Raymarine wireless controller install

dhays · #1 (**permalink**) 10-15-2011

I was fortunate enough to be given a gift of a Raymarine Wireless Smart Controller by some friends and I'm now working on installing it.

My uestions has to do with the placement of the wireless base station. The installation instructions are simplified to the point of vagueness. They have a installation guide that is primarily pictures with very little text. The show that the base station needs to be a Meter away from magnetic and electrical sources. The problem is, that it is hard to find any location on the boat that is more than a Meter away from any magnetic or electrical sources!

Has anyone installed one of these? If so, where did you put it and what problems did you run into with placement near other electronics?

Dave

Zanshin · #2 (**permalink**) 10-15-2011

I installed one and mounted the unit behind all the other Raymarine instruments at the helm and certainly less than a meter from the starboard compass (more like 60cm), which continued to read the same values as the port compass. The unit is a receiver and shouldn't bother your other instruments much. I didn't use my unit as much as possible, but it was a great device when I did use it - sailing solo in the BVIs and sitting at the bow and using the unit to avoid other sailboats was a hoot.

dhays · #3 (**permalink**) 10-15-2011

I'll check to see if I can fit the unit underneath where my other instruments are located in the console in the cockpit. It should be out of the weather there. Thanks for the suggestion.

Dave

Edit: No room there. I'll keep looking.

Faster · #4 (**permalink**) 10-15-2011

Raymarine makes a big deal about 'proximate sources' but take a look around and see how many APs, plotters etc are mounted within a foot or two of the binnacle compass.. a great majority, I'd say....

dhays · #5 (**permalink**) 10-16-2011

Well, I was able to find a location just forward of the chart plotter. I used some hook and loop to mount it up where it should be out of the weather and reasonably far from any interference. The Raymarine SeaTalk connections certainly make wiring easy.

I used it yesterday on the way home and it was awfully nice to be able to keep watch and steer under power from underneath the dodger.

Dave