TackTick Pairing.

[Piratenorm]

Ahoy all, got a little challenge with a TackTick wind instrument I just bought from West Marine. My unit is an original (old-stock) TackTick and not one of the new ones sold by Raymarine. I know Raymarine bought them but trying to get through to them for technical support is near impossible. Mine is the Entry Level Wind System which requires the head to be powered through a power source off the battery, not wirelessly (done and working) and the transducer which is wireless and is solar powered (mounted).
Apparently I was supposed to PAIR the two units before mounting the transducer atop the mast. Well as the unit I bought was a return to a store, and Tacktick is gone and Raymarine unavailable for all intense and purposes and I got the very last unit in West Marine's stock NOT labeled Raymarine, and whoever returned it took the critical page out referring to Pairing, I'm kinda stumped. Getting back up to the top of the mast requires help and a crap-load of hassle I don't wish to have to repeat, unless it's a last resort. Not afraid of heights, just wasting an entire day looking for a helper. However, I wondered if I placed the instrument in a bag and raised it to the top of the mast by halyard if pairing would occur? The two components only need to be within a couple of feet for a few moments for this to work. I'd have to power the unit somehow though, and running 50 feet (x2) of wire along with the unit up the mast isn't something I'd relish. Any suggestions?

 

[Jackdaw]

I think you are going up. I'd go up, lower the unit on a line, and have someone pair it on the deck. Then send it back up to you.

Raymarine tech support is VERY GOOD via the on-line forum; I've asked some very technical Tacktick questions and get answers same day.

http://raymarine.ning.com/

 

[Piratenorm]

I think you are going up. I'd go up, lower the unit on a line, and have someone pair it on the deck. Then send it back up to you.

Raymarine tech support is VERY GOOD via the on-line forum; I've asked some very technical Tacktick questions and get answers same day.

http://raymarine.ning.com/

Never mind one and all, found the missing page from my package, a single yellow page instruction sheet that should have been in the box, about the critical and necessary Pairing req'd. to get the transducer to talk to the instrument. Silly me for not anticipating that something meant to transmit data from atop a mast (and there is no max. distance mentioned...) needs to be paired on the ground first.
Why this was an individual page added to the package and wasn't just a page in the manual, or even the separate installation booklet for the transducer itself, is a mystery. No mention whatsoever anywhere.
But the internet had it and now that I have printed it I see that it is an involved procedure that can only be done with the two components within 12" of each other. Go figure! So Up I Go Again.
Later...

 

[berner73]

Ours is the wireless version so may differ from your model. I don't recall the exact process for pairing as it was years ago but if memory serves you put it in it's pairing state and waited for the connection to occur. Running wire or lugging up one of your boat's batteries would be a PIA but check the specs on your unit as ours can operate between 9V - 30V DC so it may be as simple as wiring up a 9V battery to the unit and raising it up on a halyard as you suggested in your original post.

From our manual:

Applying External Power
In cases where displays are mounted permanently below decks it will be
necessary to apply an external power source to prevent complete
discharge of the built in battery.
Connections on the rear of the display allow a 9V to 30V DC power
source to be connected. Connections can be made to the vessels DC
system or a 9V battery pack may be connected.

 

[hvbaker]

Trip up the mast will be required. As memory serves one needs to press a button for paring to occur during the start up period. One tip when going up the mast use the spinnaker halyard and a turning block attached to a chain plate and run the halyard to the primary wench. Much easer to hoist the person in the chair.