Lighthouse II R17 update affecting AIS650 silent mode

[john744]

I just performed the update to R17 on a networked pair of e125/127 MFDs. This system is on a LE Patrol Boat and we had a switch installed on the AIS 650 to allow us to toggle the silent mode on and off. Previous to the update this worked fine. Since the update, we find we can toggle the silent mode on, but it will not toggle back to off by using the hard switch alone. Now, you must go into the onscreen menu and with the switch in off position, toggle the silent mode off using the touch screen control.

This is an important feature to us as it can be bouncy in a small patrol boat and the touch control are not always easy to use. Was this intentional, and can it be corrected?

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum john744,

The AIS650/500's silent mode leads are primarily intended to support placing the AIS transceiver into an out of silent mode within
- systems in which the Raymarine MFDs have been switched OFF, yet there is a desire to control whether the AIS will transmit or be silent
- systems feature third party chartplotting products
- systems in which the operator prefers to use a switch to control the Silent Mode state.

In systems featuring Raymarine MFDs, the Silent Mode leads would not typically be used, would be insulated to prevent a closed circuit, and the MFD would be used to control the Silent Mode state. However, should the AIS650's Silent Mode leads be interfaced to a switch, then it would be recommended that
- the AIS650 not be interfaced to the system via SeaTalkng/NMEA 2000 communications protocol
- the AIS650/500 instead be interfaced to the MFD to support one way NMEA 0183 communications (AIS650/500 -> MFD).
- alternatively, the AIS650/500 instead be interfaced to the SeaTalkng/NMEA 2000 backbone to support one way NMEA 0183 communications (AIS650/500 -> backbone) using a NMEA 0183 to SeaTalkng/NMEA 2000 data bridging device (ex. Actisense NGW-1-STNG.
- all control of Silent Mode will be performed via the switch.

However, when the Silent Mode leads are interfaced to a switch, the following behavior should be expected:
- with the MFD's power circuit switched OFF, the AIS650/500 will enter and remain in Silent Mode when a closed circuit is created with the Silent Mode leads.
- with the MFD's power circuit switched OFF, the AIS650/500 will enter Transmit and will remain in Transmit Mode when an open circuit is created with the Silent Mode leads and the AIS650's GPS receiver is able to maintain a GPS position FIX. Should the AIS650/500 lose its GPS position FIX, then the AIS650/500 will remain enter Silent Mode and remain in Silent Mode until the AIS650/500 has reacquired a GPS position FIX.
- with the MFD's power circuit switched ON and the AIS650/500 in Transmit Mode, the AIS650/500 will enter and remain in Silent Mode when a closed circuit is created with the Silent Mode leads. At that time, the MFD's Silent Mode state will also be changed to ON.
- with the MFD's power circuit switched ON and the AIS650/500 in Silent Mode, the AIS650/500 will remain in Silent Mode when an open circuit is created with the Silent Mode leads. The AIS650/500 may be commanded to enter Transmit Mode by configuring the MFD's Silent Mode state to OFF.