Seiwa Starfish 2nd Edition - Manual (Page 59)

61 User Manual
4. C-LINK
C-Link system is a feature which allows to sharing the same cartographic data
between two Chart Plotter units linked via serial I/O port.
In order to activate C-Link function, a “MAX MAP MEDIA” (called REGULAR MEDIA)
must be inserted into one of the two chart plotters and a special MAX MAP MEDIA
(called MIRROR MEDIA) must be inserted on the other chart plotter.
The two MAX MAP MEDIA must have the same code and revision. So, the MIR-
ROR MEDIA can be utilized only on a chart plotter linked to another chart plotter
provided with the equivalent REGULAR MEDIA.
It is important to point out that the two chart plotters must have the update
software versions that allow C-Link function.
4.1 HOW C-LINK SYSTEM WORKS
When the chart plotter is powered up, it switches into the “Stand-Alone Mode”. In
this work mode, the chart plotter unit periodically scans all the available MEDIA
slots searching for MIRROR MEDIA. When one or more MIRROR MEDIA is found
(in one or both chart plotters) a special connection is established between the
chart plotters to enable the MIRROR MEDIA. If a regular MEDIA which has previ-
ously activated a MIRROR MEDIA is removed, even the MIRRORs MEDIA will be
not read anymore on the other unit.
4.2 C-LINK SERIAL CONNECTION
The two chart plotters should be connected via serial ports. Any of the available
ports can be used, the software will recognize automatically the serial ports used.
A typical connection is as follows:
Chart Plotter 1 Chart Plotter 2
TX —————> RX
RX <————— TX
GND <————> GND
4.3 C-LINK NAVIGATION DATA TRANSFER
This function allows transferring C-Link Navigation Data (Route Name, Destination
ID & Position, Next Waypoint ID & Position, Total Route length, Fuel Consumption
Rate, ETA, TTG etc.) between two chart plotters linked through the C-Link system.
The chart plotters can be set to operate in two modes:
♦
MASTER mode (Primary Chart Plotter)
♦
SLAVE mode (Secondary Chart Plotter)
When the navigation is activated on the Master chart plotter, the C-Link navigation
data will be continuously sent to the Slave until the navigation is active.
If the Master is navigating to a Single Destination, the Slave will show the
Destination position and activate the navigation to it.
If the Master is navigating to a Route, the Slave will show the Route Leg composed
by the Destination and the Waypoint after the Destination (Next Waypoint) and
activate the navigation to it.
Any variation to the current C-Link Navigation Data will be transferred from the
Master to the Slave.