Matsutec HP33-A: startup oddity, firmware upgrade and current cost

[JumbleDuck]

For a year or so my Matsutec HP-33A (GPS-AIS) has been unswitchoffable. When I turned on the boat's supply, it would come on, and if I turned it off it would restart itself after some random period.

When I got to the boat yesterday it wouldn't start up at all, and after a lot of prodding round I found a bad connection in its supply. With that fixed it comes on all by itself when the supply goes on, goes off on command and won't restart at all until the supply power is recycled, when the same behaviour repeats.

I think this has probably been the case for the whole time, and the uncommanded restarts were simply caused by short interruptions to the supply - too short to stop it working when switched on.

Has anyone else encountered and, better still, solved the problem?

On a related note, this might be time to try a firmware upgrade. Can anyone point me at source for the latest version, or do I ask Susan nicely?

Finally, in case I need a new one, can anyone confirm a current or recent cost for ordering direct, including import charges? Amazon have them for £350, which I think is only a little more than I paid for mine some years ago.

 

[greeny]

Bought mine off amazon a couple of months ago and the cost was £349 IIRC. Came from a supplier in Birmingham I think. Very quick delivery. They can be got cheaper direct from China but it looked like a longer supply time so I bit the bullet and paid the bit extra. No problem with import duty/vat that way.
Mine doesn't have any problems with the power on/off. But I would expect it to be on the latest firmware so maybe that's why.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Bought mine off amazon a couple of months ago and the cost was £349 IIRC. Came from a supplier in Birmingham I think. Very quick delivery. They can be got cheaper direct from China but it looked like a longer supply time so I bit the bullet and paid the bit extra. No problem with import duty/vat that way.
Mine doesn't have any problems with the power on/off. But I would expect it to be on the latest firmware so maybe that's why.

Thanks. Any chance you could let me know what firmware you are running? I'm afraid that the intermittent supply may have fritzed the on/off control on mine, but I'll try to revive it.

 

[superheat6k]

If you are going to change than the chart plotter versions are excellent. I started with the 5.5" screen HP-628A, and last Autumn upgraded to the HP-1228A. I have received the new ones within 2 weeks of payment on both occasions.

 

[ottow]

I bought mine from https://www.ebay.com/itm/282482003916 a few weeks ago.
Seems to be working as expected, although I have not run it for any length of time yet.
FW versions are:
AIS 1.1
Main 2.0
Boot 1.0

 

[JumbleDuck]

If you are going to change than the chart plotter versions are excellent. I started with the 5.5" screen HP-628A, and last Autumn upgraded to the HP-1228A. I have received the new ones within 2 weeks of payment on both occasions.

Thanks. I have heard good things about the plotters, but am an unrepentent luddite and prefer to stick to GPS and paper charts ... for now, anyway. I'll certainly bear it in mind, though.

I bought mine from https://www.ebay.com/itm/282482003916 a few weeks ago.
Seems to be working as expected, although I have not run it for any length of time yet.
FW versions are:
AIS 1.1
Main 2.0
Boot 1.0

Thanks. Mine are 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, so a kick up the EPROM has to be worth trying.

 

[greeny]

Thanks. Any chance you could let me know what firmware you are running? I'm afraid that the intermittent supply may have fritzed the on/off control on mine, but I'll try to revive it.

Sorry but I'm stuck in Uk for the next month or so and boat is abroad. Once I get back I can easily get the details for you but it seems others have already given you info needed.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Sorry but I'm stuck in Uk for the next month or so and boat is abroad. Once I get back I can easily get the details for you but it seems others have already given you info needed.

No problem, and thanks. I've emailed Matsutec in the hope of getting new firmware. Meanwhile it's probably not, on reflection, a problem big enough to justify buying a replacement unit. It stays on all the time when the boat's in use and the power is on anyway.

 

[ottow]

No problem, and thanks. I've emailed Matsutec in the hope of getting new firmware. Meanwhile it's probably not, on reflection, a problem big enough to justify buying a replacement unit. It stays on all the time when the boat's in use and the power is on anyway.

Please share the FW versions once you have updated + any differences you notice (changelog?). I would be interesting to learn if I have the latest versions or not.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Please share the FW versions once you have updated + any differences you notice (changelog?). I would be interesting to learn if I have the latest versions or not.

Will do.

 

[greeny]

Hi there, did you get anywhere with the software upgrade. Went to the boat last week and found mine is now playing up. It switches itself off after some time. Not sure how long but seems to be more than 20 mins.
Any information you have will be welcome before i embark on software upgrade or whatever.

 

[pvb]

Hi there, did you get anywhere with the software upgrade. Went to the boat last week and found mine is now playing up. It switches itself off after some time. Not sure how long but seems to be more than 20 mins.
Any information you have will be welcome before i embark on software upgrade or whatever.

Why not just replace it with an em-trak B100 for £350, with 3 years warranty, UK support team, sensible manual, etc? I don't understand the fascination with cheap Chinese stuff.

 

[superheat6k]

Why not just replace it with an em-trak B100 for £350, with 3 years warranty, UK support team, sensible manual, etc? I don't understand the fascination with cheap Chinese stuff.

The basic transceiver mentioned looks very good, but their full plotters are way more expensive than the Matsutec HP-*28A range. I started with the HP-628A and now have the HP1228A, which is just excellent.

 

[greeny]

Why not just replace it with an em-trak B100 for £350, with 3 years warranty, UK support team, sensible manual, etc? I don't understand the fascination with cheap Chinese stuff.

Why would I if all it needs is a software upload?
I wouldn't replace my Android phone, sky box, windows computer etc etc, just because they needed a software upgrade.

 

[TSB240]

Why not just replace it with an em-trak B100 for £350, with 3 years warranty, UK support team, sensible manual, etc? I don't understand the fascination with cheap Chinese stuff.

Why Because the Emtrak does not do half of what the HP 33A can do!

Please don't keep pushing this as a direct comparison with it. If you mounted the Emtrak in your cockpit would it do anything for you?

No it has no display.

The HP33A is not just a black box Transponder unit.

It does not need an additional chartplotter to be able to display warnings and potential collision targets.

Could your emtrak alone display a route you have taken so that you could retrace your steps.

NO.

Ours is mounted in full view of the helm and is sufficient for most of our needs other than whole passage planning. For that we have linked it to a cheap chinese made tablet/mini pc hybrid running open cpn down below. Both work for me and have done for over three years with no problems.

You really don't understand what the HP33A can do for most people very cost effectively and show your ignorance every time you post this absurb notion that the Emtrak B100 is a direct competitor.

The HP33A is a very good entry product for anyone wanting to see and be seen AND if they have no other form of GPS or AIS to start with.

The nearest equivalent to the B100 that Matsutec offer is nearly £125 cheaper! but then it is a little more basic:encouragement: and has been on the market for quite a few years and it is made in China so cant be any good.............

Steve