Any help please...
I have a SimNet network running through my yacht... with a SIMRAD NSS8 connected. I also so have a Fusion 700i which is not currently connected to the SimNet (as the NSS8 did not previously support the control of the Head Unit). SIMRAD have just released software V3 for the NSS8 MFD - which I have updated. So in theory I should now just have to connect my Fusion 700i to the Network - and I will be able to control the Head Unit from my SIMRAD NSS8 MFD.
So what is the problem... I am new to all this NMEA2000 / SimNet stuff... and have NO IDEA about the cables. The Fusion Head unit has a cable that says "NMEA2000" on in - its an 8 pin female socket. I have a spare socket on a SimNet expansion block. Is it as simple as finding the right cable to plug from the Fusion Head then in to the spare socket on the SimNet block ?
Any help appreciated....
Thanks
Tim
Tim, it's more complicated than that. Any NMEA 2000 network, even one with only two devices, needs a backbone, two terminators, and a power source. Also the Fusion 8 pin connector is not standard N2K.
So you need one of these:
http://www.fusionelectronics.com/marine/products/nmea-2000-cables/cab-000852
(Do not buy the adaptor cable for the older 700 model, it won't work)
Plus you need an N2K "starter kit" or similar. The Lowrance one almost fits the bill except you'd need one more Tee to connect your 700i adaptor cable to:
http://www.thegpsstore.com/Navico-NMEA-2000-Starter-Kit-P2684.aspx?gclid=CObipKKF9L0CFY3m7AodVyQAzw
http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|344|2028705|2028885&id=1233648
Lowrance, Garmin, Maretron, etc. NMEA 2000 cables and connectors will all work fine and can be mixed (though different brand t-connectors may not lay flat if screwed together without a cable in between).
Here's an attempt to explain why Fusion used a special N2K connector and then changed to another special N2K connector:
https://www.panbo.com/archives/2013/06/fusion_marine_stereo_2013_great_but_confusing.html
PS You don't need to mess with SimNet, which is another proprietary design for NMEA 2000 cable and connectors. Simrad is moving away from it and your NSS has a standard NMEA 2000 port.