Raymarine wireless

[Tmacmi]

Does anybody have experience with this wireless package?
Our boat is 28' and the mast is 37'

https://www.hodgesmarine.com/rayt108...YaAlR4EALw_wcB

Thanks

[sv_pelagia]

Originally Posted by Tmacmi

Does anybody have experience with this wireless package?
Our boat is 28' and the mast is 37'

https://www.hodgesmarine.com/rayt108...YaAlR4EALw_wcB

Thanks

This package is same as Tacktick wireless (bought by Raymarine).

We've had this since 2011, with (mostly) good results. Our mast is 60'.

Really like (and use) the abilty to move wind display (e.g., sometimes we take it to bed...).

We have not had problem with solar batteries (though we do plugin and recharge the displays). Had to replace wind rotor -- replacement part from Raymarine reasonably priced and easy to replace.

Occasionally, in busy Vancouver Coal Harbour, something disrupts the wind wireless signal; easy to get back again.

Nevertheless, IF a wired system is easy to install (e.g., if your mast will be coming out), I'd probably go with wired. But we've been happy with wireless.

[Mike OReilly]

I too have the same package from before Ray bought out Tacktick. It came with our current boat, so must be at least 17 years old now. Has generally worked quite well.

I did end up having to send in my wind anemometer for repairs after it stopped transmitting. Might have been the battery. I couldn't figure out how to replace it without destroying it. Ray took the old one, and I think sent me a new one as a replacement -- not sure. Anyway, the price was ~1/3 of new, so I was happy. That was six or seven years ago. Has worked perfect ever since.

I also had to replace the depth/speed transducer. Swapped it out for a non-Ray Airmar, just had to rewire the connector a bit. Again, that was nearly a decade ago.

[Tmacmi]

Thanks to you both. How is the speed and depth transducer powered? By the paddle wheel?

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Tmacmi

Thanks to you both. How is the speed and depth transducer powered? By the paddle wheel?

Mine is hardwired to the hull transmitter, which is then hardwired to the battery.

So, to be clear, the transducer is powered via hardwire to the battery bank via the hull transmitter box. The transducer's data is passed to the hull transmitter via wire (not wireless). The hull transmitter than transmits the data wirelessly to the display units which are powered by their own small lithium battery and charged via their own solar cells.

[Knotical]

Originally Posted by Tmacmi

Thanks to you both. How is the speed and depth transducer powered? By the paddle wheel?

The info is not very clear on various sites but it seems like the speed/depth transducer is wired, not wireless. Check out this link:

https://www.raymarine.com/view/index-id=1237.html

[sv_pelagia]

As Mike indicates, the depth and speed transducers ARE WIRED to a transmitter (which may be placed nearby and provides power to transducers, as needed), which then broadcasts wirelessly. Wind transmitter is NOT WIRED.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by sv_pelagia

As Mike indicates, the depth and speed transducers ARE WIRED to a transmitter (which may be placed nearby and provides power to transducers, as needed), which then broadcasts wirelessly. Wind transmitter is NOT WIRED.

Right. Forgot about that one. Not wired at all. Has an onboard battery which is charged by its own solar cell.

Question for you Pelagia. Do you know if the wind transducer transmits to the hull transmitter, which then transmits it to the displays, or does the windy transmit directly to the displays?

[sv_pelagia]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Right. Forgot about that one. Not wired at all. Has an onboard battery which is charged by its own solar cell.

Question for you Pelagia. Do you know if the wind transducer transmits to the hull transmitter, which then transmits it to the displays, or does the windy transmit directly to the displays?

hmmm... good question. don't know.

I could check by turning on system them taking wind display down the dock/far away. If system is outputting wind-related NMEA or not, that should answer question. Will try this week.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by sv_pelagia

hmmm... good question. don't know.

I could check by turning on system them taking wind display down the dock/far away. If system is outputting wind-related NMEA or not, that should answer question. Will try this week.

I'm always paranoid about losing the network link between the components in the system. When I first bought my boat I had to go through the linking process, and I recall it didn't go easily. I've long since lost the instructions on how to do it (although I'm sure I could find it online). So I try not to separate them.

All that is to say, don't screw up your network just to answer my little query. It's just a little curiosity. I'd hate to have you get into trouble over it .

[Tmacmi]

Thank you for the follow-ups.

Final question (I think) are the displays solar powered with plug in back up?

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Tmacmi

Thank you for the follow-ups.

Final question (I think) are the displays solar powered with plug in back up?

Yes, exactly right. I've never used the plug in option, only the solar charging. I've never yet had a problem with them losing power, but of course this will depend on the location of the displays, and how much light they are getting.

[sv_pelagia]

Originally Posted by Tmacmi

Thank you for the follow-ups.

Final question (I think) are the displays solar powered with plug in back up?

Yes. Displays solar powered.

During night passages, with the displays backlit, I started to plug them in. Never actually had the batteries go down that much, just being conservative.

Mike: I'm not worried about losing connection and then not being able to get it back. As I believe I noted earlier, just as I am nearing our berth, something nearby is broadcasting such that I briefly lose my wind connection, but it is easy to get back again. (Fortunately, this doesn't occur out on the water.)