Stereo Upgrade

[dtfeld]

Final Configuration. After much measuring and getting some good advice from CSR, I finally have my stereo upgrade complete with new power wiring, speakers and amps. I used 3 zones in the cockpit area, one in the front, one in the arch and added a 3rd in the back. The speakers in Zone 1 and 2 are tied together and are all down lower in the cockpit, so not so in your face as the arch speakers. If I really want to let it rip, I can adjust the arch speakers separately. The admiral should like that!

Over all
- More sound due to more speakers (6 vs 4) and more power (50W/Ch vs 150W/ch)
- Much better sound due to the bigger speakers, and moving sound plane down away from directly at our ears.

 

[ttmott]

I was more poking at where he is powering the RA770 from - the old memory circuit or the old stereo power circuit.
In my case I have the RA770 red and yellow wires tied together.
BTW, not to derail but have you seen anything like this? It is getting worse but doesn't seem to affect the touch-screen. When the unit first powers on the lines are across the entire screen then reduce to this. I usually operate the unit from the MFD's or my smartphone but still this is bothersome.
View attachment 144003

I was more poking at where he is powering the RA770 from - the old memory circuit or the old stereo power circuit.
In my case I have the RA770 red and yellow wires tied together.
BTW, not to derail but have you seen anything like this? It is getting worse but doesn't seem to affect the touch-screen. When the unit first powers on the lines are across the entire screen then reduce to this. I usually operate the unit from the MFD's or my smartphone but still this is bothersome.
View attachment 144003

Unfortunately yes, the screen is de-laminating and needs to be replaced. The driver contacts are lifting. I would contact Fusion/Garmin and see what they say.

On a side note, if you need to get a new head unit, take a look at this "hide-away" one: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/832012#specs

Well the Fusion MS-RA770 crapped the bed the other day - tried to turn it on but no joy.
I have another - going to install tomorrow.
Wondering if it's worth sending back for repair.

 

[Skybolt]

Well the Fusion MS-RA770 crapped the bed the other day - tried to turn it on but no joy.
I have another - going to install tomorrow.
Wondering if it's worth sending back for repair.

I would say yes, because not only is it an expensive head unit, but also the only one that has both WiFi and wired networking. It's at least worth the time of an estimate right?

 

[alnav]

Well the Fusion MS-RA770 crapped the bed the other day - tried to turn it on but no joy.
I have another - going to install tomorrow.
Wondering if it's worth sending back for repair.

Tom, did you try to turn on the MS-RA770 from a chart plotter? My on/off button died on one of my last visits to the boat last fall. All the other controls work fine on the unit. Same thing happened to my first unit right after installation so I knew to check. Fusion fixed that for free under warranty but it took a couple of months. The phone rep told me the power control was sensitive and insinuated I was too heavy-handed (or fingered) with it. The current state isn't too hard to live with; I just have to light off an MFD to start the unit and remember to shut if off before I secure the other electronics. If you do pursue sending back, let us know how it works as I may eventually do that.

 

[dtfeld]

My unit is on a separate switch/circuit at the helm and automatically powers up when I hit the switch. I never have powered it up from the face of the unit.

I have no idea what setting I turned on to make thus happen.

But I agree worth trying to fix.

 

[Skybolt]

My unit is on a separate switch/circuit at the helm and automatically powers up when I hit the switch. I never have powered it up from the face of the unit.

I have no idea what setting I turned on to make thus happen.

But I agree worth trying to fix.

Same for me, I use the NRX300 and have it set to wake the head unit. I never even touch or use the interface on the head unit.

 

[ttmott]

Tom, did you try to turn on the MS-RA770 from a chart plotter? My on/off button died on one of my last visits to the boat last fall. All the other controls work fine on the unit. Same thing happened to my first unit right after installation so I knew to check. Fusion fixed that for free under warranty but it took a couple of months. The phone rep told me the power control was sensitive and insinuated I was too heavy-handed (or fingered) with it. The current state isn't too hard to live with; I just have to light off an MFD to start the unit and remember to shut if off before I secure the other electronics. If you do pursue sending back, let us know how it works as I may eventually do that.

Thanks guys - However, you triggered a thought to try and turn it on using one of the NRX remotes. The head will turn and off using the remotes. I'll also try the MFD. I wonder how one can be "heavy handed" with a touch screen? My Fantom radar had some issues and was not returning targets - it was out of warrantee also. Garmin repaired it no cost and took care of the shipping. Had it back to me in four days. So I have a point of reference that's good.
Anyhow, I have a new one and will get it installed and send the problem child to Garmin. We'll see what they say.

 

[alnav]

My unit is on a separate switch/circuit at the helm and automatically powers up when I hit the switch. I never have powered it up from the face of the unit.

I have no idea what setting I turned on to make thus happen.

But I agree worth trying to fix.

This was a good tip. I went through the installation manual and a switch can be inserted between the red and yellow power wires and that switch will power the head on and off. This is likely what you have. I think a dash switch will be the right solution for me. I have little room or need for a bridge remote.

 

[ttmott]

This was a good tip. I went through the installation manual and a switch can be inserted between the red and yellow power wires and that switch will power the head on and off. This is likely what you have. I think a dash switch will be the right solution for me. I have little room or need for a bridge remote.

The Red and Yellow wires are tied together on mine and always has power. Still, it needs to be turned on or off using the Head's touch screen, one of the remotes, or the MFD.
https://static.garmin.com/pumac/Fusion_RA770_Install_EN-US.pdf
Yellow is Power
Red is switching
It seems mine could be optimized by routing the red wire through a helm switch. I have an unused switch that was originally for the radar that I may repurpose for the Fusion.
But, If I do this will I loose the power on/off features on the remotes and MFD if that switch is off??

 

[Skybolt]

... But, If I do this will I loose the power on/off features on the remotes and MFD if that switch is off??

No as long as the other wire (yellow) is still connected to a constant source. The red wire is only a toggle source. From the install manual (Page 7):

Red wire:
• This wire can be connected to the same power source as the yellow wire through the ignition or through a manual switch. This enables you to turn the stereo on and off automatically when you turn the vessel on and off, or when you activate the switch.

• Using this wire to turn the stereo on and off behaves in the same way as using the power button on the stereo to turn it on and off. It is not necessary to connect this wire to a switch if you plan to toggle the power using the power button on the stereo or using a connected chart plotter or remote control. This wire must be connected to turn the stereo on.

• When you turn off the stereo using this switch or the power button, it enters a standby mode that allows the stereo to start up again faster than if you switch the power off using the yellow wire. When it is in standby mode, the stereo uses up to 200 mA, and you must turn off power to the stereo on the yellow wire through the circuit breaker or manual switch when you are not using the vessel to avoid draining the battery.

 

[ttmott]

So, I stopped by the boat - the stereo system turns on and off using the remotes. Seems a front panel issue with the head.

 

[alnav]

So, I stopped by the boat - the stereo system turns on and off using the remotes. Seems a front panel issue with the head.

So, 100% of all the MS-RA770 failures I've ever heard of have the same symptom. Pretty small sample but have to wonder how many of the total failures of these units that Fusion has seen are from this issue. And how willing they are to step up to the plate on repair out of warranty.

 

[dtfeld]

So, I stopped by the boat - the stereo system turns on and off using the remotes. Seems a front panel issue with the head.

If Fusion won't cover it, may you can get away with the current head and just use the switch/remotes. Haven't priced one recently...but approaching a boat buck I'd imagine.

 

[ttmott]

If Fusion won't cover it, may you can get away with the current head and just use the switch/remotes. Haven't priced one recently...but approaching a boat buck I'd imagine.

I already have another. I bought it after the boat was hit with lightning and the installed one wasn't working but then it started working again when the wire harnesses were replaced. So, I left it alone and had a "spare". Five years later - no complaints.

 

[Wylie_Tunes]

Well the Fusion MS-RA770 crapped the bed the other day - tried to turn it on but no joy.
I have another - going to install tomorrow.
Wondering if it's worth sending back for repair.

I didnt read all the post, so im going off this post only.

Has voltage at the back of the unit been confirmed?

Next, I would disconnect any remotes or MFD interfaces and attempt to reboot the 770. A failed remote can lock the main unit up.

Last, IIRC, Fusion offers a 3 yr warranty when purchased new from an authorized source. If this is the case and its within the period, send it in for repair/replacement.

 

[ttmott]

I didnt read all the post, so im going off this post only.

Has voltage at the back of the unit been confirmed?

Next, I would disconnect any remotes or MFD interfaces and attempt to reboot the 770. A failed remote can lock the main unit up.

Last, IIRC, Fusion offers a 3 yr warranty when purchased new from an authorized source. If this is the case and its within the period, send it in for repair/replacement.

Thanks for the help. In a previous post some time ago the touch screen started showing vertical lines then more then more. Last week the touch function on the screen didn't work to turn it on. The system comes on and works just fine using the remotes or the MFD's. The head also turns on all of the amplifiers. So, the system works - just the HMI has failed.
I bought the unit in 2018 so no doubt it is out of warrantee. I'll send it to Garmin to get repaired.

 

[SeaNile]

Speaking of stereo upgrades, the one boat has an older Kenwood headunit and although it's BT compatible and has a remote on the helm I'm interested to see if I can upgrade to a Fusion unit and also upgrade the head unit on the Sea Ray to get the Party Bus mode for these two boats.

I did a quick virtual chat with Crutchfield and they said that in order to have Party Bus it's required to have a chart plotter/MFD with nema 2000 for everything to work. Is that really accurate? I was hoping to upgrade the searay unit and get a new one for the other boat and have Party Bus mode for my two boats.

 

[ttmott]

Speaking of stereo upgrades, the one boat has an older Kenwood headunit and although it's BT compatible and has a remote on the helm I'm interested to see if I can upgrade to a Fusion unit and also upgrade the head unit on the Sea Ray to get the Party Bus mode for these two boats.

I did a quick virtual chat with Crutchfield and they said that in order to have Party Bus it's required to have a chart plotter/MFD with nema 2000 for everything to work. Is that really accurate? I was hoping to upgrade the searay unit and get a new one for the other boat and have Party Bus mode for my two boats.

At least for a MS-RA770 the answer is not necessarily. Party Bus gets information exchanged across compatible stereo systems either wirelessly (Wi-Fi) or hardwired ethernet network or both. The typical setup is to hardware to a Wi-Fi router then compatible stereos can either be connected via hardwire ethernet or Wi-Fi. The router and connected devices must be configured as DHCP.
The NMEA 2000 comes into play if you want to control the Party Bus on a NMEA 2000 remote or MFD that is on the NMEA network.
It gets more complex and limited if the MS-RA770 is connected to the Garmin Marine Network (ethernet) as that will not allow the use of a separate Wi-Fi router (at least from my trials and tribulations). I have my MS-RA770 connected to the GMN as then the Sirius XM artwork gets displayed on the boats chart plotters when using a standard Sirius XM receiver connected to the Fusion Head (preferred method BTW).
If the ethernet on the MS-RA770 is connected to the GMN then the stereo head needs to be configured as a Wireless Wi-Fi device and now it can be a part of the Party Bus via Wi-Fi. With that, however, comes limited distance.
I read the same Garmin literature that the sales person did; it is a bit misleading - at least for the Fusion MS-RA770.

A note on Sirius XM - there are two methods to connect satellite audio to the Garmin/Fusion system. One is through a standard commercial Sirius XM receiver into the Fusion Head and the other through the Garmin GXM NMEA 2000 weather/Sirius receiver or both.
If Sirius XM is connected using a Garmin GXM then the Sirius radio must be controlled using the boat's Chart Plotter MFD - you will get tuning controls and Sirius artwork on the MFD. You will not be able to listen to Sirius XM without the MFD, nor be able to tune / view any of the Sirius XM content on the Fusion radio system. The audio output from the MFD to the Fusion is into the AUX RCA on the Fusion - no control or artwork data....
If the Sirius XM is connected using a standard Sirius XM receiver to the Sirius port on the audio head unit then all Sirius controls are on the Fusion head, remotes, Chart Plotters if all are connected to the NMEA 2000 network plus the Fusion App for a Smartphone. The only thing not available on the MFD chart plotter is the Sirius XM artwork. To get the artwork data from the Sirius XM/Fusion radio onto the chart plotter then the Fusion head ethernet needs to be connected to the Garmin Marine Network....

We broke the code on all of this several years ago on this forum.

 

[Skybolt]

@SeaNile - Regarding the SiriusXM tunner, use this one - SiriusXM Connect SXV300 Vehicle Tuner, it works as you would expect through the head unit, app and N2K. To get the artwork to show on the MFD(s) connect the wired RJ45 port of the 770 to the GMN with a POE Blocker and your good to go.

Regarding the Party Bus. The 770 can be connected to an external WiFi router as Tom mentioned. The other boat needs to be able to connect to that same router. Once connected you can create the PB though the app. and your good to go.

I have done this and had success with some and not so much with others. The head units need to be at the latest FW rev. That said it is sketchy at best and gets out of sync at times. More of a gimmick thing I feel. Just make sure the app is connected via wifi and not BT.

I would add a WiFi router to your Sea Ray and run it through that. Meaning everything connects to router, both 770's and the app.

 

[SeaNile]

Sounds a bit too confusing and complicated for me. I have the T Mobile wifi setup on my boat so wifi isn't a problem but hardwiring the headunit to the T Mobile router would be a major PITA. If everything connects wirelessly then I will probably give this a go. If hardwiring is required I'll pass. Although, on second thought, running an ethernet wire from the headhunt to the router might be possible. The headhunt and the router location are both on the port side. Headhunt on port as you walk down the stairs to the salon and the router is in the port side berth where the bulk beds are located.

Yet another reason to goto the boat this weekend!