[CA] [CA11] Upgrading piece by piece

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Tim,

Q1. There will be 2 Axiom 12 RV units and I expect to have Ethernet eventually to support my desire for redundancy.
A1. As resources are shared within a system of Axiom MFDs, there is no need to have more than one Axiom RV MFD within a system unless there is a desire to mount a RV transducer to a trolling motor. As such a cost savings is realized by purchasing Axiom MFDs lacking internal fishfinder sonar for the remaining MFDs within the system. I also generally advise for those who will be fishing deep waters to forgo internal fishinder sonar within any of the MFDs and instead install an external module. In this case, I would recommend that Axiom MFDs lacking internal fishfinder circuitry be installed and that an RVX1000 RealVision Sonar Module in lieu of sonar circuitry within the MFDs. As a side note, if the currently installed transducer's cable has been directly interfaced to the DSM300, then may instead be adapted (A80496) to be mated to the 1kW Transducer socket of the RVX1000. This would then permit the DSM300 and its cabling to be eliminated from the system. This is because the RVX1000 will support being simultaneously interfaced to and produce fishfinder imagery from interfaced RV transducers and transducers which were designed to be directly mated to a DSM30/300

At this point, the proposed system will appear to include four devices supporting Ethernet communications ... two MFDs, radar transducer, and RVX1000 (or DSM300). Unlike Axiom Pro MFDs, Axiom MFDs feature a single Ethernet communications interface, which in turn would permit them to be networked to only one other device having an Ethernet communications interface. This limitation is overcome by installing a HS5 RayNet Network Switch onboard to which each MFD, the Digital Radar Cable, and and RVX1000 (or DSM300) will be interfaced.

Q2. To test the DSM300, will it plugin directly to the Axiom with the same cable that plugs into the E80 or do I need another cable interface?
A2. The SeaTalkhs cable will need to be unplugged from the MFD's SeaTalkhs socket and adapted with an A80160 RayNet (F) to SThs (F) Socket Adaptor Cable.

Q3. If the DSM300 wasn't working can the B744V connect to the Axiom albeit with less performance?
A3. See the response to Q1 addressing the B744V's potential use with a RVX1000 (recommended). Axiom RV MFDs may also be adapted for use with transducers which had been designed for use with a DSM30/300 ... again, I would recommend forgoing installation of a MFD having internal fishfinder sonar for a RVX1000.