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POWERFUL FISHFINDER | KeyPad Control
Raymarine Element 9 HV | Review
Should I upgrade to a…
Raymarine ELEMENT 9 HV?
We take a detailed look at the specifications and get a couple of thoughts from some who already have.
The Raymarine ELEMENT 9 HV – Is an easy-to-use, simple-to-setup, fishfinder/chartplotter with a keypad interface and a built-in 10Hz GPS Antenna.
The 9″ Optically Bonded LCD screen is very bright at 1500 nits and has a resolution of 800×480. A powerful quad-core processor and the Raymarine LightHouse Sport operating system make the system nice to use and pretty fast.
It comes with a Single channel built-in High CHIRP Sonar, DownVision sonar(Standard/Hyper), SideVision sonar (Standard and Hyper), and RealVision 3D (Standard and Hyper).
Primarily geared towards the inland and coastal fisherman the Element series delivers lifelike sonar imaging which has so far only been available in the higher end Axiom units.
The advanced sonar, versatile mapping capabilities, and a very intuitive user experience are a good fit if you don need all the features of the more expensive networked units.
Maps and charting include support for a wide range of options including Raymarine LightHouse NC2, Navionics, and CMAP. Raymarine RealBathy and Navionics SonarChart Live are also supported for creating custom charts and maps.
The ELEMENT is radar-ready and supports the Raymarine Quantum Series Radomes, which connect using WiFi. It also supports AIS target overlays, autopilot integration, and sailing instrument displays using NMEA200 and SeaTalkng.
The Element series can’t be connected to a network but 2 Element displays can be linked together on SeaTalkng and can Sync waypoints.
Element HV displays are Raymarine’s chartplotting/fishfinding displays for budget-conscious boaters who have no need for the touch screen, networking options, or advanced features supported by MFDs running LightHouse 3 and LightHouse II software like the Axiom series.
Continued below…
Raymarine Element HV | Family
The Raymarine Element HV comes in 3 screen sizes, 7″, 9″, and 12″, and have the same features, options, and connections. They can be bracket mounted or surface mounted.
The Raymarine Element comes in 2 basic flavors, the HV and the S. The charting options are the same on each model but the big difference is in the sonar.
The S series is primarily a very capable navigational display with basic sonar. It comes with a 100W Single-channel High CHIRP Sonar with a maximum depth range of about 900′.
Raymarine Element HV vs S
The HV Series on the other hand is a serious CHIRP Sonar fishing finding a machine with GPS and navigation.
The Element HV includes 1.2 megahertz HyperVision that does take inland and coastal sonar to a new level of precision. It adds DownVision, SideVision, and RealVision 3D.
Element’s HyperVision lets you view structure and target fish in super high resolution.
Element HV – HyperVision
Element 9 HV | KeyPad Control
1. Waypoint – Place a waypoint at your vessel’s position.
2. Home – Press to display the Homescreen.
3. Menu – Open Homescreen menus and App menus.
4. Directional pad To navigate Homescreen and menus.
5. Back – Move back one page.
6. OK — Confirms menu selections, opens context menus.
7. Minus (Zoom / Range out)
8. Plus (Zoom / Range in)
9. Quick Launch 1 / 2 / 3 | Opens the assigned app page.
10. Power – Power on/Power off | Shortcuts menu | Power off
Element 9 HV | Lighthouse Sport HomeScreen
1. Position/fix details – Shows position coordinates. Select the area to view fix accuracy and to access position settings.
2. Supply voltage – The Voltage reading is colored Red if the current supply voltage is lower than the value specified in the Low voltage alarm setting.
3. Status area – Displays system time, count down/up timer, and sonar ping status. Select the area to set count down / up timer, time zone, and to set daylight savings.
4. App page icons – The Homescreen is made up of 3 pages that can each contain up to 6 app page icons. Selecting an app page icon opens the relevant app page.
To view a different Homescreen page, keep pressing the Directional pad’s Left or Right buttons until the Homescreen page changes. You can identify which Homescreen page is being shown using the indicator bar, located above the Routes & Tracks icon.
5. Waypoints – Select to view the Waypoints list.
6. Routes & Tracks – Select to view the Routes and Tracks lists.
7. Settings – Select to view the display’s Settings menu.
Lighthouse sports software – You can get the latest updates and see new release features for Lighthouse sport here.
Though the Element 9 HV is not a full network device, it can link up to compatible components using NMEA200 and SeaTalkng for added information and WiFi to connect to radar.
Currently, 9/2020 – Raymarine has not yet announced the introduction of a smartphone/tablet app for use in conjunction with Element displays.
Wi-Fi – 802.11 b / g / n
Bluetooth – Element has Bluetooth but Raymarine has not yet introduced any LightHouse Sport features which will make use of Bluetooth communications.
Raymarine – 9/14/2020 – “Whilst the Element series does have Bluetooth enabled, this is for a future app.”
Supported NMEA2000 Networking
INPUT:
OUTPUT:
SeaTalk ng – is an interconnection bus for Raymarine products. Small diameter cable connectors are used throughout the system to make installation easier.
There’s a wide range of cable lengths, all with over-molded plugs, so there is no need to cut or splice cables. Spur cables connect individual SeaTalkng products to the SeaTalkng backbone.
Here’s a example SeaTalkng system. Connection to a network provides the display with data from other connected devices.
Element 9 HV | SeaTalkng network
1. EV-1 heading sensor.
2. RS150 GNSS receiver.
3. Wind vane transducer.
4. SeaTalkng ® spur cables.
5. iTC-5 converter.
6. SeaTalkng ® 5-way connector block.
7. DeviceNet to SeaTalkng ® adaptor cable.
8. DeviceNet connection on display’s power / NMEA 2000 cable.
9. AIS700.
10. Element™ display.
11. SeaTalkng/NMEA 2000 VHF DSC Radio (GPS/GNSS position data)
12. DeviceNet connection to vessel’s engine management system.
13. ECI-100.
14. SeaTalkng ® power cable (connects to vessel’s 12 V dc power supply).
15. SeaTalkng ® backbone cables.
Here is a list of NMEA200 and SeaTalkng items that can be added for complete functionality.
► EV-1 Heading sensor – EV-1 enables vessel heading data to be available, regardless of vessel movement.
► Evolution™ autopilot system – Evolution autopilot enables navigation data to be sent to a compatible autopilot controller.
► ECI-100 – An ECI-100 enables the display of compatible engine data. For further information on compatible engines refer to: p.21 — Compatible engine systems
► VHF radio – Provides position data to a compatible VHF radio.
► RS150 GNSS receiver – Connecting an external GNSS/GPS receiver can provide more accurate position tracking. If the internal antenna is being blocked.
► AIS700 / AIS650 / AIS350 – Connecting compatible AIS hardware allows AIS targets to be tracked in the chart app.
► iTC-5 – Analog transducers connected via an iTC-5 enable the display of transducer sensor data (depth, speed, wind, water temperature, etc.) in databoxes and the dashboard app.
Note: Transducer calibration is not supported by the display and must be performed on an appropriate SeaTalkng ® instrument display such as the i70S multifunction instrument display.
► Airmar NMEA 2000 smart sensors – Connecting an Airmar smart sensor transducer such as an ST800 smart TRIDUCER Multisensor that offers the depth, speed, and temperature or the P79 depth dual-frequency, depth only unit can add additional sonar capability.
► Compatible engine systems – An ECI-100 engine gateway (E70227), engine data for up to two compatible engines can be displayed. The following engine systems are supported.
► Third-party tank level sensors – Standard compatible third-party NMEA 2000 tank level sensors enable the display of tank level sensor data.
Data can be displayed for:
Typical System for Element HV
Full System for Element HV | Power Boat
Rear Connections –
Element 9 HV | Connections
Keeping things simple and cost-effective, the HV only has two connections.
One is for power, NMEA 2000, and SeaTalkng and the second is for the multifunction HyperVision transducer. One transducer has all the elements built right in.
Element HV | HyperVision Sonar Support
Sonar capabilities – This is where the Element delivers. It comes with standard DownVision, SideVision, and Raymarine RealVision 3D sonar but adds in HyperVision 1.2 megahertz super high-resolution sonar.
HyperVision does take DownVision, SideVision, and Raymarine RealVision 3D sonar to the next level of precision imaging and fish identification, locating structure, vegetation, and fish with a picture-like clarity.
Note: Though Raymarine states HyperVision is suitable to 100′, real-world reports it being excellent to only about 60′, then you will need to switch to the 350kHz channel.
Couple this with the ability to create custom charts with the RealBathy feature and the 9 HV is quite an economical fishfinding machine.
The unit also includes a built-in Single-channel High CHIRP sonar. Here are some examples of what you can expect from the different sonar channels. Keep in mind though that these sonar images are in near-perfect conditions.
2D High CHIRP Sonar
2D CHIRP Sonar | Icon
Element 9 HV | High CHIRP Sonar
The conical beam fishfinder channel provides a traditional scrolling 2D view of the water below the boat at 200kHz. It’s not very powerful at 100W but does have a maximum depth range of about 900′.
CHIRP DownVision Sonar | Standard & HyperVision
2D Downvison Sonar | Icon
Element 9 HV | DownVision Sonar
CHIRP DownVision delivers a photo-like view of the area below the boat, allowing you to see the bottom structure with amazing detail and simultaneously target fish.
DownVision Standard uses 350kHz and is good to about 600′ at 700 Watts of power.
DownVision HyperVision uses 1.2 MHz is good to about 100′ at 1000 Watts of power.
CHIRP Sidevision Sonar | Standard & HyperVision
2D Sidevision Sonar | Icon
Element 9 HV | Sidevision Sonar
CHIRP SideVision sonar expands the underwater view side to side. SideVision is especially good when searching for structure or looking for bait as it lets you cover a larger area in one pass. You see further, more clearly, and detect more fish than traditional side scanning sonars.
SideVision Standard uses 350kHz and is good to about 300′ out each side at 700 Watts of total power.
SideVision HyperVision uses 1.2 MHz is good to about 100′ at 1000 Watts of total power.
RealVision 3D Sonar | Standard & HyperVision
RealVision 3D Sonar | Icon
Element 9 HV | ReaVision 3D Sonar
RealVision 3D gives us the ability to see what’s below, behind, and to the sides of the boat, all at once and in three dimensions. RealVision 3D displays the entire underwater world, including structure, cover, fish, and reef. Pan, tilt and zoom the 3D image to examine the area from any angle.
RealVision 3D Standard uses 350kHz and has a range of about 300′
RealVision 3D HyperVision uses 1.2 MHz and has a range of about 100′
RealBathy | Custom Charts – Create precise personal bathymetric/contour charts in real-time using Raymarine’s RealBathy feature. This cool feature gives you the ability to make your own customs chart with 1′ contours without the need for a Navionics subscription.
RealBathy™ requires compatible LightHouse NC2 charts and a MicroSD card with sufficient free space to record depth and bathymetry data.
RealBathy is designed to overlay on any type of cartography (including the base world maps) with logged sonar data.
Pretty handy for getting very accurate custom maps in an area that the charts don’t show detail. Waypoints can overlay auto-map.
When using RealBathy, new contour lines are drawn in real-time on the screen based on your transducer’s depth readings. Color shading is used to reflect depth, with the darkest shade signifying the shallowest area. The sonar data is recorded to the inserted memory card.
The 3 Steps for using RealBathy and building your own chart.
1. Insert blank microSD card.
2. Choose LightHouse chart.
3. Enable RealBathy option.
4. Start Mapping
Element 9 HV | Live Mapping
Element 9 HV | Quantum Radar
Compatible Radar – The Element 9 HV display includes Wi-Fi which can be used to connect wirelessly to the following compatible radar scanners:
• Quantum™ Q24W (E70344)
• Quantum™ Q24C (E70210)
• Quantum™ 2 Doppler Q24D (E70498)
The Radar app allows you to configure a Guard Zone alarm which is triggered when an object is located within the specified guard zone area. The Range rings, the bearing ring, and a VRM/EBL can be used to identify a target’s range and bearing in relation to your vessel.
The Radar app can be displayed on fullscreen and split screen.
AIS targets can also be displayed and tracked in the Radar app, however, Element displays do not support tracking of radar targets or doppler features. That is a limitation of LightHouse™ Sport.
Element 9 HV | Quantum WiFi Radar Screen
Radar modes – The Radar app provides preset modes that can be used to quickly achieve the best picture depending on your current situation. Only radar modes supported by your Radar scanner are shown.
Radar Mode | Weather
WEATHER – Weather mode optimizes the Radar display to help identify precipitation, useful for helping determine weather fronts.
Radar Mode | Offshore
OFFSHORE – Offshore mode takes into account high levels of Sea clutter so that targets are still visible, useful when navigating in open water away from the coast.
Radar Mode | Coastal
COASTAL – Coastal mode takes into account slightly higher levels of Sea clutter that are encountered out of Harbor areas. This mode is useful when in open water but keeping to coastal areas.
Radar Mode | Harbor
HARBOR – Harbor mode takes into account land clutter that is typically encountered in a Harbor so that smaller targets are
still visible. This mode is useful when navigating in a Harbor.
Raymarine Quantum Radar Review – Here is a pretty in-depth review done by Practical Boat a few years ago of the Quantum radar up against the RD418D traditional radar and some additional images next to an open array.
The Element has charting support for Raymarine LightHouse NC2, Navionics, C-MAP Essentials, C-MAP 4D MAX+, and is compatible with all charts listed on the Raymarine Chart Store.
Waypoints, routes, and tracks may be transferred to the Element displays via microSD card using a GPX file produced by a navigational planning application supporting the GPX waypoint/route/track file format.
Here are a few highlights of LightHouse NC2, Navionics Nav+, and CMAP.
Raymarine Lighthouse NC2
Raymarine LightHouse Charts is a library of digital map products from Raymarine and leading map makers like Standard Mapping and CMOR.
The new LightHouse NC2 North American nautical chart offers high-quality mapping combined with fishing intelligence from Fishing Hot Spots.
Element 9 HV | LightHouse NC2 Chart
Some features include:
Superior Navigational Charts – Color-shaded bathymetric charts. Displays buoys, hazards, and navigational channels. Includes tidal height stations.
Points of Interest – Marinas, boat ramps, and access points. Fuel docks, parking lots, and restrooms. Campgrounds, parks, and facilities.
Local Fishing Intel – Fishing Hot Spots with GPS Coordinates with expert-verified, local fishing tips, submerged structure, and bottom composition and researched waterbody descriptions.
RealBathy Personal Sonar Mapping – Create your own bathymetric charts with live sonar mapping and further improve the accuracy of existing charts. Improved tidal data with RealBathy™ tide offset and account for real-time water levels and local fluctuations.
Excellent Coverage Area (North America) – Contiguous U.S., the Great Lakes, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Bahamas.
See – Raymarine Lighthouse NC2 for the latest coverage area.
Navionics Nav+
Navionics+ is available preloaded in the Element series and fully downloadable versions. It offers wide coverage areas around the world but chart updates are subscription-based.
In North America, Navionics+ includes marine and lake charts, all with SonarChart 1ft HD contours, throughout the US and Canada, plus a growing list of more than 22,000 inland lakes.
Navionics charts are excellent with accurate and thorough maps of oceans, lakes, and marine areas. Create your own maps with SonarChart live, sync your waypoints and routes with the Navionics Boating App or get to your next destination with Dock-to-dock auto-routing.
Navionics recently was bought out by Garmin so you do have to wonder how the Raymarine ~ Navionics connection will hold up going forward.
Element 9 HV | Navionics Plus Charts
Features Include:
Nautical Charts – Navionics+ is a pretty robust chart resource that has been trusted by boaters worldwide for a long time.
SonarChart – HD Bathymetry Maps that reflect ever-changing conditions.
Community Edits – Localised chart data contributed by the Navionics Community
C-MAP Charts – C-MAP has been a leader in professional and leisure digital nautical charts is well known for accurate
and easy-to-understand chart products, including C-MAP Essentials and 4D-MAX+ premium marine charts.
Element 9 HV | CMAP Charting
Feature list for CMAP 4D MAx+ include:
Raymarine ELEMENT 9 HV | Help & Support
Raymarine Forums – Great source for user info and technical questions
Raymarine ELEMENT 9 HV | Software Updates
TheHullTruth – ELEMENT Conversation by a couple new users
Performance Features
Charting | Mapping
Built-In Sounder | Sonar
Model | Raymarine ELEMENT 9 HV |
Physical dimensions |
11.3" x 6.3" x 2.4" 28.7 x 16.1 x 6.2 cm |
Weight | 5.0 lbs. |
Water rating | IPX7 |
Display type | WVGA | Color Keypad |
Display size |
9" diagonal |
Display resolution | 800 x 400 pixels |
Display - Brightness | 1500 Nits |
Power consumption | 1.75A | 12V |
GPS Antenna | Internal or external NMEA 2000 |
GPS Receiver | 10 Hz GPS/GLONASS |
Mounting options | Bail or flush |
Model | Raymarine ELEMENT 9 HV |
On-Board Memory | No |
Accepts data cards | 1 microSD card | up to 2TB |
Waypoints | 5,000 |
Routes | 50 |
Track log | 10,000 points; 15 saved tracks |
Preloaded Maps |
Support for: Raymarine LightHouse NC2 Navionics | C-MAP Essentials C-MAP 4D MAX+ |
Tide Tables | Yes | With Chart Card |
Model | Raymarine ELEMENT 9 HV |
Radar compatible | Yes | Quantum |
Sonar compatible |
Built-In High CHIRP | 200kHz DownVision SideVision RealVision |
Supports AIS | Yes |
Weather | Yes |
Supports DSC - GPS Data / VHF | Yes |
Supports FUSION-Link | No |
Black Box sonar support | No |
Planning Software Compatible | Navionics |
App-Control Compatibility | No |
Remote Input Device - compatible | No |
Alarms |
Navigation Anchor Sonar |
Model | Raymarine ELEMENT 9 HV |
Transmit Power |
High CHIRP | 100W Standard | 700W HyperVision | 1000W |
Dual-frequency (50/200 kHz) sonar capable | No |
Dual-Beam Sonar (77/200 kHz) capable | No |
CHIRP sonar technology | 200 kHz |
ClearVü | Down | DownVision 350kHz | DownVision HV 1.2 MHz |
SideVü | Side | SideVision 350kHz | SideVision HV 1.2 MHz |
Forward View | No |
Sonar | Additional | RealVision 3D 350kHz | RealVision 3D HV 1.2 MHz |
Model | Raymarine ELEMENT 9 HV |
NMEA 2000 compatible | Yes |
NMEA 0183 input ports | No |
NMEA 0183 output ports | No |
Wireless connectivity | Yes |
BlueTooth connectivity | Yes |
Other Ports | 15 Pin Transducer |
Model | Raymarine ELEMENT 9 HV |
SEE PRICE »» |
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Additional - 1 | Sailing Features |
Additional - 2 | Supports HV transom and thru-hull transducers |
In The Box |
Element 9 HV display Surface mount gasket Suncover Trunnion knobs x2 Documentation pack Trunnion bracket Surface mount stainless steel fixings x4 (M4x40 machine screw, M4 flatwasher, M4 lockingnut) Power / NMEA2000 cable (includes 1.5m (4.92ft) power lead and 0.5m (1.64ft) NMEA2000 lead). |