Replacing GP330b with SCX-20

[LPS]

Hi all, just after a bit of feedback if you have the time/knowlege ..

I have a 6m trailer boat which lives in NZ and I live in Australia, that is running the following electronics:

tzt3-12
GP-330b
Navpilot 300
PG-700 heading sensor

In recent times I have been having trouble with the GP-330b connecting, I believe it may have a faulty connection on the antenna as unscrewing the base and giving a wriggle usually gets it going again-and will stay working all day.

I am thinking of replacing with a SCX-20 early next year when I go home for a 2 week fishing trip.

As far as installation goes, is this going to be as straightforward as I think it will be?
Will it be a case of just plugging it in to the NMEA bus and selecting it on the screen as primary source for the autopilot and gps?

Or alternatively, has anyone experienced a similar issue with their GP-330b?

Thanks.

 

[Jsubzero]

I would install the scx 20 and remove the pg700 and the gp-330. The scx 20 is all you will need for heading source.

 

[Titanic II]

The SCX 20 comes with a 6M drop cable and the connector is a NMEA2000 mid/micro. The GP330B has a proprietary type of connector which you would have to remove the cable and use the cable that comes with the SCX20. The GP330B is a 9 pin connector on the antenna side.

 

[allrelative]

SCX was one of the best yet least seen additions to the boat!
Here is my list for install.
You will need one physical open NMEA port to connect to.

(I replaced all my connectors with Actisense NMEA 2000 Network) its great.​

A decent place to mount with visibility to sky.
Some waterproof tape, maybe some Silicon. Zip ties

Install SCX and configure with your TZT3.

Be VERY concise with its location on the boat in the settings.​

If using sonar- make sure you configure correctly in reference your transducer- this setting took me a while to get right.​

Once you connect the SCX to your network you will want to make that the SCX is the source on ALL your devices – AP, VHF, MFDs ….​

On your TZT3

Furuno instructed me to disable most of the discrete values being sent on the NMEA2000 PGN output list on both TZT3 units if using the SCX20. No need to have that much noise on the interface.​

Only 4 values were enabled I believe, Cross track error, Navigation data, Navigation route, depth. I can grab screenshots of it if needed.​

Furuno support is the best in the world-- so call them too.​

​

Hope this helps.​

​

 

[Acer]

I have a similiar setup but kept the old sat antenna and the pg700 in place.

I still use the pg700 for heading reference. Because my mounting options are limited I had to place the scx20 close to a solar panel. Nevertheless the scx20 delivers highly accurate data except Heading; heading date is lost when sea is a bith rougher or ships rolls much. This might not happen when mounting the antenna on a perfect spot, but because I dont have that opportunity I rely on the pg700.

End of the day it has never been a bad idea to have backup instruments/sensors. Most autopilots need HDG to work, so if one sensor fails its good if you can switch to the backup. To make a long story short: Keep the "old" sensors and troubleshoot the 330b