I'm appending this post to this thread because, though somewhat different, the question I have is similar to the issue addressed in the thread.
At my helm station I have a NN3D Black Box (MFDBB), MFD-8, AIS FA-150, DRS-6A, DRS-4A, DFF1 sounder, BBWX1 Sirius WX receiver, PSU-012 radar power supply, and HUB-101 network hub. I also have MaxSea, running under Windows, networked to the system. This installation dates back to the fall of 2008.
The purpose of the MFD-8 is to serve as a self-contained, stand-alone backup for nav, etc. in the event the MFDBB dies though I do use it as an additional display when underway.
The MFD-8 display is seemingly failing. It displays arrays of stripes and color bars, usually at start-up, sometimes for a long time and sometimes short-lived. I'm told the cost to service the unit will likely be not less than $1500 and could be more than $2000.
I can buy a new MFD-8 for perhaps $1850 and initially thought I'd go that route. It would be an easy pull and replace with no modifications to the helm station required. But it seemed that it probably made sense, before spending that for a new but obsolete unit, to consider a newer model as a replacement.
From some inquiry and from this forum, I understand that the TZT line is fully network compatible with NN3D (but that TZT2 is not).
And so the questions:
- Is "fully network compatible" literally true? Will all data and network traffic which the MFDBB now passes to the MFD-8 also be available to the TZT?
- I understand from this thread that the start-up sequence is important, with the NN3D being brought up first (and this is supposed to be managed by the HUB-101 if I recall correctly). Has that proven reliable?
- Any other issues or concerns I should be aware of?
Thanks.
Richard