My primary position data source for my N2K
network is the neat GPS/Glonass receiver built into the Zeus T8 at my
helm.
My
network is configured as two separate N2K networks so that I can shut down the
cockpit and
engine room
instruments on the hook and on my
mooring, to conserve energy. That leaves me without position data, which means no
anchor alarm, and all kinds of other problems (no Ground Wind), which means I could never shut down any part of the system during this summer's
cruise.
I do have separate position data from my Sitex
AIS transponder, which is directly connected to the network by N2K, not by NMEA0183.
I successfully used this position data for the month I was sailing before I got my
helm Zeus installed.
But now, oddly enough, when the second network is switched off, and no position data is coming out of the helm Zeus, the first network does not accept the position data from the Sitex. It seems to me that it ought to fail over to the Sitex data, although it has been set up to consider the Zeus data to be primary.
Anyone encounter a problem like this?
Another position data problem I have is that I need to get it into my radios -- count 'em, three of them:
Icom M604,
Icom M802, and a future VHF/UHF ham
radio. I am thinking about just hooking them all up to the Sitex, whose NMEA0183 talker port is presently unoccupied (three listeners can be hooked up to one talker on NMEA0183, correct?). Or maybe I will buy the new
Garmin 19X receiver, which is tremendously accurate and receives even Galileo (!), besides
GPS and Glonass, and set it up behind my nav table instrument panel. Should give much better data than the built-in Sitex
GPS, and will make a good backup for the network.
What do y'all think?