Can anyone on Earth update the SW of a Raymarine bit officially not supported anymore

MapisM

MapisM

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I just discovered an incompatibility between my autopilot black box ("course computer", as Raymarine calls it) and an additional bit of kit which I wanted to install, i.e. a power steering joystick, which I managed to find during my last trip to the US.

Now, after connecting the joystick and its interface, nothing happened. The a/p just ignored the new bit.
The manuals confirmed the compatibility of the a/p and the joystick, but eventually I found a small print caveat: the course computer must have at least software level 3.0 installed.
I struggled a bit to find out how to check this, but after a silly buttons combination on the a/p head, I learned - you guessed that - that I have an older SW version.

Hence the thread title:
Is anyone aware of some Raymarine technician who can still handle a firmware upgrade of an old component, irrespective of the fact that the producer prefers to earn big bucks selling new stuff, rather than reasonable fees through support of their old products? :ambivalence:
 
Greenham Regis can - though you could probably do this yourself through your plotter if you can find the software update.

Personally I don't think it's unreasonable for a company to stop supporting hardware and software after 10 years since the last official revision.
 
Do you need the joystick to actually control the autopilot, or just steer the boat eg when manoeuvring alongside? If the latter bypass the autopilot completely, use the joystick to operate a pair of relays connected directly to the hydraulic pump solenoids. Add a couple of diodes across the solenoid terminals to prolong the life of the relay contacts if not fitted allready.
 
DiscoVolante said:
you could probably do this yourself through your plotter if you can find the software update.
Click to expand...
Do tell, that would be excellent news indeed!
The manual (not only of the a/p, but just about of each component of the same vintage) specifically states that SW upgrades can only be done by technical support. For your reference, the plotter I've got is an L1260 with a couple of NT+ card slots, and the course computer in need of update is a 400G AST.

Ref. stopping support after 10 years, well, I see your point, but I can't help thinking that with boat electronics this has more to see with the wish to sell new stuff, rather than with any practical difficulties to continue the support of the old one.
After all, they might say something along the lines of "support not always guaranteed", just in case of any problems with the availability of some components, rather than stop the support no matter what. It would be PAID support anyway, after all... :rolleyes:

Anyway, if I have an axe I have to grind against them, it has more to see with the fact that I should have studied in detail beforehand the joystick installation manual and the dealer commissioning menu of the a/p, just to realize that I had an incompatibility problem between two components that in all brochures of those days were declared as designed to work together...
 
NorthUp said:
Do you need the joystick to actually control the autopilot, or just steer the boat eg when manoeuvring alongside? If the latter bypass the autopilot completely, use the joystick to operate a pair of relays connected directly to the hydraulic pump solenoids. Add a couple of diodes across the solenoid terminals to prolong the life of the relay contacts if not fitted allready.
Click to expand...
LOL, I saw this question coming.
I studied the steering equipment of my boat in detail, and it would indeed be possible to connect a simple 1-0-1 momentary toggle switch with a couple of relays to achieve essentially the same result.
Otoh, the OEM Raymarine joystick was a much nicer bit of kit in more ways than one, so when I found a new old stock one, I just grabbed it.
And now, I'd be pixxed if I couldn't fit it... :(
 
To be honest I think you'll struggle given it's closer to 20 years since that software was last updated! You won't be able to do it through your plotter unless you have an NT card and a writer - hence the technician as they're not generally available.

I could have helped if it were the later CF based system - C80/E80 etc.
 
Back in 2005 on our old boat, I managed to get Raymarine to update the software in our Raymarine course computer.
I took it (by hand) to Raymarine in Portsmouth and the charged me for the update.
In fact, it had completely failed and re-installing the firmware seemed to fix it.
So, be very careful that you don't damage a working course computer.
 
MapisM said:
Do tell, that would be excellent news indeed!
The manual (not only of the a/p, but just about of each component of the same vintage) specifically states that SW upgrades can only be done by technical support. For your reference, the plotter I've got is an L1260 with a couple of NT+ card slots, and the course computer in need of update is a 400G AST.

Ref. stopping support after 10 years, well, I see your point, but I can't help thinking that with boat electronics this has more to see with the wish to sell new stuff, rather than with any practical difficulties to continue the support of the old one.
After all, they might say something along the lines of "support not always guaranteed", just in case of any problems with the availability of some components, rather than stop the support no matter what. It would be PAID support anyway, after all... :rolleyes:

Anyway, if I have an axe I have to grind against them, it has more to see with the fact that I should have studied in detail beforehand the joystick installation manual and the dealer commissioning menu of the a/p, just to realize that I had an incompatibility problem between two components that in all brochures of those days were declared as designed to work together...
Click to expand...

I may be wrong but the old Pathfinders didn't have that facility.
Newer Raymarine devices can be updated from the plotter across the network but I reasonably sure that was a more recent feature than the old RL80/RL70s
 
Thanks folks, I just emailed Greenham Regis.
Will report about the result in due course.
 
You can update slave devices from an RL80 etc - I have the Service Manual explaining the process just no NT cards or software any more.
 
Best bet is next time you see a man in a Raymarine van grab him and have Euro 50 to hand.

Updating auto-helm firmware I am pretty certain cant be done via the plotter.

Another route might be to see if Ebay has a V3 course computer for sale and then sell yours. You might make a profit!

Also call Raymarine in southampton. They have some people who have been there for a long long time who will know the answer. There is not usually much of a delay in them picking up.
 
Is it an Autohelm Type 100 / 300? Had a quick look at the service manual and it refers to Joystick support from serial number 550117.
 
It seems you can't update the course computer through a Pathfinder display as it only supports software updates via HSB- so slave displays or the DSMs.

For what Greenham will charge you might be better finding a later model computer as mentioned above.
 
DiscoVolante said:
Is it an Autohelm Type 100 / 300? Had a quick look at the service manual and it refers to Joystick support from serial number 550117.
Click to expand...
Nope, different series, I believe.
The manual title is "Type 150/400 Autopilot System", and the unit is labelled as "400G AST".
My understanding is that the "G" stands for the version with an incorporated gyro, and "AST" for Advanced Steering Technology, whatever that means.
Based on some searches I made, I think it was the very best a/p in Raymarine range, in the early naughties.
And I must say that the boat is indeed straight as an arrow, while under way.
Not that I think this matters one bit, vs. the issue which is being discussed...
 
DiscoVolante said:
For what Greenham will charge you might be better finding a later model computer as mentioned above.
Click to expand...
Blimey, are they that expensive?
I don't mind paying what jrudge envisaged, or even double that.
The only 400G I found with a quick eBay search is in the US, sells for 550 bucks, looks in much worse conditions than mine, and I suppose I couldn't have any guarantee that it has 3.0 installed... :ambivalence:
 
OK - that unit uses Windows swdl.exe to do a simple file transfer via COM. If you can get hold of the update files you could do this yourself.
 
LOL, you are saying that as if it were easy...
Any ideas about where to look for, to have a chance to find the lot? I mean, windows program, update files, and possibly some instructions?
More than happy to exchange this service with a boating holiday in Sardinia, just in case if you might be interested! :encouragement:
 
MapisM
Is all this effort really worthwhile?
I fitted a Raymarine Smart Pilot wireless controller at the beginning of last season.
The idea was we could control the autopilot anywhere on the boat.
In reality it hasn't got the range and the auto pilot works well from just the normal helm heads.
I have visions of sitting on the fore deck whilst pootling with the Smart Pilot in my hand.
Again not really a need for it if I leave the side door open like I have done in the past.

So, do you really NEED this joystick?
Why not sell it on Ebay and someone else can find your problem.
 
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