Mr Me...
You must be referring to "NavNet" FurunoNet(?) Two problems with
ethernet...!. the manufacturers have been spending money hand over fist
to re-invent the wheel under the dubious auspices of Beth Kahr and her
NMEA cronies, and are headlong into propagating NMEA 2000 (should have
called it 2010)..their version of can-buss technology.....(but no
provision for video display inter-connectivity) the solution to that
is black box and cpu with display simlar to NavNet , I agree,with some
reservation in that if the cpu goes down you lose ALL instruments.
The second problem( much easier to solve)is that the RJ connections
used on much of the equipment are almost useless in a sal****er
environment
due to corrosion...The solution- wireless? perhaps, the weatherized
hubs etc, are not that weatherized, or hardwired with more positive
means of mechanical connection. Which brings us back to problem #
1...Personally, I say screw the NMEA, and opt for black- box,...Now all
I need is a new microwave oven that doesn't disrupt every signal on my
boat, so Larry and I can have something to snack on when we're drinking
beer under the jib barking orders at the crew over their FRS-enabled
wris****ches....
Regards,
markvictor