Simrad NSE8 - Depth

[BigAl.NZ]

Hello,

We have a boat with a mix of electronics on it - about the best part is a SIMRAD NSE8 chart plotter which really interfaces with nothing else on the boat except the AIS receive from a VHF.

I would like to add depth, and we going to get a Airmar P79, but apparently the NSE8 has "no built in sonar" and so apparently I cant connect the transducer directly. Does anyone know if this is correct?

One day I am keen to get the Raymarine Axiom Pro - so I dont want to go buying new parts unless they will work with the new system when I finally get it.

Cheers

-Al

[hoolie]

According to the Airmar data sheet the P79 is a "smart" sensor that has all the sonar electronics built-in and has NMEA2000 and/or NMEA0183 interfaces. So you can certainly connect the device to your NSE8, but I don't know whether the plotter is capable of displaying depth. Should say in the manual

[Dockhead]

Read the manual!

The NSE's (I have the B&G equivalent) will display almost all possible NMEA2000 or 0183 data. Any standard NMEA2000 depth transducer will work from whatever maker.

What it will NOT display is a graphic fishfinder image, without the black box. But depth -- no problem. You can add a "depth" field in the data bar above the plotter screen, or add "depth" to an instrument screen which you can split with plotter or display by itself.

It's all in the NSE manual.

[hoolie]

Sorry, I have just found that there are several versions of the P79 depth sensor.

The simple version DOES require external sonar signals.

The Smart version has its own in-built signal processing and provides bus interfaces. Obviously more expensive but easier to integrate into existing systems.

[libanori]

The NSE8 has a built in echosounder. All you need is to plug in a NMEA 2000 compatible transducer. I use the Airmar DST 800 for speed (in the water), water temperature and depth. I also use a separate tridata screen, but the depth information and the echo graphics are shown in the NSE8.

DST800 D/S/T, Plastic, 235KHz | Simrad Marine Electronics