Fusion Radio Install in 410 Sundancer front cabin?

[dtfeld]

Getting around to replacing the original Clarion XMD1 Radio/CD changer original to the 2001 410 Sundancer. I'm considering the Fusion MS-AV755 as it has 4 zones (boat has 4 zones now) and a HDMI ARC to run the cockpit TV through. I guess the other options would be Wetsounds WS-MC1 or 2 radios (one cockpit, the other at the helm).

I was planning to install in the same place as the current head unit. However, the location (cabinet in the front cabin) concerns me. BT is line of sight and I'm concerned I wont be able to stream to the unit from the cockpit. Fusion Tech support confirmed this might be an issue. I guess the other option is to put it at the helm, but i'm not ready to redo my helm just yet.

Has anyone put a fusion head in that location and what were the results using BT? Can I get around that using WiFi? or just add a big USB stick?

A schematic of what you put in and/or pics would be appreciated.

 

[RollerCoastr]

Did the "line of sight" comment come from Garmin? They fed that to me when I complained about the exact concerns you're describing. That's not true. BT is a radio. It's not powerful, but it's not like IR which is line of sight.

Fortunately for you, the 755 has improved BT reception. My 750 will get a signal from the factory stereo location from the cockpit sink area, but not from the helm or stbd side of the cockpit. The WiFi connection is for the Fusion-Link app, but it doesn't carry a media source, so that doesn't bypass any BT issues.

I hardly ever use the app or the remote since I connected the unit to the NMEA2000 network.

 

[dtfeld]

Did the "line of sight" comment come from Garmin? They fed that to me when I complained about the exact concerns you're describing. That's not true. BT is a radio. It's not powerful, but it's not like IR which is line of sight.

Fortunately for you, the 755 has improved BT reception. My 750 will get a signal from the factory stereo location from the cockpit sink area, but not from the helm or stbd side of the cockpit. The WiFi connection is for the Fusion-Link app, but it doesn't carry a media source, so that doesn't bypass any BT issues.

I hardly ever use the app or the remote since I connected the unit to the NMEA2000 network.

The line of sight was from Fusion (Garmin) tech support. I thought I might get some coverage out of the 755. Just not ready to do the helm just yet (no budget!!) I can add the BT-100 but that is a very limited option. I wonder if a little BT repeater might work?

 

[RollerCoastr]

Ya gotta love "Tier 1" support!

I added a USB power outlet above the fridge. We keep whatever BT device is streaming on that shelf. It never cuts out there, even with the stereo cabinet door closed. Control can then be done from the plotters, or remote, the device broadcasting the BT or with any other device via WiFi.

I'd like BT to be stronger, but I can live with the way it is. Before adding an external BT module, I'd be more inclined to run USB from the Fusion up to the helm. That would provide the best connection + power...

 

[Cocktail Time]

It works great there. I have the ra70n and it will work with the door closed to the cabinet and the cabin door closed from three slips away. Older ones, had bluetooth reception issues. If I was you, I would wait till the new Apollo units start getting installed and I bet you will see some 755's for sale cheap. Or just buy the Apollo. It allows linking multiple radios to one bluetooth source so when you are rafted up, one person can be the dj for a bunch of radios, I think up to eight.

 

[dtfeld]

Alright...here goes.

Found 1 at the inverter stoer for about $60 less than everywhere else. I also ordered a USB for the dash.

 

[dtfeld]

It works great there. I have the ra70n and it will work with the door closed to the cabinet and the cabin door closed from three slips away. Older ones, had bluetooth reception issues. If I was you, I would wait till the new Apollo units start getting installed and I bet you will see some 755's for sale cheap. Or just buy the Apollo. It allows linking multiple radios to one bluetooth source so when you are rafted up, one person can be the dj for a bunch of radios, I think up to eight.

I looked into that unit and I think its more for the multizone boats...sedan bridge where you truely need a couple separate zones...different inputs in each room. I wasnt sold on that unit for what I need.

 

[Cocktail Time]

No worries, the 755 has four zones too. I didn't need or think I need more than two zones which is why I went with the 70N. I would highly suggest you run a nmea2000 cable to the dash if you are going to run a usb. When I did, I found that the USB cable will charge my phone but not play anything. I don't know if it is the distance and long cable or what. The Fusion dealer here (AVC marine) explained it as "not gonna work." Running a nmea cable will allow you to connect to a chartplotter or Fusion remote at the dash. The app is great but not that easy for volume when running.

 

[yobub]

1998 400DA, so similar size. I have the Fusion 755 in the first cabinet in the salon closest to the V berth on the starboard side, and yes, I have problems with the reach of the bluetooth connection from my phone. If I leave my phone in the dash cup holders it will usually hold a signal, if I bring my phone further aft in the cockpit area I lose the bluetooth connection. It's really a pain. The stereo came with the boat this way, and it hasn't been my highest priority to fix it, but I'm not happy with the arrangement.

 

[Wylie_Tunes]

The Wet sounds MC-1 is a black box type setup and has an external BT antenna. This strengthens the range, as well as the BB can be placed in a more strategic place.

 

[dtfeld]

Well the inverter store wasn’t authorized to sell the unit. Maybe fortunate. Looking further into the wet sounds unit. Not sure about video and ARC.

Anybody installl one?

If it will fit where the old clarion remote is, that might be a winner.. black box can go under the sofa where the amps are, and I could gain back another cabinet.

 

[JVM225]

Dave,
I had to replace my older Fusion 600 head unit with a new one about a month ago. I went with the 650.
Looked at the 755 but didn’t really need anything that it had that the 650 didn’t plus I found a decent price online and West Marine price matched it.
I also didn’t get the AV version because I don’t watch DVD’s on the boat or listen to CD’s. My iPad has made both obsolete for me.
My old unit didn’t have blue tooth so I hooked up a BT 100 to the aux out and stashed the dongle behind the curtain on the shelf over the salon couch and it worked great anywhere inside the salon all last year and this year up until the head unit took a crap on me.
I stream music whenever I’m on the boat.
It worked if you stood in the cockpit just outside the cabin door but that was about it.
The 650 has built in Bluetooth and I mounted it inside the cabinet where the old one was. I was also worried that it wouldn’t work well with the cabinet door closed so I hooked the BT 100 in to the aux 1 out just to be safe and so far I never had to use it.
The built in Bluetooth in the 650 works anywhere in the salon too, but I most often stream from my iPad which sits on the sliver of a shelf over the aft end of the couch. I’ve got a 12 volt usb receptacle there that I keep it charged with.
Neither Bluetooth works well from the cockpit but now that I know the built in BT in the 650 works in the salon with the cabinet door closed I’m thinking about moving the BT 100 out to the cockpit just in case I ever want to keep the iPad out there and stream to the 650.
I also had to change the remote at the helm because the old round Fusion remote won’t work with the 650. I had to run a NMEA 2000 cable from the remote to the head unit, but I really like the new remote a lot better than the old one so it was worth it, and Fusion makes an adapter plate that covers the old round hole.
I didn’t hook it in to the MFD’s since they are literally inches away from the remote anyway.
My first thought was to not get the remote and just tie it in to the MFD’s instead but then I realized all the hours the stereo is playing when the boat is tied to the dock with the MFD’s turned off so it didn’t make any sense.
I don’t usually keep my phone on my person when I’m tinkering around on the boat so the Fusion app, while a novelty, is pretty much useless to me. I don’t think I’ve opened that app since the night I installed the head unit.

 

[Wylie_Tunes]

The MC-1 has CAN, N2K, USB and a 3.5 AUX in and an out. No dedicated video or an HDMI.

The main screen is about 7" x 5" and the optional wired remote is round, about 3.5".

 

[dtfeld]

Still like the fusion...maybe the apollo might work better...I'd have to reread, but I think the remotes power their own speakers.

 

[RollerCoastr]

I didn’t hook it in to the MFD’s since they are literally inches away from the remote anyway.
My first thought was to not get the remote and just tie it in to the MFD’s instead but then I realized all the hours the stereo is playing when the boat is tied to the dock with the MFD’s turned off so it didn’t make any sense.
I don’t usually keep my phone on my person when I’m tinkering around on the boat so the Fusion app, while a novelty, is pretty much useless to me. I don’t think I’ve opened that app since the night I installed the head unit.

Let me see if I can sell you on connecting to the NM2K network: When we're at the dock, partying in the cockpit, I fire-up an MFD to display full-screen media. That's by far the easiest way to control zone volume. Album/Artist data is displayed for anyone to see. My remote is to the right of the helm, so while underway I have media as a "bar" along the bottom of the screen. Album/Artist info scrolls, prev/next, play/pause and volume are also included. On my 12" Garmin, there's also a button to instantly change the screen to full-screen media. My 7" Garmin has a permanent media button. Just 1-press on either unit to do and see anything we want on the Fusion.

Since I integrated the Fusion to the MFD's, my helm remote has been only used as a volume knob. Even in boating dollars, that's one helluva expensive volume knob!

I tend to agree with you on the app. I went through a LOT of trouble to get an ethernet cable from my router to the stereo because I was so excited about the app. It's getting better, but the old app would fail to connect about 25% of the time. The app has been updated to be more reliable and nicer to use, but now I never use it! I wish media content could use WiFi. That would be a game-changer.

 

[dtfeld]

I wish media content could use WiFi. That would be a game-changer.

Cocktail Time suggested the Apollo units, so I’m going back and looking at them...are they using WiFi for streaming? It kind of seems that way, but I think they use WiFi to stream to each other. The source still seems to be BT.

But, it’s kind of like having multiple head units spread through the boat. Doesn’t look like it has dvd or ARC, which was a nice selling feature.

To be honest, I dismissed them because I cant understand how it would work for my application based on the marketing BS.

 

[JVM225]

Let me see if I can sell you on connecting to the NM2K network: When we're at the dock, partying in the cockpit, I fire-up an MFD to display full-screen media. That's by far the easiest way to control zone volume. Album/Artist data is displayed for anyone to see. My remote is to the right of the helm, so while underway I have media as a "bar" along the bottom of the screen. Album/Artist info scrolls, prev/next, play/pause and volume are also included. On my 12" Garmin, there's also a button to instantly change the screen to full-screen media. My 7" Garmin has a permanent media button. Just 1-press on either unit to do and see anything we want on the Fusion.

Since I integrated the Fusion to the MFD's, my helm remote has been only used as a volume knob. Even in boating dollars, that's one helluva expensive volume knob!

I tend to agree with you on the app. I went through a LOT of trouble to get an ethernet cable from my router to the stereo because I was so excited about the app. It's getting better, but the old app would fail to connect about 25% of the time. The app has been updated to be more reliable and nicer to use, but now I never use it! I wish media content could use WiFi. That would be a game-changer.

Sounds like a pretty cool toy.
My Fusion remote is to the left of the helm between the MFD’s and the cabin door. That’s the spot where the old one was installed so I just put the new one in it’s place.
I stream music so I rarely, if ever change the station and I’m used to that location now because it is within reach of the helm when I’m running the boat and easy to get to when I’m hanging in the cockpit and have to change the volume for any reason.
At some point, when I figure out what to put in it’s place, I’m going to remove the original RN 300 from it’s place all the way to the right under the gauges because it is really just taking up space. If I decide to reconfigure things on that panel and go with a smaller MFD to fill it up I may tie the Fusion in there just for the heck of it. But for now I really don’t have any need for it to be tied in to the NMEA 2000.

 

[dtfeld]

Reading up on the Apollo unit, I think it might be a better fit. Thanks for the tip Cocktail. But I still don’t understand all this can do!

My goal was to be able to have the TV play through the cockpit speakers for games and movie night. The Apollo has a toslink optical link so there is the ARC, taken care of. A separate zone for the salon for the wife will be nice, but not sure I need a srx400 in the salon...again...an expensive volume control.

I don’t get the DVD player, but I think I can get Plex working well enough to stream movies and music if I want that as a source.

Head spinning...

So then the question is do I put the main unit on the helm or right back into the same cabinet...decisions decisions.

 

[KevinC]

.... BT is line of sight and I'm concerned I wont be able to stream to the unit from the cockpit...

I added the BT-100 from Fusion to the AUXIN on my stock XMD3 in my 340SDA. It was installed behind the DC Panel in the salon (roughly below our helm but still down below). I can stream music via BT to this unit from and where on the boat and also on the Dock going at least one boat in either direction. It definitely is NOT line of sight.

-Kevin

 

[dtfeld]

If the Apollo is using WiFi for streaming, I think that’s a better solution since I have to start new anyway. My 2001 radio doesn’t have any aux inputs. It’s that old.