Raychart 425 user interface bug

[John Visser]

I have a new Raychart 425 chart plotter. It is a good value, with a WAAS receiver and Navionics chart cartridge capability. However, there is a quite annoying user interface bug that I would sincerely appreciate a fix for. I wrote Raytheon in early June on this topic, and had an interesting correspondence with a Mr. Brian Gifford. He was very helpful, but unfortunately resorted to the classic argument that it wasn't a bug, it was a feature. Anyone using this unit for any length of time will, I'm sure, agree that it is at least an annoying anomoly.The problem is as follows. The various pages of display are accessed by depressing the PAGE key. While viewing the chart view, the first depression of this key brings up the system set-up menu softkeys, which partially obscure the chart display. This is as per the documentation. The next depression is supposed to bring up the next display page, and it does, however, a moment after the page appears, the system set-up softkeys reappear, obscuring bottom of the page. The only way to clear the system set-up softkeys is to depress the CLEAR key. So, to view the available pages in succession requires one to alternately depress the PAGE and CLEAR keys. This involves moving one's finger from one key to the other, which is hardly convenient or intuitive. There is a note on page 3-24 of the manual that states that the "bar" remains displayed in each display mode; but it is quite contrary to the text of section 2-4, page 2-4, "Controlling the Diasplay." I think the note was added to document the "feature." It is difficult to imagine anyone inproduct development thinking that a user would access the system set-up parameters as often as the LAT-LON. Can you please fix this bug and provide an upgrade? The general useability of this unit is seriously hampered by this "feature."Bill Budreau, I would also appreciate a response, since I have asked several questions in this guest forum that have not been answered.Regards,jv

 

[Bill Boudreau]

Tired Fingers

First, I would like to thank you for the clarity with which your message was written. Also, I would like to thank you for making me feel welcome in this forum. It is nice to know that the time I have spent on this is valued. I only see 4 questions that you have asked in this forum. I have answered all but this one. Let me know if you need further assistance.This questions:The PAGE key does bring up the "system setup" menu. You do have to push the CLEAR key to make it go away. The other keys also bring up sub menus that work in this same fashion. There are two ways I can see avoiding this. One is to make it a hidden key press the other would be to have the "setup" menu time out like the "Soft Key" menus do on our larger displays. This would , for example, require you to hold down the PAGE key for 2 seconds to bring up the System Setup menu. This would make the display less intuitive. Most customers, like it or not, do not read their manuals as extensively as you. The menu could time out, but then it would still be there until it timed out. This would also require this timing out feature to be written into the software. Unfortunately, what would seemingly be a simple process of “adding this time out feature”, takes a disproportionate amount of resources in the RC425. We did look into it, but have chosen not to add it as we are not comfortable compromising the stability, chart redraw speed, overall reliability, etc. More buttons, more features, more software = more dollars. It could have this feature with different software and a faster processor.Your suggestion has been noted, but the design team will not be issuing a software release for this at this time to address this “feature”. I would be interested in hearing from anyone else in the forum that has this eating at his or her gut. This might give me some more leverage to have the software engineers work this feature into their budget.

 

[John Visser]

Thanks

Thanks for the response Bill. As I'm sure you've guessed, I'm very disappointed that this won't be fixed. I wish I had the source so I coudl fix it myself! Here's the other questions I've asked. I know its easier for me to keep track of them than you. I appreciate the work you're doing here.http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/rview.tpl?rid=2001284142246.59