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Old 09-12-2018, 02:15   #1
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Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

I have a Simrad NSS7 chart plotter. I'm looking for a second hand radar. Lots of people upgrading to broadband so counting on picking up some old school model cheaper. How can I figure out what radar will work with this plotter? Is the ethernet compatible across all brands? Is it just the cable connection that's different. I'm not averse to cutting off and resoldering end-connectors if that's all there is to it.



(and on a seperate note... $250 for a 15m cable? You cheeky sods. You could have made that with a CAT 5 cable if you'd just designed your boxes differently. tsk!)
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Old 09-12-2018, 02:22   #2
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Re: Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

No, the interfaces for radar are proprietary.
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Old 09-12-2018, 02:50   #3
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Re: Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

Simrad display, simrad radar. And not all older domes are compatible with newer displays
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Old 09-12-2018, 13:16   #4
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Re: Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

Thanks. Are all Navico (lowrance/Simrad/B&G) different as well?

Are there any conversion boxes out there that allow you to connect different brands?
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Old 09-12-2018, 13:19   #5
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Re: Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

As long as it's not old, Simrad and B&G are the same hardware with software changes.

They should be compatible, but check with Navico.

I recently installed a Simrad pilot and remote control on a Lowrance plotter, no problems.
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Old 09-12-2018, 16:16   #6
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Re: Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

Can I use any AIS with NMEA 2000 on the NSS7? Or does that have to be Simrad too?
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Old 09-12-2018, 16:39   #7
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Re: Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

Yes. Simnet is nmea 2000 with different plugs. You can buy an adapter cable or make one.

There's currently a problem with a lot of Navico plotters. The time is wrong. Says it's 2099. My NSS 12 is affected, don't know about the 7.

This had been going on for a few weeks, Navico say they are working on a software fix for it.

Since it's happened, my AIS hasn't worked. I'm not certain it's related, but I think it could be. Certainly it could impact on TCPA calculations.
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Old 09-12-2018, 16:58   #8
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Re: Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

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Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat View Post
Yes. Simnet is nmea 2000 with different plugs. You can buy an adapter cable or make one.

Thanks, useful to know. Any suggestion where I can buy the plugs? What should I google? Simnet plug? Navico?
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Old 09-12-2018, 17:09   #9
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Re: Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

From memory, my NSS 12 has an NMEA2000 port on the back. The 7 might have too.
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Old 09-12-2018, 17:14   #10
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Re: Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

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From memory, my NSS 12 has an NMEA2000 port on the back. The 7 might have too.
Yes it does. But I meant, where can I buy the plugs to make up my own cables?
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Old 09-12-2018, 20:37   #11
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Re: Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

Most of Simrad’s current gear uses the N2K standard plug. If you need to connect to a simnet device, buy a simnet cable, cut off one end, and replace with an N2K field installed connector. Check to be sure you get the sex right for whatever you are plugging into.
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Old 10-12-2018, 10:14   #12
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Re: Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

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Can I use any AIS with NMEA 2000 on the NSS7? Or does that have to be Simrad too?
Any certified N2K AIS transceiver (or receiver) will output AIS PGN (e.g. 129794, 129809, and 129810) which should display vessel positions on the NSS7 with no problem. A reliable list of NMEA2000 PGN is here: https://www.nmea.org/content/nmea_st...sages_pgns.asp

(Radars, however, do not communicate data over NMEA 2000--hence the proprietary methods of connection.)

However, if you do not yet have an NMEA 2000 network installed, it can be a bit of work since you also have to power the network via a connection to the vessel batteries. A good primer is here: https://www.maretron.com/products/pd...on%20Guide.pdf While it is possible to make up your own NMEA 2000 cables using field attachable connectors, it is much more efficient (and reliable) to buy pre-made cables in the lengths required for your particular installation. As pointed out in an earlier post, if you must connect legacy devices with proprietary wiring standards (e.g. Simnet), you can buy adapter cables such as these: https://www.defender.com/product3.js...879&id=1013580
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Old 10-12-2018, 12:21   #13
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Re: Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

A interesting side question would be - what if you purchased a used radar that was one of the units supported by OpenCPN and used it with an onboard PC.
The question is would the OpenCPN Plugin totally control the radar without any need for a connected chartplotter?
Someone here or on the OpenCPN forum should know.
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Old 11-12-2018, 02:41   #14
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Re: Is any radar compatible with any chart plotter?

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A interesting side question would be - what if you purchased a used radar that was one of the units supported by OpenCPN and used it with an onboard PC.
The question is would the OpenCPN Plugin totally control the radar without any need for a connected chartplotter?
Someone here or on the OpenCPN forum should know.
Yes it will work without MFD.
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