Wireless electronics upgrade
- Thread starter sdstef
- Start date
Personally, I wouldn't put my money into any product from Raymarine. I've had nothing but trouble with their gear, their customer service and their clueless techs.
Even when using their commercial gear on a large treasure hunting vessel in the T&C, they were incapable of helping me at all with some problems we were having with their networked plotters. The techs seemed totally unfamiliar with their products, how the networking worked and how to trouble shoot the systems. That sucks when you are spending the big bucks talking to them at long distance international cell phone rates and the whole operation is shut down because of the problem.
On their smaller, less expensive yacht gear I've had pretty much the same experience as well. In one instance there wasn't a single person at Raymarine, tech, engineer or sales rep, who could tell me the horsepower of the motor used in their autopilot's rotary drive unit. Never did get an answer and needless to say, did not purchase their massively overpriced drive unit. Got one, and the info I needed, from B&G in the UK for a third the price, including shipping (by air) from the UK!
Even when using their commercial gear on a large treasure hunting vessel in the T&C, they were incapable of helping me at all with some problems we were having with their networked plotters. The techs seemed totally unfamiliar with their products, how the networking worked and how to trouble shoot the systems. That sucks when you are spending the big bucks talking to them at long distance international cell phone rates and the whole operation is shut down because of the problem.
On their smaller, less expensive yacht gear I've had pretty much the same experience as well. In one instance there wasn't a single person at Raymarine, tech, engineer or sales rep, who could tell me the horsepower of the motor used in their autopilot's rotary drive unit. Never did get an answer and needless to say, did not purchase their massively overpriced drive unit. Got one, and the info I needed, from B&G in the UK for a third the price, including shipping (by air) from the UK!
I have all Ray instruments and I have had the exact opposite experience. The things just do not seem to break! Never had to talk to tech support so can't speak to that. Did have to replace the wind speed sensor after 21 years and they told me a unit is a direct replacement, which it was, so I can't complain.
The T100 is about 4 gen ahead of my ST40/50/60 gear so I can't advise you on it.
The T100 is about 4 gen ahead of my ST40/50/60 gear so I can't advise you on it.
My boat came with a TacTic wireless wind transducer and display. My biggest complaint is that the unit will not talk to anything else...so, no True wind, can't tie it in to the RayMarine auto-pilot, etc. The wind instrument works OK, but I am not a fan of the digital display.
I dropped the transducer off the top of the mast, and it fell in 15 feet of water. Recovered it, dried it out, and it still worked...so I need to give it credit for that.
I love the idea of wireless, but since I have a Garmin Chartplotter, I am thinking of going with Garmin Wireless G-Wind. I will at least be able to display wind info on the chart plotter and get true wind display. Will still need to work out a N2000 to 0183 interface to talk to my autopilot.
If you are doing all of the instruments, I would stick with one manufacturer if possible (harder with the AP as fewer suppliers of a wheel pilot). I need to update my Lowrance VHF, but can only do it with a Lowrance MFD.
Sounds like a fun project. Let us know what you decide on and how,it works out.
Greg
I dropped the transducer off the top of the mast, and it fell in 15 feet of water. Recovered it, dried it out, and it still worked...so I need to give it credit for that.
I love the idea of wireless, but since I have a Garmin Chartplotter, I am thinking of going with Garmin Wireless G-Wind. I will at least be able to display wind info on the chart plotter and get true wind display. Will still need to work out a N2000 to 0183 interface to talk to my autopilot.
If you are doing all of the instruments, I would stick with one manufacturer if possible (harder with the AP as fewer suppliers of a wheel pilot). I need to update my Lowrance VHF, but can only do it with a Lowrance MFD.
Sounds like a fun project. Let us know what you decide on and how,it works out.
Greg
Greg,
For what it's worth. I put in a Garmin GWind wireless on my boat. It worked great for about two months then it began to work intermittently. I worked with the Garmin tech support group for months. I eventually replaced every part of the wireless wind sensor, (There is the sensor itself, the wireless receiver and the G10 box to interface into the NMEA 2000 network as well as the cables) and it continued to stop working intermittently. I could find no rhyme or reason as to why it would cease to send the windspeed. Eventually I gave up returned the wireless unit for the wired unit and put the 100 dollar difference toward the rigger running the cable. I will say the tech support were very helpful but failed to find the answer.
For what it's worth. I put in a Garmin GWind wireless on my boat. It worked great for about two months then it began to work intermittently. I worked with the Garmin tech support group for months. I eventually replaced every part of the wireless wind sensor, (There is the sensor itself, the wireless receiver and the G10 box to interface into the NMEA 2000 network as well as the cables) and it continued to stop working intermittently. I could find no rhyme or reason as to why it would cease to send the windspeed. Eventually I gave up returned the wireless unit for the wired unit and put the 100 dollar difference toward the rigger running the cable. I will say the tech support were very helpful but failed to find the answer.
I have always had very good response from Raymarine when I was having a problem with some upgrades
and they were even very good help with questions I had.
I really don't understand why guys complain about their support I have had Raymarine instruments since
2000 and they have been always very helpful and they do get very busy in the summer months and some time hard to get on the phone but I make sure I am on the boat and good charged cellphone and good connection.
Nick
and they were even very good help with questions I had.
I really don't understand why guys complain about their support I have had Raymarine instruments since
2000 and they have been always very helpful and they do get very busy in the summer months and some time hard to get on the phone but I make sure I am on the boat and good charged cellphone and good connection.
Nick
Thanks for the review. Unfortunate that it did not work well. My TacTic wireless works for,what is designed to do, but lacks a lot of functionality (I am sure the PO bought the cheapest model he could get).
So did you go with the Garmin wired G-Wind then? How has it been working for you?
Greg
Yes, I went with the wired Gwind. It has worked perfectly and shares information with my new Raymarine Wheel drive auto pilot. It will hold a course based on apparent wind direction