[DG] New VHF Channels, will i be able to upgrade my firmware on a Ray 240E?

[moki38]

As a proud owner of a Raymarine 240E, i came across this page: https://www.icomuk.co.uk/News_Article/3508/19370/

Long story short:
Changes to Channels 19, 20, 78, and 79 Marine VHF Usage
Due to the increased need for marine VHF channels for commercial use, a recent ITU World Radio Conference authorised and developed a new channel plan for the following VHF marine radio frequencies.

Channels 19, 20, 78, and 79, which were duplex have now been split into 8 simplex channels numbered 1019, 2019, 1020, 2020, 1078, 2078, 1079, and 2079. This new channel plan took effect January 1, 2017.

So, the question is:
Will i be able to upgrade (send to tech support, i guess) to this new VHF channel set, when the time comes?

[Derek - Raymarine - Moderator]

Hi moki38

All current Radios, RAY 50, RAY 60, RAY70 and any new radios will all have the new 8 Channel capability, the RAY260 will also have this capability, the RAY240 will not.

Further updates may be posted here in due course

regards

[moki38]

Thats too bad for my as a 240 owner...

When i upgrade to an new VHF, will i be able to switch between the old and the new set? As in.. when i leave one country, on the old set and sail to a country with the new set.

[Derek - Raymarine - Moderator]

Hi moki38

The new channels do not erase the original channels, they enhance them so in countries where the new channels have not been implemented, the original channel configuration is used, in countries where the new protocol is enables, the new channels are then accessed. No switching between capability is required.

Regards

[moki38]

This sounds like a great solution :)

So i will have channel 19 and 20, but also 1019, 2019, 1020, 2020 to select in my new VHF?

[Derek - Raymarine - Moderator]

Hi moki38

Yes I believe so, they will be in the channel selection options

Thanks