What to do with accessories which are not compatible with current technology?

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

What to do with accessories which are not compatible with current technology?

The unfortunate result of new technology development is that it often obsoletes older peripheral designs. Backwards compatibility for product accessories can only be maintained within product designs for a limited period of time before it becomes cost prohibitive or technically infeasible to provide continued support within new product designs. One such example relates to SiriusXM satellite weather / radio receivers. Specifically, the SR100, SR6, and SR50 SiriusXM Satellite Weather / Radio Receivers which provided Sirius Satellite weather features within three generations of MFDs beginning with the A/C/E-Series Classic MFDs and ending within the MFDs supporting LightHouse II software (i.e. the a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFDs) may not be used with Axiom and Axiom Pro MFDs running LightHouse 3 software. Another example relates to 50kHz/200kHz digital sonar modules. Specifically, the DSM30, DSM300, and CP300 Digital Sonar Modules which provided 50kHz/200kHz digital fishfinder features within four generations of MFDs beginning with the beginning with the hsb2 Pathfinder Series Displays and ending with the MFDs supporting LightHouse II software (i.e. the a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFDs) may not be used with Axiom and Axiom Pro MFDs running LightHouse 3 software. One last example relates to high power CHIRP sonar modules. Specifically, the CP450C sonar modules which provided high power CHIRP sonar features to the MFDs supporting LightHouse II software (i.e. the a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFDs) may not be used with Axiom and Axiom Pro MFDs running LightHouse 3 software.

It is recommended that owners of accessories which have been identified as incompatible with current technology consider private sale of such accessories to aid in offsetting the cost of new accessories offering the same or similar features. As the overwhelming majority of these legacy MFDs remain in service with their owners, it is not uncommon that the private sales of such accessories recoup much of their original cost. Internet sales web sites (ebay, Craigs List, etc.) can be particularly effective for such purposes.


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