TZTL15F, combined with a TZT3 16

[Sdpaddler50]

I have 8 year old TZTL15F's on the lower, and upper helm. They have the latest software updates. The lower helm has been rebooting alot, and sometimes down for 6 or more minutes. I run the boat at night often and rely on the radar.

My plan is to replace the lower helm TZTL with a TZT3, and keep the existing TZTL on the upper helm as it still works fine.

Furuno TS told me the following on the phone:
1. Can go 1 version up, or down, so going to the 3 is ok. IE, the older TZTL on the upper helm and newer TZT3 on the lower helm should play nice.
2. Keep up with software updates to ensure the two systems stay friendly.
3. Can be done mostly plug and play, no changes to backbone, etc.

A few questions:
1. Anything else I should be considering?
2. Has anyone else done the similar? Issues?

46 ft Trawler
DRS4D-NXT, SC30, 711C

 

[Quitsa]

When I installed two TZT3 16s at my main helm when they first came out in 2021, I had to use a TZTL 12F at my tower helm because the smaller TZT3 display with the hybrid control was too wide to fit the space available. I never had any problems, The TZTL was plugged into the same ethernet network and NMEA 2000 backbone as the two TZT3s. You shouldn't need to do anything except unplug the TZTL and plug in the TZT3. The power cord connector is the same on both units so you could even leave the old one in place.

The software download pages for the two models has some explanation of the compatibility issue. Generally speaking, if you have the final V8.01 software on the TZTL, it will work fine with the TZT3 running the latest version. The only thing you cannot do is have a TZTL and the new TZTXLs on the same network.

 

[Danco75]

I have 8 year old TZTL15F's on the lower, and upper helm. They have the latest software updates. The lower helm has been rebooting alot, and sometimes down for 6 or more minutes. I run the boat at night often and rely on the radar.

My plan is to replace the lower helm TZTL with a TZT3, and keep the existing TZTL on the upper helm as it still works fine.

Furuno TS told me the following on the phone:
1. Can go 1 version up, or down, so going to the 3 is ok. IE, the older TZTL on the upper helm and newer TZT3 on the lower helm should play nice.
2. Keep up with software updates to ensure the two systems stay friendly.
3. Can be done mostly plug and play, no changes to backbone, etc.

A few questions:
1. Anything else I should be considering?
2. Has anyone else done the similar? Issues?

46 ft Trawler
DRS4D-NXT, SC30, 711C

I had a Tzt15l rebooting constantly and it was down to a corrupted sd card.
Test with a known good card and it may be fine.

 

[Sdpaddler50]

I have the new TZT3 16 that will replace my 8 year old TZTL15 on the lower helm. As noted, I am not replacing the 8 year old TZTL15 on the upper helm.

I will verify the TZTL has Ver 8.01.

What is the most recent Ver for the TZT3?

I have had trouble in the past downloading these to my Mac, so I am going to buy any needed SW updates from a local dealer.

TY.

 

[Quitsa]

It should be V 3.80.1
If you have a decent WiFi connection available at your boat, you should be able to use the "over the air" software update procedure and eliminate the necessity of downloadiing. I have never had a problem using a Mac to create the USB stick for unit upgrades, however. Perhaps you are trying to use too large a USB stick or the files are not in the root directory? The only issue with a Mac for upgrades is with the network sensors, not the MFDs. The sensor updates (radar, SCX-20, etc) only work if you do the download and create the USB stick with a WIndows computer.

 

[Sdpaddler50]

Quitsa and Danco thank you for the replies.

I didn't realize I could do a SW update via WiFi. I have Starlink so I will try it. I assume I can go in to the menu on the MFD and just follow the prompts? Do I need to provide a Furuno serial number or anything proprietary?

I have already purchased the new TZT3 but will get a new SD card for the charts in case the one I have in the TZT (being removed) was corrupt.