New member Install DRS2DNXT with TZ3 MFD Questions

[JSSailem]

I am upgrading a mast mounted Furuno analog radar with the DRS2DNXT. I am concerned the new antenna cable will not fit into the mast's cable conduit. I understand the Radar dome can be wired using a RJ45 ethernet connection and separate power wires. Does it matter which of the wiring configurations for RJ45 is used, T568A or T568B?

I recognize the concern for water tight connections.

The TZ3 plotter brochure identifies that an iPad or a MFD can be used as a mirror display. What is the best option to mirror the Plotter radar display from a nav station install to the cockpit. iOS app? HDMI cable? something else? I have a remote encoder that will be installed in the cockpit. I need a screen to view the displayed data.

I have a Vesper XB-8000 AIS transponder. There is a wifi gateway and a nema 2000 connection. What is best practice to connect the AIS to the TZ3 plotter to get the AIS data interfaced with the Radar display function?

 

[SailorDoc]

The Furuno "N-Remote" app is also on Android and works well as a mirror (using WiFi).

I installed same DRS2DNXT radar (replacing Furuno analog radar) on our keel-stepped mast. I had to cut the cable. (This also made routing to TZT3 plotter easier.) Was work BUT successful.

If Vesper is NMEA2K, why not just hook it up to the N2K backbone. (I have older Vesper AIS with NMEA0183, and successfully hooked to N2K using Actisense converter.)

 

[jp498]

NMEA2000 from the vesper to the MFD. If you want to overlay AIS and radar targets you will need heading such as from the SCX20.

Even with the inline connector, the radar cable is smaller than many older styles of cable. It might fit. If you ran separate ethernet/power, do use a shielded outdoor grade cable; most ethernet cabling is neither.

 

[JSSailem]

NMEA2000 from the vesper to the MFD. If you want to overlay AIS and radar targets you will need heading such as from the SCX20.

Even with the inline connector, the radar cable is smaller than many older styles of cable. It might fit. If you ran separate ethernet/power, do use a shielded outdoor grade cable; most ethernet cabling is neither.

The vesper has a GPS antenna and provides the PNG data for heading. Does the MFD read and use that data in the NMEA200 string?

 

[SailorDoc]

Not likely the Vesper provides heading unless you have autopilot fluxgate compass or satellite compass. According to documents, it receives heading PGN.

Heading is not required to overlay AIS targets on chartplotter. (Heading is required to overlay radar and charts, and likely AIS on radar. I haven't tried the latter - - AIS on radar - - so not sure.)

But yes, IF heading info is in the N2K string, the TZT3 chartplotter can use it.

 

[JSSailem]

The Furuno "N-Remote" app is also on Android and works well as a mirror (using WiFi).

I installed same DRS2DNXT radar (replacing Furuno analog radar) on our keel-stepped mast. I had to cut the cable. (This also made routing to TZT3 plotter easier.) Was work BUT successful.

If Vesper is NMEA2K, why not just hook it up to the N2K backbone. (I have older Vesper AIS with NMEA0183, and successfully hooked to N2K using Actisense converter.)

You had to cut the cable. Is that the old analog cable or the new digital cable?

 

[SailorDoc]

Both.

(Analog was originally cut when installed in 2010. Needed anyways when we removed mast in 2012/2013 to replace standing rigging, etc.)

 

[JSSailem]

I know the connection at the old antenna is directly wired without a plug. I’m thinking I can open the cover and just remove the wires. Then I could pull the loose wires down into the boat with a messenger line. Next, I’ll need to pull the messenger line up with the new digital cable. When I pull the cable out of the mat, I can then attach a RJ 45 plug.

Did you have any trouble getting a water tight connection?

 

[SailorDoc]

I used the old cable as the "messenger". Given it was thicker than the new radar cable, this worked fine. (I also sent down a dedicated messenger line with new cable... just in case.)

Just used caulking to seal cable hole in mast. (As I have keel-stepped mast, no issue with water ingress with cables at the deck.)