Pilot Control Problems with Simrad/B&G System

[Dockhead]

My new electronics system includes a Simrad pilot computer, two B&G Zeus MFD's (one Touch, one pre-Touch), and a B&G pilot keypad with Triton as pilot control display. The MFD's have an autopilot control function.

From the beginning last year, I had problems with handover of control between the keypad and the MFD's. Once the MFD was used as the controller, you couldn't dodge or adjust set heading (for example) with the keypad -- you had to flip off the pilot with the keypad and start over again from the keypad.

Now I just updated the software in all the Tritons and both Zeuses. I half-hoped that the pilot problem would have been solved in the new software release.

But NO! In fact it seems now to be much worse! For one thing -- you can no longer evoke the pilot screen on the MFD by pressing the "auto/stby" button. NOW, when you press that button, it flips off the pilot to Standby, and you have to start all over again! So you can no longer use the MFD pilot control to adjust set heading etc. as you go along, UNLESS you leave the screen showing. And if you do that, you can't see your chart or radar! Bleh!

The other thing which is worse is that no longer can you even use the keypad to flip off the pilot, if the pilot has been activated from the MFD. Now not even the "Off" button on the keypad works, if you've used the MFD to activate the pilot.

And you have no choice but to use the MFD, because you cannot activate any mode from the keypad except plain Auto mode. All the other modes are available only from the MFD.

So if the pilot control functions were kind of screwy, but usable before, they are now not usable at all. It cannot be that the system was designed this way. There must be some conflict or some other problem. If anyone has any insights, I will be very grateful.

[colemj]

We don't have a Zeus, so can't tell you if the problem occurs for us. Our Simrad AP control head, Tritons and Triton Pilot pad all work fine together.

The pilot control pad allows you to steer to compass, wind or nav data. Are you saying that yours does not allow the other two functions after the software upgrade? I know ours still does these functions after upgrading the software.

Have you contacted B&G support and asked them to reproduce this problem in their lab? Since it is a basic operating function and not some weird thing you are trying to do, this should be straightforward for them.

Mark

[Dockhead]

Yes, thanks. I will do that on Monday.

[goboatingnow]

Dockhead. I'm currently helping a friend commission an all Simrad System. We are getting some odd errors and issues , I get the impression the software was rushed. Personally I think it's all related to software bugs.

Dave


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Dockhead. I'm currently helping a friend commission an all Simrad System. We are getting some odd errors and issues , I get the impression the software was rushed. Personally I think it's all related to software bugs.

Dave

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yes, but all devices have updated software! Surely even if rushed at launch, they would have had time by now to sort the really fundamental issues!

[colemj]

I just spoke with a friend who recently installed a Zeus, Simrad AP and Tritons. He has the newest software and is not experiencing any of your issues. He says his all work just fine together.

Maybe try reinstalling the software? Maybe simplify the system and network a bit to rule out other issues? Don't you have two networks? Can you take one of the Zeus's off and see if the problem continues?

Mark

[lateral]

So, what was the problem? Did you sort it out?

Semi-related, can you update the tritons via any compatible MFD, pre- 2.9?
Or, do you need the st10 to do the initial update? Or does this
just apply to updating Tritons with other than Zeus mfd's.
(NSS,NSE,NSO & maybe some Lowrance's)

Btw, Simrad told me today you can no longer buy the ST-10 swup tool.
Nice of them.
All to do with there new warranty they led me to believe.

Reading that back it sounds like a riddle.