Raymarine loosing position fix

An old dog 108. Non WAAS. Non D-GPS
 
Again thanks guys for all your help. This pathfinder radar and chartplotter are much more than I'm use to. I came from a sailboat with a handheld GPS and no radar so this RL80 CRC Plus unit has more functionality than I ever thought I'd have.

I'm going to get the Ray Star 125 and keep what I have. I just thought that perhaps for just a little more I could get the latest technology, but as you guys have mentioned that is not possible.
 
Timjet, I also have a raymarine rl70rc it had a raystar120 antenna when i bought the boat it lost fix a few times so i replaced the 120 with 125 still no fix it turned out to be a bad wire splice between the antenna and the gps unit. i prob didnt have to change the antenna"receiver" but its upgraded now anyway,

p.s. i am not a fan of raymarine equipment so i added a Garmin 4208 and use the raymarine for radar only.
 
frozen with salt said:
Timjet, I also have a raymarine rl70rc it had a raystar120 antenna when i bought the boat it lost fix a few times so i replaced the 120 with 125 still no fix it turned out to be a bad wire splice between the antenna and the gps unit. i prob didnt have to change the antenna"receiver" but its upgraded now anyway,

p.s. i am not a fan of raymarine equipment so i added a Garmin 4208 and use the raymarine for radar only.
Click to expand...

I'll check all the connections and try powering it down and back up and see what gives. I hate to pay $300 for a replacement GPS because they can't make a reliable unit. Makes me kinda mad and will remember this if I ever replace the unit.
 
Remember that the RL can use any GPS unit that sends NMEA 0183 sentences. You don't have to buy a Raymarine.
 
fc3 said:
Remember that the RL can use any GPS unit that sends NMEA 0183 sentences. You don't have to buy a Raymarine.
Click to expand...

Frank, good point. My system is currently setup with the sea-talk variant, which includes depth, autopilot and maybe the radar??
When I talked to the tech at raymarine he asked what variant I had and I didn't know, but after further discussions we determined it was sea-talk because I can display depth on my chart-plotter, apparently something that can't be done using NMEA 0183. I currently have autohelm-aka raymarine for depth, speed (same unit), and autopilot all apparently hooked together using sea-talk.
If I purchase a NMEA 0183 non sea-talk GPS receiver/antenna and install it will I loose anything, ie speed of display, certain info, etc?
 
I can't recall if the RL systems have one, or two NMEA input feeds. If you have radar and autopilot, then there is also a good chance you also have a heading compass. The Raymarine smart heading compass and rate computer need to output both NMEA and SeaTalk to the display. If there is only one NMEA input on the display you may need some additional hardware to allow both to use the same feed.

Henry
 
The plotter has 0183 and Sea Talk interfaces and both work at the same time. Hard to say what you actually have installed since you should be able to use either. The GPS unit is only going to send GPS sentences. It's not going to know what to do with depth info.

Best regards,
Frank
 
I do have a heading compass located in a dry compartment low in the boat which I seem to remember was the preferred location after reading the manual. I seem to remember it is required to obtain heading up display when using the radar. The ray-star 125 Plus (Raymarine seems to like the Plus designator) can be had for about $300. It's probably best to just stick with raymarine equipment and I doubt a different brand NMEA 0183 GPS can be had for considerable less. Ray is no longer offering a discount on the 125 for replacement of the 120.

According to the Ray tech I talked to, one of the advantages of sea talk over NMEA 0183 is the ability to display certain information on the chartplotter from other sea talk connected instruments, like for example the depth. There may however be not advantage to sea talk with the GPS, but if I get the Raystar 125 it should connect in the same way as the 120 with no concern about available NMEA 0183 inputs.
 
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Looks like I have to replace my 108. I found a crack in the plastic dome this weekend. It's so old that it doesn't pay to buy a new done. Might as well get a new unit with WAAS.

Oh well.
 
Tim,

The wire on the 120 is permanently attached to the antenna. The wire on the 125 has a plug that mates with the antenna. The best way to pull the 125 wire is from the antenna location to the display (so you are not putting any load on the plug). That means you either have to attach a string to the 120 wire and pull that up to your arch, then pull the 125 wire back to the display, cut the antenna off the 120 wire and then use that as the fish cable. The former keeps the 120 in working order, the latter just means it has to be mounted real close to another display.

Henry
 
I upgraded my 120 to a 125 and the fix is almost instantaneous now. The lithium battery in the 120 only lasts 5-8 years. The 125 allows the use of either seatalk or NMEA 1803 but not both...

I have the Raytheon Pathfinder RL70 + radar and RayMarine L770RL + GPS/fishfinder
 
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Frank: What unit will you replace it with?

Henry: My 120 unit is located on the instrumental panel on the bridge not on the radar arch, which got me to wondering, could this be the problem? However, it seems like I was reading somewhere that the location of the antenna is not that important. The manual does state: verify that the GPS is not installed within 3' of a radar scanner (if mounted within its beam angle) or VHF antenna

Doug: I don't think loss of the battery renders the 120 inoperative. I don't think my issue with the 120 is battery related anyway because I loose fix intermittently and if the battery were the cause, I would never get a fix. This is a perplexing problem since the unit is solid state electronics which generally either work or don't work. However in addition to some other issue, the battery may be dead.

But because Ray recognized there was a problem with the 120 unit they did offer a discount on the replacement. So for whatever reason the unit needs to be replaced.
I'm going to write Ray and see what they say about a discount on a replacement 125.
Officially they are no longer offering the discount.
 
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timjet said:
Frank: What unit will you replace it with?

Henry: My 120 unit is located on the instrumental panel on the bridge not on the radar arch, which got me to wondering, could this be the problem? However, it seems like I was reading somewhere that the location of the antenna is not that important. The manual does state: verify that the GPS is not installed within 3' of a radar scanner (if mounted within its beam angle) or VHF antenna

Doug: I don't think loss of the battery renders the 120 inoperative. I don't think my issue with the 120 is battery related anyway because I loose fix intermittently and if the battery were the cause, I would never get a fix. This is a perplexing problem since the unit is solid state electronics which generally either work or don't work. However in addition to some other issue, the battery may be dead.

But because Ray recognized there was a problem with the 120 unit they did offer a discount on the replacement. So for whatever reason the unit needs to be replaced.
I'm going to write Ray and see what they say about a discount on a replacement 125.
Officially they are no longer offering the discount.
Click to expand...

Tim
There is an issue with electronics being placed within the path of the microwave energy created by the radar. This is basically a 12 degree vertical cone emanating from the tip of the array. The array is the spinning antenna for the radar. The VHF issue has to do with the electrical field created during transmission and reception of RF signals. This is more bulbous and basically disrupts all in its path. The important thing is that the GPS have a clear 'view' of the sky. Things like canvas, eisenglass, even fiberglass won't impede a GPS signal. Good news is, it sounds like installing a new antenna will be a snap.

I agree, continue to press RM. I's also suggest that you mention you have a 2000/2002 vintage system and are thinking you will upgrade in the next year or so to new radar, display, GPS, autopilot and compass and will consider their actions accordingly.

Henry
 
Probably a 125 plus. Not a lot of choices for NMEA 0183 receivers and I know that it's probably compatible and if it's not, I get to whine to Raymarine, which is always enjoyable.
 
I put my failed 120 replacement on hold as there were no 125's available at any of my several "Preferred vendors" anywhere just a couple weeks ago. Has availability changed?
 
Cousin Vinnie's Hot Lot Fell-Offa Da' Truck Sales, Inc.

Good prices. Get all my stuff from Cousin Vinnie.


It's a Jersey thing. You wouldn't understand...
 
For those of you interesting in replacing the raystar 120 unit with a raystar 125 you may be interested in this e-mail I received from Chuck Anderson of Raymarine.

Response (Chuck Anderson)
09/15/2010 11:04 AM​
The is not need to send this request to one of Raymarine's VPs. All one need do is send the failing Raystar 120 GPS Sensor to Raymarine's Product Repair Center (http://www.raymarine.com/Default.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=3&PAGE=1412#CBM7557) to be serviced. Raymarine's Product Repair Center's current policy is to replace failing Raystar 120 GPS Sensor with a Raystar 125 Plus GPS Sensor for $225. Please note that the Raystar 125 Plus GPS Sensor is currently on backorder. Unfortunately, Raymarine policy prohibits Technical Support from addressing product/parts availability and pricing questions. Raymarine, Inc. does not have access to the inventories of its distributors and retailers. Questions concerning product/parts availability and pricing should be addressed to Raymarine's Parts Line (603.881.5200 x8865; orderdesk@raymarine.com) where the latest information may be obtained.

Chuck Anderson suggested not sending in your 120 unit until they receive the new units probably around the end of October.
 
I'll have to call and ask about my unit. The plastic dome is cracked. I know Chuck. Went to high school with him. He's a good guy.

Best regards,
Frank
 
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