Integrating an older Raymarine Auto Pilot with a new Raymarine GPS/Chartplotter

[Halfhitch]

Isn't this a Raymarine autopilot controller?

 

[ZZ13]

Isn't this a Raymarine autopilot controller?

No, that’s the ST-60 tridata for depth, speed and sea water temp.

 

[dtfeld]

In this era, I think Sea Ray was installing an ST7001+ It would look like this. There are a couple of other AP heads that look quite similar.
On my boat, it was down to the left, under the RL80 radar. Very odd placement.

 

[Halfhitch]

No, that’s the ST-60 tridata for depth, speed and sea water temp.

Oh yeah, the red "standby" and "auto" buttons are missing. Your right.

 

[Jcclark85]

Coming into this convo late but I installed an axiom mfd on my boat and was able to network the original st7001+ (If that’s what the OP has ?) to the axiom network. The axiom MFD and original autopilot talk to each other and I’m able to follow routes created on my MFD with the autopilot. The only thing I’m not able to do is control (turn on/ turn off, adjust course) the autopilot from the MFD like you can with the newer autopilot model. I have to hit the buttons on the autopilot head unit which is not a big deal as it sits right below my MFD. if I remember correctly my installer used an Actisense nmea0183 to nmea 2000 converter to connect the autopilot to the backbone.

 

[ttmott]

If you have an older Ray autopilot you must have a hydraulic drive unit, Smartpilot controller (ST6xxx, ST7xxx, ST8xxx for example), and Smartpilot Computer (Sx, SPX for example) and a Fluxgate compass. If the Smartpilot Computer has a "G" in the version number (S3G for example) it has an integrated Gyro. The rudder position sensor may be there but may not. The SmartPilot controller is connected to the computer via Seatalk 1.
If you want visibility on a MFD then the SmartPilot computer must interface via Seatalk 1, Seatalk ng, or NMEA 0183. The capabilities on the MFD vary depending upon the technology used to integrate.

Here are the connections -

If you have other Seatalk 1 instruments they can be daisy chained from the controller like this -

The Controller and Computer can receive NMEA 0183 data Rx only for the Controller and Rx/Tx for the Computer -

 

[ttmott]

These are the hydraulic drive types - you should have a Type 4 if you have an Autopilot -

 

[ttmott]

Now, if you want to integrate with an MFD this is the data the system exchanges via NMEA 0183. If you have a SPX computer then it can provide the data via Seatalk ng (NMEA 2000). You can convert using a NMEA 0183 to NMEA 2000 converter the data also -

 

[Ramblin' Guy]

Now, if you want to integrate with an MFD this is the data the system exchanges via NMEA 0183. If you have a SPX computer then it can provide the data via Seatalk ng (NMEA 2000). You can convert using a NMEA 0183 to NMEA 2000 converter the data also -
View attachment 119709
View attachment 119710

Late bump on this, but maybe you can help me.

I have an Axiom 7 networked to a RP150 pilot on a SeatalkNG to Seatalk 1 converter. When I put a waypoint into the Axiom, I see the correct range, bearing, etc on the pilot, but that’s about all that works correctly. When the boat is underway, I take the pilot from standby to auto, then Nav, and all the boat does is circles and beeps at me. It’s like it loses its mind. The pilot doesn’t appear to be able to hold a course in auto mode, and the compass heading on the pilot doesn’t match the heading on the ships compass very well. I’m wondering if the pilot needs a recalibration/commissioning as this setup is new to me. Last fall it seemed to do ok on the old system with an older plotter/gps/loran setup on a Seatalk 1 network. Even back then, not able to hold a heading, but Nav mode was better. Any tips on some fresh debug ideas are always appreciated.

 

[ttmott]

Late bump on this, but maybe you can help me.

I have an Axiom 7 networked to a RP150 pilot on a SeatalkNG to Seatalk 1 converter. When I put a waypoint into the Axiom, I see the correct range, bearing, etc on the pilot, but that’s about all that works correctly. When the boat is underway, I take the pilot from standby to auto, then Nav, and all the boat does is circles and beeps at me. It’s like it loses its mind. The pilot doesn’t appear to be able to hold a course in auto mode, and the compass heading on the pilot doesn’t match the heading on the ships compass very well. I’m wondering if the pilot needs a recalibration/commissioning as this setup is new to me. Last fall it seemed to do ok on the old system with an older plotter/gps/loran setup on a Seatalk 1 network. Even back then, not able to hold a heading, but Nav mode was better. Any tips on some fresh debug ideas are always appreciated.

Two possibilities -
Certain communication interfaces between the Smartpilot and other interfaces do not include course data. I seem to remember discussion on the Ray Forum regarding input and output from the course computer.
Secondly, there was some discussion on this forum that there isn't a perfect one-to-one correlation between ST1 and STng. The NMEA 2000 PGN's for autopilot function are not fully interchangeable with the ST1 data; that was the crux of the discussion.

 

[Ramblin' Guy]

Two possibilities -
Certain communication interfaces between the Smartpilot and other interfaces do not include course data. I seem to remember discussion on the Ray Forum regarding input and output from the course computer.
Secondly, there was some discussion on this forum that there isn't a perfect one-to-one correlation between ST1 and STng. The NMEA 2000 PGN's for autopilot function are not fully interchangeable with the ST1 data; that was the crux of the discussion.

@ttmott - thanks for the reply. I'm beginning to thing that there are different versions of ST1, and the RayPilot 650 reads an older one than the STng/ST1 converter for the Axiom puts out. I can see the waypoint/course and distance on the RP650, but I'm not sure if the RP650 needs more than what it's getting from the converter. I'm also not convinced that the pilot is running correctly anyway - it can't hold a course in Auto mode. I'm not sure if the compass needs recalibration or is even capable of holding a calibration. It is not consistent with the ships compass in terms of heading - often off by 20 degrees or more and very erratic. I know there's a calibration routine I'm supposed to do out on the lake alone somewhere.

I'm wondering if I buy the Actisense NMEA 0183 convertor like they say in the forums if this thing will even work. I'd rather not replace the pilot this season, but I guess that's an option - there's kits where I can keep the hydraulic pump and I think maybe the rudder angle indicator and such. Maybe that's better money than trying to get the converter.

 

[Steve S]

@ttmott - thanks for the reply. I'm beginning to thing that there are different versions of ST1, and the RayPilot 650 reads an older one than the STng/ST1 converter for the Axiom puts out. I can see the waypoint/course and distance on the RP650, but I'm not sure if the RP650 needs more than what it's getting from the converter. I'm also not convinced that the pilot is running correctly anyway - it can't hold a course in Auto mode. I'm not sure if the compass needs recalibration or is even capable of holding a calibration. It is not consistent with the ships compass in terms of heading - often off by 20 degrees or more and very erratic. I know there's a calibration routine I'm supposed to do out on the lake alone somewhere.

I'm wondering if I buy the Actisense NMEA 0183 convertor like they say in the forums if this thing will even work. I'd rather not replace the pilot this season, but I guess that's an option - there's kits where I can keep the hydraulic pump and I think maybe the rudder angle indicator and such. Maybe that's better money than trying to get the converter.

Ramblin Guy - I have a RayPilot 650 and an old E140W chart plotter. When I spoke with Raymarine about upgrading to an Axiom, they were pretty straight forward that the RP650 would not interface correctly. They advised me to use one of the upgrade kits to a new AP.