R41xx Marpa fluxgate compass

[clusterchuck]

Can I use any of the raytheon or raymarine fluxgate compasses to be able to use the marpa feature of my radar or do I need a particular model? How is it connected to the radar unit? thanks

[SeaSwirler23]

The compass you use has to output NMEA heading data at 10hz, but as long as it does that, it can be anyone's. There should have been a 6-pin plug that came with you xx that is where all of the interfacing (the compass has dedicated pins/wires), and the pin out is in your manual. Use something like a KVH Autocomp 1000 or the new JRJ Athenna and you should be out the door for well under $500.

[sandyda]

Raymarine's autopilot fluxgates do not talk fast enough (10hz) to work for MARPA.

What's a JRJ Anthenna?

[SeaSwirler23]

the JRJ Athena is a 10hz NMEA solid state compass from a small company up in the pacific northwest (i.e. a bunch of smart engineers who sail/boat who figured they could build something better than was on the market, so they did)