Polk PA4A upgrade to Polk UM2?

[Nakk]

I have a 2017 AR240 with the Polk PA4A stereo. I'm curious if anyone has tried upgrading this to the Polk UM2? The UM2 is compatible with the same wired remotes as the PA4A, so I'd guess it would work with Connext?

Polk PA4A: Polk Ultramarine WB/USB/SiriusXM Ready/iPod & iPhone Ready/Bluetooth with App Control

Polk UM2: Polk Ultramarine UM2 App Ready Marine Stereo

My plan would be to mount the head unit one level up on the swim platform from where the PA4A is mounted, and replace the PA4A with a table stanchion mount.

I'd appreciate any thoughts or experience on this! Thanks!

 

[Cambo]

This is the piece in our boat that ties the PA4A into the connext system. the connext acts like a remote control

Search results for: 'poanmea2k1 polk audio compatibility kit works with pa4a'

www.hodgesmarine.com

check with ASA the parent company to see if that unit works with the UM2 or just get e remote for the UM2 and mount it by the driver

 

[Nakk]

Thanks Cambo! I just read your threads on your head unit relocation. Very helpful!

So, there is a bracket holding the head unit in place instead of it being screwed in from the front? That doesn't sound fun... Also, could you elaborate on mounting the table leg bracket? What did you end up having to do to make it look good and have sufficient strength? I like your idea of just having a remote back on the swim deck instead of the head unit. It seems like the knob would be a weak point as far as the unit failing due to water ingress.

 

[Cambo]

Yes there is a bracket holding the remote in from the back you can reach it from the cup holder . I think it was a 7mm lock nut I used a small ratchet with a deep socket the first one is easy to reach the second one is harder but realized it only needs to be loosened and the bracket can be shifted to release the remote

I should have taken pictures installing the table leg bracket that took some time . It was backed with two pieces of plywood one for the top bolts one for the lower bolts . Then I shaped a piece of 1/4” marine board to fill and flush the hole silicone used on every piece and layer it took time but it was needed. In salt water the life expectancy is about 1 - 2 years before the knob fails then the controller starts to bulge from corrosion and the buttons stop working I think that’s what leads to issues .

 

[Nakk]

Thanks again Cambo! This is definitely the information I needed. Looks like I'll make this a winter project... BTW, after looking around I found that the UM2 is also referred to as the "P1". That compatibility kit you linked shows that it's for the PA4A and the P1, so the UM2 should work fine.

Thanks again!

 

[Mainah]

There is no need for the gateway if your boat came with a pa4a and connext v1 7inch screen. The jadb connector for the pa4a black box will be the same and just plug in the new jensen or polk unit jdab to that. That connector goes to a customized version of the gateway linked above. Basically Actia/Actisense makes the gateway hardware and it is a registered nmea device. It has a whole bunch of hardware I/O pins but which ones are active and what they do will be controlled by the firmware. For the aforementioned pa4a gen 1 connext boats the gateway is already installed with custom firmware to communicate over the legacy yamaha radio canbus instead of NMEA2K.

The fuel sending unit also connects to the gateway in order to send its info over the radio canbus (I know not inutitive but that is the way its is).

When connext turns on it sends a signal to the gateway that triggers a relay in the power distribution block that then sends power to the hot side of a fuse in that same block that then gives the black box head unit its power. This black box sends and receives the control functions through that gateway over the jdab wire. The gateway translates the jdab to the legacy radio canbus and visa versa between the AIO Connext computer/screen also made bu Actia/Actisense). When you adjust the volume with the Connext rotary encoder joystick (again also made by Actia/Actisense) it sends NMEA2K signals to the Connext screen which translates them into the legacy radio canbus which then send the signal to the gateay which then translates the radio canbus into jdab to fianlly send the signal to the blackbox headunit to adjust the volume. Anyone want to guess why Connext is so flaky? The swim deck remote simply connects over jdab to the black box head unit. When the remote goes bad it acrews everything up because the jdab networking wire provides node power.

Actia/Actisense makes the touch screens and those joysticks for most boat brands that dont use simrad or gramin screens. Malibu, Axis, Pavati, Yamaha and others all use their hardware and the custom firmware/software is also developed by them. I have a guess that the team working on the Yamaha stuff are college interns and the team working some of the other brands are the A team. That or Yamah is trying to hit a price point That ties hands over at Actia. At least that is how it feels.

I was trying to find a way to retrofit a jl audio NMEA2K source unit into my boat and still have that connext rotary joystick control volume. Yep won’t work unless you have connext 2.0 which ditched the radio canbus and put the radio, gps speed (nmea 0183 on connext v1 boats), engine rpms, fuel sending unit, and alarm relay all on NMEA2K instead of the legacy radio canbus which prior to connext was used to send data to the tach screens. Connext 1.0 was a parts bin engineering overlay nightmare that got a lot better integrated with Connext 2.0. Polk (ASA electronics would have likely stepped to the plate with a n2k radio for v2.0 but yamaha was likely fedup with all of the swimdeck remote failures and salt/sun damaged swim deck speaker grilles.

So there the long but full story on all of this based on fact and some educated guesses.

 

[Wisefam22]

@Mainah Would installing a basic nmea2k backbone and tying that unit into it. I believe there is a connector made to convert 0183 or whatever it was pre nmea2k into 2k signal.

If you have the backbone and JL tied into it and then plugged into connector it should be able to convert that to legacy as well?

 

[Mainah]

@Mainah Would installing a basic nmea2k backbone and tying that unit into it. I believe there is a connector made to convert 0183 or whatever it was pre nmea2k into 2k signal.

If you have the backbone and JL tied into it and then plugged into connector it should be able to convert that to legacy as well?

If one desires connect the pa4a to a chartplotter that handles n2k for stereos that can be done but connext v1 will not play nice with n2k native stereos.

 

[Nakk]

Thanks for all the info Mainah!!!

 

[F.M.]

I thought I've revive and old thread instead of starting a new one.

I'm looking at replacing my head unit on the swim deck (PA4A, 2017 242X), the screen is severely cracked and it's missing the knob. I know that I can replace it with the UM2/P1. I believe the head unit itself is under the port side seat next to the amps, and the controls for it on the swim deck is more like a wired remote. So my question is.... if I purchase the P1 to install over the winter, can I just swap the controller/screen out, or must I swap the actual headed unit under the seat too.

 

[Cambo]

You can just swap the remote . Check to see if you can get a warranty replacement from ASA . The stock remote will allow more features I can't remember what items but it's good to have both .

 

[F.M.]

Thanks. It looks like the the units are primarily the same, just a different display.

 

[Cambo]

I'm not sure if these are compatible
4 zone capability and dsp module . These are not in the PA4A . The plug connector would probably have a different pin out . Call ASA to see if it works



Product # : UM2
The UM2 is the first Polk Ultramarine stereo to offer four-zone capability when installed with the POLK DSP module. This stereo is also app-ready, Bluetooth enabled, and Sirius XM compatible with a full color TFT display

 

[F.M.]

Just got off the phone with ASA. To upgrade to the UM2, you can't just swap the screens on the swim deck, you must swap the entire head unit out too. So for me, that's a no go. I don't feel like pulling batteries, amps, etc.... out just to have the newest display.

They did however offer to do a 1 time replacement for me, even though the damage to my screen is "most likely my fault". All I have to do is pay shipping to return my unit to them and then wait.

 

[Marvin willis]

They replaced mine too. Great customer service. Mine was getting condensation in it. The stated it was my fault bc I soaked it down with 656 after every ride and it ate through the seals. Oh well they still replaced it.

 

[F.M.]

That's what they told me too, that we must have sprayed, or wiped it with some kind of cleaner.

Jokes on them though, I don't clean.

 

[Philippe]

That's what they told me too, that we must have sprayed, or wiped it with some kind of cleaner.

Jokes on them though, I don't clean.

Oh my god! They pretend the product is for boating and waterproof but on another side… Don't clean it? they are funny.
I use only biodegradeble soap (soft soap) and the hot sauce products but not on the radio.

My Radio window is pretty foggy

 

[F.M.]

Got my new head unit back today. For the record, that thing was a pain to remove. The bracket they use is impossible to get to unless you have the arms of a 10yo. I decided to mount my new one with screws in the corners instead of using the bracket...... much easier.

 

[Leendert]

Can someone post the on scale cut out/markup of the PA4a?

 

[DmaxMike]

Can someone verify that the PA4A can be swapped (head unit and remote) with the P1(UM2)? Looking to do a full stereo upgrade and need to replace the remote so figured I’d just do it while I was in there. Thanks