Vulcan 7 depth data not showing

[KAL]

There may be a simple answer to this (I hope!).

As per earlier thread, fitted a B&G Vulcan 7 over the last few days, which involved fitting a N2K network, fed by a Shipmodul multiplexer to allow the NMEA from the existing ST50+ Network (output from the NMEA port on the back of the ST50+ tridata repeater) and the AIS transponder to be incorporated and read by the Vulcan.

All good when we powered up yesterday; the Vulcan can see the wind info perfectly, which means Sailsteer will work, but it is not receiving any depth data, it seems. This is a bit odd, as the repeater is showing depth, as is the main depth instrument. I would have thought all the ST50+ data would be transmitted in different sentences, at one time or another, so am a bit flummoxed!

Does anyone have experience of this? Any ideas?

 

[pvb]

Is the Shipmodul multiplexer set to receive the DPT sentence, rather than the DBT sentence which the ST50 Plus transmits?

 

[KAL]

Thanks Pete. That's a good shout.

I played around and found that, somehow, in the initial setup when the unit looked for data sources, it had decided that depth was switched off. Maybe it didn't receive an NMEA sentence while it was listening. Anyway, I managed to select the multiplexer as the data source for depth and it now works fine.

My next issue is trying to work out how to change the depth display units from feet to metres. Just can't see how this is done and, yes, I have read the manual - several times! (before anyone says RTFM!).

Any other Vulcan users able to explain how this is done? Many thanks!

 

[pvb]

Might it be in "Customising the Instruments Panel"?

 

[KAL]

Mmm - that seems to be about defining what instruments show on different 'dashboards' (such as vessel, navigation and angler dashboards), but am now at home so can't check. It would be a good start though...

 

[Norman_E]

Can you change the ST50 depth to output in metres? If it only outputs in feet it may not be possible for the Vulcan to convert it because it is displaying a received value and not an output direct from a transducer. I have never had Raymarine instruments but on my old VDO setup the master depth instrument was the only place you could set the units used, and the multi function displays merely repeated the values.

 

[pvb]

Can you change the ST50 depth to output in metres? If it only outputs in feet it may not be possible for the Vulcan to convert it because it is displaying a received value and not an output direct from a transducer. I have never had Raymarine instruments but on my old VDO setup the master depth instrument was the only place you could set the units used, and the multi function displays merely repeated the values.

The ST50 Plus outputs the DBT sentence, which should include feet, metres and fathoms. The receiving instrument can then select which it wants to display.

 

[Norman_E]

The ST50 Plus outputs the DBT sentence, which should include feet, metres and fathoms. The receiving instrument can then select which it wants to display.

I know it should but I wonder if it is actually sending all three? I did find when I connected my VDO wind instrument via a NMEA0183 to NMEA2000 gateway that the simple way to get windspeed in knots on the NMEA2000 system was to make sure that the VDO instrument was set to knots and not KM/Hr as well as setting the Triton displays to knots. I know my VDO system was an old one but I have found that NMEA0183 can be tricky to get right and sentences sent by one make of instrument can be subtly different from what another make wants to receive due to different NMEA 0183 revisions. I have yet to get my Standard Horizon VHF to talk via NMEA0183 with an Advansea chart plotter either to receive position or send DSC info and they are both fairly modern.

 

[Venus1]

I have similar system to you, although my depth transducer is B&G Triton, but either way, on the Vulcan 7 the depth units are controlled by the settings in the chart. ie whatever units you select in the Vulcan chart will determine the units in the Vulcan depth window. eg you can have feet displayed in the Triton, and metres in the Vulcan. (I think this answers your question?)

 

[KAL]

Really helpful, thanks!

Will try tomorrow when I get to the boat, then post update here in case anyone else has the same issue.

Kind of you to reply. Much appreciated.

 

[KAL]

Update.

Seems obvious, but I didn't see the option in settings to choose 'units'. Problem solved. Duh!