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Marathon Techlink – Computer Update
Has anyone with an early Marathon, mine is an 02, changed out the 12v Small PC that controls Techlink with a Rasberry OS? My Small PC is putting scrolling lines on the Techlink screens and Joe at Marathon in San Antonio says this is the way to go. Heat is the enemy for the Small PC and since it’s in the dash overhead it gets cooked even with a cooling fan.
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16 Replies
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The main issue would be how one would get the Marathon software onto the Raspberry. Did Marathon offer a Raspberry software image?
If you have lines through the display, either your display or your VGA to composite video converter or your VGA controller on the PC is going out.
You can eliminate the display if your backup camera works fine.
If you have access to the small PC you can replace the VGA to composite video converter (usually a plug in/add-on). They are only about 20-30 bucks.
If the problem is the on board VGA controller then you are up the creek unless it is on a module.
My Techlink PC is in the cabinet behind the driver’s seat. It does seem to have an add-on VGA to composite converter but I have not looked at it in detail since it is working fine.
Gerald
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Thanks Gerald good information. The backup monitor is fine, so my problem is the PC side of things. The Small PC has given me trouble twice and I’m ready to upgrade. It’s an SC 240 at Smallpc.com.
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Tom –
We had Marathon Florida replace our small computer with the Raspberry Pi, and it is working flawlessly, faster, and less power (updated technology). You will need to have Marathon upload the software as it is proprietary. We updated to On Control which uses an iPad since we do not have Crestron (we had the Pronto system that we never used) which required an additional ‘server’ creating a network in our coach. This was done at the same time we updated the entertainment system (all new flat screen LED TVs and blue ray players for each TV). At the same time, we had Jamie add a monitor in the water bay (we found a $30 monitor on Amazon that works great – see picture). The Techlink monitor in the dash has to be on the tank screen to see the tanks in the water bay. Cost for a monitor in the water bay? Priceless!
What we found out is that the lines through the Techlink screen were due to loose connections, in our case, in the cabinet above the dash. We not only had lines, but the whole display would go out. The Techlink and the backup camera are two different systems so if you have your backup camera, it is not the monitor.
June
P.S. – Tom, please fix my picture. It wants to post upside down…
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Hello June. That looks great. We are the owners of coach #782 so systems are very similar.
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Thanks June… I do have the water bay screen and it’s worked well, pretty accurate.
Your picture is correct using Chrome.
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Using Firefox, just click on the photo and it comes up in another screen correctly oriented.
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Tom,
the SC240 you have is much newer than what is in my bus. The composite video output is likely on the motherboard. Checking all connections is a good idea. It is also possible that the composite video connector solder joint on the motherboard broke due to cable moving over bad roads.
Since it has a solid state disk, you could just move the disk over to a new computer. It would have to be configured the same way for this to work. If it has any analog to digital inputs, they would have to be moved as well.
Given the price of the unit, you would be better off going with the Raspberry if Marathon can provide the SW image.
Gerald
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I checked out the Rasberry when I was at the Mothership last August, but Leon said as long as my unit is working fine, don’t replace it.
But it’ll be on my radar when mine goes out too …
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Gerald,
Marathon is going to do the update, 12000 out the door. No point in even considering another Small PC, I would have that much or more in the computer and programming by Marathon. They download my coach data and then install in the Rasberry. I really like the Techlink with the various screens and being displayed on any of the TV’s.
Tradewinds Coach
Kyle Bennett (Service)
Brian Miller (Sales) -
Tom, you will like it. Marathon Coburg install one in my 01 H and no more rebooting. I was down to rebooting after power source changes and sometimes just for the hell of it.
I think I paid more but it was 2.5 years ago.
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Please provide a picture of the Raspberry Pi set-up. Thanks!
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I’m heading there today to replace the front seal on my DN50 … mabye I’ll check into the Rasberry again!
Tom, Did Joe say if they would put the Rasberry back into the same location in front/windshield location?
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Yes Tim, same location. Mention PC when you talk to them Tim…
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Truk,
As an FYI, last year when my Tech Link was acting up and I couldn’t get a signal, I traced it to an amplifier that Marathon used to run the Tech Link system.
Initially, Marathon said I needed to replace my system, but I ordered a new amplifier on Amazon for $30 and have had no issues since.
This may not be your issue, but thought I’d mention it.
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Tom,
I had to change out mine in my 04H3 Marathon about a year ago. Had issues first with the VGA box then several mos later the PC. Had Marathon in Fl. replace with the same. It was $1,200 to $1,500 I think. There really wasn’t a viable option for me other than spending a bundle to upgrade the whole system. So replaced and it has worked perfectly so far. PS mine is under the bed easy access.
KT
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