Raymarine Pathfinder Radar can we utiise the signals?

[sparticle]

We have a Beneteau Oceanis 411 Celebration. It had a premium Raymarine Fitment back in the day with dual RL80C Pathfinder Plotters and a Radar unit. Primary at the chart table and repeater at the helm.

Is there any way to use the signal from the Radar unit in the modern world?

We have not got round to ripping out all the old Raymarine Stuff as it works and is robust. We have a separate set of new tech that we use and are gradually looking at getting rid of the old stuff. But the radar works perfectly it is just that we have to display it on the old RL series plotter screens.

We don't use it that often but it is useful going up the coast in misty/foggy conditions where visibility is limited.

Just a thought.

Cheers
Spart

[smac999]

nope. new screens would need a new radar.

[sparticle]

Originally Posted by smac999

nope. new screens would need a new radar.

Hmm, that answer always lights a fire! ATEOTD it's electrical data coming into the head unit and being represented on screen.

I know it's probably a proprietary protocol etc. Right now they are simply used as data repeaters showing data box view. All of the navigation data is originated outside of the Raymarine ST1 system and fed into it via a Raymarine E85001 for the benefit of the 400G Course Computer and Autopilot and of course as it's on the ST1 network it can be seen by the RL displays.

Getting rid of the RL's and Raymarine ST+ series equipment and moving into the modern world is a huge financial investment.

Just a shame we can't upcycle the pathfinder radar.

Cheers
Spart

[sparticle]

Originally Posted by smac999

nope. new screens would need a new radar.

Hmm, that answer always lights a fire! ATEOTD it's electrical data coming into the head unit and being represented on screen.

I know it's probably a proprietary protocol etc. Right now they are simply used as data repeaters showing data box view. All of the navigation data is originated outside of the Raymarine ST1 system and fed into it via a Raymarine E85001 for the benefit of the 400G Course Computer and Autopilot and of course as it's on the ST1 network it can be seen by the RL displays.

Getting rid of the RL's and Raymarine ST+ series equipment and moving into the modern world is a huge financial investment.

Just a shame we can't upcycle the pathfinder radar.

Cheers
Spart

[Pizzazz]

Sparticle, you are right that it will cost a fortune to replicate your current radar setup. You have 10" vertical radar displays. In order to match this view with horizontal displays you need two Axiom Pro 15.6" displays at $6,000 each. Then you need a radar unit that starts at $2,000 and goes up from there. You can opt for smaller modern displays but you will will get a tiny view and will be disappointed. The cost of the radar really is a small part relative to the total investment.

I had an RL70 vertical radar display (7") and much preferred it to my current 7" Axiom. So, what are your options?

1. Replace the two RL80c with a Raymarine E80 or E120. These go around $500 on eBay and will give you AIS display plus translate the analog radar into digital format. Then you can use OpenCPN plus the radar plugin to display everything nicely at the protected station, while keeping the E80 at the station exposed to the elements. Total investment will be $500 plus some cables until you are ready to spend $12k on the real upgrade. Plus, you can always sell the E80/120 at whatever price you bought it for. They do not go down in value.

2. You can use a piece of hardware called Raymarine HSB2 To PC Interface to interface your current Pathfinder displays to a PC directly. It is rare to find on eBay (there is one available right now) and you will need a code for the Raytech software (easy) but it will give you the full functionality of your current displays on a PC.

My suggestion though would be to upgrade everything in one go.

[sparticle]

Originally Posted by Pizzazz

Sparticle, you are right that it will cost a fortune to replicate your current radar setup. You have 10" vertical radar displays. In order to match this view with horizontal displays you need two Axiom Pro 15.6" displays at $6,000 each. Then you need a radar unit that starts at $2,000 and goes up from there. You can opt for smaller modern displays but you will will get a tiny view and will be disappointed. The cost of the radar really is a small part relative to the total investment.

I had an RL70 vertical radar display (7") and much preferred it to my current 7" Axiom. So, what are your options?

1. Replace the two RL80c with a Raymarine E80 or E120. These go around $500 on eBay and will give you AIS display plus translate the analog radar into digital format. Then you can use OpenCPN plus the radar plugin to display everything nicely at the protected station, while keeping the E80 at the station exposed to the elements. Total investment will be $500 plus some cables until you are ready to spend $12k on the real upgrade. Plus, you can always sell the E80/120 at whatever price you bought it for. They do not go down in value.

2. You can use a piece of hardware called Raymarine HSB2 To PC Interface to interface your current Pathfinder displays to a PC directly. It is rare to find on eBay (there is one available right now) and you will need a code for the Raytech software (easy) but it will give you the full functionality of your current displays on a PC.

My suggestion though would be to upgrade everything in one go.

Hey Pizzazz,

Thanks for the info. I think I can discount Option 2 as we don't have a PC just Rpi4 devices. It looks like a PCMCIA card and dedicated windows software. SO a non starter for us.

Option 1 sounds interesting. Are you saying If we replaced the RL80C and RL70C units with the E80 or E120(W) units we can connect the pathfinder radar and somehow convert that signal to a networked digital signal?

Are you talking about this plugin? https://opencpn.org/OpenCPN/plugins/radarPI.html

The RL80C Plus and the RL70C Plus according to the manuals are HSB2 Plus Colour LCD displays.

Cheers
Spart

[goboatingnow]

I’m not aware pathfinder is compatible with E series or C series displays.

[sparticle]

This is the description I found from Raymarine for the E80 which seems to suggest you can connect a Pathfinder Radome to it.

"Used in conjunction with a Pathfinder radome or open-array antenna, the Raymarine E80 becomes a powerful radar system with a +/- 1-degree accuracy. This radar system features two EBLS (Electronic Bearing Lines), two guard zones with selectable sensitivity levels and audible alarms, and MARPA (Mini Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) allowing you to track up to 10 vessels on radar display. The unit includes auto GST automatic control of gain, sea clutter and tune, radar waypoint navigation and multiple waypoint overlay (0.125 to 72nm range), relative or true-motion modes, and head-up, course-up and north-up modes. The E80 simplifies radar navigation by comparing and reconciling overlaid radar targets with chart objects, and surpasses conventional radars thanks to an advanced microprocessor controlled transmitter/receiver and ultra-efficient low-noise receiver technology."

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by sparticle

This is the description I found from Raymarine for the E80 which seems to suggest you can connect a Pathfinder Radome to it.

I had an e-series and something jogged my memory

Here’s a cut and paste from the Raymarine forum

Series Classic MFD Pathfinder radome compatibility question
According to the documentation for the E80 and E120 Classic MFD's the Pathfinder analog radomes should be compatible or can be upgraded to be compatible:
Analogue Scanner type/model Serial Number Compatibility
2Kw Radome - Pathfinder 1220000 and below Not compatible
1220001 - 0530157 upgrade required
0530158 and above Fully compatible

The model radome I have recently acquired during a system upgrade is a M92678 Model 2kw unit with a serial# 0780401 Since the serial number sequence of all the numbers above are 7 characters in length how do you determine if is 1220000 and below or the upgradeable or compatible number above 1220001? Is the upgrade still a possibility through a servicing dealer if it is indeed upgradeable?

Both E Classic displays are running latest and last 5.69 update.

Thank you in advance
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03-16-17, 11:06 AM Post: #2
Dave - Raymarine - Moderator Offline
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RE: E Series Classic MFD Pathfinder radome compatibility question
Hello,

According to the serial number, the unit was manufactured in July of 1998. This is before December 2002(1220001) and does not meet the requirement for upgrade/compatibility.

My understanding also is the dealers cannot do the upgrade anymore anyway.

[sparticle]

Thanks for this. I will try and find out the model and serial number.

Is there a way for the Head unit to tell this info?

Cheers
Spart

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by sparticle

Thanks for this. I will try and find out the model and serial number.



Is there a way for the Head unit to tell this info?



Cheers

Spart

Serial number is printed on the label

[smac999]

The pathfinder stuff is 20 years old and the e80 is 15 years old. It’s not worth the effort to try and make it all work just to fail 6 months later.

Bite the bullet and buy new.

[Pizzazz]

Originally Posted by sparticle

Option 1 sounds interesting. Are you saying If we replaced the RL80C and RL70C units with the E80 or E120(W) units we can connect the pathfinder radar and somehow convert that signal to a networked digital signal?

Are you talking about this plugin? https://opencpn.org/OpenCPN/plugins/radarPI.html

The RL80C Plus and the RL70C Plus according to the manuals are HSB2 Plus Colour LCD displays.

This is correct, as long as your radome serial number is compatible, see the other post and you get the E80/E120 Classic (the 4:3 display, not the Wide series). Raymarine dropped analog radar support in the Wide series. And the radar plugin for OpenCPN works specifically with the E80 Classic output.

If you can find a working unit on eBay, it is unlikely to fail. These were pretty reliable and people like you continue to drive the prices up. But think about the opposite view as well - you will invest in CF charts that you will need to later upgrade again. Then, if you want to display radar overlay on a big screen you need to go through: 1) switch on the E80, switch on the router; 2) boot up the RPI; launch OpenCPN, start the radar plugin; 3) fiddle with the mouse, etc. Some people love the flexibility, other just want something that works at a press of a button.