Question for the Garmin Autopilot Boys?

Irie308 said:
I came from an older Raymarine autopilot that I used mostly in head holding mode. So not familiar with their newer stuff. I have to say that I absolutely love my new Garmin AP. I do have the full Garmin suite so I'm fully immersed. I rarely use my steering wheel believe it or not. I do use the auto guidance a lot but its not the end all as it does do some wonky stuff sometime. I rarely trust it unless its running on top of one of my previous tracks. You really have to review it prior to engaging the AP. I will say that I am a bit underwhelmed by the GHC 50. Its a beautiful screen but it really doesn't do much more than I can do with my Garmin screens and it only does the AP. Would be nice if it could display other features like cameras, depth etc. I do find if you check with vendors around the time of the FLBS you can get some good deals. I bought my AP there last fall and it was under 2k.
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Right and there is the rub. I am also all Garmin except the AP and my AP has the newer head unit and works perfectly. I also don't use the steering wheel much and use the AP knob instead. Works great and is interfaced to my G-MFD's. So I would be upgrading to only use the auto-guidance, sounds like it isn't worth the effort to do so?

@alnav Al said you need the updated sub'd charts for the auto-guidance to work correctly/better. What charting are you using Vision+?

There is also a new Garmin touch screen that looks like it supports the AP as well, the TD-50 and it does support everything else. I am getting one for the cabin for turning lights on/off and general N2K info.

Check out the SS's they have shown - https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/716468#overview
 
Irie308 said:
I came from an older Raymarine autopilot that I used mostly in head holding mode. So not familiar with their newer stuff. I have to say that I absolutely love my new Garmin AP. I do have the full Garmin suite so I'm fully immersed. I rarely use my steering wheel believe it or not. I do use the auto guidance a lot but its not the end all as it does do some wonky stuff sometime. I rarely trust it unless its running on top of one of my previous tracks. You really have to review it prior to engaging the AP. I will say that I am a bit underwhelmed by the GHC 50. Its a beautiful screen but it really doesn't do much more than I can do with my Garmin screens and it only does the AP. Would be nice if it could display other features like cameras, depth etc. I do find if you check with vendors around the time of the FLBS you can get some good deals. I bought my AP there last fall and it was under 2k.
Click to expand...
I'm wondering if the GHC20 functions can all be done on the MFD with the latest update. There are a lot of calibration settings on the GHC20 that I don't recall seeing on the GPSMAP units. The latest S/W download seems to have added features; I wonder if the GHC20 can be deleted.
 
SKybolt said:
Right and there is the rub. I am also all Garmin except the AP and my AP has the newer head unit and works perfectly. I also don't use the steering wheel much and use the AP knob instead. Works great and is interfaced to my G-MFD's. So I would be upgrading to only use the auto-guidance, sounds like it isn't worth the effort to do so?

@alnav Al said you need the updated sub'd charts for the auto-guidance to work correctly/better. What charting are you using Vision+?

There is also a new Garmin touch screen that looks like it supports the AP as well, the TD-50 and it does support everything else. I am getting one for the cabin for turning lights on/off and general N2K info.

Check out the SS's they have shown - https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/716468#overview
Click to expand...
Thats the other thing. If you use the navionics chart you have to subscribe to be able to use the auto guidance. Otherwise it does work with the vision+
 
ttmott said:
I'm wondering if the GHC20 functions can all be done on the MFD with the latest update. There are a lot of calibration settings on the GHC20 that I don't recall seeing on the GPSMAP units. The latest S/W download seems to have added features; I wonder if the GHC20 can be deleted.
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I've done calibrations and fine tuning via the 12XX screens. haven't found anything that I only needed the ghc 50 for.
 
Irie308 said:
Thats the other thing. If you use the navionics chart you have to subscribe to be able to use the auto guidance. Otherwise it does work with the vision+
Click to expand...

Well perhaps that's why I can't get it to work now. I only have Vision+ and have not sub'd to Navionics. Strange that Auto Guidance is available with Vision+ and does produce a route (pink line).

Currently I use Route To for longer runs. You select your end point, then add in turns. Works real well, just takes time to setup. Auto Guidance works on the fly, but not to the AP in my case.

Not sure upgrading just for that is worth it?
 
SKybolt said:
Right and there is the rub. I am also all Garmin except the AP and my AP has the newer head unit and works perfectly. I also don't use the steering wheel much and use the AP knob instead. Works great and is interfaced to my G-MFD's. So I would be upgrading to only use the auto-guidance, sounds like it isn't worth the effort to do so?

@alnav Al said you need the updated sub'd charts for the auto-guidance to work correctly/better. What charting are you using Vision+?

There is also a new Garmin touch screen that looks like it supports the AP as well, the TD-50 and it does support everything else. I am getting one for the cabin for turning lights on/off and general N2K info.
Click to expand...
Orlando, yes, I have the Vision charts. Haven't needed to do an update for a couple of years but Auto-Guidance still works. BTW, AG is available on Active Captain (assume only if you have capable charting) and I use it quite a bit for planning. It's gotten better and better since the first iteration. I tend to use it for to plan a route ("path" in Garmin to distinguish from a route) but rarely engage the autopilot. There are just too many reasons to deviate on the Bay. So I leave it up and either steer manually or engage the autopilot to a course that will keep me on or close to the path. I did do some testing my last underway and found that bringing the boat back to a path (or route) was now much smoother than before. The software now seems to always show a gentle arc from current position back to the path and when re-engaged, never made a drastic move even though I tried to give it difficult problems. So, AG is well worth it from my perspective whether or not it is integrated with the AP.

ttmott said:
I'm wondering if the GHC20 functions can all be done on the MFD with the latest update. There are a lot of calibration settings on the GHC20 that I don't recall seeing on the GPSMAP units. The latest S/W download seems to have added features; I wonder if the GHC20 can be deleted.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure all the calibration options are now available on the MFD autopilot screen and that a dedicated controller/display is not necessary. Makes sense in that they seem to be trying to enable full-glass cockpits with huge MFD screens.

One other option I think might work or be helpful if the GHC 20/50 is not required is the Reactor Autopilot Remote. I have one and always have it in hand to do course adjustments. I believe it provides all the same info and underway control options as the GHC 20 (albeit on a tiny screen) except for calibration. You can also point in the direction you want to go and set a course. It has been well worth it for me and only costs about $250.

Lastly, at least on the Garmin site, the GHC 20 is available and not marked discontinued. I do know its software is not being updated.
 
alnav said:
Orlando, yes, I have the Vision charts. Haven't needed to do an update for a couple of years but Auto-Guidance still works. BTW, AG is available on Active Captain (assume only if you have capable charting) and I use it quite a bit for planning. It's gotten better and better since the first iteration. I tend to use it for to plan a route ("path" in Garmin to distinguish from a route) but rarely engage the autopilot. There are just too many reasons to deviate on the Bay. So I leave it up and either steer manually or engage the autopilot to a course that will keep me on or close to the path. I did do some testing my last underway and found that bringing the boat back to a path (or route) was now much smoother than before. The software now seems to always show a gentle arc from current position back to the path and when re-engaged, never made a drastic move even though I tried to give it difficult problems. So, AG is well worth it from my perspective whether or not it is integrated with the AP.


I'm pretty sure all the calibration options are now available on the MFD autopilot screen and that a dedicated controller/display is not necessary. Makes sense in that they seem to be trying to enable full-glass cockpits with huge MFD screens.

One other option I think might work or be helpful if the GHC 20/50 is not required is the Reactor Autopilot Remote. I have one and always have it in hand to do course adjustments. I believe it provides all the same info and underway control options as the GHC 20 (albeit on a tiny screen) except for calibration. You can also point in the direction you want to go and set a course. It has been well worth it for me and only costs about $250.

Lastly, at least on the Garmin site, the GHC 20 is available and not marked discontinued. I do know its software is not being updated.
Click to expand...

Great info on not needing the display's and only needing the MFD. I have the vision+ charts now and the grid remote. They work well together. Auto guidance also works, just not with the AP. I as you, also just set a heading close to the AG path.

As for the GHC-20, I ordered an upgrade reactor package from BOEMarine that had the GHC-20 in it. I was called a day later and told the GHC 20 was on back order and now discontinued.

Garmin has not been updating their web site lately. They have released the TD 50, same as the GHC 50 for the most part and there isn't any manual download(s) for the TD 50, but it can be purchased. Try and purchase a GHC 20 and it only shows as back ordered.
 
ttmott said:
There is a difference between a path and route when using Auto-guidance. It seems to have to do with how waypoints are used. Either the Garmin Vision + or Garmin Navionics will work with Auto-Guidance. I have the Vision package for the added features. Here is a comparison between the two -
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/marine/garmin-navionics-plus-cartography-comparison/
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Yeah the route to option does work very nicely. The wording of "path" is strange but ok. It's like that belongs to a hiker and not a boat. Boats use courses and follow a heading, JMO.

So I guess the way I have things now there really isn't much of difference between the two, Garmin and RM except for the MFD integration. Not sure upgrading is worth the effort since I fixed my original issue.

I also have the non-sub'd vision+. I have been tempted to sub to the Nav. Vision+ just to see the charting difference. I am not a fan of the coloring of the current relief shading and liked the older Navionics (app version) sonar (blue) relief shading much better. But the idea of having to pay yearly or the extended features expire is a bit over the top IMO.
 
Hey guys have a buddy with all Garmin so trying to help
1. How do I get the Garmin Rudder indicator to display on the Auto Pilot screen
2. How do I get the Garmin Rudder indicator to display on the MFD screen

I currently have the compass showing on the autopilot, can it be replaced with the rudder indicator? Can I have both?
 
ocgrant said:
Hey guys have a buddy with all Garmin so trying to help
1. How do I get the Garmin Rudder indicator to display on the Auto Pilot screen
2. How do I get the Garmin Rudder indicator to display on the MFD screen

I currently have the compass showing on the autopilot, can it be replaced with the rudder indicator? Can I have both?
Click to expand...
The rudder indicator is part of the default display on the GHC 20, I assume that's true on the newer GHC 50 if he has that.
1698240741268.png
It is the bar above "Menu". AFAIK, it can't be turned off. Right now it is showing pretty hard right rudder, the bar turns red for left rudder. If your friend isn't seeing it, I think the problem might be that it isn't connected properly. There is an autopilot screen for the MFD that exactly duplicates the GHC so if he gets one to work, he should be able to see the other.
 
@ocgrant dumb question, does he have a rudder indicator connected? And if so how is it connected?

To @alnav's point, It should just show up if connected right.

I also had that question a few post's back as to how it is displayed on N2K, but if it is on N2K then on the Garmin MFD it can be added to a data bar or a separate screen with info on it like the engines screen, it can go into any data box as well.

I have my RM rudder indicator on all of my Garmin screens.
 
Well he has the garmin rudder indicator connected to the rudder, I climbed back there to check that. I will have to see what it is connected to? I assume somewhere in MFD I can pull up a list of devices to look for it?
 
ocgrant said:
Well he has the garmin rudder indicator connected to the rudder, I climbed back there to check that. I will have to see what it is connected to? I assume somewhere in MFD I can pull up a list of devices to look for it?
Click to expand...

I believe it can be connected to a few places. If he has the smart pump, it can be connected to that. If no smart pump it can be to the ECU directly or could possibly have the Garmin rudder to N2K adapter. I would start with the ECU then look at the pump. The adapter looks like this: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/710788/pn/010-13007-00
 
The Garmin rudder feedback sensor can only connect to one of three things. The Smartpump, Garmin autopilot ECU, or with the converter the NMEA2000 network. It's connector will not interface with anything else from what I know.
In my application I have a Smartpump that is close to the rudder drive and the indicator is also right there. The orange indicator plug interfaces with the orange connector on the Smartpump.
 
ocgrant said:
Well he has the garmin rudder indicator connected to the rudder, I climbed back there to check that. I will have to see what it is connected to? I assume somewhere in MFD I can pull up a list of devices to look for it?
Click to expand...

The Garmin system will “lose” the rudder feedback if power is on to it 24/7. This takes weeks/months, but if you leave your battery switches on it will happen. Easy fix is usually to turn off battery switches (both port and starboard), wait ten seconds, turn them back on. This has happened on our boat several times and cycling power always fixes it.

Same with their AIS800. A lot of folks leave them on 24/7. They’ll occasionally lock-up and the fix is a re-boot…


Hope this helps,

Ed
 
ocgrant said:
Well he has the garmin rudder indicator connected to the rudder, I climbed back there to check that. I will have to see what it is connected to? I assume somewhere in MFD I can pull up a list of devices to look for it?
Click to expand...
Ii don't think it shows up on any device lists. What is showing on his Autopilot screen, either the GHC helm control or the MFD Autopilot screen? One you are sure it is connected and re-booted per @Chief Ed , I would try to do the sensor setup:
Autopilot Setup > Autopilot Installation Setup > Steering System Setup > Rudder Sensor Setup.
 
If he shows up at the dock today I will go play with it and report back what I find. Thanks for the help guys...
 
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