Chris-380
Well-Known Member
Curious if anyone has used the party us feature to tie multiple boats together?
Fusion MS-RA770
- Thread starter Chris-380
- Start date
Skybolt
Well-Known Member
- Nov 11, 2014
- 6,469
- Boat Info
- Reel Nauti
460 EC
- Engines
- Detroit 6v92TA
(Low profile's)
Alison Gears
Westerbeke
12.5kw Genset
I have tried a few times but it either won't connect or goes out of sync real fast, only a few songs. We gave up trying, still love the stereo for what it is.
On our 500 DB I installed a RA770 on the bridge and a 400 in the salon wired to the Bose system I ran an Ethernet cable between them it’s a bit of a pain to use party bus but it works if your using it wirelessly it may even be harder you select sources and connect them if I remember correctly. after connected it worked well
Skybolt
Well-Known Member
- Nov 11, 2014
- 6,469
- Boat Info
- Reel Nauti
460 EC
- Engines
- Detroit 6v92TA
(Low profile's)
Alison Gears
Westerbeke
12.5kw Genset
You were using it via wifi on your boat or shared between boats?
I was trying between boats connected to me via wifi. My guess is on the same boat and possibly wired it would work great. On other boats connected to your wifi signals can drop out for a moment and then that would kill the connection.
Cocktail Time
Well-Known Member
- Jul 9, 2007
- 1,208
- Boat Info
- 1998 400 Sundancer, Garmin 840xs GPS, Furuno Radar, B&G GPS pilot etc.
- Engines
- Cat 3116's, Westerbeke 7.6 BTD
It is now updated and they call it "Groups" not "Party Bus" we use it all the time. You got to have all the units you are trying to connect running the latest software or it will give you fits. The other key thing I have found is you need one unit as the "access point" and the others set to "client". There is a Youtube viseo on how to setup the network and once done right, it works pretty easily each time. Look for Fusion Tech Tips.
Skybolt
Well-Known Member
- Nov 11, 2014
- 6,469
- Boat Info
- Reel Nauti
460 EC
- Engines
- Detroit 6v92TA
(Low profile's)
Alison Gears
Westerbeke
12.5kw Genset
I had tried this when I originally got the unit when it was first released and haven't tried it in a few years. That is good news that it actually works now. Thanks for posting.
Yes same boat but Cocktail is correct you need to have the latest software and the settings all lined up.
MonacoMike
Well-Known Member
- Sep 15, 2009
- 14,721
- Boat Info
- 2000 Cruisers 3870
8.2 Mercs
- Engines
- 85 Sea Ray Monaco 197
260hp Alpha 1
I miss the days when you bought something and it just worked. They advertise neat features but if everybody doesn’t have all the software in perfect harmony it will not work. Seven year old TVs will not work because software has bypassed them. Just fueling the throwaway society.
Wylie_Tunes
Well-Known Member
Yes, make sure all the units involved have the latest and greatest software installed.
Shenanigans77
Well-Known Member
Sounds like my first day on the boat every spring. Axiom and connected accessories needs a software update. Fusion radio, yup, software update. Smart tv’s, yup, software updates. Takes all damn day.
- Nov 4, 2019
- 2,480
- Boat Info
- 2010 Sundancer 500
2015 Brig Falcon 330T
- Engines
- Twin Cummins QSC550 w Zeus Pods
apologies to the OP for minor Hijack:
I have the RA770 along with 3 of the ms-erx400 remotes. I have successfully updated the software on the head unit via the app but am having a tough time with updating the remotes.
I was told to make the head unit the wifi access point and then connect my phone to that. Has anyone done this successfully? If so, care to walk me through it?
@Chris-380
I will move this to its own thread if you'd prefer...
I have the RA770 along with 3 of the ms-erx400 remotes. I have successfully updated the software on the head unit via the app but am having a tough time with updating the remotes.
I was told to make the head unit the wifi access point and then connect my phone to that. Has anyone done this successfully? If so, care to walk me through it?
@Chris-380
I will move this to its own thread if you'd prefer...
Skybolt
Well-Known Member
- Nov 11, 2014
- 6,469
- Boat Info
- Reel Nauti
460 EC
- Engines
- Detroit 6v92TA
(Low profile's)
Alison Gears
Westerbeke
12.5kw Genset
@Shaps - get a wired switch and plug it all together. ERX400's and the 770. I also have that plugged into the GMS10 with a poe blocker. Then have the 770 on wifi to the boat to be accessed by the phone. I forget if your RM or GM?
All wifi works but can be real finicky. I found a cheap switch and plug it all together works great and use wifi for the phone access.
All wifi works but can be real finicky. I found a cheap switch and plug it all together works great and use wifi for the phone access.
- Nov 4, 2019
- 2,480
- Boat Info
- 2010 Sundancer 500
2015 Brig Falcon 330T
- Engines
- Twin Cummins QSC550 w Zeus Pods
Thanks @SKybolt
I have the head unit and all remotes plugged into a
Brainboxes Switch - 5 Ports - DIN Rail mountable (SW-005) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FE26AL2/
Which is the Garmin recommended switch
I'm going to try again this weekend but these updates for the erx400 have been vexing to say the least
I have the head unit and all remotes plugged into a
Brainboxes Switch - 5 Ports - DIN Rail mountable (SW-005) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FE26AL2/
Which is the Garmin recommended switch
I'm going to try again this weekend but these updates for the erx400 have been vexing to say the least
Shaps, do you have your Fusion configured for the Garmin Network over ethernet? If so, I don't believe any of the wi-fi functions will work. Seems to me I originally had mine configured for Garmin Network, and also to my router via wi-fi. But, this year with the software updated it won't work anymore. Right now, I am limited to using the app only when I am wirelessly connected to the Garmin MFD.
Found this in the current Fusion OM, page 31:
"You cannot use Wi‑Fi networking on a stereo configured for use with a Garmin Marine Network. This functionality is compatible with wired network connections only."
If you are on the Garmin Network, and I'm correct, I think you will have to disable the Garmin Network on the 770, then you should be able to configure temporary access points to get the software update done.
Chris-380
Well-Known Member
no, this can be for everything related, I like it
- Nov 4, 2019
- 2,480
- Boat Info
- 2010 Sundancer 500
2015 Brig Falcon 330T
- Engines
- Twin Cummins QSC550 w Zeus Pods
Thanks @alnav
I'm definitely not on Garmin network (at least I don't think so).
I'll update tomorrow with settings and what I do or don't accomplish.
I honestly believe it should not be this difficult. I'm a pretty technically savvy guy under normal circumstances. This one is driving me nuts
Skybolt
Well-Known Member
- Nov 11, 2014
- 6,469
- Boat Info
- Reel Nauti
460 EC
- Engines
- Detroit 6v92TA
(Low profile's)
Alison Gears
Westerbeke
12.5kw Genset
Al, the wired network side of the Fusion does work when connected to the GMN and also when the WiFi is connected to the boat's wifi.
I have the RA770 connected to a Netgear 12v switch and two ERX400's then that switch is connected to the GMS10 via a POE blocker. At the same time the WiFi is connected to the boat's wifi so my phone and tablets can access the head unit via wifi. This is how the MFD's will display the album art from sirius.
I don't think their tech support knows exactly what things can do at times.Because both Fusion and Garmin said this can't be done. But it certainly can done. We had discussed this last year when I went through exactly what @Shaps is going through. In that thread I have screen shots of both IP's on the head unit.
EDIT: Screen shot of RA770 with both wired and wifi IP's - http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/fusion-album-art-and-garmin-mfds.103466/#post-1210882
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Skybolt
Well-Known Member
- Nov 11, 2014
- 6,469
- Boat Info
- Reel Nauti
460 EC
- Engines
- Detroit 6v92TA
(Low profile's)
Alison Gears
Westerbeke
12.5kw Genset
Shaps, one thing I noticed is that in ActiveCaptain, only one ERX will show up. The way Fusion had designed this was for the ERX to plugin directly to the RA770 and not through a switch. But as we both know that does work.
While this thread discusses the album art being displayed on the Garmin MFD's, it may help you with the IP stuff and getting it all connected right.
http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/fusion-album-art-and-garmin-mfds.103466/
Last edited:
- Nov 4, 2019
- 2,480
- Boat Info
- 2010 Sundancer 500
2015 Brig Falcon 330T
- Engines
- Twin Cummins QSC550 w Zeus Pods
Got all 3 remotes updated
To say it was convoluted is an understatement.. 1st you have to open you have to open up the fusion app on your phone while not connected to the radio to download the update file for the ERX400. Oddly, Sometimes I saw that option and sometimes I didn't. I'm not really sure what the difference was. But once I saw that option kind of I did grab it and download the files. Then you have to set your head unit up as a wireless access point And connect your phone to the head unit.
Fusion told me I would have to update each remote individually by taking the other remotes offline.
I removed 2 of the 3 remotes from the switch, then in the fusion app it gave me an option to send the update to the ERX400 . Success. Repeated the process for the remaining remotes and now all on version 5.50
I am glad that I made access to the network switch somewhat easy
To say it was convoluted is an understatement.. 1st you have to open you have to open up the fusion app on your phone while not connected to the radio to download the update file for the ERX400. Oddly, Sometimes I saw that option and sometimes I didn't. I'm not really sure what the difference was. But once I saw that option kind of I did grab it and download the files. Then you have to set your head unit up as a wireless access point And connect your phone to the head unit.
Fusion told me I would have to update each remote individually by taking the other remotes offline.
I removed 2 of the 3 remotes from the switch, then in the fusion app it gave me an option to send the update to the ERX400 . Success. Repeated the process for the remaining remotes and now all on version 5.50
I am glad that I made access to the network switch somewhat easy
Orlando, I think we're both right. I had the Garmin Network ethernet alongside a wifi connection to my router working last year. This spring, I lost the Sirius module and the solution was to do a factory reset. When I was re-configuring, I selected Settings...Network...Advanced...Garmin Marine Network. I think that's a new thing implemented in a recent update so I assumed it was needed. That setting disables wifi. I backed out of that today and found that the Garmin Network connection still worked properly including album art and I was still able to use the app via the MFD access point. Then, I was able to connect via wifi to my router. Only glitch is that, while both connections seem to be up and I have both Garmin and router IP addresses, the app will not connect on the router side while the MFD is on, only through the MFD. Not a problem for me as I use the app with the MFD's not on most of the time and when underway usually have a device connected to the MFD via wifi.
