[CA] [CA11] Airmar b164 and RV-100 on Axiom 7

[hstechfl]

Good afternoon,

I am trying to install an Airmar b164 (already installed in the boat but not being utilized) transducer to an Raymarine Axiom 7 with an RV-100. Is the correct Y-cable the A80491? Also- would all the functionality from both transducers be maintained with this setup? The reason I want the Airmar b164 installed is to get the readings in deeper water. The RV-100 usually stops reading after I get to over 600 feet. I have a DSM300 also, but from what I have read, this cannot be used with the Axiom.

Any help would be appreciated

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum hstechfl,

Was the B164 previously used with the DSM300? Was the B164's cable terminated with a plug which permitted it to be directly (no adaptation) to the DSM300's Transducer socket?

[hstechfl]

Hi Chuck- yes the b164 was plugged into the DSM300 direct, which was then plugged into a seatalk hs hub. I'm still using the seatalk hub to utilize an old redone ( which is working on the axiom).

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

hstechfl,

The A80492 Adaptor Cable would be used to simultaneously interface a RealVision and a DSM250/DSM30/DSM300/CP300/CP370 style transducer to an AXIOM RV MFD.

[hstechfl]

Thanks Chuck! If I install this setup- the MFD will stop reading sonar from the RV-100 and only the b164 correct? The RV-100 will only display downvision and realvision 3D as I understand..

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

hstechfl,

Q. If I install this setup- the MFD will stop reading sonar from the RV-100 and only the b164 correct? The RV-100 will only display downvision and realvision 3D as I understand.
A. Partially correct. The resulting system would support 600W 50kHz sounder imaging, 600W 200kHz sounder imaging, RealVision 3D sonar imaging, SideVision Sonar imaging, and DownVision sonar imaging.

[hstechfl]

Hi Chuck,

Just following up with this. I installed the correct cable, but the unit keeps crashing and rebooting. It seems to only do it when I have both transducers plugged in. It does NOT do it when I have ONLY the b164 plugged in. But if I plug the RV-100 in, it crashes. It also will not see the RV-100 when it is the only one installed (on the adapter cable)- without the b164.

I got it to work one time when I installed the b164 only and and set it up in the settings. I then rebooted with the RV-100 plugged in and everything worked. But shortly after when I restarted again- it crashed.

Is there an additional setting I need to configure? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

hstechfl,

As earlier LightHouse 3 software featured stability issues when using multiple sonar sources, such stability issues may be indicative of operating the MFD with a software version earlier than LightHouse 3 v3.5.40. If operating with an earlier version of software, then it would be recommended that the MFDs software be updated accordingly and that the system then be tested again.

[hstechfl]

Hi Chuck,

I had been up and running with the equipment described previously in this thread- until I updated my Axiom 7 to the latest software on Monday. I now cannot connect to the b164 and it does not even come up as an option to manually select. I tried to factory reset which did not work. Is there a compatibility issue with the latest software update? Thanks

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

hstechfl,

When using a Y-Cable which is designed to support simultaneous use of a RealVision transducer along with a compatible 50kHz/200kHz transducer, both transducers must be connected to the Y-Cable at all times. Should only one of these transducers be interfaced to the Y-Cable, then it will not be detected by the system.

Please note that the B164 transducer is produced in a number of variants, each designed to meet the specific specifications of a manufacturer and/or fishfinder ... including Raymarine fishfinding products. It is possible that the transducer's ID is not being communicated to the Axiom RV MFD. Please respond with a photo of the transducer's identification tag which clearly shows all information printed on that tag in order that we may positively identify the model of Airmar B164 transducer.