Linking Raymarine wireless wind instrument to EV-100 autopilot

[Poey50]

I'm fitting a Raymarine EV-100 tiller pilot and would like the option of being able to sail to wind direction by linking to my Raymarine wireless wind instrument. Am I right in assuming I'm going to need these additional bits of kit?

a. Raymarine Tacktick MicroNet T122 NMEA Interface
b. Actisense NGW-1 STNG NMEA0183 to Seatalk NG Gateway

Thanks.

 

[prv]

That would presumably work, but the Raymarine designed way is the direct MicroNet to SeatalkNG gateway:

http://www.raymarine.com/instruments/wireless/micro-talk/

This will most likely be cheaper, plus when you do things the way Raymarine expects you sometimes also find little things besides the core data magically working. Not sure of an example in this case, but maybe transducer calibration via a plotter, or synchronised display dimming?

Pete

 

[Poey50]

That would presumably work, but the Raymarine designed way is the direct MicroNet to SeatalkNG gateway:

http://www.raymarine.com/instruments/wireless/micro-talk/

This will most likely be cheaper, plus when you do things the way Raymarine expects you sometimes also find little things besides the core data magically working. Not sure of an example in this case, but maybe transducer calibration via a plotter, or synchronised display dimming?

Pete

That looks like top advice! No matter what search terms I used I didn't come across that way which clearly looks better. Many thanks.

 

[Daverw]

I’m just installing the new Micro talk to link wireless wind and depth to NMEA2k, connects direct to the micro net and so far so good, cost about £200

 

[Poey50]

I’m just installing the new Micro talk to link wireless wind and depth to NMEA2k, connects direct to the micro net and so far so good, cost about £200

Problem #2 - where to install? It's supposed to be line of sight to the wind transducer but there aren't many places I can put it on deck that I can't guarantee not to put a stray boot through it when moving around in a seaway. My displays pick up the data very well below deck and on the mounting board by the hatch garage. Presumably a spray hood is not going to affect things much if i put it on the mounting board ... Where did you mount yours?

 

[lpdsn]

Problem #2 - where to install? It's supposed to be line of sight to the wind transducer but there aren't many places I can put it on deck that I can't guarantee not to put a stray boot through it when moving around in a seaway.

Is that what the manual tells you to do? I'd expect the wireless interface to magically pass though solid fibre glass.

 

[Poey50]

Is that what the manual tells you to do? I'd expect the wireless interface to magically pass though solid fibre glass.

Yes, the manual recommends clear line of sight to transducer and issues a dire warning that the signal can be 'drastically reduced' if anything gets in the way. Since I've never had any problem with reading the wireless displays below decks this seems a little drastic. I can try locations before committing but I'd be interested in anyone's experience.

 

[lpdsn]

Yes, the manual recommends clear line of sight to transducer and issues a dire warning that the signal can be 'drastically reduced' if anything gets in the way. Since I've never had any problem with reading the wireless displays below decks this seems a little drastic. I can try locations before committing but I'd be interested in anyone's experience.

I've encountered issues with the older Tac Tics, that Raymarine took over, on a couple of racers, the worst was a carbon fibre jobby that had the displays at the mast and they sometimes didn't get the messages from the mast head transducer. That said, mounting the MicroNet link above decks seem extreme to say the least. I've never heard of that before. Maybe worth checking with Raymarine.

 

[Ingwe]

They have always recomended mounting the MicroNet links in line of sight of the other transducers. I only have the old style version on my boat and it is mounted just before the stern on the aft quarter of the deck. but I seem to remember that they can be mounted vertically so could mount somwhere on the vertical face of the cockpit probably just behind where the helmsmam sits.

 

[Poey50]

They have always recomended mounting the MicroNet links in line of sight of the other transducers. I only have the old style version on my boat and it is mounted just before the stern on the aft quarter of the deck. but I seem to remember that they can be mounted vertically so could mount somwhere on the vertical face of the cockpit probably just behind where the helmsmam sits.

Raymarine advise the Micro-Talk puck has to be near horizontal although then do sell a bracket to fit it onto a vertical surface.

 

[Daverw]

I’ve mounted it temporarily near the chart table, shows the same signal strength as when on deck, it also does not actually seem to matter if it’s not horizontal or pointing forward. I’m not sure a wireless node would anyway as all it’s inputs are from elsewhere. It does not specify it has any direction sensors built in.

The line of sight is a bit strange as how can you do this, I’ve hull node below seats, wind and dual display in cockpit and wind forward at the mast head, only the displays can actually see each other and has worked fine for over two years. All signal strengths over 7 or 8 the minimum they need is 3

 

[Poey50]

I’ve mounted it temporarily near the chart table, shows the same signal strength as when on deck, it also does not actually seem to matter if it’s not horizontal or pointing forward. I’m not sure a wireless node would anyway as all it’s inputs are from elsewhere. It does not specify it has any direction sensors built in.

The line of sight is a bit strange as how can you do this, I’ve hull node below seats, wind and dual display in cockpit and wind forward at the mast head, only the displays can actually see each other and has worked fine for over two years. All signal strengths over 7 or 8 the minimum they need is 3

That's very helpful, thanks.

 

[Mikedefieslife]

I only recently did this myself. Stumped up for the Micro-talk. Oddly they aren't easy to get hold of. Many places seem to have stopped selling them.

Anyway. Plugged into my network, and spend 60 seconds setting up the connection and it's was done.

No idea why it needs to be mounted horizontally though or face either bow or stern. It's not like it's got a compass or gyro or anything useful in it.

£200 is pricey for what it is, but it just works, and will probably never be thought about again.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Just doing the same thing, and used the Microtalk gateway, as someone else has said, the "clear line of sight" is BS. The standard Tacktick hull transmitter is recommended to be mounted below deck, and that talks to the instrument heads fine.