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21 August 2014, 22:17
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#1
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Portsmouth(ish)
Boat name: Wings
Make: Ribeye
Length: 6m +
Engine: Yamaha F115 AETL
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 615
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Lowrance Link 8 DSC fixed VHF
Hi all, have any of you had any dealings with the above radio? I can get one at a reasonable price (with the aid of a gift voucher on Amazon).
I'm thinking of getting one and building an N2K network to connect it to my Raymarine plotter - but I heard that the Link 8 had some issues getting GPS data from some Garmin plotters when it first came out. It seems that it was only reported a couple of years ago and I can't find any recent complaints so it is probably fixed.
I was wondering if anyone knew of any problems that might still be kicking around before I take the plunge?
Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net
__________________
There's weather out there - must be time to RIB!
(Or dive, or ref rugby, or.......)
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24 August 2014, 14:40
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#2
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Portsmouth(ish)
Boat name: Wings
Make: Ribeye
Length: 6m +
Engine: Yamaha F115 AETL
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 615
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I went into Marine Superstore yesterday to look at both the Lowrance Link 8 and the Garmin 200i.
The Garmin looked a bit "Tomy's My First Radio" and felt plasticky compared to the Lowrance. Plus the Lowrance has an AIS receiver built in so I've ordered the Link 8 with my Amazon voucher.
Looks like I'm going to be installing the aerial cable & radio this week then! 
Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net
__________________
There's weather out there - must be time to RIB!
(Or dive, or ref rugby, or.......)
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15 October 2014, 09:56
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#3
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Lancs
Boat name: Beretta
Make: Ballistic
Length: 6m +
Engine: 175hp e-tec
MMSI: 235035778
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,736
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I know this is quite a specific request, but I have the Icom M421 and I am thinking of replacing this with the Link 8 to refresh the comms and also get AIS data on my plotter.
Using the power of google it seems the M421 is bigger than the Link 8 so wont fit in the same hole - Anyone have any experience of this and the size of the outer 'lip' of the Link 8?
Link 8 Hole Dims
153 x 76
M421 Hole Dims
149 x 61.6
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15 October 2014, 09:58
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#4
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: South Yorks
Boat name: Black Pig
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: DF140a
MMSI: 235111389
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,178
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Lowrance Link 8 DSC fixed VHF
Unless I'm missing summat Steve, the link 8 is bigger than the Icom
.....sh1t happens.......
__________________
Rule#2: Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level & then beat you with experience.
Rule#3: Tha' can't educate pork.
Rule#4: Don't feed the troll
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15 October 2014, 10:04
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#5
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Lancs
Boat name: Beretta
Make: Ballistic
Length: 6m +
Engine: 175hp e-tec
MMSI: 235035778
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,736
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OMG! cant believe that, I have both templates printed out and got them all confused!! Its one of them mornings! 
2 weeks of very little sleep due to a new addition of the family!
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15 October 2014, 10:28
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#6
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RIBnet admin team
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,910
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveHall
OMG! cant believe that, I have both templates printed out and got them all confused!! Its one of them mornings!
2 weeks of very little sleep due to a new addition of the family! |
I should put that holesaw away for a month or so, IIWY.
__________________
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15 October 2014, 10:54
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#7
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Portsmouth(ish)
Boat name: Wings
Make: Ribeye
Length: 6m +
Engine: Yamaha F115 AETL
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 615
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The lip on the Link 8 is quite big, but be careful at the ends where the securing bolts go as the holes end up quite close to the cut-out for the main body. With the lip on it being so big they could have moved the securing bolts a little further away.
I fitted an N2K network, an antenna and ran the aerial, network and power cables, testing it all correct before cutting/fitting it into the console. After fitting it decided to give up the ghost by not switching on (despite power to it testing correct)! I've sent it back and I'm waiting for a replacement to arrive, so I haven't had chance to set it up and test it properly yet - all I have is a bunch of cables and a hole in the console!
__________________
There's weather out there - must be time to RIB!
(Or dive, or ref rugby, or.......)
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15 October 2014, 16:51
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#8
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Lancs
Boat name: Beretta
Make: Ballistic
Length: 6m +
Engine: 175hp e-tec
MMSI: 235035778
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,736
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Well I was a little undecided about what route to take (No AIS and stay as I am, The Link 8, or a full AIS Transponder) - but I have just ordered a Link 8 for delivery tomorrow. Ohh I will get in trouble tomorrow when that arrives!
Going to try and get this installed on Friday (after a good nights sleep)
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16 October 2014, 18:54
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#9
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Lancs
Boat name: Beretta
Make: Ballistic
Length: 6m +
Engine: 175hp e-tec
MMSI: 235035778
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,736
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Got my Link 8 and it all looks good, looks like a nice unit.
One problem I'm having - it seems to have a MMSI already!
I am running it on a battery just to check it powered up OK - anyone know anything about this MMSI
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16 October 2014, 20:35
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#10
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Portsmouth(ish)
Boat name: Wings
Make: Ribeye
Length: 6m +
Engine: Yamaha F115 AETL
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 615
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For the brief time mine worked it bleeped at me and the screen flashed saying no MMSI. Looks like you might have a factory repair unit? Go through the manual to try to add a MMSI but if you can't then it's a factory job to reset.
Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net
__________________
There's weather out there - must be time to RIB!
(Or dive, or ref rugby, or.......)
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16 October 2014, 20:37
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#11
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Lancs
Boat name: Beretta
Make: Ballistic
Length: 6m +
Engine: 175hp e-tec
MMSI: 235035778
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,736
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Yup. Can't set it. Looks like a factory rest. Gutted
So yours didn't last?
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16 October 2014, 20:41
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#12
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Portsmouth(ish)
Boat name: Wings
Make: Ribeye
Length: 6m +
Engine: Yamaha F115 AETL
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 615
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No, I ran all the cables then connected it up to make sure it worked - it did. I then cut the hole and squeezed it in placed, reconnected and it didn't power up! 12V to it was fine, as was the fuse but it didn't come on again.
Since its a sealed unit it went back for exchange & it should be here "by 13th November" according to Amazon. (I got it from there as I had some vouchers from work).
Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net
__________________
There's weather out there - must be time to RIB!
(Or dive, or ref rugby, or.......)
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16 October 2014, 20:51
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#13
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Portsmouth(ish)
Boat name: Wings
Make: Ribeye
Length: 6m +
Engine: Yamaha F115 AETL
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 615
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I still think it'll be a good unit though. I've had the only failed one that I've found in searches & you've just had one sent out with an MMSI already in it for some reason. Every other report I've read gives them a good report.
Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net
__________________
There's weather out there - must be time to RIB!
(Or dive, or ref rugby, or.......)
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16 October 2014, 21:25
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#14
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Lancs
Boat name: Beretta
Make: Ballistic
Length: 6m +
Engine: 175hp e-tec
MMSI: 235035778
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,736
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Lowrance Link 8 DSC fixed VHF
I'm starting to get miffed off with it not working. I have got the day booked off tomorrow to spend giving the boat some TLC and this was one of my jobs. If I have to send the unit back I may just say keep it as I won't get chance to install until after my last trip of season and I only wanted it for a gadget.
I've been pressing ass sorts of buttons when powering it up and got two different startup modes.. PC Mode or a screen saying enter PIN
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16 October 2014, 23:03
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#15
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Portsmouth(ish)
Boat name: Wings
Make: Ribeye
Length: 6m +
Engine: Yamaha F115 AETL
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 615
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Lowrance Link 8 DSC fixed VHF
That PIN request page is probably the manufacturers page to do the reset! Now, if only you knew the PIN.......
You could always do what I did - run all the cables and cut the console ready so when it does arrive it's a 5 minute job. After all, it's got good reviews and has AIS which a lot of others don't have for the same price.
If you need to go out before it arrives there's always masking tape! ;-)
Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net
__________________
There's weather out there - must be time to RIB!
(Or dive, or ref rugby, or.......)
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16 October 2014, 23:15
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#16
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Lancs
Boat name: Beretta
Make: Ballistic
Length: 6m +
Engine: 175hp e-tec
MMSI: 235035778
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,736
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Only issue with doing that is that I would remove my working ICOM unit and only go out with a handheld.
Let's see what the supplier and Lowrance say tomorrow
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17 October 2014, 21:37
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#17
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Lancs
Boat name: Beretta
Make: Ballistic
Length: 6m +
Engine: 175hp e-tec
MMSI: 235035778
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,736
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It all got sorted today, big thanks to Lowrance and Bottomline!
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18 October 2014, 00:25
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#18
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Portsmouth(ish)
Boat name: Wings
Make: Ribeye
Length: 6m +
Engine: Yamaha F115 AETL
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 615
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Cool! What did they offer/do?
Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net
__________________
There's weather out there - must be time to RIB!
(Or dive, or ref rugby, or.......)
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18 October 2014, 22:00
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#19
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Lancs
Boat name: Beretta
Make: Ballistic
Length: 6m +
Engine: 175hp e-tec
MMSI: 235035778
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,736
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Got the unit reset for me 
Didn't get anything extra though 😂
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19 October 2014, 00:08
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#20
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Portsmouth(ish)
Boat name: Wings
Make: Ribeye
Length: 6m +
Engine: Yamaha F115 AETL
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 615
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Hope you took note of how they did it?! ;-) Glad you got it sorted. It'd be nice to know how you get on with it as I'm still waiting for my replacement.
Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net
__________________
There's weather out there - must be time to RIB!
(Or dive, or ref rugby, or.......)
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Wings
Beretta
BLACK PIG
Piglet
