Leisure 27
Member
Can you only connect Raymarine plotters to Raymarine Auto Helms. How well does this work.
Conecting Auto Helm to plotter
- Thread starter Leisure 27
- Start date
pvb
Well-known member
You can connect most autopilots to most plotters, but the functionality will vary. With some of them, you'd be able to control the autopilot from the plotter. Others might be less sophisticated, and would just respond to XTE messages. If the plotter and autopilot are compatible, it can work extremely well.
laika
Well-known member
Agree with pvb but would add a couple of things. I have a raymarine plotter and evolution autopilot but never control the autopilot from the plotter because I find the buttons on the pilot head simpler to use, but perhaps I'm atypical as I never "go to waypoint": I put the autopilot on my manually calculated course to steer and manually tweak if and when I've underestimated current or leeway. From that point of view, I don't especially value the integration with a Raymarine plotter.
The possibly more important thing for me is firmware updates. The standard way to update raymarine firmware is by sticking a card with the firmware into a raymarine plotter connected to the device you're updating by N2K. I think (someone can correct me if I'm wrong) that without a raymarine plotter you may need to go to the hassle and expense of taking your autopilot to a dealer to be updated.
The possibly more important thing for me is firmware updates. The standard way to update raymarine firmware is by sticking a card with the firmware into a raymarine plotter connected to the device you're updating by N2K. I think (someone can correct me if I'm wrong) that without a raymarine plotter you may need to go to the hassle and expense of taking your autopilot to a dealer to be updated.
Daverw
Well-known member
Or do I we plan to do, our Chandler has a demo unit, they bring it on board connect to the N2K connect to the internet and then update all Raymarine stuff, good option as only the AP needs this at the moment
Ningaloo
Well-known member
You are assuming the OP has N2K equipment. Obviously connecting and N2K devices (of any manufacturer) is simply a matter of adding a drop cable to the network.
If we are talking about 0183 it is much more complex as Raymarine went down the blind alley of proprietary seatalk interface.
If we are talking about 0183 it is much more complex as Raymarine went down the blind alley of proprietary seatalk interface.
Sandy
Well-known member
I am not a fan of the over reliance of integrated systems. The only things that are integrated to the plotter I have is the wind and water data is repeated on the plotter if I go to that screen, everything else is independant.
Ningaloo
Well-known member
So no need for true wind speed and direction or true wind angle?
No ais on the plotter?
No ability to see where your autopilot is taking you?
No laylines?
I switched from paper charts (no plotter) to electronic 5 years ago and never regretted it.
No ais on the plotter?
No ability to see where your autopilot is taking you?
No laylines?
I switched from paper charts (no plotter) to electronic 5 years ago and never regretted it.
Sandy
Well-known member
Nope, I can work that out in my head
The AIS is seperate, lives by the nav station and is there to inform the CG and family where I am (assuming that Marine Traffic pick up my signal).
I can see where my autopilot is taking me. When the Hydrovane gets fitted it won't even tell me what course I am steering.
Laylines, what are they? I joke as I can work them out.
I have both charts and a plotter. The plotter collects GPS data, displays information and the crew can fiddle with it to keep them occupied. I just prefer paper charts as my primary navigation tool. Oh I also carry a sextant and enjoy shooting the odd sun sight.
The AIS is seperate, lives by the nav station and is there to inform the CG and family where I am (assuming that Marine Traffic pick up my signal).
I can see where my autopilot is taking me. When the Hydrovane gets fitted it won't even tell me what course I am steering.
Laylines, what are they? I joke as I can work them out.
I have both charts and a plotter. The plotter collects GPS data, displays information and the crew can fiddle with it to keep them occupied. I just prefer paper charts as my primary navigation tool. Oh I also carry a sextant and enjoy shooting the odd sun sight.
