Radar unit for timezero

[sndog]

I was wondering about radar units for time-zero sw.

And does anyone know if you can run one radar unit to a computer running time-zero as well as a chartplotter. Also, for the chartplotter, was looking at a Raymarine due to my FLIR cameras. Would prefer to have only one radar unit if possible.

Thank you

 

[Insequent]

I have run a Furuno DRS2D radar to 2 computers. The radar was connected to a NavNet 3D chartplotter on the flybridge for its power supply.

The radar goes to an ethernet switch that has its own network, seperate from the network used for internet etc. PC's running Time Zero, and have dedicated ethernet card/dongle to receive radar. Not sure what inputs Raymarine can accept.

Edit: I should have noted the radar could be displayed on the MFD 12 as well as the two PC's.

 

[twistedtree]

I think the answer is yes, but check with Nobletec support to confirm your exact config, and which version of Timezero is needed to support radar. I don't think they all do, or you might need an add-on. The radar, MFD, and computer running timezero all sit on the same ethernet network, and access the radar that way.

 

[Iggy]

When I talked talked to the TZ support setting up the software. I was told I could only see the radar on my PC if I was using Furuno Radar. We did not get into which models of Furuno radar but I am using TZ4 if this helps.

Right now my PC is using NMEA2k for the data. I could try connecting my PC to the ethernet switch and see if it the Simrad radar data comes up. But I think I would need the add on software.

From TZ
TIMEZERO can be connected to a Furuno NavNet network allowing full control of the DRS radars (with or without an MFD on the network). This means that you can display the radar image directly in TIMEZERO software, enjoy full control of the Radar from your software, and overlay the radar image on your charts. Radar overlay is an effective safety tool that allows you to understand your surroundings in relation to your current position. The Furuno radar module is sold as an option for TZ Navigator and is included standard in TZ Professional.

 

[sndog]

Thank you as always everyone.

I spoke with Timezero, Furuno and Raymarine today.

All confirmed, the radars will not mix.

For timezero, they mentioned the DRS4NXT for closed array and DRS6 for open array.

Need about 3 ft in between, vertical height.

 

[Airstream345]

I will add that the DRS4NXT running on TZ is pretty sweet comared to my former NavNet3D and the DRS4D running on the MFD12. I also added the Furuno SCX20 Sat Compass and the charts and radar overlays are bang on now.

The DRS4NXT isn't terribly expensive and I sold my old system making the new radar abour a $500 net outlay. You need the Radar module from TZ is you're running Navigator. I also added the sounder module so everything is running through TZ on two NUC PCs and very large monitors.

 

[Insequent]

I will add that the DRS4NXT running on TZ is pretty sweet comared to my former NavNet3D and the DRS4D running on the MFD12. I also added the Furuno SCX20 Sat Compass and the charts and radar overlays are bang on now.

The DRS4NXT isn't terribly expensive and I sold my old system making the new radar abour a $500 net outlay. You need the Radar module from TZ is you're running Navigator. I also added the sounder module so everything is running through TZ on two NUC PCs and very large monitors.

Re: section in red in quote above. The issue is the MFD. My MFD 12 also looks rubbish compared to the display of my old DRS2D on the TZ NUC with a 24" monitor. If anyone has that generation of radar it could be worth testing out for yourself. However, I'm quite sure the DRS4NXT would also be a step up.....

 

[twistedtree]

Thank you as always everyone.

I spoke with Timezero, Furuno and Raymarine today.

All confirmed, the radars will not mix.

For timezero, they mentioned the DRS4NXT for closed array and DRS6 for open array.

Need about 3 ft in between, vertical height.

Oh, I didn't realize your radar was Raymarine. I assumed it was Furuno.

 

[sndog]

Oh, I didn't realize your radar was Raymarine. I assumed it was Furuno.

I do not have radar yet.

But purchasing it either late Feb or early Mar.

I am using TZ Pro or will be, using it as my main Navionics setup.

But will need to run a Raymarine MFD to handle the 5 Flir AX8's and the Flir M232. Plus I would like the collision avoidance feature of the Raymarine.

So, unfortunately, this will necessitate two radar units.

Unless anyone has better ideas.

 

[Insequent]

Coastal Explorer is an alternative to TZ. I've never used it, so don't its limitations and radar compatibility. But it could be an alternative?

 

[twistedtree]

I do not have radar yet.

But purchasing it either late Feb or early Mar.

I am using TZ Pro or will be, using it as my main Navionics setup.

But will need to run a Raymarine MFD to handle the 5 Flir AX8's and the Flir M232. Plus I would like the collision avoidance feature of the Raymarine.

So, unfortunately, this will necessitate two radar units.

Unless anyone has better ideas.

TZ Pro has some level of support for the FLIR cameras, but I don't know how it compares to Raymarine.


What is the collision avoidance feature in the Raymarine radar?


I think Furuno's radars are superior in most every way, so there should be a very high threshold to use something else.

 

[rslifkin]

I think Furuno's radars are superior in most every way, so there should be a very high threshold to use something else.

I agree. Proper ARPA is the big thing. From the testing and user reports I've seen, the Simrad HALO stuff is about as good a radar as NXT, but the Simrad MARPA implementation is junk compared to Furuno's ARPA. And the Furuno 24" dome is about $1000 cheaper than the Simrad dome as well.



Interestingly, some of the new Raymarine radars (the cyclone open array) mention having proper ARPA, rather than MARPA. The domes are still MARPA though, as are their other open arrays. They claim "fully automatic MARPA" on those, but I don't know what that translates to in terms of how it works in the real world. I haven't seen anything about how the new Raymarine stuff actually performs in the real world yet.

 

[stevemitchell]

I have two PCs running TZ and two Furuno MFDs and a single DRS series Furuno radar and all of them can see the radar and control it.

I've helped many folks with TZ / Furuno setups and as long as you follow TimeZero's guidance on which radars are compatible, and setup the network correctly, they are pretty easy to use and very reliable.

I've used Coastal Explorer for a long time as well, and they do have some limited radar support, but they are 3rd party solutions and none are anywhere near as good as the main-line radars from Furuno, Raymarine, Simrad, and Garmin. CE has slowed down in terms of new features and functionality in the last few years, and without radar integration, it is less of a choice for many folks.

 

[sndog]

I have two PCs running TZ and two Furuno MFDs and a single DRS series Furuno radar and all of them can see the radar and control it.

I've helped many folks with TZ / Furuno setups and as long as you follow TimeZero's guidance on which radars are compatible, and setup the network correctly, they are pretty easy to use and very reliable.

I've used Coastal Explorer for a long time as well, and they do have some limited radar support, but they are 3rd party solutions and none are anywhere near as good as the main-line radars from Furuno, Raymarine, Simrad, and Garmin. CE has slowed down in terms of new features and functionality in the last few years, and without radar integration, it is less of a choice for many folks.

Thank you for the info

 

[donpjr]

I run TZ Navigator with the Optional Radar module. With this setup the PC is connected by Ethernet cable to the Furuno TZT2 BB system and I can see the radar on both an MFD and on the PC. I have two Furuno radars and can select either to see on the MFD or the PC, but the question is whether a single radar can be viewed on both and the anwer is yes. I chose the TZ Navigator over the Professional as with TZ Nav you can download the software to two PCs and The Professional can only be put on one. For redundancy (and I have used it) I like to have Timezero loaded on two laptops which is possible with TZ Nav, but not with TZ Pro as I understand it. One PC is in operation at all times when running, the second is available to plug in if something goes wrong with Laptop 1. The Radar module basically equalizes these two versions for the things I need from it.

 

[stevemitchell]

I run TZ Navigator with the Optional Radar module. With this setup the PC is connected by Ethernet cable to the Furuno TZT2 BB system and I can see the radar on both an MFD and on the PC. I have two Furuno radars and can select either to see on the MFD or the PC, but the question is whether a single radar can be viewed on both and the anwer is yes. I chose the TZ Navigator over the Professional as with TZ Nav you can download the software to two PCs and The Professional can only be put on one. For redundancy (and I have used it) I like to have Timezero loaded on two laptops which is possible with TZ Nav, but not with TZ Pro as I understand it. One PC is in operation at all times when running, the second is available to plug in if something goes wrong with Laptop 1. The Radar module basically equalizes these two versions for the things I need from it.

While it is true that TZ Navigator lets you use your license on two PCs, it is incorrect that TZ Professional can only be put on one PC. You can purchase an additional license (which is cheaper than a single license) with TZ Professional and run it on a second, third, etc. PC.

Professional is used by, well, professionals and commercial customers and often have a number of copies running showing very specific things. There are also commercial versions that us peons in the recreational world can't ever get our hands on that are meant for big ships and such.

Navigator and Professional have had a weird history - they seem to leapfrog each other for features sometimes, and they look quite a bit different when it comes to the menus and style of the product. I think for those wanting a single station and radar support, Navigator makes a lot of sense and is affordable.

I chose Professional because it had the radar module already, and I know I needed that, plus I wanted to be able to download NOAA ENC/S57 charts (for free) and use those instead of TZ provided maps. There were a few other things I felt were useful in Professional like automatic target trail, AIS target activation, AXIS camera support, and dual monitors.

They have a pretty good comparison chart here: https://mytimezero.com/features-comparison

 

[ranger58sb]

I chose Professional because it had the radar module already, and I know I needed that, plus I wanted to be able to download NOAA ENC/S57 charts (for free) and use those instead of TZ provided maps.

???

Are NOAA ENC/S57 charts different from NOAA vector charts used on a Furuno MFD? Or on our (way!) older version of TimeZero?

Different from NOAA charts from within here (see Charts tab):

https://www.furunousa.com/en/products/gps_and_chart_plotters

???

-Chris