WiFi Radar

DannyS

DannyS

.
May 27, 2004
931
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
I'm starting my research for a complete electronics upgrade and I'm wondering how many of you have a Raymarine Quantum radar and only use the WiFi feature rather than running the big data cable up the mast? Any issues with just relying on WiFi? The dome does still require the power to be run up the mast but our mast is deck stepped so it would be nice not to have an additional junction at deck level.
 
Last edited:
Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

.
May 17, 2004
5,445
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
No experience with Raymarine but from what I can see in their manual (and what I'd generally expect) the communications seem to be Wifi, not Bluetooth. Bluetooth would be pretty low range and low bandwidth for the types of data the radar needs to send. Wifi capabilities are very similar to the traditional Ethernet connections used for radars.

You will still need to run a power cable up the mast to the dome. I'm not sure about the difference between the power cable and data, and whether Raymarine offers any combined power/data cables. If so I'd assume the difference isn't that big. I think the bigger difference would be no need to run the data cable all the way back to your MFD.
 
DannyS

DannyS

.
May 27, 2004
931
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
Yes David, you are correct about the Wifi., thanks for your response. I'll revise my question to better reflect my question.
 
  • Like
Likes: jssailem
D

dlochner

.
Jan 11, 2014
12,324
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Looking through the manual, I could see no reference to a wireless model. At least one model appears to be wifi only, but it will still need a power connection. The manual also offers some caution about wifi and the antenna's location and the chart plotter as the vessel's structure may interfere with the wifi signal.
 
  • Like
Likes: DannyS
LeeandRick

LeeandRick

.
Apr 26, 2015
662
S2 26 Mid On Trailer
I've been researching that same question. On a Raymarine Live a few years ago the commenters said wifi worked fine.
My Axiom + picks up the marina wifi better than an Ipad.
A 10 meter cable adds $50 to the $1900 of a Q24c at Hodges.
Since I put my boat on the trailer mast down during winter, I'm thinking of putting the Q24c on a pole just forward and slightly above my solar (no shading) which would eliminate another cable at the mast. I'll still have the range I want with less movement when rocking and heeling.
 
C

colemj

.
Jul 13, 2004
180
Dolphin Catamaran Dolphin 460 Mystic, CT
DannyS said:
...rather than running the big data cable up the mast?
Click to expand
The data cable is literally just an ethernet cable. It isn't like older radar data cables, and the size difference between only power and power+ethernet is very minor.

Mark
 
  • Like
Likes: DannyS
DannyS

DannyS

.
May 27, 2004
931
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
colemj said:
The data cable is literally just an ethernet cable. It isn't like older radar data cables, and the size difference between only power and power+ethernet is very minor.

Mark
Click to expand
I'm just not sure how the connection at the deck level works; our mast is deck stepped. I haven't found any information on that connection.
 
D

dlochner

.
Jan 11, 2014
12,324
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
DannyS said:
I'm just not sure how the connection at the deck level works; our mast is deck stepped. I haven't found any information on that connection.
Click to expand
How are the mast lights connected? You'll connect them in a similar manner with the appropriate connectors, one male, one female.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,266
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Danny. Take a picture of your mast at the deck. Include any wires that come out of the mast and plug or disappear into the deck.

If there are no wires on the outside of the mast, then they are located inside the mast and go straight through the deck.
CAL built mine like this. We used the pipes to pass the wires through the deck into the cabin.

1736176630322.jpeg
 
  • Like
Likes: DannyS
C

colemj

.
Jul 13, 2004
180
Dolphin Catamaran Dolphin 460 Mystic, CT
DannyS said:
I'm just not sure how the connection at the deck level works; our mast is deck stepped. I haven't found any information on that connection.
Click to expand
That would just be a normal deck step thing. Ours has a swan neck that leads the wires inside. Our previous boat was like the pic above with the wires leading through inside the mast step. Others use glands. I would not use an external electrical bulkhead connector for this though.

Mark
 
  • Like
Likes: DannyS
DannyS

DannyS

.
May 27, 2004
931
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
I think I'm overthinking this, I've never had a deck stepped mast before so making the connections was always done down below. This is the first time our mast has been dropped and I wasn't there for that so I didn't see the process. I was thinking that the connections were made on deck but after looking at this photo, I'm realizing that they're just deck penetrations and in fact, the connections are still made below. I should be able to use the existing cables to pull the new ones and hopefully use the same deck penetrations. Thanks all!


IMG_3057.PNG
 
  • Like
Likes: LeeandRick
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom