I have a 4 year old Raymarine SG3 autopilot course computer and Raymarine compass connected to my system through SeaTalk.
Raymarine tells me that the only way to get accurate heading data to my E-series display is to connect the course computer NMEA 0183 output directly to the E-series. (Apparently SeaTalk is limited to 1X/sec heading data and NMEA 0183 supports 10X). The more accurate data is needed for MARPA and (not as importantly) the heading vector overlay on the chartplotter.
I am thinking a new NMEA 2000 compass might be a better solution (either Airmar or Maretron.)
This doesn't seem to be a well documented issue. Anyone have any experience to share?
I believe it is well known that you should take the 10x heading output from the NMEA 0183 port on the autopilot and run it to your e-series. My e-series was installed that way by my yard, and I have seen it in the documentation somewhere.
I think that is a good feature! Having 10x heading information on seatalk gobbles quite a bit of bandwidth.
If you have two e-series, you don't necessarily need to connect the 10x heading output to the same e-series that has the radar input. The 10x heading data flows over the ethernet connecting two (or more) e-series.
I believe it is well known that you should take the 10x heading output from the NMEA 0183 port on the autopilot and run it to your e-series. My e-series was installed that way by my yard, and I have seen it in the documentation somewhere.
I think that is a good feature! Having 10x heading information on seatalk gobbles quite a bit of bandwidth.
If you have two e-series, you don't necessarily need to connect the 10x heading output to the same e-series that has the radar input. The 10x heading data flows over the ethernet connecting two (or more) e-series.
Your dealer was more savvy than mine. :) He didn't even connect NMEA 0183 to my VHF!
I do have three e-series, but getting from the course computer to the e-series is no simple task.