FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Micronet System

Q. Can I add more Displays to my Micronet system?
A new instrument can be added to an existing network by simply bringing it close to the existing network and using the "Master" instrument to carry out the Autonetwork procedure. Joining two existing networks together is a more difficult procedure as this prevents accidental joining of systems fitted to other local boats.

Q. Why can't I get my Micronet instruments to Network?
Make sure that any components of your system have not previously been networked to each other. It is not possible to join two networks together without first separating each individual item. Refer to the "Autonetworking" sheet for further information.

Q. How much back up power do my Tacktick Displays have if they are not taking a charge?
A Micronet instrument will operate for around 300 hours with no recharging at all. If the backlighting is used then time will be reduced depending on the level of illumination used. Battery level can be monitored from an icon on the bottom left of each display.
Recharging will occur even in cloudy daylight and the charge rate can be monitored from the icon on the lower right of each display.
In emergencies there are terminals on the rear of all instruments which allow the connection of an external 9 - 24Vdc supply to recharge the instrument (during this operation the charge level indicator on the display will remain at 0).

Q. How long do the rechargeable batteries in my Tacktick instruments last?
The batteries are affected by discharge and the life of the batteries used is not measured in time but in cycles of charge and discharge. In normal operation the Micronet displays operate at a very low discarge level as they are continually charged by daylight. If the batteries are continually drained flat then recharged again, then the overall life will be reduced but this is not part of their normal operating range. However most Tacktick instruments have replaceable batteries so in the unlikley event of a total battery failure the unit can be serviced by any Tacktick distributor.

Q. Can I calibrate my Micronet instruments?
Yes. Micronet instruments can be calibrated to correct Boat Speed, Wind Speed and Direction, Depth offset, Compass heading and deviation as well as having a comprehensive range of alarms.
Calibration can be carried out from any Digital Display and is transmitted to the complete system via the wireless network.

Q. Will a Micronet system be affected by carbon fibre boats?
It can be. In many tests we have not seen any problems caused by carbon fibre components in a boat, however, mounting Transmitters inside a boat constructed totally of carbon fibre will reduce signal strength which amy vary when the carbon fibre components are wet. It is also not recommended to mount a display flat onto a carbon fibre surface as there may be some detuning of the antenna. If using carbon fibre mast brackets it is recommended that holes are cut in the brackets behind the displays to prevent possible problems. Tacktick do NOT recommend the use of the clip bracket when displays are mounted to a mast bracket. Lines associated with sail control can get caught on displays causing them to become detatched.

Q. Will my Displays re-charge their battery even if they are switched off?
Yes. All batteries will be charged when off regardless of whether the Displays left in daylight or Hull/NMEA Transmitters left connected to an exernal power source.

Q. Will my Micornet Displays charge when it is cloudy?
Although direct bright sunlight provides the best charge for any Tacktick instrument charging will occur even on a cloudy day. On very dull days the sunlight may not actually add charge to the internal batteries but the power generated by the solar cells will be enough to maintain the current battery level of the Display.

Q. Can I connect the NMEA Interface to my laptop for navigation software?
Yes. The Tacktick NMEA Interface has 2 NMEA inputs and one output. Connecting a GPS to Input 1 will leave Input 2 and the Output available to connect to a PC. Connection to a PC should be via a serial port which is usually a 9-pin connector.

Q. What is the update speed of the data on my Micronet system.
Micronet information is transmitted in pulses from the Transmitters to the Displays where it is damped to produce readable figures. By default the response level for each item of data is set to Auto allowing the system to increase and decrease the data update rates depending on the conditions. All response levels may be permanently set to Fast, Med, Slow from the calibration menu on any Digital Displays.

Q. Will the Hull Transmitter and NMEA Interface batteries discharge even when the system is switched off?

When a Micronet system is switched off there remains a small power loss from each individual item as it "listens" for activity from other items. The power loss is extremely low and a fully charged product will remain active for several years.

Q. I had an old instruments system with through hull transducers, can I use these with a Micronet system?
Tacktick use Airmar transducers which are common with many other marine electronics manufacturers. If your old system used Airmar transducers then they may be compatible with a Tacktick system but it is still worth checking:
Depth
200kHz
13 degree Beam Width
250W RMS Power
51mm (2") Hole Diameter
Speed
19,000 pulses per nautical mile
8 Vdc supply voltage
51mm (2") Hole Diameter

Q. Is there a possibility that my neighbours Micronet system could interfere with mine or that I could read information on his boat and vice versa?
Each Micronet system has its own unique address. This ensures that it will not communicate with any other Micronet system. Micronet networks are set up at installation stage, additional new instruments may be asked to join the network later but another system cannot be coupled.

Q. Will I loose my Wind, Log or Compass calibration if the battery goes too low on the Hull Transmitter?
No.The calibration information is stored on all the individual components of a Micronet network individually. When a calibration setting is changed it is transmitted to each component ensuring that this informaiton is secure within the network, regardless of what may happen to any individual component.

Q. I get a "Hull Low Battery" alarm sounding on my instruments. Why?
If there is a switch on the circuit breaker panel labelled instruments ensure that this is on. Because it is possible to operate the Micronet Displays without having the boats electrical system switched on it is possible that the below decks transmitters (Hull and NMEA)can run short of power. If the alarm sounds with Low Battery then ensure there is power to the transmitter indicated.

Q. I want to make my own brackets to mount my displays on the mast. Is this OK?
Tacktick can supply mast brackets (T231, T232 and T234) for the Maxi Displays and the T137 for the mn100 displays. If you do wish to manufacture your own bracket then it is necessary to make sure the material does not cause problems with the radio comunication of the displays. When a bracket is manufactured from Aluminium or Carbon Fibre the radio signal is cut by the material being attached to the back of the display. To prevent problems a cutout should be made in the face of the bracket to allow correct operation of the internal antenna. The drawings of the T232 and T234 bracket can be used to show the position of the cutouts required.

Q. Which of my Displays is the Master in my network?
The "Master" instrument in a Micronet system is the Display which was used to power up the system, this can be a different display each time. The only time a user will be interested in which Display is the "Master" is when using the Autonetwork feature or faultfinding.

Q.How do I find out how well my system is operating?
Information about a Micronet network is available from any display by entering the Calibration Mode. Scroll down through the menu until you get to the Health chapter. Pressing the right arrow key will now scroll through network information: "Nodes" indicates the total number of items on the network including all transmitters and Dislays. "Hull", "Wind" and "NMEA" pages show the software version of the indicated unit, signal strength and battery/charge information for the indicated unit. Signal strengths are a maximum of 9 and acceptable down to 2/3. Consistent reading of less than 3 could be a concern and may indicate a problem with the system or its installation.

Q. Will my mobile phone or any other similar technology interfere with my Micronet system?
The radio frequency of the Micronet instrument range is close to that of GSM Mobile telephones but not close enough for interference to occur under normal circumstances. If your boat is moored directly below a mobile telephone mast then it is possible that some interference could occur.

Q. Why does my boat speed appear to be different on opposite tacks?
This is usually due to offset from the centerline (the offset puts the sensor at a different vertical height on each tack, and the flow acceleration under the hull varies with height, hence the problem.) and is a common problem with speed transducers when they are not mounted on centre (sometimes you can't mount them on centre due to structural issues like stringers). The time honoured "solution" is to experiment with rotating the paddle housing either clockwise or counterclockwise by around 10 to 20 degrees. By doing this, you correct the asymetry with the rotational asymetry.

Q. Is there any additional information abouth the NMEA sentences and connections for the Tacktick NMEA Interface?
A complete list of NMEA sentences transmitted and received by the interface box along with some connection details is available here.

Q. Can I get parts for the Wind Transmitter, like the wind cups or the vane?
Yes. They are available but there have been very few losses of these elements as they are firmly mounted. TA100 - mn100 Wind Tranmitter Windvane Kit TA101 - mn100 Wind Transmitter Anemometer Cups (3)

Q. One of my Micronet instruments rattles when shaken?
All Tacktick products are totally sealed at manufacture. To remove any moisture from the air trapped inside during the assembly process a Silica Gel bag is inserted. This rattles when a unit is shaken and is perfectly normal.

Q. I want to connect my Micronet system to my autopilot, but I was told that NMEA data won't be fast enough... Is that right?
The Micronet NMEA Interface will output wind angle data every second. This is more than enough to adapt your pilot reference.

Q. Can Micronet wind information compensate for rotating masts?
Tacktick is currently the only marine electronics manufacturer to provide an effective solution to this problrme. By installing a T221 Mast Rotation ransmitter. This unit attached to the mast and will compensate for mast rotatioin allowing Apparent and True wind information to be generated correctly whatever the angle of the mast. A Micronet system equipped with a Fluxgate compass or Magnetic Heading from an external NMEA source is required along with the Mast Rotation Sensor.

Q. Will my Micronet Dispays charge if they are under a spray hood?
Yes. Although bright sunlight offers the best chargeing results all Tacktick products will charge in shaded daylight. An indicaton of the charge rate is shown on the lower right corner of the display and an indication of the battery level is shown on the lower left corner. If there is any concern over the charge level then the instrument should be temporarily moved to a sunny area for a few hours.
In rare cases where bad weather and heavy use of the displays causes the battery levels to run low then a 9-24Vdc power source can be connected to the back of the instrument to recharge the internal batteries.

Q. Can I mount my transducers in hull?
Depth Yes.
The standard T905 retractable depth transducer supplied by Tacktick comes complete with an In Hull fixing kit allowing the transducer to be installed without cutting a hole in the bottom of the boat. If fitted correctly there will be only a very slight reduction of performance compared to a standard through hull installation.
Speed No.
The Standard T904 Speed Tansducer supplied by Tacktick is a paddle wheel device which requires through the hull installation. The standard housing is of a low profile design and is fitted with a valve to reduce the amount of water coming into the boat when the transducer is removed for cleaning. If required a "Flush Mount" housing (T935)is available to keep the housing totally flush with the outer surface of the hull.

Q. In my User Guide it mentions a document called Using Wind Shifts To Your Advantage, where can I find a copy of this?
This document was produced by Tacktick and Musto as a help to understanding how a tactical compass can assist in spotting wind shifts and using this information to help in wining races. It can be downloaded here.

Q. Is my Tacktick waterproof ?
Yes, all Tacktick products are waterproof. Submersible to 10 Meters. The Hull and NMEA Transmitters require cable connections and therefore it is recommended that some form of protection from direct water is offered. Although the units themselves are sealed the cable connections can be vulnerable in very wet conditions.

Q. Where do I mount my transducers?
We do not recommend locations or methods for installations for speed or depth tansducers however most boats find that in front of the keel by at least 400mm and as close to the centre line works well. The depth transducer can be mounted in hull or through hull but you will find for best performance through hull is required. Do not mount the depth transducer directly behind the speed transducer as turbulence caused by the paddle wheel may effect depth performance. Compass transducers should be mounted as close to the centre of the boat as possible but keeping them in an area where there is little or no local magnetic material. Keep clear of ferrous metals, pumps and motors, loud speakers and tools. If the compass transducer is hidden from view then mark the area with a warning to prevent people storing metalic material close by.

Q. What do I do if my Tacktick is broken?
If you have either returned the warranty slip or have proof of purchase the units are guaranteed for two years. Please register the fault and description from the link here to our Customer Support Form, otherwise return the unit to your nearest stockist or directly to Tacktick in the UK.
Outside of the warranty period a charge will be made for service which varies depending on the age of the unit. As all Tacktick products are sealed they are not repaired but are replaced with new. Benefits to the end user of using this system is that all failures are dealt with quickly and that customers receive up to date instruments with a new warranty.

Q. Where can I buy my Tacktick Products?
Tacktick has distributors around the world so most good Chandlers / Retailers should hold stock. Please take a look at our web site Where to Buy section to see who are our distributors and dealers in your country.

Q. Which oil do I use in my in hull depth transducer?
Castor oil which can be found at most chemists is appropriate and is probably the cleanest and least smelly option.

Q. I am laying up my boat for the winter. What is the best thing to do with my Micronet Instruments?
It is best to ensure that all the wireless components of a Micronet system are fully charged before storing for the winter. If there is not enough sunlight to charge Displays then connect a 9-24V supply to the terminals hidden behind the small panel on the rear of the display and leave for 12 hours. Ensure that power has been supplied to Hull and NMEA Transmitters for 12 hours before layup.
If the mast is taken down for the winter then it is best to remove the Wind Transmitter to prevent damage. Check the outside of the unit is clean and rinse with fresh water then dry it thouroughly before storing safely away.
All components can be stored away on the boat or at home for the winter period.