B&G V50 radio issues

[rgesner]

Anyone know a good Navico dealer in Fort Lauderdale to update that sexy H50?

Anyone find out yet how to install the update w/o a B&G MFD?

(I submitted a tech support request to B&G asking but who knows how swamped they are. I'll post here when they respond unless someone beats me to it.)

Thanks - Rusty

[rgesner]

Navico Tech Support says:

"you can only push software via one of our MFD'S or from our software upgrade tool. Is there a chance there is one of our dealers nearby, where you can take the radio to ? Or you can send to us and we can upgrade the unit."

Frankly, it seems outrageous that they sell you a $300-400 radio with no pre-sales hint that you need one of their $1300 to $4000 MFDs to maintain it

At least I haven't installed mine yet and haven't left Fort Lauderdale, so sending it in isn't too hard, but for sailors in remote locations, this really sucks.

[JayH]

Originally Posted by rgesner

Navico Tech Support says:

"you can only push software via one of our MFD'S or from our software upgrade tool. Is there a chance there is one of our dealers nearby, where you can take the radio to ? Or you can send to us and we can upgrade the unit."

Frankly, it seems outrageous that they sell you a $300-400 radio with no pre-sales hint that you need one of their $1300 to $4000 MFDs to maintain it

At least I haven't installed mine yet and haven't left Fort Lauderdale, so sending it in isn't too hard, but for sailors in remote locations, this really sucks.

I don't think its outrageous. It seems completely normal and reasonable to me. Really, what is the alternative? Put a USB or SD port in the radio? That makes the radio more expensive and complicates the waterproofing. For what? How often do you think a VHF radio needs new firmware? Obviously this one did, but how much design time & cost should into anticipating that scenario?

Everybody seems to hold icom in such high regard. How do they do it? I don't see firmware downloads on their support page. I see instructions for how to pack your radio in a box and send it somewhere.

Upgrading the radio from a chartplotter seems pretty convenient to me.

[sailjumanji]

Originally Posted by JayH

I don't think its outrageous. It seems completely normal and reasonable to me. Really, what is the alternative? Put a USB or SD port in the radio? That makes the radio more expensive and complicates the waterproofing. For what? How often do you think a VHF radio needs new firmware? Obviously this one did, but how much design time & cost should into anticipating that scenario?

Everybody seems to hold icom in such high regard. How do they do it? I don't see firmware downloads on their support page. I see instructions for how to pack your radio in a box and send it somewhere.

Upgrading the radio from a chartplotter seems pretty convenient to me.

I've owned four Icom radios and never needed to send any of them in for repair. I guess they just get it right before they ship.

[JayH]

Originally Posted by sailjumanji

I've owned four Icom radios and never needed to send any of them in for repair. I guess they just get it right before they ship.

Ha! How about the M802 about 8-10 years ago? What a mess that was, eh? You would have sent that one back. And it wasn't even a software problem.

Nobody gets it right every time. Not even NASA, which is probably as close to engineering perfection as you can get.

[Rusty007]

You can use a ST10 USB to Can converter and the software update tool to perform the upgrade from a PC.
Software Upgrade Tool - Simrad Marine Electronics

[Yeti]

So today I updated the radio and everything went smoothly with no issues. Had everything on for a couple hours after the update with no issues.
I went out and bought a brand new wireless handset that has not been updated (still ver 1.060 or something like that). It would not subscribe to the newly updated RS35. I'm not to worried though.
Called Navico tech support and they say that "Alltech Yacht Solutions" would be the place in San Diego to get the handset upgraded. They should have the equipment next week per Navico tech support.

Sent from my ALCATEL ONE TOUCH Fierce using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[DeepFrz]

I went out and bought a brand new wireless handset that has not been updated (still ver 1.060 or something like that). It would not subscribe to the newly updated RS35. I'm not to worried though.
Called Navico tech support and they say that "Alltech Yacht Solutions" would be the place in San Diego to get the handset upgraded. They should have the equipment next week per Navico tech support.

You must enjoy banging your head against the wall. I hope you got it for a very good price at least.

[JayH]

Originally Posted by Yeti

I went out and bought a brand new wireless handset that has not been updated (still ver 1.060 or something like that). It would not subscribe to the newly updated RS35. I'm not to worried though.
Called Navico tech support and they say that "Alltech Yacht Solutions" would be the place in San Diego to get the handset upgraded. They should have the equipment next week per Navico tech support.

That's surprising. They're going to have a hell of a time with customer service if they've broken compatibility with all the existing stock out there. There was either a really good reason, or it was really dumb.

[Yeti]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

You must enjoy banging your head against the wall. I hope you got it for a very good price at least.

I paid retail price ($150) at the local West Marine.

I'm not really worried though. The handset was never paired with the radio before the radio was updated. The update info clearly states that the handset need to be updated. I fully expect things to be just fine after the handset is updated. If the handset still doesn't pair up after it's been updated then I'll just take it back to West Marine with no worries. Having the handset would be a nice bonus but not something I have to have.

I've never really felt like I was banging my head on the wall with all my Navico gear but then I may be something of an optimist/ generally positive thinking guy....

[muttskie]

Originally Posted by JayH

Everybody seems to hold icom in such high regard. How do they do it? I don't see firmware downloads on their support page. I see instructions for how to pack your radio in a box and send it somewhere.

Upgrading the radio from a chartplotter seems pretty convenient to me.

Exactly what I had to do to update the firmware on a brand new ICOM M506. Ship it somewhere. I think that Navico's method of software/firmware updating is consumer friendly.

[Yeti]

Originally Posted by Yeti

I went out and bought a brand new wireless handset that has not been updated (still ver 1.060 or something like that). It would not subscribe to the newly updated RS35. I'm not to worried though.

Called Navico tech support and they say that "Alltech Yacht Solutions" would be the place in San Diego to get the handset upgraded. They should have the equipment next week per Navico tech support.

Today's News on this Front.

I misremembered the correct pairing process when I originally tried to pair the new un-updated handset with the updated RS35. Today I redid the pairing process correctly and the un-updated handset paired up with no problems.

Also today I turned the Weather Alerts back on. I had the radio and all my other Navico stuff running (at the mooring) for about 4 hours while working on stuff. I had ZERO issues with the radio switching over to a weather broadcast during this time. Before I turned off the weather alerts and updated the radio I would have the "random weather broadcast" every 20-30 minutes. So that is promising.

Also, for the San Diego folks. Alltech Yacht Solutions emailed me back to acknowledge that they would have the equipment to update the radios and handsets in the near future. They just do not have the equipment yet.

All in all, a good day on the RS35/V50 front for me.

[alctel]

Originally Posted by Rusty007

RS35 update is out now

RS35 /HS35 Software Update - Simrad Marine Electronics

Thanks for the heads up! Excited to see if it enables the mmsi calling from the plotter

[alctel]

Originally Posted by Steve Lavigne

I upgraded my RS35 today. Seemed to have bricked the first time around, but I specifically found a strange name on the NMEA2000 network and did the upgrade again with success. I did not disconnect my 12 other NMEA2000 devices, as recommended here but not mentioned in the Simrad documentation.

Calling seems to now be available from the chartplotter. Also, I previously had a small number of 'Fast packet errors' logged on my Zeus2. With the RS35 upgrade, the 'Fast packet errors' seem to have gone to zero. FYI, my bus load sits around 9%, I have 14 NMEA2000 devices, and I always have zero Errors and Overruns.

RS35 /HS35 Software Update - Simrad Marine Electronics

How do you get the calling option?

I've updated my RS35 and can't see that option on my NSS8

[JayH]

Originally Posted by alctel

How do you get the calling option?

I've updated my RS35 and can't see that option on my NSS8

I have a Zeus2&V50, but it should be the same if your plotter's software is up-to-date.

Pick an AIS target and view its details. The "Call" button should be on the lower left of the screen. I think it's there even if you don't have a supported radio, but after the update it should be enabled.