TZT2 Device Communications Error

[moonshine]

Hello,
I have a pair of TZT2 12" units installed and intermittently get "Device Communications Error" The units are connected to both a NMEA 2k and Ethernet network (using cat6 shielded twisted pair Ethernet cables; after market - not Furuno) through a Netgear hub. The Ethernet cables are routed away from any power cables and have tried connecting them to directly to each other to bypass the hub with no change.

Is there anything different about the Furuno cable that mandates their use for this. Is there some configuration setting I missed? Any other suggestions on how to troubleshoot / resolve this?

Thanks,
Tom G

 

[Johnny Electron]

off the shelf cables are fine as long as they are CAT5e or CAT6 speed rated SHIELDED cables. They must be shielded and have metal connectors. Plastic RJ45s are a No No.

 

[moonshine]

The cables are cat 6 shielded with the metal connectors. Verified continuity between the metal connectors to ensure they were terminated correctly. Any other ideas on what could be causing this?

 

[Johnny Electron]

if the error happens when turning off one of the units; this is currently normal. Saying it can't communicate with the unit that just was turned off. (they will change this later in the software) If this happens during normal operations, then that is a problem. I would ensure current software is in BOTH units (2.05), make sure the power feeding the hub and units is clean DC and doesn't have noise running on it. Ensure the units are both grounded to a real grounding system or not connected at all. The data cables shouldn't be run along side others for long distances especially transducer cables or items that put off EMI. Make sure both units have been factory cleared. Make the unit that is turned on the most (if only turning on one unit) has been setup as the chart master. Look at both units in the "Sensor list" and make sure they both show up in the list of both machines. (they see each other) and that they have different IP addresses.