RayMarine EV-100 Autopilot Installation

Does your raymarine device have a SD memory card slot ?

My MFD software was updated by using the SD memory card .

Bill Kelleher
 
That's the problem Bill. None of the autopilot components have a memory card slot. The A/p components get updated thru the MFD. Except my MFD is a Garmin. Unfortunately, Raymarine doesn't share all this info prior to purchase. So the only way I can update my raymarine autopilot components is to either send them in to the factory, or go to a dealer that can do that. (No dealers here in Madison....) :-(
 
I went through that drill last year on a EVO autopilot install. Being in Wrangell, AK I finally bought a Raymarine a67 on sale at West Marine just to be able to update the autopilot.

I had numerous problems with the EVO last year that were all software related. It would wander off course progressively and then work well for an hour before wandering around again. The most difficult was a "No Pilot" error that repeatedly occurred disengaging the autopilot. I could immediately put it back into pilot mode. The problem was related to multiple MFDs on the network interacting with the autopilot controller. Here is how Raymarine characterized it:

"Now corrects the intermittent “No Pilot” alarm fault. – This can occur with the previous v2.11 software with an SPX or Evolution Autopilot connected on Seatalk NG to multiple MFD’s with the Pilot Control enabled."

I have pretty much put all those behind me, but I think it is reasonable to say that the best thing you can do is keep all the software up to date. My first task this spring is an autopilot and MFD (Lowrance) software update.

After I got the software updated last summer, the EVO did very well tracking headings in all types of sea conditions and the P70R is really a well designed device. The rotary knob is great for course changes and to dial in cross current or wind drift.

Tom
 
Well, no clue why the Raymarine won't recognize my primary Garmin. I called Raymarine early last week and the tech said just send them all in for software updates and they will check them out for operation. I also learned that the EV-1 is really the brains of it all. So, pulled them all back out (everything but the pump) and sent in last week. Hope to get them back soon and then we'll see what happens. We've had a very nice week of warm weather, so the ice is starting to clear. Colby
 
colbysmith":p34ya7f6 said:
Well, no clue why the Raymarine won't recognize my primary Garmin. I called Raymarine early last week and the tech said just send them all in for software updates and they will check them out for operation. I also learned that the EV-1 is really the brains of it all. So, pulled them all back out (everything but the pump) and sent in last week. Hope to get them back soon and then we'll see what happens. We've had a very nice week of warm weather, so the ice is starting to clear. Colby
Click to expand...

That's sad Colby. Raymarine SHOULD sell a small card reader that plugs into the NMEA 2K network to do updates. That way NO MFD would be required.

I guess this situation is INTENTIONAL on Raymarine's part.

Garmin has a fix for this situation:


cf-lg.jpg

I'll be curious to know how much shipping/handling cost and how many days you are without your kit to have the software updated.

/david
 
I think I'm going to share that Garmin photo with Raymarine and see what they say. To ship the 3 components back to them, in one box, I paid shipping of about $9. Because of the price of the components, I took out $999 Insurance for another $14. During my call with them, the tech informed me a turn around of 7-10 days. I don't plan on paying for the shipping back to me! And I'm not suffering any loss of boat use time now anyway, with ice still on the lakes. (I think, but the bays are opening up. :-) I shipped the items fairly fast. They received it two days later. I've found that one can use the USPS website, get a small break on pricing, and print the label out at home and just throw in with the regular outgoing mail. Works pretty slick. Colby
 
Geez...the more I think about it WHY WOULDN'T the Garmin card reader work? If you used a Devicenet cable from Raymarine (which you already have to connect the Garmin), the reader would connect seamlessly. Card are cards - meaning micro sd cards.

Hmmm. Any thoughts?

david
 
David, I was thinking the exact same thing. Unless the Raymarine EV-100 needs to have the file opened by one of their MFD's. That is the question I'm going to put forth to Raymarine. Also, I'm not sure if the Garmin NMEA 2000 would plug into Raymarine's SeatalkNG backbone. The device net cables I have for the Garmin, I'm pretty sure are the same gender as the cable coming off the card reader, so I might need some sort of adapter to mate the two cables. Colby
 
You have to have a MFD to get to the menu to get the update to down load.

Unfortunately even with NMEA 2000, there are times which the various sentences don't work between the various manufacture. Each manufacture will tell you it is the other's fault. The problem is that NMEA 2000 is not really open source. You have to buy into it, for about $5,000, at the cheapest for a license. Even then you may not be able to read all of the RayMarine code.
 
Checked with Raymarine today. My autopilot components are on their way back, with the latest software updates. They didn't note anything else wrong with them. I also spoke to a tech about the Garmin card reader. He said only a Raymarine MFD could update the software. It's tempting to buy the card reader and try it anyway, but I've also posted on a Raymarine forum to see if anyone else has already tried it. I suspect that their "bundled" software file would need the MFD to "open" it and send it out over the network. Colby
 
A possible cause for the "No Pilot" or "Loss of GPS data" that I have run into is, on occasion, caused with a transmit situation from the VHF. Key up and the error comes up on the MFD screen. The AP drops the info on board and looses itself. Needs a reset with the heading or waypoint info and we are all good again.

I have had it back to the RayMarine techs and up to this point we don't have a fix.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

January_2010_342.highlight.jpg
 
Try to keep the VHF antenna coax as far away from any wires connected to the MFD & AP.

Bill Kelleher



hardee":2y2bbzxr said:
A possible cause for the "No Pilot" or "Loss of GPS data" that I have run into is, on occasion, caused with a transmit situation from the VHF. Key up and the error comes up on the MFD screen. The AP drops the info on board and looses itself. Needs a reset with the heading or waypoint info and we are all good again.

I have had it back to the RayMarine techs and up to this point we don't have a fix.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

January_2010_342.highlight.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Although the autopilot Radio frequency interference (RFI) issue is more with SSB, it also happens with VHF. One "cure" is to put ferrite beads on all leads of the VHF, Power and Antenna, To put Ferrite beads on the auto pilot wiring and MFD wiring.

Also be sure that you have a good ground system (not just the DC ground) to sea water, or at least a large ground plane (hard on the 22's, not so hard on the Tom Cat, since they have metal tanks. If it still persists with the ferrite beads and a good ground, then consider using 2" to 3" wide copper "foil" as ground. I have found that either the beads, the foil or a combination of both will solve RFI issues with a pilot.
 
Thanks for this info. Bob, please tell me more about the ground plane and the cooper 2-3 inches wide. All part of the same or separate devices. It is hard to keep the wires separate for 2 antennae, 2 VHF's and the Class B AIS. I just need more acreage :lol: Oh and throw in a couple of GPS pucks too.

The ferrite beads might be a possible that has not been tried yet.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

January_2010_344.thumb.jpg
 
This was the question I put on RayMarine's technical forum about using a Garmin card reader to update software on Raymarines components. Followed by their reply and more from me. I'll report back what they end up replying. COlby


Can the Garmin NMEA 2000 Network Updater be used to update Raymarine EV-100
Posted by Colby on March 22, 2015 at 4:14pm in Autopilots
I have the Raymarine EV-100 Autopilot, but do not have a RayMarine MFD. (I intend to use my Raymarine autopilot with my Garmin GPSMAP 840xs). Raymarine does not provide an easy method for updating their a/p components. Garmin does make a nice little card reader that can plug into the NMEA 2000 network. Can this Garmin device be used to upload software updates into the network that the EV-1, ACU-100 and P70R are connected on?

Reply by Underway - Raymarine, US 34 minutes ago
Unfortunately, Garmin products can not recognize Raymarine programming and vise versa. You couldn't update a Garmin autopilot with a Raymarine MFD. So your options for software upgrades will be the following.
bring the Raymarine electronics components to the Raymarine dealer from whom they were purchased ... recommend contacting the dealer before removing any equipment from the boat
hire a certified Raymarine installer to visit the vessel
send the Raymarine electronics components to Raymarine's Product Repair Center

Reply by Colby 1 second ago
The Garmin Card reader would simply allow any products on the NMEA 2000 network to access the disk. In clarifying my question, what I'm asking is would the Raymarine components "see" the update software and "read" it, or does the update software actually have to be "sent" to the components by the Raymarine MFD?
 
Last reply:

Reply by Underway - Raymarine, US 16 minutes ago
The Raymarine products can only be updated through Raymarine MFDs because of programming in the software. This is the only way it can be updated.
I will forward your request for remote upgrade through 3rd party products to our Product Management team as a feature request. Thanks.



Anyway, got everything put back in the boat, and still at square one with the problem between the autopilot and the Garmin GPSMAP 840xs. Both Garmin units, the 840xs and the 541s, see each other and all the raymarine components on the NMEA2000/Seatalkng backbone system. The Raymarine p70r sees everything, except the GPSMAP 840. WTF. I'm out of ideas and about ready to send Raymarines product back and ask for my money back. Thinking I probably should have spent a little more money on the Garmin Autopilot system to begin with..... :x
 
Just for kicks, have you tried connecting the 840 to the P 70 R? Rather than connect it to the backbone, try connecting it to the second N2K port on the back of the p70r.

David
 
Haven't tried that, but suppose I could. However, the cable is not long enough to reach between the two units. I could probably find a "connector" and have an extra cable that goes between a raymarine unit and the backbone. But at this point I may just contact Hodges to see if they would let me exchange the Raymarine for the Garmin... Just kind of tired of dealing with it. I do have one tech on the Raymarine tech forum telling me: "This does not make any sense. If you disconnect the 541, does the p70R notice the 840? Are both Garmin units at the latest software?" I replied to him, No and Yes.... Playing around with it on the boat, which is dry on the trailer, it appears the autopilot does try to follow an activated route on the 541. But I want it to work with the 840! Colby
 
Colby, I am old fashioned, and like to "dial in" each route as I go. It is not that I don't "trust" the GPS, but I don't trust other boaters and the charts. I have never set an autopilot on a "Route" and let it take me there---and I have many 10's of thousands of miles under autopilots…. It sounds as if there is some interfacing between the 541 and the EVO pilot.
 
I believe the 541 and the p70R are communicating. That's what makes it so odd that the p70R won't register with the 840, especially since the 840 lists the p70R on it's comms page. As for using routing and tracks, really no different than dialing in a course. You should be watching where you are going in either case! (and I know you are!) :-) Colby
 
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