340 DA - Smartcraft Bus location

[Jeffrey King]

Hi Everyone,
I need some help.
Bought a 2007 340 DA in Feb. Love the boat
The Smartcraft system...it feeds the depth information to the gauges?
Where is the smartcraft bus located ?
I am asking because i was thinking about replacing the Raymarine C80 and DSM300 components and i want to be able to use the existing Transducer on the next MFD i purchase.

How do i get the depth information to the MFD (Fishfinder)? I believe i will need to setup a nmea2000 network bridge, but i need to figure out where the smartcraft information is being sent to.

i hope this makes sense and thanks in advance

 

[Henry Boyd]

Jeff,

If you have a DSM sonar module, then the depth data is being obtained by the Raymarine equipment, and not by Smartcraft. So for the moment, no need to concern yourself with Smartcraft.

You need to identify the transducer. It should be compatible with newer Raymarine hardware, but may need an adapter cable. It may, or may not, be compatible with other manufacturers gear. But, take it from someone who has been there, if you are doing new electronics, replace the depth transducer, they do wear out. Last year at this time I did all new everything, except for depth transducer. This year, I just replaced the old transducer because it was unreliable with the new gear.

 

[Jeffrey King]

Jeff,

If you have a DSM sonar module, then the depth data is being obtained by the Raymarine equipment, and not by Smartcraft. So for the moment, no need to concern yourself with Smartcraft.

You need to identify the transducer. It should be compatible with newer Raymarine hardware, but may need an adapter cable. It may, or may not, be compatible with other manufacturers gear. But, take it from someone who has been there, if you are doing new electronics, replace the depth transducer, they do wear out. Last year at this time I did all new everything, except for depth transducer. This year, I just replaced the old transducer because it was unreliable with the new gear.

Thanks !
I will check it out tonight.

One thing that i am curious about is....
Last week i was out and the DSM module stopped feeding the C80. (turned out to be the power cable)
However, when that happened, i was able to use one of the Smartcraft gauges to show me the depth

So, it would be reasonable to think that the depth data is being shared between the C80 and the Smartcraft gauges

Thoughts?

 

[Henry Boyd]

Thanks !
I will check it out tonight.

One thing that i am curious about is....
Last week i was out and the DSM module stopped feeding the C80. (turned out to be the power cable)
However, when that happened, i was able to use one of the Smartcraft gauges to show me the depth

So, it would be reasonable to think that the depth data is being shared between the C80 and the Smartcraft gauges

Thoughts?

Or you have two transducers, one connected to the DSM and one connected to Smartcraft. The DSM exists only to trigger the attached transducer and interpret the return data and send to the MFD. With Smartcraft data from a navigation system can be imported into it via NMEA0183 and displayed on a System device like VesselView, SystemView, System Tach/Speedo etc.

But, a Smartcraft specific depth transducer can also be attached the Smartcraft buss. In that case depth would appear on both devices (RM and SC), but would be independent based on each source. And yes there could be a NMEA 0183 connection between the RM and SC importing nav data into SC. I don't know in that case what SC would do with the redundant depth data. Although I do know that NMEA data elements exported by a C80 can be filtered and blocked out of the export stream by the C80. With your vintage boat there would be no redundant data sent to the Raymarine gear because your vintage SC can only import data, not export it.

You can test this hypothesis out by leaving all of the RM gear powered off. If you cpntinue to get depth on your SC device, you have two transducers. If that is the case you now need to id BOTH transducers so you don't remove the wrong one during an upgrade.

 

[Jeffrey King]

Or you have two transducers, one connected to the DSM and one connected to Smartcraft. The DSM exists only to trigger the attached transducer and interpret the return data and send to the MFD. With Smartcraft data from a navigation system can be imported into it via NMEA0183 and displayed on a System device like VesselView, SystemView, System Tach/Speedo etc.

But, a Smartcraft specific depth transducer can also be attached the Smartcraft buss. In that case depth would appear on both devices (RM and SC), but would be independent based on each source. And yes there could be a NMEA 0183 connection between the RM and SC importing nav data into SC. I don't know in that case what SC would do with the redundant depth data. Although I do know that NMEA data elements exported by a C80 can be filtered and blocked out of the export stream by the C80. With your vintage boat there would be no redundant data sent to the Raymarine gear because your vintage SC can only import data, not export it.

You can test this hypothesis out by leaving all of the RM gear powered off. If you cpntinue to get depth on your SC device, you have two transducers. If that is the case you now need to id BOTH transducers so you don't remove the wrong one during an upgrade.

Great Information !
I will check things out when i get down to the boat, but what you are saying makes a lot of sense.
Thank you for the help!

 

[Henry Boyd]

As a bit of a follow on. Having independent depth other than SC can be desired. SC only functions with the engine ignition powered. If you want depth data while at anchor because you are in tidal water and don't want to wake up with the boat high and dry, you wouldn't want to have to leave the ignition on with the engine off.