Quite so.Neither of those pictures is anything remotely like the Matsutec we're discussing.
but the Raymarine wouldn't accept the NMEA from the Garmin Fishfinder, despite having two NMEA inputs - isn't there something slightly odd about Garmin NMEA outputs being three wire or something?
Quite so.
And with those units it is more likely that the Furuno just stuck their badge on it, like most manufacturers do.
Can we drop this spurious tangent now please.
Subject: Re: Matsutec HP 33A AIS
External buzzer : Voltage output 8V, tens of milliamps mA.
USB connection doesn't feed NMEA data, it is for software upgrade now.
USB on 6,7 and 8. I wonder what that is for??? Maybe future developments???
Discussion on CE approval (it is), merits (or otherwise) of Chinese made gear etc in this thread:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?382812-Cheap-Chinese-AIS-Transponder
Discussion regarding ordering in this thread:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?383694-Cheap-Chinese-AIS-Transponder-ordering
What are the new features of the updated firmware, where to find it? A company in New Zealand selling Matsutec AIS transponders says that the update procedure is not for the average user and can cause a complete system failure. I am very much an average user but would like to benefit from the updated firmware. Is the procedure risky, does using an old USB cable mean I cut it and connect it with the correct cables in the multiway cable that came with the transponder?
Does it fix the seeming bug that the Tx/Rx circles in the display never do anything?There are no new documented features in the updated firmware. Well, none that I have noticed. I think it is a general bug fix.
You are correct, the cut off old USB cable is connected to the main loom supplied with the unit. There is then a procedure to 'mount' the unit as a USB drive and then replace the firmware.
If you are not having any problems, I would not attempt to upgrade the firmware.