B&G Zeus 3 Questions

[Godfather68]

Hi All, My new Hanse 418 has Zeus 3 electronics and ahead of delivery I am struggling to find answers to some basic questions and wondered if any existing users on here might have an view.
1. Can you have multiple Zeus units on one boat, mine is mounted at the helm and I would like another at the chart table.
2. If you can have multiple units, how does the mapping work, do I load card into one unit and it shares or would I need multiple chart cards, one for each station?
3. I know the Zeus 3 has wifi and I can use an ipad to mirror/control, but does the unit at the helm have to be on for this to work, might sound like a strange question, but I think it means that if I want to work on the ipad at night I first need to go outside, switch on the unit at the helm and then retreat back inside to work on the ipad and do the reverse when finished.
4. Any view on how well the ipad solution works as an extra station?

Thanks for any info

GF68

 

[Lucky Duck]

Based on my twin Zeus 2 set up;

1. Yes
2. Plotters share using an Ethernet connection, however that unit needs to be switched on for the other plotter to be able to read the card
3. Yes
4. Works fine but I don't use it all that much

 

[Toutvabien]

Based on my twin Zeus 2 set up;

1. Yes
2. Plotters share using an Ethernet connection, however that unit needs to be switched on for the other plotter to be able to read the card
3. Yes
4. Works fine but I don't use it all that much

As above, only use the tablet function when off watch on passage when I am in the aft cabin and want to be nosey.

 

[Daverw]

Not using with Zeus but with Lowrence, the Ipad solution works very well. We use it all the time especially when working on the systems in the rain and can setup etc from down below

 

[MikeCC]

In response to point 3, it depends how the power control is set up. It's possible to switch it on without having to physically press the button. For example, if you have two units, you can use one as a master to switch on the other.

 

[Godfather68]

Great - thank you

 

[Godfather68]

Based on my twin Zeus 2 set up;

1. Yes
2. Plotters share using an Ethernet connection, however that unit needs to be switched on for the other plotter to be able to read the card
3. Yes
4. Works fine but I don't use it all that much

Very good thanks for this info.

 

[Neeves]

All the controls on the Zeus are mirrored on the iPad, so what you can do on the Zeus you can do exactly the same on the iPad, except control the autopilot (though this might have changed). Some of the controls are, obviously, different, as you don't have buttons - but that's covered. We use the iPad, say at breakfast, or in the galley - we we can then see the radar when stirring the porridge.

I'm not sure why you would want a second Zeus - the iPad will do exactly the same, you can move it around with you and its cheaper than a second unit. Its, iPad, main weakness is lack of water-resistance (obviously) - but its not an issue our master unit is outside and our 'lack' was like yours - in the cabin. Having a unit at the chart table is nice - but its at the chart table, not the saloon table nor in any of the berths.

Jonathan

 

[Lucky Duck]

The lack of water resistance is easily enough solved but the real issue when one using outdoors is when the sun is shining!

Having an ipad as the indoors station is a good solution for passage planning but one limitation is that when out on the water it can only mirror what the plotter is showing so you can't have something different to what the helm wants to look at,