Radar & Ultrasonic Level Meter Q&A

Field problems reported from real installations — blind zone, echo energy, foam, small closed metal tanks and narrow pipes — with root cause, fixes and field-proven parameters. Tap a card to read the full answer.

Why does the short-range 80G radar read the wrong distance and throw error codes?

Answer: In a very short measuring range the surface echo competes with spurious echoes; upgrade to the 0901 firmware and run false-echo learning to fix the wrong reading.

2026-09-30

Why does the 1.5-inch 80G radar show zeros or spike values in historical data?

Answer: Replace the YCD8S with the YLD8S and upgrade to the 2025-12-17 firmware; set the sliding window to 10/30/60 to stop the jumps.

2026-09-30

Why does the 80G radar with display report “within blind zone”?

Answer: A weak reflection put the data in the antenna blind zone; switch to suspended mounting and set the blind zone to 0.3 m.

2026-09-30

Why does the 80G short-range radar produce messy echoes and false readings in a small closed metal tank?

Answer: In a small closed metal tank the 80 GHz wave reflects repeatedly between the liquid surface, the metal walls and the lid. The real surface echo gets buried among …

2026-09-23

Why does the M38 threaded radar read 1105 mm when the actual level is 510 mm inside a narrow pipe?

Answer: The radar was mounted off-center (or tilted) in the 108 mm pipe, so part of the beam hit the pipe wall and the sensor locked onto the wall echo — about 1105…

2026-09-23

Why is the 1.5-inch 80G radar level reading inaccurate for grain, and which parameters fix it?

Answer: Bulk solids such as soybeans scatter the radar signal, so with default parameters the surface echo is misidentified and the height reads inaccurate. Field-proven tunin…

2026-09-23

Can the radar be used directly after installation?

Answer: Additional configuration is required: set the installation height; calibrate current for 4‑20 mA output models. Installation height: Vertical distance from the water b…

2026-08-07

Can the ±2.75° beam angle be reduced? Minimum distance from silo wall for installation?

Answer: The beam angle cannot be reduced beyond its current specification — narrower angles increase interference from ground reflections and wall obstructions and require hig…

2026-08-07

Extending power supply cables

Q: Can I extend the power cable myself? Can the cable be extended to 50 m or more? A: Power cables for RS485 models may be extended on-site. Use thicker-gauge wiring to mainta…

2026-08-07

Measurement shows within blind zone

Answer: The measured distance is shorter than the blind zone distance; the factory default blind zone is 0.3 m. Solutions: Adjust the sensor-to-target distance to ensure it ex…

2026-08-07

Why is there no blind zone alert when the target falls within the blind zone?

Answer: Suspended installation mode is enabled. Switch to standard installation mode to activate blind zone alerts (default blind zone 0.3 m, adjustable downwards). Suspended …

2026-08-07

Why does the liquid level display "Insufficient Echo Energy"?

Answer: Possible causes: Obstacles between the sensor and the target weaken reflected echo energy. The sensor is not parallel to the target surface, leading to weak reflected …

2026-08-07

Empty distance data fluctuation analysis

Scenario 1: Decreasing empty distance Fluctuation ≤ 0.4 m: Likely antenna echo interference. Fluctuation > 0.4 m: Obstacles exist between radar and target. Scenario 2: Incr…

2026-08-07

Information extractable from echo spectrum and corresponding fixes

Spurious echoes detected → Enable spurious echo learning. Secondary echoes detected → Enable nearest peak detection and inspect RF settings. Weak/unstable true target echo ene…

2026-08-07

Why does the radar water level measurement lag and respond slowly?

Answer: Our 80G radar operates at 76‑81 GHz and outputs valid data 1 second after power-on. Amplitude limiting filtering is enabled by factory default to smooth readings. Disa…

2026-08-07

Measurement performance with heavy foam and floating debris

Answer: Foam thicker than 3‑4 cm triggers an "insufficient echo energy" alert. As foam thickness increases, radar signal penetration degrades, the sensor fails to capture vali…

2026-08-07

Radar measurement on plastic disc targets

Operation guide: Cover the full disc surface with intact aluminum foil, no gaps or wrinkles. Add a waterproof film for long-term outdoor use to prevent aluminum foil oxidation…

2026-08-07

Everyday configuration answers — installation height, RF transmit power, 4‑20 mA output setup and troubleshooting, RS485 wiring and AT commands. Tap a card to read the full answer.

Environment-specific tuning

1. Open environments (rivers, open water tanks) Typical issues: Weak true target echoes, frequent antenna echo interference, unstable distance readings. Increase RF transmit p…

2026-08-07

How do I adjust the transmitting power of the device?

Answer: RF transmit power is normally left at the factory default — raising it is a fix for a specific symptom, not a general performance boost. When to raise it The tru…

2026-09-26

How to output raw ADC data on the upper computer

Send AT command AT+OUTRAWDATA=2 via upper computer; confirm reply "OK", then close the serial port. Open the Spectrum Viewer software, select the correct serial port, open the…

2026-08-07

What is the millimeter-wave operating frequency, modulation scheme, and supported communication protocols?

Answer: Operating frequency: 80 GHz; Modulation: FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave); Supported protocols: Modbus, Text protocol.

2026-08-07

How do I configure the values corresponding to the 4-20 mA output?

Answer: The 4‑20 mA output is mapped from the level reading, so the two things to set first are the installation height and the 4 mA / 20 mA endpoints. Step 1 — se…

2026-09-26

How do I solve an error in the 4-20 mA current output?

Answer: A wrong 4‑20 mA reading is almost always a calibration, wiring or range-mapping issue rather than a sensor fault. Work through these in order: Recalibrate agains…

2026-09-26

No response when reading radar data via USB-to-serial adapter and upper computer software

supply voltage matches the device specification; abnormal voltage prevents normal operation. Check wiring: TTL communication: Cross wiring rule – RX ↔ TX. RS485 communication:…

2026-08-07

Can multiple RS485 radars be wired in parallel? Can the upper computer read all units simultaneously?

Answer: Set a unique communication address for each radar (factory default address: 127 / Modbus hex address 0x7F). Radars with unique addresses can be connected on the same R…

2026-08-07