NorthStar Navigation 8000I - Manual (Page 12)

12 Northstar 8000i Black Box Processor
5 The Network Master Unit
The simplest type of 8000i System consists of a single stand-alone processor. A more
sophisticated 8000i System consists of multiple processors, which can be a combination of
12" Display Processors or Black Box Processors, networked together.
If more than one processor is used in the 8000i System, one processor only MUST be
specified as the master unit. You must decide which processor on the 8000i network will be
responsible for handling incoming and outgoing navigation data. Therefore, when planning
the wiring, make sure that all the data inputs and outputs, such as NMEA, are supplied to the
master unit. Typically the master unit will be located at the main helm station.
The master unit MUST:
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have all the data wiring (such as NMEA) run to it. Incoming navigation data, such
as GPS and NMEA, is received by the master unit and then distributed over the
network to other processors.
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have the GPS antenna connected to it.
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have the chart license key connected to it. When the chart license key is
connected and the charts unlocked, other processors can share the one license
(see "Northstar 8000i C-MAP Chart License Key" page 24) and display the charts.
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have the autopilot connected to it (if applicable).
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have a USB port accessible by using the provided panel mount cable (this is to
allow easy access to upgrade the system)
The master unit MUST be operating FIRST in order for the other processors to function with
navigational information.
If the master is NOT operating, all the other display units will show a grey screen with the
message "Master [name] unavailable". This will be the case for Chart, Radar, Sounder, 3D
Chart and 3D steer.