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+--- Thread: Which autopilots may a MFD running LightHouse 3 software support? (/showthread.php?tid=7581)
Which autopilots may a MFD running LightHouse 3 software support? - Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator - 03-05-19 09:33 AM
Which autopilots may a MFD running LightHouse 3 software support?
LightHouse 3 and LightHouse 2 software, as well as the final software update for the C/E-Series Classic MFDs, G-Series GPM400, and C/E-Series Widescreen MFDs, include an Autopilot Controls feature, permitting compatible Raymarine autopilots to be controlled and in some cases configured by the MFD. These compatible Raymarine autopilots must be interfaced via SeaTalkng / NMEA 2000 communications protocol or SeaTalk protocol to the MFD. While the Autopilot Controls feature of LightHouse II software features support for controlling compatible legacy Raymarine autopilots as well as Evolution autopilots, the Autopilot Controls feature of LightHouse 3 software may only be used in conjunction with an Evolution autopilot. The implication of the last statement for owners of compatible legacy Raymarine autopilots simply means that a compatible autopilot control head MUST be interfaced to the autopilot and MUST be used for performing setup, calibration, mode (STANDBY, AUTO, TRACK) changes, dodging / heading changes (when in AUTO mode), and acknowledging waypoint arrival / course changes (when in TRACK mode).
Like MFDs running LightHouse 2 software, A/C/E-Series Classic MFDs, G-Series GPM400, and C/E-Series Widescreen MFDs, many GPS displays, and many chartplotting systems, MFDs running LightHouse 3 software support sending navigational data (i.e. that associated with Go To Waypoint / Cursor Position command or Follow Route command) to an autopilot system via the MFD's NMEA 0183 communications interface and/or MFD's SeaTalkng / NMEA 2000 communications interface to an autopilot system. SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converters which have been updated with the latest SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter software may be used to support interfacing compatible autopilot having a SeaTalk communications interface to the system's powered and properly terminated SeaTalkng / NMEA 2000 backbone. SeaTalkng / NMEA 2000 to NMEA 0183 data bridging devices (ex. Actisense NGW-1-ISO-STNG, etc.) may be used to support interfacing MFDs running LightHouse 3 software to an autopilot most other autopilots (including third party autopilots) having a NMEA 0183 communications interface supporting NMEA 0183 v2.0 or higher.
RAYFAQ#