Fox Gateways and Garmin MFD's

[RollerCoastr]

I wish I could brag about a complex technical challenge that I solved, but after installing my Fox Gateways to link my MEFI 1's to my Garmin gear, it was clear that it was a beginner-level DIY project.

Literally plug-and-play.

...which isn't to say that I didn't make mistakes. Mistake #1 was my incremental approach. MEFI 1's don't interface with oil pressure. Fox offers a sensor kit, but I decided that I'd start without it and add it later if I wanted to. Within minutes of configuring the displays to show the data, I wanted to include oil pressure. The problem is that the gateways require alteration. "Fox" was very helpful and offered to make the alterations and sell me a kit if I send my gateways back.

The gateways can be put into a demo mode by flipping a dip switch. It won't broadcast bluetooth in demo mode, but it sends info such as varying RPM data to the network. This is where the fun began. I spent much more time playing with the various display screens than I did actually installing the units.

Mistake #2 happened after I turned-off demo mode and continued to configure the displays. Garmin shows many options for data out-of-the-box, but at the same time, many other options are only available to choose while that data is actively on the network. I wasted time by doing things like configuring a coolant temp gauge for the port engine while in demo mode or with the ignition was on, but later trying to configure it for starboard while off. I repeatedly flipped through all kinds of menus on the MFD's before realizing that the options are dynamic.

This is the config that I've been cruising with most often. I have more detailed fuel data showing as "bars" on the nav screens. I'm not convinced that Engine Load is useful.

I wish there was a sync gauge. Speed probably shows on 6 different displays at any given time, but I don't know what else to show in the center.

The CEL / idiot lights might come in handy, but I've since swapped them for engine hours.

Garmin, or at least my Garmins only give tach info in 50 rpm increments. I knew that going in, but it's still disappointing.

Interesting note: it appears that MEFI 1's can only count to 999. The bluetooth app and the Garmins indicate 1,000 fewer hours than reality.

I've had Garmin GFS-10 fuel meters for over a decade now. They're highly-accurate, but I'd like to see more data and a friend of mine has a slightly under-powered 32 footer that we just built an NM2K network on and I think fuel data would help him. I was curious about comparing data from the inline paddle wheel meters to the MEFI's injector pulse counts. It appeared that I could easily do it (if I had a few more T's) by configuring the Garmins to give me data for a 3rd and 4th engine. This would trash my fuel totalizer data, but that could be a worthwhile experiment if I had doubts. I didn't though. I cruised the day before and the day after the installation and the MEFI consumption data was exactly what I expected.

I started to configure the bar-graph displays. I wonder if they might be useful for quick-reference underway, but so far I prefer the dials.

The app is cool too. It's like having a Rinda scanner on your phone. (at least from the perspective of someone who doesn't have a Rinda scanner....)

My 741 runs a different OS. It's not as configurable when showing fuel and engine data, yet it's excellent for AP/compass and media. I doubt it will serve very often in this capacity, but I'll post some screen shots later for comparison.

Does anyone else have recommendations for layout/config? I'd also be interested to see how other brands of MFD's can be laid out.

 

[Stee6043]

So awesome!

 

[Skybolt]

... Does anyone else have recommendations for layout/config? I'd also be interested to see how other brands of MFD's can be laid out.

I also have Garmin MFD's but I found after the wow factor of having digitized my dash wore off, that the MFD's wasn't the place for all of that data. I ended up using two GMI20's dedicated to the engines and find that is more useful. I like keeping the much larger MFD's to navigation and radar. I do have a 7608 that can be customized and display engine data and I have set that up, but rarely use it for that. I find I use that for music, digital switching and my generator display when the Maretron is being used for something else.

Also I find that if the engine alarms are setup properly and you gain confidence that they are working well, you don't stare at the gauges nearly as much. So having a dedicated smaller screen for them is quite nice.

 

[b_arrington]

I also have Garmin MFD's but I found after the wow factor of having digitized my dash wore off, that the MFD's wasn't the place for all of that data. I ended up using two GMI20's dedicated to the engines and find that is more useful. I like keeping the much larger MFD's to navigation and radar. I do have a 7608 that can be customized and display engine data and I have set that up, but rarely use it for that. I find I use that for music, digital switching and my generator display when the Maretron is being used for something else.

Also I find that if the engine alarms are setup properly and you gain confidence that they are working well, you don't stare at the gauges nearly as much. So having a dedicated smaller screen for them is quite nice.

I feel the same way. The gauges are cool looking but I'd rather use the big screen for radar and navigation. I have my 7" VesselView configured to show engine parameters I want while running. On the Garmin, I have a vertical data bar on the right side that shows a few key engine stats like fuel burn rate, engine temp, and engine load. I can toggle my single GMI20 to show some stats as well, but generally leave that on something else.