Well Simrad hasn't shown me a lot.
Here is a Before & After I have almost completed in a 31 Jupiter.
Before : Old Raymarine single 16in MFD
After : 1] 12in , 1] 9in , New Standard Horizon VHF, [it has a much smaller footprint and large numbers] Switches moved , power port & dual USB charge ports added. It was also covered in a carbon fiber wrap.
NMEA stands for National Marine Electronics Association
Companies came out with their own bridge / interconnection system.
Then NMEA stepped in to standardize the systems. Like the car manufactures with the ALDL connector under the dash to get the codes out of the vehicles computer.
Well...... Their still not standardized. Simrad, Lowarance & BG have their own SimNet system. This means you have to buy their preparatory cable. It only comes in 1ft length. This cable is SimNet on one end and NMEA 2000 on the other so you can form a NMEA 2000 Buss. Those cables are a added expense at $20 a pop.
Did I mention I hate Preparatory and why I refuse to own a Apple product. I did have 1 a Ipod.
I spent a lot of time on Simrad's site. They are real chincy with older model info. If it's not their newest,latest and greatest.....It's pretty hard to find info on it.
This is my first Big Simrad Install ... There is Radar and 2 X-ducers in the mix also.
1 other thing.... Software update. I had to go get a Mini SD card so this could be updated.
Garmin includes to card with all the Garmin MFD's I've installed.
Therefore I stick with recommending Garmin for all around user friendly and access to older stuff.