Replace B&G Network with Raymarine i50/i60

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slipknot

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My network wind stopped this year and the experts have diagnosed a very poorly masthead unit and the cost to repair is astronomical! As I doubt that I'll find a replacement 496 unit, it looks like I may well have to bite the bullet an replace both the network wind and network speed/depth inc both transducers. Feedback about about Raymarine Tacktick wireless has been pretty mixed, so not sure about that. The Raymarine i50 tri data and i60 wind looks favourite as I only need something functional and not too complicated (or expensive!) Anyone done this? Any advice or watch outs would be really appreciated.
 
Beware the i60 wind. The needle sticks in the sun. Raymarine are aware and have been since I returned one and then the replacement to them Last spring. Raymarine UK think the problem is to do with the glue on the black face, Raymarine US say it's the needle hitting the glass. In the end Raymarine sent me an i70 as a replacement.
Some discussion on the US forum here, but the moderators have removed a lot of the negative comments..
http://raymarine.ning.com/forum/topics/i60-gauge-operating-intermittently
 
slipknot said:
Any advice or watch outs would be really appreciated.
Click to expand...

Yes. Watch out for compatibility not only between makes but 0183/seatalk/nmea2000. Even Raymarine's NMEA 2000 wiring isnt standard.

I did something similar to what you are proposing and its been a PITA. In my case I had good but old Raymarine ST60 non digi instruments but had to replace a plotter and radar which I did with a B&G. To get them to talk I had to buy a multiplexer which not only mixed in the AIS but converted Seatalk to 0183. Even then the network doesnt work well with the simrad pilot or the nasa repeater. And of course, any problems and the makers blame each other.

Recommendation - at least get all the kit of one make and chat to their technical staff before buying.
 
john_q said:
And avoid any manufacturer who does not supply/support STANDARD NMEA2000 without addition devices needing to be purchased to make it happen
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Not quite sure what you are getting at here. If you re referring to my need for a multiplexer, the issue was that the ST60s were the previous generation of non digi instruments that only generated the old Seatalk. The B&G could take either NMEA 2000 or 0183. I believe that the new Raymarine kit will interface with standard NMEA 2000 even though that isnt a standard in practice and most manufacturers seem to be personalising it.

Having said all that I agree with your sentiments. The magic word the OP used was "network". If you want the instruments to talk to each other, the only trouble free way is to buy all from the same maker.
 
The existing 2 B&G speed/depth were indeed networked with the wind instrument, hence my intention to replace with the equivalent 'current' Raymarine equivalent. I currently have a B&G repeater at the Chart table that would be good to replace with Raymarine. Not sure wat that would actually be. Can you fit some kind of MFD? Tablet? or would it need to be a Raymarine display?
 
slipknot said:
My network wind stopped this year and the experts have diagnosed a very poorly masthead unit and the cost to repair is astronomical! As I doubt that I'll find a replacement 496 unit, it looks like I may well have to bite the bullet an replace both the network wind and network speed/depth inc both transducers. Feedback about about Raymarine Tacktick wireless has been pretty mixed, so not sure about that. The Raymarine i50 tri data and i60 wind looks favourite as I only need something functional and not too complicated (or expensive!) Anyone done this? Any advice or watch outs would be really appreciated.
Click to expand...
The B and G is goodstuff. The speed and depth transducer is probably the Airmar which should work with the Raymarine stuff. Whichever way you go, the Raymarine mast head stuff isnt cheap!
If you do go ahead I would be interested in the B and G stuff.
Stu
 
birdseye said:
The magic word the OP used was "network". If you want the instruments to talk to each other, the only trouble free way is to buy all from the same maker.
Click to expand...

My rant is that this should not be necessary in this day and age

I just wish that manufacturers like Garmin and RayMarine to name but 2 would stop trying to tie us into having to using only their products by using


  • “Unique plugs”,
  • 20 year old computer networking hardware,
  • Communication protocols that are “enhanced” from the standards so there is no interconnectivity.

Why are we not being sold WiFi connectivity,It has been around long enough, does not get wet and allows interconnectivity.

I guess we all know the answer to that, they are trying to protect their markets.

The big computer companies tried to maintain this approach up to the “eighties” and then the internet appeared forcing their protective practises had to disappear.

Fingers cross the electronics suppliers will be forced in supplying “open solutions” very soon instead of trying to suppress them (TickTac??))

Ok Rant over

Happy Christmas
 
slipknot said:
The existing 2 B&G speed/depth were indeed networked with the wind instrument, hence my intention to replace with the equivalent 'current' Raymarine equivalent. I currently have a B&G repeater at the Chart table that would be good to replace with Raymarine. Not sure wat that would actually be. Can you fit some kind of MFD? Tablet? or would it need to be a Raymarine display?
Click to expand...

This is where yopu are getting into just the issues that I described. What generation are your B&G bits? If they are NMEA 2000 then you are well on your way. If they are NMEA 0183 bits then you have the issues that I had. Which are they?
 
john_q said:
My rant is that this should not be necessary in this day and age

I just wish that manufacturers like Garmin and RayMarine to name but 2 would stop trying to tie us into having to using only their products by using


  • “Unique plugs”,
  • 20 year old computer networking hardware,
  • Communication protocols that are “enhanced” from the standards so there is no interconnectivity.

Why are we not being sold WiFi connectivity,It has been around long enough, does not get wet and allows interconnectivity.

I guess we all know the answer to that, they are trying to protect their markets.

The big computer companies tried to maintain this approach up to the “eighties” and then the internet appeared forcing their protective practises had to disappear.

Fingers cross the electronics suppliers will be forced in supplying “open solutions” very soon instead of trying to suppress them (TickTac??))

Ok Rant over

Happy Christmas
Click to expand...

And you too! Happy Xmas that is. :-)

As for wifi, I have that with B&g. Limited use. Doesnt work to control anything with a phone becasue Navico have decided there is too much liability risk in having kids on board, all of whom have an I Phone these days. Limited use with a tablet. But not really the answer. And power hungry.
 
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