Raymarine C or E Series Widescreen - Multifunction displays

ACE

ACE

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Good Evening,

My boat is currently fitted with Raymainre E80, Raymarine Radar, Raymarine Autopilot, which I have made the decision I want to upgrade. Given that all the items are Raymarine I’ve decided to stay with them rather than change everything or part to Garmin (although I think my long term preference would be to do that …).

I am advised that the E120W is too large for where I want to place it and they have suggested I go for the C120W which will fit (Seems strange to me as the dimensions aren’t that different).

What would you go for and why ? The C120W or the E90W ? as usual your opinions would be greatly appreciated.
 
are you planning to have just one plotter/radar unit, or two or more networked together?

the C-series can only work on their own.


A very late edit: I am clearly out of date, and happy to admit that I was wrong .... in this case!
 
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you have the older E series, suitable for networking,

the C's and C..W's are the non networking versions, these are made for single display systems, you can not add these

The E90W and E120W are the newer version, wide screen display's,
but they work with the newer HD digital radar only.
I think that you have the older generation analog Radar, that doesn't work on the newer Wide screens


What is the aim of your upgrade ?
if you want to add extra display's to your system, you can add extra E80's or E120's, unless you do have digital radar, than you could add E90W or E120W

Would advide you to choose 120's in stead of the smaller 80 (or 90's)
I have upgraded one C80 to one E120 on my boat.
one 120 has more screen then two 80's

the specialist will be here soon and correct me where I'm wrong
 
Taken from the Raymarine website:

Building your C Series Widescreen Network is easier than ever with SeaTalkhs . Build a single widescreen display or create a dual display C Series Widescreen network using SeaTalkhs to share radar, chartplotting, fishfinder, weather and navigation functions between two C Series Widescreen displays
 
I didn't think the C120W would fit on the T40 dash; and I also thought that the E120W and C120W were the same size.

Also, I'm pretty sure that you can network two of the widescreen C series together (but not more than two - for that you'll need an E). The old-shape C's were not networkable at all.

If you want to add cameras you need an E.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
Being honest there is nothing wrong with what is installed already I guess. It's just I have the opportunity to upgrade now (money burning hole in pocket !!) and I am looking for the best possible purchase for the future and of course the best graphics ...... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
The E90W is a big step up from the E80, and it'll go into your dash without major surgery. I'd probably do that in your position, and then add ais and digi fish finder.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
ACE said:
Being honest there is nothing wrong with what is installed already I guess. It's just I have the opportunity to upgrade now (money burning hole in pocket !!) and I am looking for the best possible purchase for the future and of course the best graphics ...... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Click to expand...



Yup, as said you can network 2 of the new Cs. And I too thought E wides and C wides were same dimensions (though maybe not same depth - is that the problem?)

If you currently have old E120 I'd stick with it. I had 3 on my last Sq58, and changed them for the new E140W and frankly it was a waste of money. The E140Ws didn't work that well imho and weren't a significant upgrade on the E120 classics, except where cost was concerned

The graphics come from the platinum+ chart chips. Once you have that, the old E120 has mostly the same funky graphics as the newer E140w
 
jfm said:
Yup, as said you can network 2 of the new Cs. And I too thought E wides and C wides were same dimensions (though maybe not same depth - is that the problem?)

If you currently have old E120 I'd stick with it. I had 3 on my last Sq58, and changed them for the new E140W and frankly it was a waste of money. The E140Ws didn't work that well imho and weren't a significant upgrade on the E120 classics, except where cost was concerned

The graphics come from the platinum+ chart chips. Once you have that, the old E120 has mostly the same funky graphics as the newer E140w
Click to expand...

The C and E are almost the same dimensions from the top and comparing the two installation drawings I have the E is 129 m deep excluding cables and the C is 87.9 mm excluding cables, and on boats with sliding doors that go under the dash this can be a problem especially with some of the radar cables if not using the HD radar.

I also have to agree that the E140w is not as great as you would expect and not really worth the expence of upgrading from a E120 classic.
 
If you fit one of the newer widescreen displays, it will not be compatible with your existing radar.

If you went the 90W route, i'm not sure that i see a big advantage in paying the extra for E90W, as opposed to the C90W that will still network.

Earlier this year i replaced a 3 month old C90W and radar with a Garmin GPSMAP 4010 and HD radar. This was a very good move, IMO.
 
What is installed at present is the E80 classic the Raymarine web site tells me that this item has been discontinued and is no longer available…

I would have thought that the E120 and the C120 were the same size in fact straight from the brochure …

E120 = 380x245x156
C120 = 380x245x136

It’s the technician that says that the E120 will not go but that the C120 will fit ????? (Will get that confirmed now that I’ve seen this 20mm can’t surely make that much difference???)

I was thinking it better to upgrade to the HD systems I wasn’t sure if I should fit the C120 (Bigger screen- 1280x800 pixel WXGA) or fit the E90 (smaller screen- 640x480 pixel VGA). Is WXGA better than VGA ????

I’m not going to be building a system and the most I may/would ever run would be two (1 bigger and 1 smaller unit) so I guess I’m answering my own questions to go for the bigger screen. If of course the technician can get it to fit which given the above I am back at being doubtful ?
 
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PaulGooch said:
If you fit one of the newer widescreen displays, it will not be compatible with your existing radar.
Click to expand...


Yes taken that into account already will have to replace that as well....
I've been advised that the Raymarine Autopilot will still function so no need to change any of the other items ???
 
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ACE said:
Yes taken that into account already will have to replace that as well....
I've been advised that the Raymarine Autopilot will still function so no need to change any of the other items ???
Click to expand...

Yes, AP should work. In fact, that would most likely work in conjunction with some other makes of plotter.

The older plotter uses different radar than the new one, the two systems are, i believe, mutually exclusive. The old radome won't work on the widescreen MFD's, the new one won't work on the older MFD's.

If you're saying that you are buying two new MFD's and a new radome, then that's not an issue.
 
PaulGooch said:
If you're saying that you are buying two new MFD's and a new radome, then that's not an issue.
Click to expand...


Upgrading the old E80 Classic so one (C120/E90) MFD and the radome to benifit from the new HD technology (will possible in the future increase to two MFD's but just just the one at this moment...)

The problem is the screen resolutions... C120 (Bigger screen- 1280x800 pixel WXGA) or fit the E90 (smaller screen- 640x480 pixel VGA). Is WXGA better than VGA ???? :confused: :confused:
 
ACE said:
Upgrading the old E80 Classic so one (C120/E90) MFD and the radome to benifit from the new HD technology (will possible in the future increase to two MFD's but just just the one at this moment...)

The problem is the screen resolutions... C120 (Bigger screen- 1280x800 pixel WXGA) or fit the E90 (smaller screen- 640x480 pixel VGA). Is WXGA better than VGA ???? :confused: :confused:
Click to expand...

The E90W is 800x480; it's your existing E80 that's 640x480. Bigger screen is always better - if your guy can get the C120W in there then that's got to be the way to go.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
ACE said:
Upgrading the old E80 Classic so one (C120/E90) MFD and the radome to benifit from the new HD technology (will possible in the future increase to two MFD's but just just the one at this moment...)

The problem is the screen resolutions... C120 (Bigger screen- 1280x800 pixel WXGA) or fit the E90 (smaller screen- 640x480 pixel VGA). Is WXGA better than VGA ???? :confused: :confused:
Click to expand...

You could fit Garmin display(s) and radar as the auto pilot can still be driven by the plotter.
 
ACE said:
Upgrading the old E80 Classic so one (C120/E90) MFD and the radome to benifit from the new HD technology (will possible in the future increase to two MFD's but just just the one at this moment...)

The problem is the screen resolutions... C120 (Bigger screen- 1280x800 pixel WXGA) or fit the E90 (smaller screen- 640x480 pixel VGA). Is WXGA better than VGA ???? :confused: :confused:
Click to expand...

Gotcha. Simply updating the radar to a newer generation will not automagically give you HD. The widescreen plotters use digital radar, then there is HD digital radar, which they obviously use too. At close to £2k for HD digital and the cable, it's a very expensive option. You will also need a crossover coupler, and an additional cable, then if you decide to add a second display, a hub/switch.

aquapower said:
You could fit Garmin display(s) and radar as the auto pilot can still be driven by the plotter.
Click to expand...

That would be the way to go, IMO. Better plotter, better cartography, better support.

Rather than the Raymarine price of £2k ish, the Garmin HD Digital radar is a touch under £1k. It doesn't need any crossover couplers, hubs or additional cables. Adding a second MFD is easy and still doesn't need a hub.

The auto pilot will still work and the radome will fit your existing mount.

The plotter will have an external GPS antenna/engine, rather than Raymarine's flaky internal one.

PN planning software is cheap and doesn't need a £60 special card reader to work.

Product support, light years ahead of Raymarine or Navionics.
 
PaulGooch said:
That would be the way to go, IMO. Better plotter, better cartography, better support.

PN planning software is cheap and doesn't need a £60 special card reader to work.

Product support, light years ahead of Raymarine or Navionics.
Click to expand...

I used to be a big fan of Raymarine and have done several thousand sea miles with their kit and fitted loads of it but now who ever you speak to they are all in favour of Garmin and have to say that I recently fitted a Garmin plotter and the set up was so simple I didnt even need to look at the manual.
I would love to know how Raymarine will manage to survive now.
Although I have to say I have a Raychart 400 handheld and its a great bit of kit and bought that because I couldnt get on with my Garmin 76csx.
 
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