S1000 Autopilot questions - can any S1000 owners confirm?

R

Ray

New member
Hi all,

I just want to make sure I haven't done anything stupid (NOT unheard of) here.

I bought an S1000 last fall and just got around to installing it. After installing, during testing, everything works fine as long as the remote is within TWO FEET of the controller. If I move away more than 3 feet or so (still line-of-sight), the wireless indicator drops to zero and I lose the link. Maximum "bars" on the indicator are three, not five as shown in the manual, but I read somewhere else on the net that this is valid (maybe). See photos below.

Now, I am a electrical engineer specializing in wireless hardware, but that doesn't mean I can't do stupid things.

* GPS data is being received fine.
* Power is good at the controller.
* #8 AWG "RF Ground" (I won't comment on this) running straight to the battery neg.
* Controller mounted under galley, midships.
* ALL other potentially interference-related equipment is OFF.

* Am I missing something?
* Has anyone else had a bad wireless transceiver in either end?
* Where is your controller mounted?
* Where on your boat does your remote quit picking up a good signal?

s1000_close.jpg


s1000_far.jpg


Thanks in advance for any help.....

Ray
 
I have my controller mounted behind the helm in the v-berth and there is no place on the boat that the remote will not work. I frequently steer with the remote from the stern while trolling. I imagine you checked the batteries in the remote.
 
Winyah":jbk1cy0y said:
I have my controller mounted behind the helm in the v-berth and there is no place on the boat that the remote will not work. I frequently steer with the remote from the stern while trolling. I imagine you checked the batteries in the remote.
Click to expand...

That was my experience as well with both of my installs. I'd call Raymarine.

Charlie
 
I'd run that R-F/chassis ground to a metal through hull. Dumping R-F noise back to the battery isn't the best concept.

Can you borrow another remote? Or find someone else with a S1000 and try that.

Here's the Raymarine Tech Support. I've had good luck, especially if I can talk to the tech in the lab.

Boris
 
I wonder what would it do if you unscrewed the electronics and just set it on the counter to see if it is being shielded by something under the counter.
 
Thanks for all the input, guys!

Just confirmed with Raymarine it is likely a bad transmitter in the controller. "should work 30ft -- even further line-of-sight."

I guess it goes into the mail this afternoon.....
:amgry :amgry :amgry :amgry
 
I installed just mine behind the cockpit in the last 3 weeks. I usually get 3 bars or so, but have seen it loose the connection on some occasions as I move back in the boat. As I have just played around with the unit for a week, don’t know really what to expect as far as range goes, but based on these comments on 30 ft of range it would seem either there is some electronic interference blocking the signal, or we have done something wrong in the installation. As the installation is pretty straight forward, I’m guessing something is messing with the signal. I’m wondering if any of the 802.11 wireless gear 2.4 GHz 3.6 GHz and 4.9/5.0 GHz bands (i-pads, i-phones) or 3/4g wireless kit and or Bluetooth could be stepping on the signal. Also not in my case, but if you are running a microwave I've see issues. I don’t have the remote with me, but it would be good to know what bands they use and if Raymarine has ever seen conflicts with other devices.
 
I tracked down the FCC grant for the S1000.

https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/tcb/reports/ ... d=PJ5S1000

It is definitely the Bluetooth frequency band, but whether they are using BT protocols or not is another issue.

If they are using Bluetooth protocols and radio link-layer, then the S1000 should easily co-exist with any multitude of other Bluetooth devices. If a different protocol or frame format, then there might be problems.

Microwaves (broad-band at 2.4GHz) will wipe out just about anything in the Bluetooth frequency band.
 
My remote works anywhere on the boat. It also needs fresh batteries. I don't use it for many hours before it no longer works until replenished with fresh batteries.

Rich
 
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