Showing posts with label No. Show all posts
Showing posts with label No. Show all posts
Thursday, November 24, 2016
No worries mate we are precisely in 176 2 feet of water
The owner of this boat called me and said his depth finder wasn't working correctly on a short "Shake Down" cruise from Sarasota, to Egmont Key and back. This was about a 70 mile trip up and back, and he said the Furuno depth finder acted weird on the whole trip. Since we were in about 10 feet of water, the Furuno RD30's depth of about 176 feet, did seem to be a wee bit on the high side. The Nobeltec sounder right next door does have the correct depth. Look at the picture closely, and above the depth number on the Nobeltec system, you can see the the wording "200 khz "Cruising."
So playing the game of "What's different between these two pictures?", we can now see the Furuno RD30 is reporting the correct depth, and the Nobeltec sounder is also. The difference is the Nobeltec sounder is now using the "50 khz Cruising" setting. So by now, a lot of boaters have figured what has happened, but for those who need some enlightenment, this is what is going on, in Americanized English.
The piezoceramic devices in the two transducers are pinging out sound waves, and listening to the returning sound waves as they echo back from the bottom. They are designed to send out a certain frequency sound wave, and hear that frequency when the sound wave bounces back from the bottom. In this case, since both transducers are using the same frequency, they are hearing each other, and the Furuno unit is getting confused. I suspect, but I'm not dead sure, that the Nobeltec sounder module, has a more powerful transducer (I did not climb into the engine room to verify this, it is what it is), and the lower power Furuno transducer just gets overwhelmed. In other words, the Nobeltec transducer is not adversely affected by the Furuno's transducer, but the Nobeltec's transducer bugs the heck out of the Furuno's transducer, if they are operating at the same frequency. Both transducers are made by Airmar, and I hope I got this dialog generally correct Ms. Robb.
The owner now knows, that if both sounder systems are operating at the same time, they must be set to different frequencies, if you don't want to be in 176.2 feet of water all of the time. There are transducer technologies, that can overcome this issue available, and the link below to Airmar will provide wealth of transducer information.
Airmar's FAQ page will answer about 99.1% of your transducer questions.
Friday, November 11, 2016
VEDAVOO X T F M No Kink Reel Cases
New Vedavoo gear offerings continue to pop up in the T.F.M. Store with a fresh batch of No-Kink Reel Cases in stock and ready to ship. These No-Kink Reel Cases were made in three sizes in Woodland Camo with Comrade or Retro Fly patches affixed on the cover flap.
Like all Vedavoo gear, the No-Kink Reel Cases are a great design and made from heavy duty U.S.A. made nylon fabrics. Vedavoo gear will last a lifetime...and then some.
The No-Kink Reel Cases are available in three sizes of Small, Medium, and Large which fit the following fly reels:
Small - Up to 3" in Diameter Reel
Medium - Up to 3 1/2" in Diameter Reel
Large - Up to 4" in Diameter Reel
The No-Kink Reel Cases are priced at $30 each shipped with T.F.M. and Vedavoo decals. Orders this month will also receive a complimentary high quality neoprene Retro Fly koozie included in the order.
I can accept PayPal, check, or credit card for payments. Please send an email to thefiberglassmanifesto@gmail.com to place an order.
Like all Vedavoo gear, the No-Kink Reel Cases are a great design and made from heavy duty U.S.A. made nylon fabrics. Vedavoo gear will last a lifetime...and then some.
The No-Kink Reel Cases are available in three sizes of Small, Medium, and Large which fit the following fly reels:
Small - Up to 3" in Diameter Reel
Medium - Up to 3 1/2" in Diameter Reel
Large - Up to 4" in Diameter Reel
The No-Kink Reel Cases are priced at $30 each shipped with T.F.M. and Vedavoo decals. Orders this month will also receive a complimentary high quality neoprene Retro Fly koozie included in the order.
I can accept PayPal, check, or credit card for payments. Please send an email to thefiberglassmanifesto@gmail.com to place an order.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Wiring with no backbone
The average boat's coax cable TV backbone wiring at the best can be now be describe as venerable, and at the worst outmoded technology, yet it still persists. Your boat's coax cable backbone served its original purpose for decades well. It fed antenna and dockside analog cable system signals throughout the boat to all of those glass tube Panasonic TV's with VCR's built into them. But the world has changed. Analog cable TV systems in marinas are disappearing as cable system providers rapidly switch to digital systems requiring interface boxes.
Some new TV's no longer even have a coax connector. What would you use it for in this modern world? Digital audio, HDMI, USB, component video all yes. Jurassic era coax tech, not so much. Adding to this problem is many satellite TV receivers no longer have a coax cable "To TV" connection either. So what are the options? Let's take a look at the current technology.
.
The AB switch is a common sight on many boats. It nearly met it's maker when TV stations moved to on air digital broadcasting making it just an "A" switch. Digital converters and TV receivers saved the day for this device, but it now hangs out in an assisted living facility eating stewed prunes.
The boats TV source signal leaves the AB box and is feed to a splitter. One cable goes in and many come out. In this case two, but larger splitters are common. The output from the splitter is connected to all of the TV's in the boat.
In the world of analog TV this worked very well. Each user could watch what they wanted. In the digital world this doesn't work very well. It works sort of in most cases with extra gear, but this comes with a price like lower resolution and signal loss.
The world has been changing, and the boat hasn't caught up yet, and to be honest it's been behind the technology curve for years. So the initial summary goes like this. Analog cable TV is rapidly disappearing and is being replaced with digital cable tech that isn't suitable for most boats. The bottom line is for all intents and purposes there is no longer a real need to include a shore cable TV connection for the boat. However digital on air TV is still very viable.
The world has been changing, and the boat hasn't caught up yet, and to be honest it's been behind the technology curve for years. So the initial summary goes like this. Analog cable TV is rapidly disappearing and is being replaced with digital cable tech that isn't suitable for most boats. The bottom line is for all intents and purposes there is no longer a real need to include a shore cable TV connection for the boat. However digital on air TV is still very viable.
.
There are many options both available and emerging to watch content. As mentioned digital on air TV is of very good quality (signal wise that is) and is widely available.
Satellite TV is also an excellent source with a huge array of programming. Emerging technologies allow streaming content off the internet directly, or saving the content on media servers or storage devices such as as flash drives. It's all good stuff, but sticking with the venerable coax cable backbone presents many challenges. It's worse than that, it's a pain in the ass to deal with.
Here is a simple case in point. I'm installing on a newer boat a KVH TV1 satellite system with a DirecTV receiver. The receiver doesn't have a coax output I can use to connect to the boat's coax backbone. No worries, this is solvable if the TV's are smaller in size. I'll be back to this in a moment. The fix is to add a modulator that will convert a composite video output from the receiver and change it to a coax RF output. Since composite video (the yellow plug) isn't exactly high resolution, the picture is marginal on larger sized TV's, but acceptable for smaller ones. So if this is an issue, why didn't I connect the TV's using component or HDMI cables so they get a better picture?
That's a good question, and the problem is both money, and boat construction. Most coax backbones are installed in a way that never contemplated either their removal or additions. Backbone installation usually occurs prior to cabinetry being installed. It can be very difficult and time consuming to pull new wiring to the location of each TV in a boat. Not impossible mind you, but on average a very expensive effort. Just to get the wiring to each TV, the TV itself must also be removed. A task that may odious in itself.
Satellite TV is also an excellent source with a huge array of programming. Emerging technologies allow streaming content off the internet directly, or saving the content on media servers or storage devices such as as flash drives. It's all good stuff, but sticking with the venerable coax cable backbone presents many challenges. It's worse than that, it's a pain in the ass to deal with.
Here is a simple case in point. I'm installing on a newer boat a KVH TV1 satellite system with a DirecTV receiver. The receiver doesn't have a coax output I can use to connect to the boat's coax backbone. No worries, this is solvable if the TV's are smaller in size. I'll be back to this in a moment. The fix is to add a modulator that will convert a composite video output from the receiver and change it to a coax RF output. Since composite video (the yellow plug) isn't exactly high resolution, the picture is marginal on larger sized TV's, but acceptable for smaller ones. So if this is an issue, why didn't I connect the TV's using component or HDMI cables so they get a better picture?
That's a good question, and the problem is both money, and boat construction. Most coax backbones are installed in a way that never contemplated either their removal or additions. Backbone installation usually occurs prior to cabinetry being installed. It can be very difficult and time consuming to pull new wiring to the location of each TV in a boat. Not impossible mind you, but on average a very expensive effort. Just to get the wiring to each TV, the TV itself must also be removed. A task that may odious in itself.
.
A boat isn't any different. In the little sketch are the basics that should be in place. First is some location where all of the media gear will be located. This is where all of the wiring will home run to. In a house this is a closet. On a boat it could be a cabinet, or under a settee.
The location needs to be accessible, well ventilated and have easy power availability for both 12VDC and 110VAC. In my world accessibility is exactly like the word implies. You shouldn't have to take half the boat apart to get at it.
Structured wiring is the second part of the equation. Today the minimum standard would be one RF coax feed (just for the very near future), and two HDMI cables. This would allow one HDMI cable to be used for primary content, and a second for DVD's or media servers. Primary TV locations such as the main salon should also have a fiber optic digital audio cable included for sound bars and surround sound systems.
Builders need to expect increasing use of USB ports on TV's. They are easy to get to when a TV is sitting on a stand in your home. Mine is one the back of the set. But if it's hung on the wall it becomes impossible to get to. If this is the case consider adding a USB extension cable to the back of the set to allow access. I use mine to do photo slide shows. I also have a Boxee to watch recorded movies and shows.
I know this will take some effort, forethought, and modest expense to accomplish, but failure to do this is at your customers long term expense. So now lets take a quick look at my KVH TV1 install if this approach was in place.
The KVH receiver gear, and satellite receiver now have a home. In the boat I'm installing it in I jammed the gear into a nearby cabinet with no power, and punched a series of holes to get the wiring in. I am concerned about the ventilation, we will see how well this works over time.
With the new approach I now no longer need the RF modulator, and associated AV cables. The HDMI cables would just plug into the receiver. The owner balked at the costs of pulling in a new HDMI cable to the master stateroom TV. With structured wiring in place a second receiver could be easily be added to the system and its HDMI cable would just jack into the back of it.
In the end, the largest single billing cost for my efforts is pulling wires from A to B. This is easily half or more of my average bill. There is an alternative boat builders could consider. It's this stuff called conduit that could be used to quickly get wires from one place to the other. I know it's new cutting edge technology, and many are concerned about the price they could pay for early adoption, but it's a new brave world out there. Think about it. I would rather have the structured wiring if I was a buyer, but at the bare minimum the conduit works also. Doing nothing is waiting to be culled from the herd.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Need an Extra Cabin – No Problem!
10 February 2013
We’ve just had our first overnight guests on Alcheringa. Aussie friends Gary and Tanya were holidaying in Europe and dropped in to see us in Gibraltar for a couple of days. It gave us our first opportunity to make use of one of the cleverest features of our Jeanneau 43DS. Thanks to some ingenious design work by Jeanneau, it took all of ten minutes for Rob and Marc to split our huge stateroom into two conventional aft cabins so we could accommodate our guests.
 |
| Don't you love guests who arrive with essential provisions. Gary, Tanya, Karen and Rob with some bubbles for sundowners |
Stored in a dedicated space beneath the bunk we have five timber panels that slide easily into a track on the bunk base and cabin ceiling interlocking to form an instant wall to divide the room. Two triangular in fills then convert our semi walk around queen size bunk into two doubles. Voila! Instant guest cabin.
When choosing a boat, we always had in mind that although there would just be the three of us on board for the vast majority of the time, we definitely wanted the space to comfortably have friends and family join us at various times. The flexibility that Jeanneau’s 43DS provides was one of a number of features that strongly attracted us to this make and model of yacht. Now we’ve actually used it, we’re even more convinced of its value. Alcheringawas one of the last of its design constructed and we struggle to understand why Jeanneau didn’t continue this innovative idea in their later deck salon models.
 |
| Our fantastic, very large stateroom on Alcheringa |
 |
| In just ten minutes the stateroom can be split into two, good size double cabins. You can see the timber panels in place on the left. |
When choosing a boat, we always had in mind that although there would just be the three of us on board for the vast majority of the time, we definitely wanted the space to comfortably have friends and family join us at various times. The flexibility that Jeanneau’s 43DS provides was one of a number of features that strongly attracted us to this make and model of yacht. Now we’ve actually used it, we’re even more convinced of its value. Alcheringawas one of the last of its design constructed and we struggle to understand why Jeanneau didn’t continue this innovative idea in their later deck salon models.
 |
| Sundowners in the cockpit. We're not sure whether we need to get smaller strawberries for the champagneor larger glasses. |
It was great to have Gary and Tanya with us for their brief visit. Fortunately Gibraltar turned on more fantastic winter weather with clear blue skies and plenty of sunshine and we were able to enjoy sundowners in the cockpit on the afternoon they arrived at least giving them a little taste of how cruisers entertain.
The following day our good friend Jeanna from the yacht Deca Dance joined the party and the six of us headed around to Stefano’s, our favourite cafe at Catalan Bay, for a wonderful afternoon of brilliant tapas, nice drinks, great conversation and lots of laughs. We were all having such a good time it was almost 9.00pm before we knew it prompting a dash up to the main road to catch the last bus back to town. We did get to the stop in time but for some reason the bus sailed on by without slowing down. We didn’t think we looked that unruly. Fortunately a taxi appeared a few minutes later saving us from a long walk home in the dark.
 |
| Afternoon soon became evening at Catalan Bay's Stefano's and the laughs kept coming. |
Next morning we bid farewell to our friends as they headed to the airport for a flight to London and then converted the stern back to the huge stateroom we love in just minutes. Even if our boat had just been sitting in the marina, Gary and Tanya’s visit whetted our appetite for the approaching summer when we have a few more friends and family joining us at different stages during our travels. It’s great to know we will be able to accommodate them in comfort without compromising our own. Thank you Jeanneau.
We love to receive comments on our blog from readers. If you do leave a comment and you also have a blog, please leave a link as well. We'd like to click over for a visit and leave you a comment too.
To stay right up to date with what we’re up to and see lots more photos check out and 'like' our Dreamtime Sail Facebook page at Dreamtime Sail
If you have only recently discovered our blog and would like to read how it all started, or work through our previous adventures, click the link to go back to our first blog entry. Stuff it. Let's just go sailing anyway.
We hope you enjoy reading the previous posts to catch up on our story.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
