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I've got an old Lowrance HDS-5 and am considering a new B&G Vulcan 9. If I route my radar output through a Netgear ethernet switch, will I be able to connect both plotters to the switch via ethernet cables and receive radar data to both plotters?
Many thanks,
Fred
Fred,
Although I'm not specifically familiar with the compatibility of those two MFDs I can tell you that I'm not aware of any MFDs that use non-standard Ethernet, though many use non-standard connectors, so I suspect what you're proposing will work. I also suspect there's very little risk of breaking anything and that the worst case would be it simply not working.
Ben
Publisher, Panbo.com
Hi Fred, I'd consider a Lowrance, Simrad or B&G Ethernet switch because the connectors are the same across the Navico brands, plus the switch may be set up in a way that the Netgear isn't. Even then, Navico does not guarantee cross-brand compatibility across their Ethernet products and they don't test for it as they create software updates.
Somewhere on Panbo (or in the old Forum) is at least one discussion along these lines. As I recall one reader had Simrad and B&G MFDs working fine with a Simrad branded 4G radar, but then the B&G link broke after an update.
Then again, I believe there are others who've succeeded with what you're trying to do, even with stock Ethernet switches.