Raytheon Fluxgate Compasses

[catalac08]

Hi
just bought an old s/h Raytheon Fluxgate Compass to go with an equally old radar I have but I am a bit puzzled that the compass has no model type, number or other information on it. As I know absolutely nothing about these things other than what they do any wise words would be most welcome. e.g are there compatibility problems between different generations of Raytheon/Raymarine radars/wheelpilots etc, how can I tell what compass I have obtained and lots of things I do not know enough to ask the right questions....
The internet guides to Raytheon products I have seen so far really only shows installation and wiring schemes.

 

[mattnj]

firstly feel free to call Raymarine, they are great in tech support....
i had a similar question last year and someone told me the fluxgate units have stayed the same over the years so are all backwardly compatible.

 

[Quandary]

Raytheon is a very large American 'defense' company who still have a factory in Londonderry though the 'peace people' formerly the IRA, are still trying very hard to drive them out of town. They did own 'Autohelm' now 'Raymarine' for a period as a leisure marine subsidiary. So it is possible that your gear, if only branded 'Raytheon' may not even be a leisure marine product, they have a lot of other customers for radar.

 

[earlybird]

Is it a complete compass system that you have purchased, or just a fluxgate sensor?
The Raymarine fluxgate sensor, sometimes loosely referred to as a "compass", just has the name Raymarine on it with no other form of identification. FWIIW, it is a plastic cylinder, about 6 cm. x 6 cm. with a square mounting flange. It sprouts a 4 core wire. Is yours similar?
If it is, then AFAIK, you need extra bits to interface it with your radar.

 

[catalac08]

thanks chaps - earlybird, yes you have described the sensor unit I have except that it is named as raytheon - I was not aware that there is an interface required, I need to find out about this.
thanks keith

 

[earlybird]

[QUOTE I was not aware that there is an interface required, I need to find out about this.
thanks keith[/QUOTE]

In that case, I think you need something like a Raymarine compass display or an autopilot that can connect with the sensor, provide it with power and output the required NMEA and/or seatalk information.
Assuming Raytheon and Raymarine are interchangeable of course.