N2K--hot swap

[lateral]

Can you hot swap N2K devices with the backbone powered up? I havent seen it documented anywhere.

[Yeti]

Occasionally my RC42 is not "seen" by the system when I first turn everything on. I've always been able to fix that by simply unplugging it and then plugging it back while the backbone is powered up.

This may not exactly be "hot swapping" but its similar.

[lateral]

Yep, thanks. Pretty much what I had in mind. Swapping transducers whilst sailing.I could have them both connected with separate instances but prefer to have one out of the water, unfouled.

[tanglewood]

Yes, one of the advertised features of N2K is that all devices are hot-pluggable.

[lateral]

Originally Posted by tanglewood

Yes, one of the advertised features of N2K is that all devices are hot-pluggable.

Thanks TW for confirmation.
Boy does the internet make the world small place, or you are just productively prolific!

I was recently reading your expose of the the horrendously erroneous vectors on Simrad marpa. (and Henning) Great read. Thanks.


Also +1 on "score card". Saves going down blind alleys knowing what to investigate further and what to not.

Question: Are you still using the AC12? What was the issue? As I am about to install mine an want to make it as straight forward as possible. Did you switch to the AC42? I was under the impression they were identical except for output to drive?

In the manual, it says ithe AC12 requires nav PGN input in the form of 130577. My Airmar GH2183 does not output it. In a ph call to Simrad (NZ) the tech I spoke with was extremely vague and said it wasn't needed. He couldn't answer when questioned why it was in the manual. Rather random response I thought. I guess it accepts all the regular GPS pgn's. Shouldn't have to guess though. (At $1800nz)
Cheers, and keep up the good work.

[tanglewood]

Glad the blogs have been helpful.

I got rid of the AC12. As best I could tell, the problems were interactions between the AC12/48, AP24/28, FU80s, and the NSO EVO. On my last boat I had an AC42 with AP24 heads and it worked just fine. The only thing different on my current boat was the NSO EVO and FU80s. And the issues all involved those other devices as part of the AP problems.

And yes, the difference between the AC12 and 42 is the current drive capability. They also say that you can only use the AC12 with solenoid controlled pumps. I'm not sure why the AC42 wouldn't work too, but they say not to use it.

I don't think I've ever seen PGN 130577 on a network. Simrad lists is as an acceptable form of heading input, but they also take 127250 and that's what I've always seen. I checked the RC42 and HS70, Simrad's own heading sensors, and none of them generate 130577. So I wouldn't worry about it.