[CA] [CA11] connecting multiple mfds

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum rlynn12,

Q1. Both MFD's are connected individually through the NMEA 2000 backbone.
A1. Raymarine's MFDs are designed to be interfaced to one another via an Ethernet network, not via an NMEA 2000 backbone. When interfaced to one another via an Ethernet network, the MFDs will share all system resources (cartography, radar, fishfinders, marine weather, video, system state, instrument & navigational data from devices which have been interfaced to the backbone, as well control / configuration of some SeaTalkng / NMEA 2000 devices is supported. Additionally, page configurations and page settings will be share among devices which have been interfaced via an Ethernet network. To accomplish this end, the MFDs may be interfaced directly to one another or to a HS5 RayNet Network Switch via an appropriate length of RayNet (F) to RayNet (F) Cable. Should the MFDs have been interfaced to one another as specified within this paragraph, and should both MFDs open the same page, and should one of the MFDs configure the SonarChart Live feature ON or OFF, then the effects of this settings change will be mirrored by the other MFD which is viewing this same page.

However when not interfaced via Ethernet communications, but instead via a backbone alone, the MFDs will only share system state, instrument & navigational data from devices which have been interfaced to the backbone, as well control / configuration of some SeaTalkng / NMEA 2000 devices is supported. As page sets and page configurations are not shared when interfaced in this manner, it would be necessary to configure the SonarChart Live feature OFF or ON as desired within the Chart application page/pane of each MFD.