Es series 127 vs 128 MFD and sonar

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum Lazybones,

The eSx7 MFDs and eSx8 MFDs feature fundamentally different internal fishfinder sonar circuity designed for use either a compatible 600W 50/200kHz transducer or compatible 600' CHIRP/DownVision transducer respectively. Accordingly, it is not possible to interface a 50/200kHz transducer to an eSx8 MFD and correspondingly, it is not possible to interface a 600' CHIRP/DownVision transducer to an eSx7 MFD.

Q1. Can both the 127 and 128 support either 600W digital or down vision by merely selecting and installing the appropriate transducer, or is that choice made exclusively by selecting either the model 127 or 128?
A1. See paragraph above. Should both 600W 50/200kHz sonar and 600' CHIRP (conical) / DownVision sonar be desired in an eS-Series MFD, then one of the following two systems would need to be installed:
- eSx7 MFD w/compatible 50/200kHz Transducer and CP100 600' CHIRP (conical) sonar / DownVision Sounder Module with compatible CHIRP (conical) / DownVision Transducer.
- eSx8 MFD w/compatible CHIRP (conical) / DownVision Transducer and CP370 1kW Sounder Module w/compatible 50/200kHz Transducer.

Within the above listed systems, the sounder module would be interfaced to the MFD's Network socket or HS5 Network Switch via an appropriate length of RayNet (F) to RayNet (F) Cable.

Q2) Will both the 127 and 128 also support displaying the older ST50+ depth readings when properly connected through either 0183 or seatalk NG if no new transducer is selected at this time.
A2) ST50+ Instrument Display did not feature a NMEA 0183 output port. Should
- the ST50+ Depth instrument w/compatible depth transducer be interfaced to the MFD via SeaTalkng (requires SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter Kit), and
- no compatible transducer be interfaced to the MFD's Transducer socket, and
- the MFD not be interfaced to a compatible sounder module w/compatible transducer,
then MFD's Depth data item (displayed within a Databox, Databar, or Data panel) will be populated with depth information from the ST50+ Depth instrument.