quantum radar fault?

[PaulRainbow]

I don't think it's that important to have the same brand of MFD and autopilot. If you had, for instance, a non Raymarine plotter and an ST series AP, you have to select a waypoint and press "Goto" (or equivalent) on the plotter, you then have to press the track button twice on the AP controller. I don't think that's too arduous.

I have all Garmin equipment, with a Simrad autopilot. I select the waypoint on the plotter and then press the auto button on the AP controller. If the AP was Garmin i'd still have to select the waypoint, but press the engage button on the plotter, instead of the AP controller. One slight advantage i'd have if the AP was Garmin, i could engage it from the plotter and fit the controller somewhere else, giving two places to control the AP from, be handy if i'm hiding under the sprayhood in the rain i suppose.

 

[[2574]]

Paul/PRV,

I've heard your advice in another thread recently about the Pilot not being manageable from the MFD unless the same brand. That's fine, I never use the track function when out sailing anyway, I've always engaged the pilot from the pilot head unit so that's fine. I understand that the radar and MFD need to be the same manufacturer. Is wifi radar connecticity as good as plugging a physical wire between radome and MFD?

Very interesting to hear your sentiment toward Raymarine, I'm beginning to think that way too, which is why I need to take the step away from Raymarine with this MFD upgrade. After future pennies have been saved I can then migrate further away with the ST60s going. The big ticket migration will then be the pilot mechanism and the course computer. All in good time....

 

[prv]

Is wifi radar connecticity as good as plugging a physical wire between radome and MFD?

Probably, although I still feel more comfortable with an ethernet cable in between

Pete

 

[PaulRainbow]

Probably, although I still feel more comfortable with an ethernet cable in between

Pete

My thoughts exactly Pete

 

[PaulRainbow]

After future pennies have been saved I can then migrate further away with the ST60s going. The big ticket migration will then be the pilot mechanism and the course computer. All in good time....

You can "network" the ST60s using a converter kit (just over £100). It converts ST to STNG (N2K with different plugs), which then needs a simple cable to convert STNG to N2K. Bizarrely, you need the same converter kit and cable even if you fitted a new Raymarine MFD, because they have now started putting N2K ports on the MFDS, not STNG. So if you fitted a new Raymarine EV autopilot, you need to install a STNG network, then use a converter cable to connect the MFD.

So, in short, any make of MFD will network with the old ST60s, for about £130.

Your AP will work, as you use it currently, and continue to do so until it dies or you fancy an "upgrade".

 

[[2574]]

So if you fitted a new Raymarine EV autopilot, you need to install a STNG network, then use a converter cable to connect the MFD.

That is insane!

 

[PaulRainbow]

That is insane!

Agreed.

 

[Billjratt]

We have the same error/symptoms on our quantum. I get the impression it just needs a factory reset which should be open knowledge available to owners/operators as radar is a safety device after all. I opened ours and connected it to a spare battery in order to clear any power issues. There are lots of LEDs on the board - someone must know what they indicate, all ours were on with one flashing (probably comms). The steppermotor did not lock or reset, and nothing else was observed. I feel we desrve a better service from Ray and would be happy to add a signature to any public protest available. There will be a log of errorcodes i n there somewhere, and someone on here must know something about them - - come on, speak up!

 

[Ian_Edwards]

An update on my original problem. The radar was just out of the 3-year warrantee period. Eventually I go the number of the part of Raymarine UK which does the repairs and phoned them up. They were very helpful and agreed to have look at the radar, so I courier it to them directly.
I was in a hurry to start along trip south, and they turned the unit around in a day and courier it back to me, free of charge, great service. Unfortunately, the courier I used to send it to them, on a 24hr service took 3 days to get there, and the return, also on a 24hr service, took 4 days to get back to NW Scotland.
When the unit came back is had a new WiFi ID and password, but when I opened it up it was the same basic unit, so it was either a board swap, or a re-load of the software.
It’s been OK since then, but the e series MDF’s are now showing signs of age and will need replacing. At that point I’ll move away from Raymarine to either B&G or Garmin. Which in some ways will be a shame, I’ve been using Raymarine since my first Autohelm Auto pilot, when they first hit the market, many moons ago.

 

[Sailing kev]

@Billjratt
If you may find a solution I’m still interested,

My unit is in the basement hoping for a cheap fix. I have since bought a new unit this summer. (Changing to another brand was out of the question since I then had to replace my axiom pro screen as well) Just to be on the safe side not to end up with the same problem I got the Q24D version. Fingers crossed this one last longer than 37.5 months (warranty + 6 weeks).