MARPA and SHS

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum danderer,

Q1. A second benefit I hoped for was improved MARPA performance. Is this single SHS->AP connection adequate to gain that?
A1. Yes

Q2. In rereading the manual I see mention of additionally connecting the SHS to an E80 via NMEA. I have not done that. What is the benefit of that connection--to get improved MARPA performance?
A2. The NMEA 0183 output of the SHS would only be interfaced to the NMEA 0183 input port of an E-Series Classic MFD when a SHS compatible autopilot course computer has not been interfaced to the system. In the case of the latter, a fluxgate would need to be interfaced to the autopilot course computer.

Q3. Can the connection be to either E80 or must it be the E80 connected to the radar?
A3. All data except for NTSC/PAL video inputs are share between E-Series Classic MFDs via Ethernet (SeaTalkhs). As such, the NMEA 0183 heading data source may be interfaced to either MFD. Their would be no performance advantage to interfacing the heading data source directly to the MFD which is primarily functioning as a radar display.

Q4. If NMEA will improve MARPA, how significant will that be? Both E80 NMEA ports are already used (depth sounder and AIS), so I’d need to invest in a mux to connect the SHS. Will the MARPA improvement justify that expenditure?
A4. These questions are moot per the responses provided above.