Raymarine Axiom-9 MFD and AIS

[jwfrary]

Would be useful to know the version of Lighthouse and, of course, the AIS make/model.

Are you sure those AIS status symbols will show up with the Quark Jon ? I know the Autopilot ones don't, unless it's a current Raymarine model.

I think they do at the most basic level, just not the posh status functionality, I am waiting for one to come past me....mostly simrad at work!

 

[PaulRainbow]

I think they do at the most basic level, just not the posh status functionality, I am waiting for one to come past me....mostly simrad at work!

I have a feeling that the AIS status symbol at the top right of the screen (the image you posted) doesn't show up with 3rd party AIS receivers, but i can't be 100%. I know 3rd party autopilots don't show a status symbol (neither do some older Raymarine APs, even when connected to the Axiom). Also, the sonar indicator will only show up with certain setups, having a transducer on the N2\K network, something like a DST, has no effect on the status symbols, but would show in the device list.

I'm fitting a new Evo 2 AP on a boat with an Axiom tomorrow, will see what AIS it's fitted with, if any, and how the status indicators work.

Perhaps the OP will come back with some further details and take a look in the settings menu i posted.

 

[alan]

Paul/Jon,
Thanks a lot for your replies, I will try and answer them from memory.
On the Axiom I do not see AIS in the settings/layers page.
I am using an Easy AIS then an RS232/422 converter to feed the Quark converter. On my old system the Easy AIS was feeding RS232 to a C70 plotter and worked fine for years.
I will check the version of lighthouse today - I have not tried updating the Axiom software yet (but Raymarine did not suggest this may a problem).
Thanks for your replies, interest and help. I'll keep you informed. I am hoping that Quark will suggest something today.

Alan.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Paul/Jon,
Thanks a lot for your replies, I will try and answer them from memory.
On the Axiom I do not see AIS in the settings/layers page.

That's odd. The boat i just fitted the autopilot to is running Lighthouse 2 and the AIS toggle is on the "layers" page, whether the AIS is connected or not. I've gota couple of brand new Axioms to fit on another boar, so they'll be running Lighthouse 3, will check on those, but that's not going to be for a week or two.

 

[alan]

Paul,
Thanks a lot for your reply and that is very interesting! I will pose the question to Raymarine as to whether there is a difference in the s/w versions for AIS. Raymarine did say that if I do not see AIS in the "layers" page then the Axiom is not receiveing AIS messages. I forgot to check on the version of Lighthouse that is running on my Axiom but will do so today.
I am more or less on hold for this problem at the moment as I can live with my plotter as it is and watch for AIS on my phone if needs be!! Anyway it does not look like we will be going far in the next few months.
Thanks for your feed back and would very much appreciate to know what you find out when you install an Axion running Lighthouse 3; in the meantime if I make any progress I will post it up as it may save others beating themselves to death.
Alan.

 

[starfire]

That's odd. The boat i just fitted the autopilot to is running Lighthouse 2 and the AIS toggle is on the "layers" page, whether the AIS is connected or not. I've gota couple of brand new Axioms to fit on another boar, so they'll be running Lighthouse 3, will check on those, but that's not going to be for a week or two.

I did an update 2-3 on an axiom some time ago, before, the older simrad autopilot, connected over nmea was visible & could be engaged from the axiom.
With lighthouse 3, the autopilot option was greyed out.
Seems unless you have the latest raymarine autopilot, it won't work.

Pain in the a**

 

[PaulRainbow]

I did an update 2-3 on an axiom some time ago, before, the older simrad autopilot, connected over nmea was visible & could be engaged from the axiom.
With lighthouse 3, the autopilot option was greyed out.
Seems unless you have the latest raymarine autopilot, it won't work.

Pain in the a**

Most autopilots can only be controlled on the plotter screen if they are the same brand, but it's very cheeky of them to remove the option when it was there before. I had considered updating my customers to Lighthouse 3, but we decided to stick with 2.

 

[starfire]

Most autopilots can only be controlled on the plotter screen if they are the same brand, but it's very cheeky of them to remove the option when it was there before. I had considered updating my customers to Lighthouse 3, but we decided to stick with 2.

I raised a technical query with raymarine only to be told, 'we don't support that' "but it worked before" 'we don't support that'

Bit like some ray plotters used to have 2 hs network sockets, easy, radar in one & the 2nd plotter in the other.

Now, either a network switch or one axiom & 1 axiom pro.

I'm now wary of upgrading versions until they have been out for a while.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I raised a technical query with raymarine only to be told, 'we don't support that' "but it worked before" 'we don't support that'

Bit like some ray plotters used to have 2 hs network sockets, easy, radar in one & the 2nd plotter in the other.

Now, either a network switch or one axiom & 1 axiom pro.

I'm now wary of upgrading versions until they have been out for a while.

Raymarine network switch £250, standard switch on Ebay £7.99

I bought a C90W with radar etc when they first came out, the switch was a fortune then too. I bought a used Netgear one from Ebay for 99p, worked a treat

 

[alan]

Hi Paul/JW,
Thanks for your continued support on this; my answere to your questions below and in attached photos:
I am running Lighthouse 3.11.42
I am using an Easy AIS receiver and messages are being received and re-transmitted by WiFi using the Quark A032.
The rest of the network is working correctly as far as I can tell. The backbone is fitted with termination resistors and I have checked the relevant connectors for bent pins etc.

By-the-by Quark customer service have been (and still are) very supportive in trying to resolve this issue ...... even e-mailing on Sundays with suggestions!!

I am beginning to think that it may be a "feature" of Lighthouse v3.x ??? I will ask Raymarine for advice.

Have a good weekend,
Alan.

 

[jwfrary]

the only way I can think of to prove the ais is heading onto the network is by plugging in an NGW - 1 - usb or NGT -1 or similar to see what data is actually on the network. Maybe you can borrow one from someone in your local.
Happily lend you one if your near plymouth uk!

 

[Yellow Ballad]

I'm running a Quark 032 to convert AIS and I'm thinking of an Axiom so watching this. I have an I70 I hope to display AIS on above the companionway so next time I'm down the boat if I get chance I'll plug it in and see what it shows.

I will be rather upset if it doesn't work! (Quark does send AIS via wifi though).

Edit

Have you confirmed your 032 is the AIS version, looks like the standard will transmit 0183 AIS to usb/wifi but not NMEA2K.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Hi Paul/JW,
Thanks for your continued support on this; my answere to your questions below and in attached photos:
I am running Lighthouse 3.11.42
I am using an Easy AIS receiver and messages are being received and re-transmitted by WiFi using the Quark A032.
The rest of the network is working correctly as far as I can tell. The backbone is fitted with termination resistors and I have checked the relevant connectors for bent pins etc.

By-the-by Quark customer service have been (and still are) very supportive in trying to resolve this issue ...... even e-mailing on Sundays with suggestions!!

I am beginning to think that it may be a "feature" of Lighthouse v3.x ??? I will ask Raymarine for advice.

Have a good weekend,
Alan.

I just looked at a E95 on the bench here, only connected tom 12v, the AIS option is in the layers menu and i can even turn it on, but this is with Lighthouse 2.

I suspect the Quark is outputting something non-standard that the Axiom isn't recognising. I'd suggest sending it back to Quark direct and get them to check it out.

 

[starfire]

I just looked at a E95 on the bench here, only connected tom 12v, the AIS option is in the layers menu and i can even turn it on, but this is with Lighthouse 2.

I suspect the Quark is outputting something non-standard that the Axiom isn't recognising. I'd suggest sending it back to Quark direct and get them to check it out.

Just checked, there is no ais layer in Lighthouse3, without an ais connected. But there is an 'enhanced ais targets' under advanced.

 

[jwfrary]

Maybe the axiom is programmed to recognise a particular heartbeat from the raymarine AIS units that the quark isn’t transmitting.

the AIS pgns themselves must surely be the same otherwise the raymarine ais units wouldn’t have certification from NMEA

ill Try and discover the heartbeat put out by the raymarine unit onboard my boat later today and see what we can discover.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Maybe the axiom is programmed to recognise a particular heartbeat from the raymarine AIS units that the quark isn’t transmitting.

the AIS pgns themselves must surely be the same otherwise the raymarine ais units wouldn’t have certification from NMEA

ill Try and discover the heartbeat put out by the raymarine unit onboard my boat later today and see what we can discover.

Axioms definitely work with non-Raymarine AIS units, iv'e fitted Emtrak AIS to them and they work just fine.

 

[jwfrary]

Axioms definitely work with non-Raymarine AIS units, iv'e fitted Emtrak AIS to them and they work just fine.

I’m that’s good! I was getting concerned! - the only way to know if the converter is doing it’s job right is to read the data on the network.

 

[masterofnone]

Hi Paul, without hijacking this thread, I have exactly the same problem trying to interface a digital yacht 1500 with 0183 output to a axiom (which doesn't have a bare wire input) so does therefore have to be connected thru the ng backbone. A st/ng converter is pointless ( i have found in many applications). I have a active enquiry with actisense ref this, so will report back.

 

[ithet]

As an aside, I have a Vesper XB6000 AIS and eS75 upgraded to Lighthouse 3. They were initially connected togeter using the Vesper's NMEA0183 output routing via Raymarine's old NMEA0183 to Seatalk 1 converter then the ST1 to SeatalkNG converter. Now I have them connected via NMEA2k to SeatalkNG cable. Both ways worked.

 

[alan]

Just to reply to JW (a few threads above); I have seen the heartbeat on the Axiom (when using the "diagnostics" page on the Axiom. But I am not able to dig any deeper as I don't have an N2K data analyser. Attached is the hex message from the Quark that is seen at the Axiom buffer.
I do not know enough about N2K to know if this is good or bad!!! I did already send this to Quark.