Raymarine a98 DownVision Navionics+

The Raymarine a98 is one of the retired MFDs, although it may still be available at various vendors. In this post, we’re going to cover the Raymarine a98 model, part number T70247-NAG, the one that includes the Navionics charts, and the DownVision transducer. It’s pretty similar in sonar and navigation capabilities to the Raymarine a78 T70202-GLD that we’ve previously covered here, but offers several extra features.

Key Features and Specifications

• Display: Touchscreen technology, 9″ diagonal, color TFT, 800H x 480V pixel matrix, 16:9, optically bonded and with LED backlight
• Sonar: Dual-channel standard CHIRP and CHIRP DownVision
• Depth Capability:
  • 600 ft. (183 m) for DownVision sonar
  • 900 ft (274 m) for 2D sonar
• Frequency and Coverage:
  • 170-230 kHz / 25° conical beam for standard CHIRP
  • 320-380 kHz / 60° side-to-side fan-shaped beam, 1.4° fore to aft, for CHIRP DownVision
• Transducer: Transom CPT-100
• Operating Voltage: 12v
• GPS: 10 Hz, Internal
• Charts: Navionics+
• Waypoints, Routes,Tracks: 3,000; 150; 15 (10,000 points each)

Sonar & transducer

The Raymarine a98 T70247-NAG includes the CPT-100 transducer which supports both 2D traditional sonar and DownVision sonar. It features a urethane transom mount, 33 ft (10 m) of cable, and also integrates a temperature sensor. This transducer has been actually discontinued and replaced by the CPT-100 DVS model. Therefore, in case your included CPT-100 breaks, the CPT-100 DVS is the one you should order. The unit is also compatible with various other transducers, such as the CPT-S or CPT-110 thru-hull models.

The unit itself is capable of two CHIRP frequency ranges, 170-230 kHz for 2D, and 320-380 kHz for DV. The included CPT-100 transducer supports both these frequency ranges. It uses a conical beam with a coverage of 25° and a depth capability of 900 ft (274 m) for the 2D CHIRP sonar, and a thin beam with a coverage of 60° (1.4° fore/aft) with a depth capability of 600 ft (183 m) for DownVision.

Navigation features

The Raymarine a98 offers a wide array of navigation features. To begin with, it’s equipped with a 10 Hz internal GPS which can provide position updates 10 times per second. It also supports GLONASS for enhanced position fixes.

The unit can save up to 3,000 waypoints in its memory, and up to 150 routes. There are over 70 different waypoint icons to select from in order to personalize better your charts. It also has a track plotting function and can save up to 15 tracks, with up to 10,000 points per track.

As we’ve mentioned above, this is the Raymarine a98 T70247-NAG which comes with the Navionics+ chart base for North America, which is one of the most trusted sources by boaters worldwide. It includes lake and marine charts all with SonarChartTM 1ft HD contours, throughout the US and Canada, plus a growing list of more than 22,000 inland lakes. Also, the SonarChart Live feature allows you to create new, personalized 1′ HD bathymetry maps that display in real time while navigating. The Navionics charts show detailed shorelines with marinas, docks, and boat ramp locations. The give you the possibility to target underwater structure to find the best fishing spots. They also offer the possibility to highlight depth ranges and consult tides and currents.

The unit’s chart capabilities don’t stop here. It’s compatible with LightHouse Coastal Vector charts, and other Navionics chart bundles (i.e. for Central and South America). It also supports C-MAP Essential charts.

Among other navigation and boating features, we can mention that the Raymarine a98 unit supports AIS and Radar units. It has an instrument display page and an engine display page, so, if integrated into an NMEA grid, it can put all the vital info in one place. It also has a fuel management application which gives you the possibility to make time-to-empty and distance-to-empty calculations and fuel range rings display overlaid on navigation charts.

Other control unit features

As its name suggests, the Raymarine a98 features a 9-inch diagonal display. It’s full-color with a pixel matrix of 800H x 480V and a 16:9 aspect ratio. It has integrated adjustable LED backlight. It’s also IPX6 and IPX7 waterproof, which essentially means that it can take incidental water exposure and even immersions in freshwater.

The unit has a full touchscreen interface. As opposed to the newer eS98 unit, this doesn’t have a keypad. It’s used entirely as a tablet. Its internal software is LightHouse II, which is highly intuitive and easy to operate.

In terms of networking, this unit is Raynet Ethernet, SeaTalk, and NMEA 2000 capable. It has NMEA 0183 In/Out and an NMEA 2000 adapter is included. It has Analogue and IP Video inputs, which means it can support a variety of IP, analogue, and thermal video cameras. It also has a dual microSD card reader.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity features are included as well. This means you can sync your unit with your smartphone or tablet for quick data streaming. It’s also compatible with various remote control units, such as the RMK-10 or RCU-3.

Last but not least, the box includes the trunnion bracket kit, a sun cover, SeaTalk spur cable, RayNet cable, and the power/data cable.

The Pros

• CHIRP 2D and DownVision sonar;
• CPT-100 2D/DV transducer included;
• 800 x 480 resolution, optically bonded LCD, multitouch display, with LED backlight;
• LightHouse II OS, which offers a highly customizable, easy-to-use interface;
• Fast and accurate 10 Hz internal GPS / GLONASS receiver;
• Navionics+ charts included;
• Compatible with LightHouse and C-MAP charts;
• Trackplotting, routes and waypoints functions;
• Autopilot feature included;
• AIS and Radar support;
• Fuel manager application;
• Engine displays application;
• Ethernet (RayNet) port;
• SeatTalk capable
• NMEA 0183 input/output;
• NMEA 2000 support;
• Wi-Fi connectivity;
• Bluetooth connectivity and remote control support;
• Engine data integration support;
• IP, analogue and thermal camera support;
• Dual microSD card reader (32 GB per slot);
• IPX6 & IPX7 waterproof;
• Trunnion and flush mounts included;
• Sun cover included;
• Fairly easy to install.

The Cons

• A remote control is not included;
• No circular flasher application for ice fishing;
• Not compatible with LightHouse III OS.

Summary

The Raymarine a98 T70247-NAG is a multifunction display featuring 2D and DownVision sonar, 10 Hz GPS, and the Navionic+ charts. It includes the CPT-100 2D/DV transducer. It can be integrated into NMEA networks, supports RayNet and SeaTalk, has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and runs on the LightHouse II OS, which offers a very intuitive interface. In all, it’s a highly versatile unit, great for a wide array of boats, offering an excellent value for the price.