Anybody done a write up of the E120 -> Axiom upgrade?

Atalla

Active Member
Sep 1, 2020
244
Seattle
Boat Info
2007 38 Sundancer
Engines
Twin Merc 8.1 S Horizon V-Drives
Full disclosure, I haven't read all the wiring diagrams in the manuals, I just have the new Axiom+ and the E22158 harness kit. I stared at all the wires for about 2 minutes, so I'm well on my way. :)

Just hoping to cheat off somebody else before I start. I've done automotive electronics a bunch but this will be my first marine upgrade and I've never really dug into the mess behind the screen.

Tips welcome. Things to watch out for? Even better is a fully documented YouTube video with step by step instructions. :)
 
I have an E120 with a 2015 HD Open Array along with the ST8002 autopilot, the Smartcraft SC5000 and a Northstar NS100 DSC VHF. I presume the radar and GPS come to the E120 and it serves as the hub for GPS data to the DSC for example. If there's an explainer somewhere on Seatalk in general, I'd read that. I get TCP/IP networking but haven't ever dug into the marine networking stuff.

I assume I will have to cut the power and crimp the power adapter that comes in the harness kit since the adapters are different.
 
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A tidbit I got from raymarine customer support as I was moving from E120 to E125 (these are their words, not mine)

SeatalkHS and SeatalkNG have different purposes and you would use both in your system. SeatalkHS carries high-bandwidth and Raymarine proprietary information (radar/chart/fisfinder graphics, waypoint/route database sync. etc.), whereas SeatalkNG is NMEA2000 (with Raymarine-specific improved connectors) and carries indusry-standard navigational data (depth, speed, GPS etc.). You can't send SeatalkHS data over a SeatalkNG network


If you ended up going current Axiom Pro displays instead of the retired e125s then you would also need to remove the DSM300 and connect its transducer to one of the Axiom Pros instead, via an A80496 adaptor cable. You should choose Axiom Pro instead of Axiom or Axiom+ because Pro has:
a 1kW transducer port to support the DSM's transducer
NMEA0183 capability
 
If you ended up going current Axiom Pro displays instead of the retired e125s then you would also need to remove the DSM300 and connect its transducer to one of the Axiom Pros instead, via an A80496 adaptor cable. You should choose Axiom Pro instead of Axiom or Axiom+ because Pro has:
a 1kW transducer port to support the DSM's transducer
NMEA0183 capability
Well, I have an Axiom+ already, so would like to stick with that. So are you saying that my depth transducer is not at all compatible with the Axiom+? That would suck. I must have missed that in all my thread reading.
 
Snaps, You beat me to it. There should be a high speed switch if he has a DSM in the mix. That came off of mine as the radar got an adapter cable and plugs into the Axiom and we added a new external GPS. We took the DSM module out and used an adapter cable to wire the transducer to the Axiom. I’m not sure the + model has built in sonar. I think a STNG network will be needed as well as a ST to STNG converter block for the older GPS.

We added an external GPS because we have an enclosed helm (glass windows, double walled fiberglass roof) and Axiom’s have had issues with the internal GPS.
 
Snaps, You beat me to it. There should be a high speed switch if he has a DSM in the mix. That came off of mine as the radar got an adapter cable and plugs into the Axiom and we added a new external GPS. We took the DSM module out and used an adapter cable to wire the transducer to the Axiom. I’m not sure the + model has built in sonar. I think a STNG network will be needed as well as a ST to STNG converter block for the older GPS.

We added an external GPS because we have an enclosed helm (glass windows, double walled fiberglass roof) and Axiom’s have had issues with the internal GPS.
The Axiom+ model I have does have the RealVision Sonar built-in. Raymarine's wire harness kit does include a 5-way ST1 to STNG converter block. I just, honestly, have no idea what to do with that. :)
 
We added an external GPS because we have an enclosed helm (glass windows, double walled fiberglass roof) and Axiom’s have had issues with the internal GPS.
Does the Axiom settings have an easy way to swap between built-in GPS and the external? I will be interesting to wire it up and then compare. Frankly, my iPad with Navionics is what I've gotten used to relying on anyway.
 
I have an external Raymarine RS150 gps antenna that plugs into a SeaTalk HS Network Switch (E550588). My displays also plug into that switch. Raymarine said this was the preferred way to go because the RS150 has a new GPS Chipset design (your axioms are probably newer or at least the same) as well as the external antenna will have significantly less interference from other nearby electronics and will thus deliver a much better GPS fix.
 
Does the Axiom settings have an easy way to swap between built-in GPS and the external? I will be interesting to wire it up and then compare. Frankly, my iPad with Navionics is what I've gotten used to relying on anyway.

I have the Axiom Pros with the fancy depth stuff, so my explanations may differ from what you need.

After it is set up you will access to a menu that will give you an inventory of hardware and allow you to decide which device the system uses as the default. And if you were to also have a nmea2k net and devices, they would show up as well.

You should go to the Raymarine customer service forum. The forum has been shut down to new questions, but RM has left it accessible as an archive. There is a write up / FAQ on the implementation of vintage autopilots and Axiom displays. There is not only a hardware compatibility issue, but also a software issue. You should make sure your AP will work and how much it would work.

What I mean by how well is that the interaction between the Axiom and AP may be stunted. In our case I opted for a new AP because the old one based on the same controller you have would only partially function by not being able to be controlled by the axioms. To work it I would have to enter the route into the axiom and as WPs were reached, turn to course manually and then set the AP to follow that bearing.
 
You should go to the Raymarine customer service forum. The forum has been shut down to new questions, but RM has left it accessible as an archive. There is a write up / FAQ on the implementation of vintage autopilots and Axiom displays. There is not only a hardware compatibility issue, but also a software issue. You should make sure your AP will work and how much it would work.
Thanks. I'll continue to dig in, but Raymarine customer service confirmed that the combination would work and didn't flag anything specific about the interoperability. They also confirmed my radar array was fine, but I wasn't terribly worried about that since we updated that in 2015.

Thanks for the continued help. In learning mode, so I'll soak it all up until I feel good about doing the work.

I think I just have to sit on the floor in my cockpit and stare at the wiring bundles and the diagrams in the user manuals and figure out what's what. But I'll take any other tips.
 
I would take an inventory of everything behind your helm. Follow all the wires that currently plug into your E120s as best you can to suss out their source or connection. Once that's accomplished, I bet you will find it much easier to plot out your install. Good luck!
 
I have an external Raymarine RS150 gps antenna that plugs into a SeaTalk HS Network Switch (E550588). My displays also plug into that switch. Raymarine said this was the preferred way to go because the RS150 has a new GPS Chipset design (your axioms are probably newer or at least the same) as well as the external antenna will have significantly less interference from other nearby electronics and will thus deliver a much better GPS fix.

My installer pulled the HS switch out on ours. The 150, AIS, AP (EV-2) and ECI100 engine interface are all on STNG with line from transducer going directly into port Axiom and Radar going into starboard unit. The STNG connects to a nmea2k net that originally handled my engine telemetry. Currently it has a Garmin/Volvo mfd display for engine management.

Atalla what I found to be really helpful was to draw a system diagram. Just boxes with lines showing the connections and the type of connections.
 
My installer pulled the HS switch out on ours. The 150, AIS, AP (EV-2) and ECI100 engine interface are all on STNG with line from transducer going directly into port Axiom and Radar going into starboard unit. The STNG connects to a nmea2k net that originally handled my engine telemetry. Currently it has a Garmin/Volvo mfd display for engine management.

Atalla what I found to be really helpful was to draw a system diagram. Just boxes with lines showing the connections and the type of connections.
Indeed. I can see where this is going already. I'm going to do a bunch of work to figure out the whole layout, get fully informed on what needs to be done...

...and then hire somebody. :)
 

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