Raymarine Element Chartplotter integration.....or not?

robmcg

robmcg

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Thinking of replacing our small but functional Raymarine A50 cockpit chartplotter with a Raymarine Element. I thought this would be an easy replacement until I read that you cannot add an Element chartplotter to a seatalk ng network if there is already another MFD on the network (in our case, an axiom at the chart table). Is this true? If so, why is Raymarine going backwards as the much older A50 exists very happily on the ng network with the Axiom. Perhaps all technological advances are progress 🤔. Anyone have an Element and axiom connected on the same ng network. I'm only expecting it to read AIS and nav data which the current A50 does happily.
 
This is the confusing thing with Raymarine. Seems that an Axiom and an Element chart plotter cannot live together on the same ng network yet an Axiom and an A50 which is way, way older can.
 
A lower cost solution would be to move the Axiom to the cockpit on a trunnion mount, not flush mount, so that it can easily be removed, and use a tablet at the chart table. You can buy the trunnion mount and additional power cable, and leave the charitable mount and power, network in place. I only have cockpit mount Axiom and setting a rout in the cockpit, say when at anchor or in a marina is a pain, leaving the comfort of the saloon.

Alternatively, Garmin Boating (Navionics) does allow waypoint transfer from a tablet to the Axiom, when the tablet and Axiom is paired.

Key steps:
1. Open Navionics app on tablet: Launch the Navionics Boating app on your tablet.
2. Access Plotter Sync: Navigate to the "Menu" and select "Paired Devices" then choose your Axiom from the list.
3. Select waypoints to transfer: Within the Navionics app, select the specific waypoints (or routes, markers) you want to transfer.
4. Export as GPX: Choose the "Share" option and select "Export GPX File".
5. Import to Axiom: On your Axiom, go to "My Data" > "Import" and select the exported GPX file from your tablet.

I know this isn't what you currently have or want, but it may be lower cost e.g. switch MFDs about, use a tablet, and give you acceptable functionality, above and below.

Apologies if this is teaching grandma to suck eggs.
 
robmcg said:
This is the confusing thing with Raymarine. Seems that an Axiom and an Element chart plotter cannot live together on the same ng network yet an Axiom and an A50 which is way, way older can.
Click to expand...
The Element is a basic, budget, basically stand alone plotter.

I would suggest moving the Axiom to the helm and installing a tablet below, much cheaper and the tablet should be fine out of the Sun. I have 2 Garmin MFDs on the flybridge and 2 tablets at the lower helm, repeating the plotters. Works perfectly and for just over £100 i get a 10.4" display below decks.
 
Thanks to Runagroundhard and Paul for the responses. Ideally, I don't want a touchscreen plotter in the cockpit as I find that sun lotion on hands attacks the finish on the screen. We use a tablet with the navionics app but still prefer the outdoor chartplotter.
The current outdoor plotter is an A50 which has been bulletproof albeit the display is a bit small for my eyesight these days. I could keep it but it takes cf cards which are no longer supported. It did come with a Raymarine branded micro sd to cf converter but apparently that doesn't work for the current Navionics either. Not willing to pay to find out if that's true. Perhaps someone on here knows different.
 
I am confused - references to “sunscreen” and “in exile in Scotland” in the same post?

What we have done to get round Raymarine version / generation incompatibilities is to buy equipment of the same generation second hand on eBay. A second Axiom / Axiom Plus should be easily available and better option than the Element?
 
OK - risking being shot down in flames :

Why not get a Multiplexor such as the WiFi4NMEA unit and feed the data into the unit ... then it will combine and send out the NMEA stream via wifi ... 0183 ... USB ..... avoiding format conflicts of units software ? Maybe 50 quid can solve it ??
 
Refueler said:
OK - risking being shot down in flames :

Why not get a Multiplexor such as the WiFi4NMEA unit and feed the data into the unit ... then it will combine and send out the NMEA stream via wifi ... 0183 ... USB ..... avoiding format conflicts of units software ? Maybe 50 quid can solve it ??
Click to expand...
The Element has no 0183, wifi is only for radar, and no USB (does any MFD support USB data sharing?)

You cannot share charts, radar, sonar, user data etc over 0183 or USB anyway.
 
PaulRainbow said:
The Element has no 0183, wifi is only for radar, and no USB (does any MFD support USB data sharing?)

You cannot share charts, radar, sonar, user data etc over 0183 or USB anyway.
Click to expand...

Fair enough ... but OP says :

"I'm only expecting it to read AIS and nav data which the current A50 does happily."

No request to share charts etc. - just AIS.

As I said then - waiting to be shot down ... it was only a comment ....

The mention of USB was only mentioning the plexor has that capability to transfer all data via USB as well as ST, WiFi and 0183. Such info may be useful to others with similar wants but suitable gear.
 
Refueler said:
Fair enough ... but OP says :

"I'm only expecting it to read AIS and nav data which the current A50 does happily."

No request to share charts etc. - just AIS.
Click to expand...
Not just AIS "and nav data"

However, the only input the Element has is N2K/STNG and that cannot be connected to the Axiom. So even if the multiplexor had a N2K output, you couldn't use it.
Refueler said:
As I said then - waiting to be shot down ... it was only a comment ....

The mention of USB was only mentioning the plexor has that capability to transfer all data via USB as well as ST, WiFi and 0183. Such info may be useful to others with similar wants but suitable gear.
Click to expand...
Indeed it might, but not in this case and 0183 is virtually dead now. Does the multiplexor you mention output N2K ?
 
PaulRainbow said:
Not just AIS "and nav data"

However, the only input the Element has is N2K/STNG and that cannot be connected to the Axiom. So even if the multiplexor had a N2K output, you couldn't use it.

Indeed it might, but not in this case and 0183 is virtually dead now. Does the multiplexor you mention output N2K ?
Click to expand...

Fair enough ... no need to flog it out !!
 
Refueler said:
Paul ... if you want an uncivil exchange - I can do that ... but my reply was a simple short reply - straight to the point.

Sorry you think otherwise - won't be first time you think so.
Click to expand...
My partner looked over my shoulder a few minutes ago, she said "why begin a post with "OK - risking being shot down in flames :" ?, he must expect that what he's typing is wrong. Why would someone bother ?"

She's very astute.
 
It appears that the Element chartplotter is neither use nor ornament. Certainly that's the case for my needs. Shame as you would have thought Raymarine would have a bit more integration of their own kit.
I do have a WiFi widget that sends out the instrument data and AIS data wirelessly but sounds like that's no good for an Element either. Now thinking a rugged tablet will be more versatile although we already use Navionics on a standard tablet but it isn't very rugged and needs a more powerful charging point in the cockpit.
 
I have an Element 7s that I am about to integrate with my system. I have Raymarine i70 display units but nothing more capable (apart from the W11 pc). I also have a VesperMarine XB8000 that sends position and AIS data via N2K, USB and WiFi together with a Shipmodul multiplexer that converts several 0813 data inputs to N2K and USB.
So there's no conflict with the Element in the cockpit though it won't display computer waypoints or routes.
I discovered that the already very bright Element display is also transflexive so becomes even more visible in bright sunlight. Quite a bargain for a unit costing slightly less than an i70s data display!
 
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