Simrad not showing depth?!

[Drew61199]

I recently repowered my Chase 263 with a Verado and replaced the old Yamaha gauges with two Go7 XSR with VesselView. I have the Simrads on a NMEA2000 backbone with the TotalScan transducer run directly to one of them (the only configuration bc it obviously can't go directly to the backbone). I am not getting a depth reading on ANYTHING except for Downscan and it only works on the unit that has the transducer plugged into it. Echo, Fwd, Side, etc don't work (period) on either unit nor does the depth reading on any screen. You can even see in the pic the depth is indicated for Downscan, but not on the right toolbar / pane (which is where I need the reading as that carries over into Chart, Verado gauges, etc). I know if you long press that portion you can select the "source" and it lists the two Go7 units. It's set to the one with the transducer, but I tried the other for kicks wo any success. Any ideas??

 

[TMANN]

Do you have an ethernet cable between the units? Need that to share sonar.

 

[Drew61199]

No "Ethernet" port as I know it, but I just googled and evidently Simrad makes a specialty cable that utilizes the radar port; seems like such a money grab!! I thought this was the whole purpose of NMEA2000?? Sharing data amongst components....

I guess I'll order a cable and see what happens.

Still doesn't explain why I'm not seeing the depth data on my right toolbar / pane though....even on the unit with the transducer

 

[TMANN]

I have several Lowrance units. Not much experience with Simrad, but still made by Navico.

That connector labled radar is just an ethernet port. Are you running a radar? If so you'd network a network hub since each unit only has the one port.

Where its not displaying depth, can you hit the button with the three dashes and get an option to edit overlay? If so, I'm thinking that sonar point just needs to be assigned correctly.

 

[luckydude]

NMEA2000 is 250Kbps, ethernet is 1Gbps. NMEA is a bus, so when any device is using the bus, that's the only device transmitting on the bus. Ethernet is typically switched, so you can get more than 1Gbps. Source: I'm the guy that got 100Mbps ethernet going in the industry.

NMEA2000 is just a warmed over can-bus, it's more for small chunks of info. Think your GPS sending a heading every so often. Ethernet is 4000 times faster so that's what you use for bigger chunks of info.

 

[Drew61199]

I can long press the depth and it allows you to select the source, but only displays the two Simrad units. I've tried both....no luck. I just bought the Ethernet cable and hooked it up. No change. I'll keep researching.

 

[Fishtales]

See if you can get help from a site like BOE Marine, local West Marine or even a boater that has Simrad (look for the radar). Gotta be a setting.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Seems like you have couple of issues. First is getting a depth reading. Have you tried changing the frequency setting of the transducer? On your picture you are on 800 kHz. Maybe try 83 or 200. The second issue is networking. Are they mirroring info other than the sonar? Maybe you can mirror the units with the internal wifi. I can mirror mine onto my phone or iPad. I have a Go 9 and I am very lukewarm about it. It seems very quirky and slow.

If you have to end up calling Simrad, be patient and have a lot of time. I was on the phone for 2 hours before I got a person.

 

[luckydude]

To add to what Charlie said, somewhere in the menu there is a way to look at both your NMEA network and your ethernet, there are places that will let you list out the devices. You want to be sure that you are seeing all the stuff plugged in.

 

[Drew61199]

I can see everything on the NMEA network (which outside of the two Go7 is my VHF and VesselView). Not much to garner from the VHF, but I can watch my Verado gauges on either Simrad. I can use the chart on either, but only one has a chip, so I was defaulting to that one. I did not see other options for Ethernet when I plugged the cable in yesterday, but I didn't have much time and planned on researching more today. Boat is in storage and I had my kids with me, so only spent 15min there

I'll agree the WiFi, app, etc is a novelty and I find it utterly useless. It was much faster to download the latest software update to a micro SD and plug it in than rely on the WiFi to download it, so I can't imagine using it for any sort of internal communication between the two units (if that's even possible)