 6 NM): Shifts from 2,300 ns to 3,900 ns widths to maintain solid structural outlines of shorelines and vessel profiles.

• Long Range (12 to 96 NM): Uses longer pulse profiles up to 79,000 ns at a reduced 0.7 kHz PRF to punch through heavy atmospheric degradation, providing early warning for offshore weather systems.

3. Advanced Tracking and Network Integration

The Pathfinder 24 utilizes the A80792 Data Collection Unit (DCU) to serve as a central interface bridge. It handles complex sensor configurations via 8 opto-isolated inputs and 6 ISO-Drive isolated outputs, ingesting data securely from the Gyrocompass, Speed Log, GPS, and AIS transponders without ground-loop risks. Running Pathfinder V2.0 firmware, the display handles a massive tracking ceiling of up to 100 ARPA targets and 4,000 active AIS targets (processing a backend buffer of 6,000 targets). It supports variable antenna rotation speeds up to 60 RPM for real-time target position updates and outputs native ASTERIX CAT-240 video for smooth integration into third-party ECDIS or Vessel Traffic Services (VTS).