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Furuno wifi radar first impressions

RP
Richard P
Fri, Feb 21, 2020 4:55 AM

I just received and installed a Furuno wifi-connected radar and thought I
would share my first impressions.

  1. The significant feature of this radar, according to Furuno ads, is that
    you only have to run a 12V power cable plus ground, up the mast. No thick
    Radar cables.  That was my main reason for choosing this model. Well guess
    what? The power cable included is a thick, stiff, cable about 0.4”
    diameter. That is almost the same as the 11 wire cable I removed from my 30
    year old furuno radar. It was not an improvement at all.
  2. The power cable connects to the radome at an external plug. BAD design.
    Clearly this connection  is going to corrode in the future and cause a
    problem. I called Furuno and the tech said of "course it will corrode"
    unless you: a. wrap it tightly with electrical tape. b. wrap the electrical
    tape tightly with self amalgamating tape and then c. wrap a third layer of
    electric tape.  What BS. Of course there is noting about this method in the
    installation manual.
  3. The power cord supplied does not use tinned wire. Just plain copper.
    Furuno wants $135 for a replacement cable. I asked the tech if here is a
    problem running my own cable. He said this would void the warrantee.
    Further, he told me Furuno does not supply a connector by itself.
  4. When I operate the radar transmitter I can hear a groaning sound
    emanating from the radome. This may be a bad bearing. I know what a healthy
    radar antenna sounds like. I hope this does not give problems down the
    road. Being in Mexico , as I am , it is not practical to send the radome
    back to the factory for inspection and/or repair.
  5. When operating the radar from an iPad, I periodically get an error
    message saying the sensor is not being deleted. Error “E0002” I called the
    furuno tech and he told me 1. He never heard of these error messages and 2.
    He was reluctant to have to go “look it up” . Later I found the error code
    myself. This tech needs some training.
  6. There is a tone alarm that can be set to warn if any target comes within
    a sector. Standard feature. However this tone is so quiet that it would not
    heard over a typical diesel engine. The app should have been written to
    access the very loud signals that an iPad capable of.
  7. Overall the Furuno techs, I spoke to 2 of them, were not particularly
    well trained or helpful. Naturally their standard answer suggested that any
    problems must be due to something I am doing wrong.
  8. Since I do all my navigation on iPads (I have two at the helm) this wifi
    feature seems like an good choice for me.  I will know more when we really
    sea trial the radar in an upcoming night time crossing of the Sea of Cortez.

Richard

I just received and installed a Furuno wifi-connected radar and thought I would share my first impressions. 1. The significant feature of this radar, according to Furuno ads, is that you only have to run a 12V power cable plus ground, up the mast. No thick Radar cables. That was my main reason for choosing this model. Well guess what? The power cable included is a thick, stiff, cable about 0.4” diameter. That is almost the same as the 11 wire cable I removed from my 30 year old furuno radar. It was not an improvement at all. 2. The power cable connects to the radome at an external plug. BAD design. Clearly this connection is going to corrode in the future and cause a problem. I called Furuno and the tech said of "course it will corrode" unless you: a. wrap it tightly with electrical tape. b. wrap the electrical tape tightly with self amalgamating tape and then c. wrap a third layer of electric tape. What BS. Of course there is noting about this method in the installation manual. 3. The power cord supplied does not use tinned wire. Just plain copper. Furuno wants $135 for a replacement cable. I asked the tech if here is a problem running my own cable. He said this would void the warrantee. Further, he told me Furuno does not supply a connector by itself. 4. When I operate the radar transmitter I can hear a groaning sound emanating from the radome. This may be a bad bearing. I know what a healthy radar antenna sounds like. I hope this does not give problems down the road. Being in Mexico , as I am , it is not practical to send the radome back to the factory for inspection and/or repair. 5. When operating the radar from an iPad, I periodically get an error message saying the sensor is not being deleted. Error “E0002” I called the furuno tech and he told me 1. He never heard of these error messages and 2. He was reluctant to have to go “look it up” . Later I found the error code myself. This tech needs some training. 6. There is a tone alarm that can be set to warn if any target comes within a sector. Standard feature. However this tone is so quiet that it would not heard over a typical diesel engine. The app should have been written to access the very loud signals that an iPad capable of. 7. Overall the Furuno techs, I spoke to 2 of them, were not particularly well trained or helpful. Naturally their standard answer suggested that any problems must be due to something I am doing wrong. 8. Since I do all my navigation on iPads (I have two at the helm) this wifi feature seems like an good choice for me. I will know more when we really sea trial the radar in an upcoming night time crossing of the Sea of Cortez. Richard
MD
michael dolishny
Fri, Feb 21, 2020 2:07 PM

Thanks for sharing your experience. I have been contemplating the purchase of a Furuno wireless Radar. I would be interested on how the radar performs during your crossing and if you were able to work out the bugs.

Sent from my iPad

On Feb 21, 2020, at 7:26 AM, Richard P via Trawlers-and-Trawlering trawlers@lists.trawlering.com wrote:

I just received and installed a Furuno wifi-connected radar and thought I
would share my first impressions.

  1. The significant feature of this radar, according to Furuno ads, is that
    you only have to run a 12V power cable plus ground, up the mast. No thick
    Radar cables.  That was my main reason for choosing this model. Well guess
    what? The power cable included is a thick, stiff, cable about 0.4”
    diameter. That is almost the same as the 11 wire cable I removed from my 30
    year old furuno radar. It was not an improvement at all.
  2. The power cable connects to the radome at an external plug. BAD design.
    Clearly this connection  is going to corrode in the future and cause a
    problem. I called Furuno and the tech said of "course it will corrode"
    unless you: a. wrap it tightly with electrical tape. b. wrap the electrical
    tape tightly with self amalgamating tape and then c. wrap a third layer of
    electric tape.  What BS. Of course there is noting about this method in the
    installation manual.
  3. The power cord supplied does not use tinned wire. Just plain copper.
    Furuno wants $135 for a replacement cable. I asked the tech if here is a
    problem running my own cable. He said this would void the warrantee.
    Further, he told me Furuno does not supply a connector by itself.
  4. When I operate the radar transmitter I can hear a groaning sound
    emanating from the radome. This may be a bad bearing. I know what a healthy
    radar antenna sounds like. I hope this does not give problems down the
    road. Being in Mexico , as I am , it is not practical to send the radome
    back to the factory for inspection and/or repair.
  5. When operating the radar from an iPad, I periodically get an error
    message saying the sensor is not being deleted. Error “E0002” I called the
    furuno tech and he told me 1. He never heard of these error messages and 2.
    He was reluctant to have to go “look it up” . Later I found the error code
    myself. This tech needs some training.
  6. There is a tone alarm that can be set to warn if any target comes within
    a sector. Standard feature. However this tone is so quiet that it would not
    heard over a typical diesel engine. The app should have been written to
    access the very loud signals that an iPad capable of.
  7. Overall the Furuno techs, I spoke to 2 of them, were not particularly
    well trained or helpful. Naturally their standard answer suggested that any
    problems must be due to something I am doing wrong.
  8. Since I do all my navigation on iPads (I have two at the helm) this wifi
    feature seems like an good choice for me.  I will know more when we really
    sea trial the radar in an upcoming night time crossing of the Sea of Cortez.

Richard


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Thanks for sharing your experience. I have been contemplating the purchase of a Furuno wireless Radar. I would be interested on how the radar performs during your crossing and if you were able to work out the bugs. Sent from my iPad > On Feb 21, 2020, at 7:26 AM, Richard P via Trawlers-and-Trawlering <trawlers@lists.trawlering.com> wrote: > > I just received and installed a Furuno wifi-connected radar and thought I > would share my first impressions. > > 1. The significant feature of this radar, according to Furuno ads, is that > you only have to run a 12V power cable plus ground, up the mast. No thick > Radar cables. That was my main reason for choosing this model. Well guess > what? The power cable included is a thick, stiff, cable about 0.4” > diameter. That is almost the same as the 11 wire cable I removed from my 30 > year old furuno radar. It was not an improvement at all. > 2. The power cable connects to the radome at an external plug. BAD design. > Clearly this connection is going to corrode in the future and cause a > problem. I called Furuno and the tech said of "course it will corrode" > unless you: a. wrap it tightly with electrical tape. b. wrap the electrical > tape tightly with self amalgamating tape and then c. wrap a third layer of > electric tape. What BS. Of course there is noting about this method in the > installation manual. > 3. The power cord supplied does not use tinned wire. Just plain copper. > Furuno wants $135 for a replacement cable. I asked the tech if here is a > problem running my own cable. He said this would void the warrantee. > Further, he told me Furuno does not supply a connector by itself. > 4. When I operate the radar transmitter I can hear a groaning sound > emanating from the radome. This may be a bad bearing. I know what a healthy > radar antenna sounds like. I hope this does not give problems down the > road. Being in Mexico , as I am , it is not practical to send the radome > back to the factory for inspection and/or repair. > 5. When operating the radar from an iPad, I periodically get an error > message saying the sensor is not being deleted. Error “E0002” I called the > furuno tech and he told me 1. He never heard of these error messages and 2. > He was reluctant to have to go “look it up” . Later I found the error code > myself. This tech needs some training. > 6. There is a tone alarm that can be set to warn if any target comes within > a sector. Standard feature. However this tone is so quiet that it would not > heard over a typical diesel engine. The app should have been written to > access the very loud signals that an iPad capable of. > 7. Overall the Furuno techs, I spoke to 2 of them, were not particularly > well trained or helpful. Naturally their standard answer suggested that any > problems must be due to something I am doing wrong. > 8. Since I do all my navigation on iPads (I have two at the helm) this wifi > feature seems like an good choice for me. I will know more when we really > sea trial the radar in an upcoming night time crossing of the Sea of Cortez. > > Richard > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com > > To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com > Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World > Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
RG
Rich Gano
Fri, Feb 21, 2020 2:34 PM

Your impression of the tech support you are getting is at the opposite end of the spectrum from mine as I was getting to know my circa-2005 Furuno system in 2015-2019.  I would call with some off-the-wall request like how to send and receive data from an ethernet connected laptop to my "elderly" system or to discuss the various methods of connecting compass data through my Furuno AP to my MFD.  They would always take a minute to get my system simulated in front of them and then follow through with me pin by pin for the connections.  If I was underway with the system operating and had a question, they were Johnny-on-the-spot to help me out with various settings or techniques.  I almost always spoke to the same two guys.  Maybe new people are there or training on this new generation stuff is lagging.  Sorry to hear all this, because I have thought of Furuno as absolutely bulletproof from the gear on board to the tech support.

Rich Gano
Frolic (2005 Mainship 30 Pilot II)
Panama City area
Subject: T&T: Furuno wifi radar first impressions

I just received and installed a Furuno wifi-connected radar and thought I
would share my first impressions.

  1. The significant feature of this radar, according to Furuno ads, is that
    you only have to run a 12V power cable plus ground, up the mast. No thick
    Radar cables.  That was my main reason for choosing this model. Well guess
    what? The power cable included is a thick, stiff, cable about 0.4”
    diameter. That is almost the same as the 11 wire cable I removed from my 30
    year old furuno radar. It was not an improvement at all.
  2. The power cable connects to the radome at an external plug. BAD design.
    Clearly this connection  is going to corrode in the future and cause a
    problem. I called Furuno and the tech said of "course it will corrode"
    unless you: a. wrap it tightly with electrical tape. b. wrap the electrical
    tape tightly with self amalgamating tape and then c. wrap a third layer of
    electric tape.  What BS. Of course there is noting about this method in the
    installation manual.
  3. The power cord supplied does not use tinned wire. Just plain copper.
    Furuno wants $135 for a replacement cable. I asked the tech if here is a
    problem running my own cable. He said this would void the warrantee.
    Further, he told me Furuno does not supply a connector by itself.
  4. When I operate the radar transmitter I can hear a groaning sound
    emanating from the radome. This may be a bad bearing. I know what a healthy
    radar antenna sounds like. I hope this does not give problems down the
    road. Being in Mexico , as I am , it is not practical to send the radome
    back to the factory for inspection and/or repair.
  5. When operating the radar from an iPad, I periodically get an error
    message saying the sensor is not being deleted. Error “E0002” I called the
    furuno tech and he told me 1. He never heard of these error messages and 2.
    He was reluctant to have to go “look it up” . Later I found the error code
    myself. This tech needs some training.
  6. There is a tone alarm that can be set to warn if any target comes within
    a sector. Standard feature. However this tone is so quiet that it would not
    heard over a typical diesel engine. The app should have been written to
    access the very loud signals that an iPad capable of.
  7. Overall the Furuno techs, I spoke to 2 of them, were not particularly
    well trained or helpful. Naturally their standard answer suggested that any
    problems must be due to something I am doing wrong.
  8. Since I do all my navigation on iPads (I have two at the helm) this wifi
    feature seems like an good choice for me.  I will know more when we really
    sea trial the radar in an upcoming night time crossing of the Sea of Cortez.

Richard

Your impression of the tech support you are getting is at the opposite end of the spectrum from mine as I was getting to know my circa-2005 Furuno system in 2015-2019. I would call with some off-the-wall request like how to send and receive data from an ethernet connected laptop to my "elderly" system or to discuss the various methods of connecting compass data through my Furuno AP to my MFD. They would always take a minute to get my system simulated in front of them and then follow through with me pin by pin for the connections. If I was underway with the system operating and had a question, they were Johnny-on-the-spot to help me out with various settings or techniques. I almost always spoke to the same two guys. Maybe new people are there or training on this new generation stuff is lagging. Sorry to hear all this, because I have thought of Furuno as absolutely bulletproof from the gear on board to the tech support. Rich Gano Frolic (2005 Mainship 30 Pilot II) Panama City area Subject: T&T: Furuno wifi radar first impressions I just received and installed a Furuno wifi-connected radar and thought I would share my first impressions. 1. The significant feature of this radar, according to Furuno ads, is that you only have to run a 12V power cable plus ground, up the mast. No thick Radar cables. That was my main reason for choosing this model. Well guess what? The power cable included is a thick, stiff, cable about 0.4” diameter. That is almost the same as the 11 wire cable I removed from my 30 year old furuno radar. It was not an improvement at all. 2. The power cable connects to the radome at an external plug. BAD design. Clearly this connection is going to corrode in the future and cause a problem. I called Furuno and the tech said of "course it will corrode" unless you: a. wrap it tightly with electrical tape. b. wrap the electrical tape tightly with self amalgamating tape and then c. wrap a third layer of electric tape. What BS. Of course there is noting about this method in the installation manual. 3. The power cord supplied does not use tinned wire. Just plain copper. Furuno wants $135 for a replacement cable. I asked the tech if here is a problem running my own cable. He said this would void the warrantee. Further, he told me Furuno does not supply a connector by itself. 4. When I operate the radar transmitter I can hear a groaning sound emanating from the radome. This may be a bad bearing. I know what a healthy radar antenna sounds like. I hope this does not give problems down the road. Being in Mexico , as I am , it is not practical to send the radome back to the factory for inspection and/or repair. 5. When operating the radar from an iPad, I periodically get an error message saying the sensor is not being deleted. Error “E0002” I called the furuno tech and he told me 1. He never heard of these error messages and 2. He was reluctant to have to go “look it up” . Later I found the error code myself. This tech needs some training. 6. There is a tone alarm that can be set to warn if any target comes within a sector. Standard feature. However this tone is so quiet that it would not heard over a typical diesel engine. The app should have been written to access the very loud signals that an iPad capable of. 7. Overall the Furuno techs, I spoke to 2 of them, were not particularly well trained or helpful. Naturally their standard answer suggested that any problems must be due to something I am doing wrong. 8. Since I do all my navigation on iPads (I have two at the helm) this wifi feature seems like an good choice for me. I will know more when we really sea trial the radar in an upcoming night time crossing of the Sea of Cortez. Richard