Anyone using a DST810?

[svfinlandia]

Looking at the possibility of upgrading to an Airmar Multisensor (SOW, Depth, etc.).
Anyone out there using one and if so what do you think of it?

Al, S/V Finlandia

[Afrinus]

I bought one, installed it and it didn't work.
The depth was all over and no speed.
Checking with Airmar, they very quickly asked me to send it back to check it out.
A week later I was sent a new one (complete)
I haven't had a chance to check it out yet.

I hope it is great, but the jury is out on that still....[emoji2373]

[Windpilot]

Installed the airmar 810 in 2019, working fine. I like that the paddle wheel center isn't wired making cleaning easier. And the flap stopping water influx is nice to have. (New to me) shows temp also.

[Paul L]

I replaced a dst800 with flaky depth readings with a dst810 about 2 months ago. So far it has been working well. It even reads sea temperature which the 800 quit doing long ago.
The Bluetooth setup and calibration was pretty straight forward. Hopefully this model will be more reliable than the 800.

[Rucksta]

Originally Posted by Paul L

I replaced a dst800 with flaky depth readings with a dst810 about 2 months ago. So far it has been working well. It even reads sea temperature which the 800 quit doing long ago.
The Bluetooth setup and calibration was pretty straight forward. Hopefully this model will be more reliable than the 800.

Same experience.

Prefer the DST810 over the DST800 it replaced.
Bluetooth gives me trim & heel on phone saving space on the Triton instruments if required.
Nine settings for speed /heel calibration pt/stb is quite granular.
Response and damping are better from a precision 9 but accuracy of the DST810 is comparable.

Reliability issues with my DST800 were caused by powering the system with the transducer removed and dry.

[tupawk]

I installed the Garmin branded version this past spring as part of a total electronics refit. It has been working great for me with no issues. As others have said the bluetooth calibration was straightforward and I also really like the heel angle sensor built in to it.

The one calibration setting I have not completed is the water temperature. By default it is way off on mine and I havent had a thermometer on hand to check and set it accurately.

[HighTemp]

Replaced our DST800 when the temp sensor failed. The DST810 has been working well.

[boatman1]

My experience(s) with Airmar devices reflects a lifespan of just a couple/three years. Nice while they last

[kipwrite]

First one lasted a few weeks, replaced under warranty.

Seems like these are hit are miss. Nice when they work correctly.

[Imagineou812]

And what is the common denominator in this thread ??? Airmar makes **** products !!! They look great being artificially displayed @ the boat shows , but it isn't until after you spend a bunch of $$$ putting it on your boat that this **** doesn't work as promoted !!! I attribute this in LARGE part to being
"Made in China" !!! And it doesn't help that Navico / B and G doesn't provide any kind of "Field tech support" , you just have to find somebody's 3rd cousin who mighta seen one of them things before to get it to work !!!

[Oceanride007]

Its a big step up in price, I have a Cruiser don't need all that functionality, or faster information coming in. But if its a step up in quality in that it lasts longer then it could be a worth it. Temperature tends to fail first.
Rucksta mentioned turning it on when its dry. I suspected this but why would this effect temperature sensing or speed, maybe the Sonar thingy needs coolant. I'll wait but please report back here.

[Afrinus]

Didn't know it's made in in China, but I didn't have an issue to immediately get support from Airmar, and they didn't argue that it was my fault the thing didn't work.
They replaced it immediately when they determined it was faulty.
Yes, it would have been better if it was good from the start...

For what it's worth, the two other Airmar sensors I had on this boat, and two on the previous boat was faultless for many years.

[lutz1982]

my new 810 failed reading water temperature after 11 month, false depth reading between 20 and 9 meters, jumping with no reason up to 1.4meter

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, lutz.

[s/v Jedi]

False depth readings come from thermal layers, schools of fish, turbulence or even salinity layers in outflow of rivers etc.

When your boat has lots of false readings, suspect turbulence problems caused by incorrect location of the sensor.