I use the Grid 20 as well, but not for the Autopilot. I still have my upgraded Raymarine one which works great still for goto, route to and navigate to.

I do use it for changing the screens etc. Love not having to stand and bend down to get the right on screen button. Especially when it's rough out.

@ttmott or @alnav could probably speak better to your question.

 

Do you have a ghc 50 screen? I use the joystick/knob to control the auto pilot however i find the trick is to tap anywhere on the ghc 50 to bring the focus to that screen. Like you i find using it on the main screen tricky do to the focus since you have to get to auto pilot bar. What if you customize a autopilot screen and assign it a shortcut button? This way you are only on that screen when needed.

 

No GHC 50 just the old GHC 20. I like the fact that you can make course corrections via the joystick when in full screen auto pilot mode and could possibly do as you suggest with a shortcut. It would have been nice if they could have fit 1 and 10 degree correction buttons on the GRID 20.

 

I use it constantly with the A/P. I'm not sure what you are asking thought...... Are you trying to plot a course or do Autoguidance? Or trying to adjust a Heading Hold?
The arrows on the top of the GRID switch between MFD's.
The Focus selects elements within the selected MFD
If there are sub-elements within a Focus selection then the twist of the knob on the joystick will select those. A press on that knob will confirm.
The GRID will not access the GHC20/50 nor the VHF nor Fusion unless those are on the MFD's.
The GRID does have full authority over the Radar and Sonar.
I can use the GRID to move the cursor on the charts or radar screen and execute certain things like if there is an AIS target put the cursor over the target and press the knob and all the info on that target will come up. I can also set waypoints and execute a course to a waypoint or even execute Autoguidance but that is so much easier to do it with fingers on the screen.

If you are trying to adjust the heading when on Heading Hold then you must have the Autopilot screen up on the MFD then with the Arrows/Focus select that screen. At that point you can turn the joystick to set a new course or select the +/- 5 degree or 10 degree adjustments the press the knob to execute.

 

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Sorry, yes just trying to make fine adjustments on heading hold. 90% of the time I'm following a pre-planned route but do use heading hold and need to standby/engage occasionally for boat traffic.

Perhaps it was the glare on my screen but it was hard to see the focus outline sometimes.

 

I agree on seeing that highlight around a screen from the Focus change and it goes away in a few seconds. So, to make sure I just cycle through the Focus things again. But once Focus selects an area then it stays there. For example moving down the canal out of our marina I use that knob when on Heading Hold to adjust the boat's direction. I have noticed, though, in this latest S/W release that one click of the knob will not initially change the heading - I need to substantially move it to get the heading I want indicated. Kind of a pain.

One thing though if you touch a screen the GRID is now on that screen and no longer where you were using it.

 

My Grid is mounted next to the helm seat and I only use it for screen manipulations much like others have said. I have a camera and find it very useful for panning and zooming. For the autopilot, I have an Autopilot Remote. It offers full control plus some function keys, it can even be pointed in the direction you wish to go and take up that heading. I like that I never need to reach for a screen and can keep it in hand if I need to get out of the seat for any reason. Is your Grid mounted or hand-held? I can see having both would be awkward unless the Grid is mounted.

 

My GRID is mounted to my STIDD helm chair just like Tom's. I used to have the same A/P remote until it broke so I figured replacing it with the GRID was a good option. I still like the GRID just trying to figure out how others have implemented it.

 

And that autopilot screen definitely is a waste of real-estate. I've been wanting to create a custom screen so it is split....... It'd be cool if Garmin would allow the user to set window sizes and locations for the split screens.....

 

I found the easiest way to use the Grid to control the Autopilot is with the (top) Toolbar and click on the Heading Hold, 1%-5%, Resume Course, etc.

The Focus button is hard to see at times and I have to scroll through to find it.

On my port screen I do have the Autopilot in a smaller section but I have not been able to use the Grid Joystick to steer the boat from that small screen. I believe Garmin requires you to open the screen completely to use the joystick steering.

 

Lovely...another $250 I didn't know I needed to spend. Thanks, guys

 

I wish we could disable the circle function on the A/P toolbar....almost clicked on that one a few times by accident! I agree, steering via the joystick only seems to work in full screen mode.

 

I believe I've broken the code on controlling the A/P with the Grid without having to bring up the dedicated A/P screen. The key is that the joystick operates counter-intuitively when engaged to the A/P toolbar; turning it will send the highlight all the way to the button that calls up the dedicated A/P screen. In my tests, the highlight always starts on the engage icon, pressing that will put the A/P in Heading Hold. Instead of turning the dial to change the course, you need to "bump" it sideways. This will highlight one of the +/- 1 or 10 degree icons. Pressing the joystick when the desired icon is selected will change the course setting accordingly. Bumping back to the disengage icon will put the A/P back in standby.
I recorded a (crappy) video but can't figure out how to show it.