RL80CRC Questions

[Lake Erie Boater]

Last year was my 1st season using this Chartplotter as the boat was new to me. While the unit is old technology now, it did seem to function properly. However, I did notice two things that seemed odd and wondered if it was supposed to function this way.

1. Most times when I powered the unit on, it completely started over with determining its location (and therefor started with a 1200 mile range). Once a fix was aquired, I had to "find ship" and reduce the range many many times to get to an appropriate scale (requiring multiple screen redraws).

2. I always run in a "heading up" mode. Everytime, I powered or repowered the unit (after fishing, etc.) The unit deferred back to the 1200 mile range as described above AND the unit defaulted back to the North Up mode, requiring me to go back and change the preference.

In summary, the unit just doesn't seem to be saving my preferences, or saving the past location/range for the next restart.

Is there a battery somewhere that saves such information that may be dead, etc? Or is this just how technology was when these units were 1st rolled out?

 

[fc3]

I think there is a battery in the unit that maintains it's memory. Sounds like yours failed. Check the documentation. You can find it on-line at Raymarine's web site.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[Lake Erie Boater]

Frank,

I could not find anything in my owners manual. Do you think Raymarine will entertain questions on this old of a unit??

 

[wingless]

The lithium-ion coin cell batteries have a lifetime of about seven years.

These are not user-replaceable. Therefore, you'll need a soldering iron to swap that part.

Use a temperature-controlled iron set below 550°F. Use a minimal iron contact time on that part. Make sure the iron is tinned for fast replacement.

 

[searaycruisn]

I have the unit on my boat.

My unit always defaults to North Up. I need to reset to course up every time I power up. I have not found a way to have it default to course up.

As for the range, I suspect that may have something to do with your C-Map chip. I think the larger the chip area, the more likely it is to default to a larger zoom. To tell you the truth, I do not remember if my unit defaults to a specific zoom, but I do not recall it ever coming up to such a wide zoom, as you describe.

 

[Lake Erie Boater]

I have the unit on my boat.

My unit always defaults to North Up. I need to reset to course up every time I power up. I have not found a way to have it default to course up.

As for the range, I suspect that may have something to do with your C-Map chip. I think the larger the chip area, the more likely it is to default to a larger zoom. To tell you the truth, I do not remember if my unit defaults to a specific zoom, but I do not recall it ever coming up to such a wide zoom, as you describe.

Thanks Eric, at least that answers that one. It is a bit annoying though to have to do it with every power up (especially when fishing ie moving around alot). I suspect the area issue is because the unit is not storing the last position. As such it starts from scratch each time.

The lithium-ion coin cell batteries have a lifetime of about seven years.

These are not user-replaceable. Therefore, you'll need a soldering iron to swap that part.

Use a temperature-controlled iron set below 550°F. Use a minimal iron contact time on that part. Make sure the iron is tinned for fast replacement.

Wingless, do you know of anyone who does such a thing. I don't want to risk ruining the unit to save a few $$??

 

[wingless]

Any electronic technician could perform that swap. You'd want a compatible or exact replacment part.

 

[Henry Boyd]

I have the unit on my boat.

My unit always defaults to North Up. I need to reset to course up every time I power up. I have not found a way to have it default to course up.

As for the range, I suspect that may have something to do with your C-Map chip. I think the larger the chip area, the more likely it is to default to a larger zoom. To tell you the truth, I do not remember if my unit defaults to a specific zoom, but I do not recall it ever coming up to such a wide zoom, as you describe.

We have the RL70CRC model. Same deal on the North up/ Course up thing. FYI, a friend who is in the data display business tells me that the RL 70/80 CRC displays are the best displays that Raymarine has ever built (He has the RL 80CRC as well) from a viewability standpoint.

Henry

 

[wingless]

FYI, a friend who is in the data display business tells me that the RL 70/80 CRC displays are the best displays that Raymarine has ever built (He has the RL 80CRC as well) from a viewability standpoint.

These can't be beat for night time displays. They are outstanding and WAY better than the latest LCD displays.

But, forget about daytime usage. Nothing beats snapping on the hood and sticking your face into that display.

 

[Four Suns]

These can't be beat for night time displays. They are outstanding and WAY better than the latest LCD displays.

But, forget about daytime usage. Nothing beats snapping on the hood and sticking your face into that display.

You are confusing the RL70CRC or RL80CRC with the R80RC that you probably have. The RL 70/80 CRC are LCD panels as well as color. They are not the CRT displays that were shipped with 2000 vintage boats.

R = Raymarine
L = LCD

70/80 = screen size

C = Color
R = Radar
C = Chartplotter

Need to be careful on your assumptions before you recommend stuff to people. I'm not aware of any hood that snapped on for this model.

 

[wingless]

You are confusing the RL70CRC or RL80CRC with the R80RC that you probably have. The RL 70/80 CRC are LCD panels as well as color. They are not the CRT displays that were shipped with 2000 vintage boats.

R = Raymarine
L = LCD

70/80 = screen size

C = Color
R = Radar
C = Chartplotter

Yes, R80RC, B&W CRT radar chart plotter I HAD, but since replaced w/ E120 w/ custom dash.

Thanks.

 

[osd9]

Yes, R80RC, B&W CRT radar chart plotter .......

More like monochrome.....Green and Black.....

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

Frank,

I could not find anything in my owners manual. Do you think Raymarine will entertain questions on this old of a unit??

I sent my Raytheon pathfinder RL70 radar (B&W) and L760 chartplotter (color) in for upgrade to Raymarine... both units had two chip holders each. Got back latest upgraded units that I can now use with my digital DSM250 fishfinder/transducer.

Raymarine is probably your only option to upgrade your current system. They have prices online to do upgrades on the raymarine site.

 

[Pseudomind]

Yes, R80RC, B&W CRT radar chart plotter I HAD, but since replaced w/ E120 w/ custom dash.

Thanks.

Ah Starboard! I like, makes a good panel replacement.

Now as an aside

Wingless, did you receive the PM I sent you a few weeks back

 

[fc3]

Frank,

I could not find anything in my owners manual. Do you think Raymarine will entertain questions on this old of a unit??

I looked at the owner's manual on-line and didn't find anything either. Call Raymarine. Yes they support the older stuff. They'll even fix the older stuff and their prices aren't too scary.

You are confusing the RL70CRC or RL80CRC with the R80RC that you probably have. The RL 70/80 CRC are LCD panels as well as color. They are not the CRT displays that were shipped with 2000 vintage boats.

R = Raymarine
L = LCD

70/80 = screen size

C = Color
R = Radar
C = Chartplotter

Need to be careful on your assumptions before you recommend stuff to people. I'm not aware of any hood that snapped on for this model.

Wow! That makes two people who know the model code. Didn't think that anyone else did.

We have the RL70CRC model. Same deal on the North up/ Course up thing.

Just Ducky has an RL70RC, which was introduced in 1999. It always starts in course-up as I set it, since that is my preference. Pretty sure there is a battery in there since it retains setting even with the boat's batteries removed for the winter. I'm pretty sure they didn't use EEPROMs for that function.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[osd9]

According to the manual the unit will default to North up if there is no heading data available on the bus.

Two questions....

1. do you have a device onboard providing heading data....flux gate for auto pilot, KVH heading, etc..?

2. is the heading device on and providing heading information before you turn on the RL80?

 

[tobnpr]

Since you say the unit operates properly, I doubt it's the internal battery. May be due for replacement anyway, but if it is retaining your waypoints in memory after powering down the battery must be functioning.

If you're going to keep it for any length of time I'd call RM- odds are pretty good that there may be firmware updates they can install to improve operation.

 

[Lake Erie Boater]

According to the manual the unit will default to North up if there is no heading data available on the bus.

Two questions....

1. do you have a device onboard providing heading data....flux gate for auto pilot, KVH heading, etc..?

2. is the heading device on and providing heading information before you turn on the RL80?

You may be onto something here as I have always 1st turned on the Chartplotter (to begin the process of multiple redraws as previously described) THEN turned on the autopilot. Do you think I need the autopilot on for the flux gate to be providing such data to the chartplotter?? I thought these 2 systems (Chartplotter and autopilot) were independent? Please elaborate/educate.

 

[Lake Erie Boater]

Since you say the unit operates properly, I doubt it's the internal battery. May be due for replacement anyway, but if it is retaining your waypoints in memory after powering down the battery must be functioning.

If you're going to keep it for any length of time I'd call RM- odds are pretty good that there may be firmware updates they can install to improve operation.

Great point(s). My unit is storing waypoints, tracks etc. routinely. I do plan on keeping it as it does seem to have a nice screen resolution, does everything an inshore boater needs to do etc.

 

[fc3]

You may be onto something here as I have always 1st turned on the Chartplotter (to begin the process of multiple redraws as previously described) THEN turned on the autopilot. Do you think I need the autopilot on for the flux gate to be providing such data to the chartplotter?? I thought these 2 systems (Chartplotter and autopilot) were independent? Please elaborate/educate.

The chartplotter can get heading information from a number of sources. The source can either be via NMEA 0183 or Sea Talk. The sources can be a GPS, gyro compass or a flux gate compass. The autopilot has a flux gate compass and your chartplotter powers a GPS attached either via NMEA or Sea Talk. I doubt this is your problem. My RL will switch from north up to course up once it starts to receive GPS sentences via 0183.

Best regards,
Frank