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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Marine Stereo install

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/26/2012 : 08:07:22

So yesterday I tried to upgrade from my car audio head unit to a proper west marine stereo (this one: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=779765&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50157&subdeptNum=50197&classNum=50198 )

Once it was installed, I got nothing but a blinking red light with the faceplate off, and nothing at all with the faceplate on. Tried the reset buttong, and nothing. Read the manual, and the blinking red light isn't identified. Tried every button on te faceplate and nothing.

Has ayone else installed one of these, and was there some trick I was missing?

FWIW, I don't have speakers conected to it yet - waiting to get the head unit working before I connect everything.

"Iris"
1984 FK/SR #4040
http://frosthaus.blogspot.com/

Take a minute to register your boat with the association!!
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/owner_questionnaire.htm

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2012 : 08:12:40

Thinking back to when I installed mine, the wiring is somewhat tricky, have you re-read and double checked that?

Edited by - on

Mark Maxwell
Captain

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USA
329 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2012 : 08:14:53

I don't know about your specific radio but I do know it is hard on the amplifier to turn it on without speakers. The power has no place to go and can over heat the unit. Your flashing light may be an internal safety alert to this condition. Try connecting speakers ( if only temporary) just to see if that solves the issue.

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2012 : 12:11:14

Mark's right, bet it is in the manual, RTFM.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2012 : 17:20:24

Thanks Stu - its been read cover to cover twice. Can't find mention of the little red light or my situation, but thanks anyway.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2012 : 17:21:57

Been through the wiring Dave. No luck there. Really I was hoping someone else had picked up another WM radio and had the same situation with a concrete result. Looks like I'll have to wait until tomorrow and call in to a service desk someplace.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2012 : 17:36:12

The blinking red light when the faceplate is off is probably just the security light to tell would be thieves to keep moving. Are there two positive (power) cables? One for the radio memory and one for the power? Are both hooked up? Proper ground? Does the main power wire have an inline fuse and is it installed?

Edited by - dlucier on 02/26/2012 17:36:48

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2012 : 19:48:01

Wires should be clearly labeled. Go ahead and connect the speakers. Also, if your radio unit has a headphone input, you could just plug in some headphones and test it that way.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5371 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2012 : 20:26:22

Could be time to uninstall it and take advantage of WM's no-questions-asked return policy!

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2012 : 20:48:19

I played with it some more tonight Bruce. At this point I am convinced it is the faceplate that's faulty. It would accept a CD, but not turn on. The remotes also do nothing. I may take the unit back into the store tomorrow and ask for an exchange.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 02/29/2012 : 14:15:01

I got the same unit, but am waiting to install...was hoping it would be as simply as when I replaced the VHF radio...

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 02/29/2012 : 15:22:22

Perhaps it would be wise to test the unit in your garage before taking it to the boat. If no spare auto battery, set up a card table in front of your car, run wires to the car battery, connect speakers and try to play a cd.

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 02/29/2012 : 16:27:47

I would take it back if having speakers plugged up/headphones don't work. That unit has some nice features, I have a Duel that I guess they don't sell anymore and it's worked very well for me. Having the USB and AUX jack is awesome for using your phone as a music source like for Pandora, keeps the phone charged and output through the AUX jack.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5371 Posts

Response Posted - 02/29/2012 : 22:27:47

Peter,
I have the same unit and the USB and aux in are great. I took all my CDs, ripped them using windows media player and put them on a 16GB memory stick. Works like a charm! Folders work so I can select the artist and album.
I use a 1/8" (3mm) stereo audio cable into the auxiliary input for my XM radio.

There are four speaker outputs, so I have one pair permanently mounted in the cabin and a 4-way plastic automotive plug to temporarily connect to extension speakers that I set out on the cockpit seats. I use rug-backing material glued to the speakers to prevent them from sliding around.

It came with a small IR remote, so I can change channels and albums from the cockpit.

Chris and Jerry - persist - you'll have a great system if you can get the bugs worked out.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2012 : 07:12:04

Thanks Bruce - my plan was similar to doing what you have, only on an SD card.

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2012 : 07:57:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 Thanks Bruce - my plan was similar to doing what you have, only on an SD card.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That is cool about the memory stick and especially the IR remote. My remote is line of site and since my stereo is mounted beside the electric panel behind the sink the remote is pretty much useless.

I have a 16 gig memory card in my phone so I have a good selection of music there but for the boat I really find myself using Pandora more, I have the $32 a year paid subscription so I have unlimited high quality streaming on my 4G phone with no commercials. I use different channels that I've groomed for different moods. Ready to feel tropical? I use the Bob Marley channel. In the mood for the blues? The Stevie Ray Vaughan channel. I even have a Sinatra channel which I love for night sailing. You start with an artist you like and it serves up more music like that artist. If you like the new song you can thumb up or thumb down it which further grooms your selection.Very cool.

The beauty of Pandora is that it finds great music for you. Even the free version only has like a 15 second commercial every 15 minutes. If you haven't tried this app, you should. To me it's tailor made for sailing.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2012 : 08:09:06

Sounds great Peter - but I don't own a smartphone. I just have a dumbphone for work.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5371 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2012 : 22:46:20

My wife, my brother, his wife, my kids and I have all collected lots of CDs over the years, of rock, jazz, folk, soul, 80s new wave, the Dead, Buffett, prog rock, bluegrass, american songbook, opera, minimalist and classical music.

I've ripped our music using Windows Media Player and keep a library on my 1TB hard drive server. You can fit a lot of music on a 16GB memory stick or SD card. As well, iTunes allows you "import" your music from Win Media to iTunes format.

I have an iPod nano and an iPod touch that I have pretty well loaded with music. They plug in using the USB connector for power and an audio cable for tunes. I like the "shuffle" and playlist features for the iPod as I can vary the assortment of music to fit the mood. I can also use the memory stick, as it is much less expensive and much more rugged than an iPod.

I don't have a smartphone because I don't like paying the phone company all that money every month. I can also record podcasts on the iPod, and so have a sampling of music, news and science programs.

The stereo is mounted under the forward starboard portlight near the head-sink bulkhead. It's a straight shot from the cockpit to the radio, so I have full control of the music shooting through the companionway. Peter, you could mount a small mirror inside the cabin so the IR will reflect back to the radio. They sell a Coleman camp mirror (made of metalized plastic) that you can hang up anywhere inside of the boat at "head height" so you or your lady can check out your appearance after a long day. But you know the mirror is really for the tunes!

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2012 : 07:38:57

A quick update...

LAst night I went to pull the radio in order to return it, and found a loose connection in the power panel. Guess the radio is fine, and the installer needs replacing.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2012 : 10:13:59

Ahhh Haaa... You found the "short"....

Nothing like sticking those little wires to a meter...

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2012 : 13:04:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
 Ahhh Haaa... You found the "short"....

Nothing like sticking those little wires to a meter...

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

And I found a solution. www.Binnacle.com has a 6-circuit DC distibution panel on sale for $40 (+/-) and cabin lights are on sale too, and ...

Lets just say I got the free shipping for orders over $100...

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2012 : 13:13:20

Once, many years ago, I got a call to go check a monitor that wouldn't work. I checked the power cables, wall outlet, video card connections, tried another monitor that did work...still couldn't get it to work. A peer walked by, asked what was going on and I brief'd him on everything I'd tried. He walked over, turned it on, and everything was fine.

Edited by - Joe Diver on 03/09/2012 13:13:46

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2012 : 13:33:43

I believe in your world this is called a P.I.C.N.I.C.

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2012 : 14:12:37

We call computer problems like that PEBCAK.

(Problem exists between chair and keyboard.)

Edited by - on

Sam001
Vice Commodore

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USA
441 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2012 : 18:32:05

or the best one plug it in!

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2012 : 18:49:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 We call computer problems like that PEBCAK.

(Problem exists between chair and keyboard.)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I was told it as "Problem In Chair, Not In Computer"

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