[TG] ST290 System Block Diagram Review and assistance

[Tom - Raymarine - Moderator]

Hello Shane,

If your only problem at this moment is compass heading, I'd just fit a dedicated pilot display (ST6002/7002/8002 were the same vintage as ST290, or p70S/p70RS in the current range.) A p70S or p70RS can be directly connected into your Seatalk1 system via a 3pin-6-pin adaptor cable, e.g. part A06073.

Don't replace the ST290 DPU with an ITC5: they are not equivalent and ST290 cannot calibrate ITC5. Similarly, if the only problem is a small(ish) heading error then don't replace the fluxgate: this isn't a fluxgate fault from the sound of it, and the new fluxgate will still need calibrating.

I think that either the magnetic environment around the fluxgate may have changed over the years (invalidating previous calibration) or the pilot may have lost the previous calibration over the years, so all I think you need is a compass swing from a dedicated pilot display. I wouldn't make any unnecessary changes to that ST290 system whilst it's working, you risk causing bigger issues.

Regards,
Tom