Networking
It’s not mission critical at all but having networked navigation instruments is definitely nice to have. It means that someone sitting snug and dry at the chart table down below has access to all the navigational data that the poor person at the helm has. The helm, of course, can be quite ‘fresh’ here in the Arctic!
We are assuming it was the winter’s cold that did it but our two navigation stations are no longer talking to each other. Both work fine when unplugged from the network and yet descend into a cacophony of alarms and flashing screens when asked to communicate with each other. This means the helmsman can’t see the AIS data (an automatic collision avoidance system) and the cosy, below decks, watch can’t see either the radar or the charts but can see AIS.
Joe and I spent an age trying to restore communication although I have to say it was mainly Joe doing the ‘doing’ as packets of digital information are well beyond me. A new cable was sourced after much enquiry in town but it seems the manufacturer had customised theirs in order to marinise it which meant that we weren’t sure if the new one made the necessary connections.
Joe valiantly took to the internet to convert a ‘patch’ cable to a ‘crossover’ one but, alas to no avail. It seems that we will be that bit more shivery on watch in the coming weeks as we scout the outside screens for the lurking icebergs in the mist.