Plotter anguish

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Caladh

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I have had an older Raymarine Hybrid es97 since 2017 and more recently a slave Axiom 7. This season has been a bit of a nightmare. Sporadic loss of GPS was an issue which I think I fixed. However I also get sporadic loss of chart detail on the slave Axiom and finally the es97 touchscreen doesn’t work or does until you try to do something on the plotter. I have trawled the web to find what appears to be many various posts about these issues such that I’m wondering if replacing the es97 will actually resolve anything as these posts indicate problems with later iterations of the hardware AND Lighthouse 4. Many posts point out the fact that you can watch a video or use an app on the more modern kit but getting the things to do what it should be designed for ie. Navigation is somewhat lacking. Anyway I’m looking to replace the es97 with probably an Axiom 9+ which should integrate ok with the Axiom 7. I’m interested to know forumites thoughts of this and also possible issues I may encounter esp. upgrading the Axiom 7 currently on LH3.11 to whatever my new plotter may have installed. Will I also still need a Raynet interface cable to the Axiom 7 ? Over to you Paul !!
 
My thoughts based on my experience.

I am pretty ignorant of electronics and their set up. However, I have rolled my sleeves up and just follow the manuals to set up my network, with some googling, YouTube and YBW questions.

I have an Axiom +12 with Lighthouse OS and Lighthouse Charts, networked to an ACU400 with PS70 controlling a converted Neco motor, ST60 instruments, Emtrak AIS, ICS Navtex. My DSC VHF is standalone because it has its own GPS and does not need to be networked. My back up plotter is an iPad. I mirror or control the Axiom from my iPad using the Raymarine Apps via WifI. The Apps are okay, a bit clunky and to be honest, I have stopped using them because the iPad does my remote monitoring of position. I don't need to know all the details that the Axiom has remotely. If they are important, I con from the cockpit where that data is shown. I use both Raymarine devices to convert ST to STNG (ST60) and ActiSence to convert STNG (NMEA2000) to NMEA0183 (ICS Navtex). These converters are not the cheapest around but they work reliably.

I keep all software up to date, and regularly update the chart package. Software updates are via the Axiom using my mobile phone as a hotspot. It searches my network for other Raymarine devices and updates them as well, if needed, and if I click yes to updates for that device. I always do.

1. Simplify your network, so draw it out and name all the components and connectors and see where you can reduce connections.
2. I would not use WiFi only hard wired networked connections.
3. Ray Remote and Ray View Apps work to remotely control and view Axiom, but are clunky.
4. A seperate tablet is good backup and more portable than fixed stations.
5. I am buying another trunnion mount and power network cable for the Axiom Plotter which will be fitted at the chart table. This will make it easier to work on when planning routes and waypoints rather than the cockpit station (also trunnion mount) which I currently have.
6. I have experienced no rain issues with touch screen only Axiom +
7. The Axiom + default Apps allow for Spotify, YouTube, Netflix and some music system in addition to the navigation stuff. I deleted them (or at least the icons, I don't know if the App code is still on the Axiom), as I use my laptop and JBL speaker for entertainment. That is personal reason as I believe navigation devices should only be used for that function, but that's just me.
8. Download the manuals to your tablet or laptop rather than buy the hardcopy. Bookmark sections that are important to you e.g. lay lines and true wind, setting anchor alarms. I will be printing and laminating some sections as quick references.

My system is reliable, its plug and play, fit and forget, log onto wifi via mobile phone as a hotspot and hey presto, updates to software happens. Chart updates requires the SD card to be plugged in to an SD car reader on my laptop and downloaded from the Raymarine system.

My thoughts are that Axiom + to Axiom will be okay, but use network cables rather than wifi (I assume they can be connected via wifi, I have not looked at that). Keep software up to date, and update before you start upgrading in case there are any software version clashes.

I can't emphasise enough map out your network, connections and protocols, Plan any protocol convertors. Look to see where you can simplify and reduce connections. I am pretty ignorant about all this stuff and with a bit of help from YBW, I had it all sorted and am very pleased with it. If you can stretch to the Axiom +12, do so, its worth the bigger screen by a country mile.
 
Caladh said:
I have had an older Raymarine Hybrid es97 since 2017 and more recently a slave Axiom 7. This season has been a bit of a nightmare. Sporadic loss of GPS was an issue which I think I fixed. However I also get sporadic loss of chart detail on the slave Axiom and finally the es97 touchscreen doesn’t work or does until you try to do something on the plotter. I have trawled the web to find what appears to be many various posts about these issues such that I’m wondering if replacing the es97 will actually resolve anything as these posts indicate problems with later iterations of the hardware AND Lighthouse 4. Many posts point out the fact that you can watch a video or use an app on the more modern kit but getting the things to do what it should be designed for ie. Navigation is somewhat lacking. Anyway I’m looking to replace the es97 with probably an Axiom 9+ which should integrate ok with the Axiom 7. I’m interested to know forumites thoughts of this and also possible issues I may encounter esp. upgrading the Axiom 7 currently on LH3.11 to whatever my new plotter may have installed. Will I also still need a Raynet interface cable to the Axiom 7 ? Over to you Paul !!
Click to expand...
Yes, you'll need the Raynet cable. As you suspect, both Axioms will need to be on the exact same firmware or you'll have issues. I would download the latest firmware and update them one at a time, with the other powered down. I've found that a pair of Axioms, connected by a Raynet cable, seem to work fine.
 
RunAgroundHard said:
My thoughts based on my experience.

I am pretty ignorant of electronics and their set up. However, I have rolled my sleeves up and just follow the manuals to set up my network, with some googling, YouTube and YBW questions.

I have an Axiom +12 with Lighthouse OS and Lighthouse Charts, networked to an ACU400 with PS70 controlling a converted Neco motor, ST60 instruments, Emtrak AIS, ICS Navtex. My DSC VHF is standalone because it has its own GPS and does not need to be networked. My back up plotter is an iPad. I mirror or control the Axiom from my iPad using the Raymarine Apps via WifI. The Apps are okay, a bit clunky and to be honest, I have stopped using them because the iPad does my remote monitoring of position. I don't need to know all the details that the Axiom has remotely. If they are important, I con from the cockpit where that data is shown. I use both Raymarine devices to convert ST to STNG (ST60) and ActiSence to convert STNG (NMEA2000) to NMEA0183 (ICS Navtex). These converters are not the cheapest around but they work reliably.

I keep all software up to date, and regularly update the chart package. Software updates are via the Axiom using my mobile phone as a hotspot. It searches my network for other Raymarine devices and updates them as well, if needed, and if I click yes to updates for that device. I always do.

1. Simplify your network, so draw it out and name all the components and connectors and see where you can reduce connections.
2. I would not use WiFi only hard wired networked connections.
3. Ray Remote and Ray View Apps work to remotely control and view Axiom, but are clunky.
4. A seperate tablet is good backup and more portable than fixed stations.
5. I am buying another trunnion mount and power network cable for the Axiom Plotter which will be fitted at the chart table. This will make it easier to work on when planning routes and waypoints rather than the cockpit station (also trunnion mount) which I currently have.
6. I have experienced no rain issues with touch screen only Axiom +
7. The Axiom + default Apps allow for Spotify, YouTube, Netflix and some music system in addition to the navigation stuff. I deleted them (or at least the icons, I don't know if the App code is still on the Axiom), as I use my laptop and JBL speaker for entertainment. That is personal reason as I believe navigation devices should only be used for that function, but that's just me.
8. Download the manuals to your tablet or laptop rather than buy the hardcopy. Bookmark sections that are important to you e.g. lay lines and true wind, setting anchor alarms. I will be printing and laminating some sections as quick references.

My system is reliable, its plug and play, fit and forget, log onto wifi via mobile phone as a hotspot and hey presto, updates to software happens. Chart updates requires the SD card to be plugged in to an SD car reader on my laptop and downloaded from the Raymarine system.

My thoughts are that Axiom + to Axiom will be okay, but use network cables rather than wifi (I assume they can be connected via wifi, I have not looked at that). Keep software up to date, and update before you start upgrading in case there are any software version clashes.

I can't emphasise enough map out your network, connections and protocols, Plan any protocol convertors. Look to see where you can simplify and reduce connections. I am pretty ignorant about all this stuff and with a bit of help from YBW, I had it all sorted and am very pleased with it. If you can stretch to the Axiom +12, do so, its worth the bigger screen by a country mile.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this but coming from an IT background know and do most, if not all of what you’ve promulgated. Sorry but I do appreciate your feedback.
I was more interested in issues that others may have had re Raymarine kit. I am aware that with my current setup I am on a very old Lighthouse .3.11 version to be compatible with both my es97 and Axiom 7. Hopefully the update plotter and software versions will alleviate my issues. Time to get my wallet out 😢
 
PaulRainbow said:
Yes, you'll need the Raynet cable. As you suspect, both Axioms will need to be on the exact same firmware or you'll have issues. I would download the latest firmware and update them one at a time, with the other powered down. I've found that a pair of Axioms, connected by a Raynet cable, seem to work fine.
Click to expand...
Paul - interestingly whilst I was troubleshooting the GPS issue I disconnected th3 Raynet cable from the Slave Axiom 7 but when I turned it back on I didn’t see any chart issues. It all seem to display the chart ok and other speed/depth data etc albeit I wasn’t on the move, so what does exactly does Raynet carry over its separate network cable ?
 
The eS -series along with many other Raymarine displays suffer from touchscreen failure which isn't repairable.

Lighthouse 3.11 is dire. The sooner you move to Lighthouse 4 with two Axioms the better.
 
Caladh said:
Paul - interestingly whilst I was troubleshooting the GPS issue I disconnected th3 Raynet cable from the Slave Axiom 7 but when I turned it back on I didn’t see any chart issues. It all seem to display the chart ok and other speed/depth data etc albeit I wasn’t on the move, so what does exactly does Raynet carry over its separate network cable ?
Click to expand...
The repeater Axiom will have cached the chart locally but not all of it.

Raynet is essentially ethernet and allows the master to share all of it's data to the repeater. Without it the Axiom will only show data that it provides through local connections or internal interfaces.
 
Caladh said:
So…there’s also the StNG cable connected to the Axiom. If “all” of the masters data is repeated what local or internal I/ data is sent on StNG ? Sorry to be pedantic 🤣
Click to expand...
STNG carries Canbus data (N2K), wind, depth, STW etc. Raynet carries radar, charts etc.
 
I believe this cable at Farnell is NMEA 2000: 20 Product Results Found for "devicenet"

I have some of the 2170345 (the cheaper 2170343 was out of stock at the time) and it works for me, if a bit thick and inflexible. I found Hat Labs the cheapest reputable supplier for connectors. I've since discovered Ali Express have some NMEA 2000 components - I've bought a handful of bits and pieces, some T-connectors and whatnot I think, but I'm not sure I trust Ali.

Making up NMEA cables like this is extremely fiddly, and far more time consuming than you would expect. You'll probably need a continuity meter to test each cable you make up, and it's inevitable that you'll find some, on completion, to have a bad connection (where!?!?) and need completely redoing.

If your time is worth anything then you're probably best off buying premade cables. I can only unequivocally recommend this for running lengths through narrow conduit where the connectors wouldn't fit though. It is great for that.
 
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