Getting started with Raymarine SeaTalk

[mrsrobinson]

Ha, and now we are getting somewhere. For about $900 I can get the Fusion MS-RA770 + this remote. Or for $450 I can keep my current Clarion remote and upgrade to this Clarion M608: https://www.crutchfield.com/S-13U7VBPIWtA/p_020M608/Clarion-M608.html

And I get plug/play with the Clarion, even mounting.

I am hearing folks say "Get the Fusion, get NMEA.." I don't see the added value, for me. If I thought if it was simple, and inexpensive, to convert, I would, doesn't seem that is the case.

 

[ocgrant]

This is what the boat came with, I'd like to keep it all, except for the VHF radio, which will be replaced:

View attachment 138464

View attachment 138465

That is an A series so you have Seatalk NG but your GPS is old so you also have Seatalk original also. If you want the new head unit to be controlled on that MFD you will need to build a N2K network. And have to update the software for sure. Probably not worth all the hassle for you IMO

 

[Skybolt]

They are just not the same as NG and 2000, which is just different plugs.

https://actisense.com/news/understanding-different-protocols-seatalk/#:~:text=There is a common misunderstanding,not share any other similarities.

Right, ok thought you meant not the same as 0183. RM's proprietary connector idea to make people only go with RM devices was a complete bomb for them. That in and of it self chased people over to Garmin.

Sorry @mrsrobinson I mentioned Garmin

 

[Brett H]

Ha, and now we are getting somewhere. For about $900 I can get the Fusion MS-RA770 + this remote. Or for $450 I can keep my current Clarion remote and upgrade to this Clarion M608: https://www.crutchfield.com/S-13U7VBPIWtA/p_020M608/Clarion-M608.html

I am hearing folks say "Get the Fusion, get NMEA.." I don't see the added value, for me. I thought if it was simple to convert, I would, doesn't seem that is the case.

I went Fusion. I only used the Fusion over NMEA a couple of times. More practical to turn off the MFD's when not underway. Used the WiFi volume control a couple of times but lost interest since my LAN doesn't have DATA. Primary reason for me to go Fusion was Zone Control (4 zones)(Helm, Cockpit, Swim Platform & Salon), w/ RCA's for remote amps . Just something to think about.

 

[Skybolt]

... I am hearing folks say "Get the Fusion, get NMEA.." I don't see the added value, for me. I thought if it was simple to convert, I would, doesn't seem that is the case.

So just to be clear, there isn't a convert, it's an add. Converting all of your existing, and working I assume, equipment would cost a bundle. You have that in your future if you keep this boat anyway, whether you know this or not.

Fusion only uses N2K for ONE oof their remotes and will connect to your current MFD with a software update. They also have ethernet remotes and BT remotes. And in a year or two when you start your upgrades you will be adding in N2K, there is no avoiding it. Maybe not to the extent I have done, but adding one just the same.
I tried to avoid all of this 6-7 years ago and couldn't as I wanted to upgrade things and didn't have a choice.

But given all your posts on this, I agree that going with the new clarion will benefit you, and it also has zones so there is a bonus there as well. IMO, Fusion is leaps ahead of Clarion, sorry had to say that.

 

[ZZ13]

Right, ok thought you meant not the same as 0183. RM's proprietary connector idea to make people only go with RM devices was a complete bomb for them. That in and of it self chased people over to Garmin.

Sorry @mrsrobinson I mentioned Garmin

The link states that Seatalk1 and NMEA0183 are not the same thing and explains why. I think his shorthand was confusing. He may have meant to write “ Seatalk1 and NMEA0183 are not the same, unlike SeatalkNG and NMEA2000 which are the same only with different connectors”.

NMEA0183 communicates with old Raymarine equipment via that equipment’s dedicated NMEA0183 wires, not via its Seatalk1 interface.

 

[Skybolt]

The link states that Seatalk1 and NMEA0183 are not the same thing and explains why. I think his shorthand was confusing. He may have meant to write “ Seatalk1 and NMEA0183 are not the same, unlike SeatalkNG and NMEA2000 which are the same only with different connectors”.

NMEA0183 communicates with old Raymarine equipment via that equipment’s dedicated NMEA0183 wires, not via its Seatalk1 interface.

I have my MFD 0183 connected to SeaTalk on my course computer and it works flawlessly. I'll have to look at that one. I truly hate dealing with RM and there messed up ways of doing things. If your all RM then it's fine, but when mixed it gets to be a mess.

Thanks for mentioning this.

EDIT: So it's been a while since I had to remember about SeaTalk. I looked this up and the differences are ST supports 0183 sentences but they added there own proprietary sentences also. So you are correct is stating Seatalk is not compatible with 0183, from the Raymarine point of view. From other devices trying to communicate to RM devices, like the Autopilot will work fine. But the general statement that they are not compatible with 0183 is quite true.