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Fusion PartyBus Networking

The Fusion PartyBus™ networking feature allows you to connect multiple compatible stereos together on a network, using a combination of wired or wireless connections.

NOTE: When you connect a Fusion® stereo to Garmin BlueNet™ network or a Garmin® Marine Network, you are limited to using only Garmin and Fusion devices. You may not be able to use third-party routers, storage devices, or other network products with this stereo directly.
TIP: When the stereo is connected to a Garmin BlueNet network or a Garmin Marine Network, you can connect a mobile device to a wireless access point on a connected Garmin chartplotter and use the Fusion Audio app to control the stereo.

You cannot use Wi‑Fi® networking when a stereo is connected to a Garmin network.

You can group a compatible stereo, such as the Fusion Apollo™ RA800 stereo, with other compatible stereos connected to the Fusion PartyBus network. Grouped stereos can share available sources and control media playback on all of the stereos in the group, which allows for a synchronized audio experience across the vessel. You can quickly create, edit, and break up groups as needed from any compatible stereo or remote control on the network.
NOTE: A zone stereo, such as the Fusion Apollo SRX400, can create or join a group to control and play sources from other stereos, but it cannot share its sources with the group.

For additional considerations when sharing sources, see the owner's manual.

You can use compatible stereos and remote controls, whether they are grouped or not, to adjust the volume of the available speaker zones for any stereo on the network.

You can connect up to eight Fusion PartyBus stereos on a network wirelessly.

Wired Networking Considerations

When you are planning your network installation, observe the following considerations for all wired connections.

  • This device uses Garmin BlueNet technology for wired network connections. For more information about Garmin BlueNet technology, including best practices for properly constructing a network that contains both Garmin BlueNet devices and legacy Garmin Marine Network devices, go to garmin.com/manuals/bluenet

    • If you are connecting this stereo to another stereo or device that has a Garmin BlueNet network port, you can use standard Garmin BlueNet cables (not included).

    • If you are connecting this stereo to another device that uses Legacy Garmin Marine Network cables, you should use a Garmin Marine Network to Garmin BlueNet network adapter cable (010-12531-11 or 010-13094-00, not included).

    • If you are connecting this stereo to another stereo or device that uses standard Ethernet port, you should use an RJ45 to Garmin BlueNet network adapter cable (010-12531-02, not included).

    • If you multiple chartplotters using a mix of Garmin BlueNet network and legacy Garmin Marine Network connections, you should connect this device to a Garmin BlueNet chartplotter or switch for the best performance.

    • For more information about Garmin BlueNet technology, go to garmin.com/manuals/bluenet

  • You can use one network cable to connect the stereo directly to a compatible device.

  • You must use wired network switches and wired or wireless network routers when you connect more than two compatible devices to a network.

  • If you install a router on the network, it should be configured to be a DHCP server by default. See your router instructions for more information.

  • If you do not install a router, and there are no other DHCP servers on the network, you should configure one Fusion PartyBus stereo to be a DHCP server (Setting the Fusion PartyBus Device as the DHCP Server).

Wired Network Example for Direct Connections

No network setting changes are needed when connecting two devices together directly, but for the best results, you should configure one device to be a DHCP server (Setting the Fusion PartyBus Device as the DHCP Server).


Network diagram with callouts

1

Fusion PartyBus stereo

2

Fusion PartyBus zone stereo or remote control

Wired Network Example with a Switch or Router

You must use wired network switches, a wired network router, or both to connect more than two devices.

If you have more than two devices using Garmin BlueNet network technology, you can use a Garmin BlueNet 20 switch to connect them.

If you did not install a router, and there are no other DHCP servers on the network, you should configure one Fusion PartyBus stereo to be a DHCP server (Setting the Fusion PartyBus Device as the DHCP Server). If you installed a router, you may need to configure it to be a DHCP server. See your router instructions for more information.


Network diagram with callouts

1

Fusion PartyBus stereo

2

Wired network switch, wired network router, or Garmin BlueNet 20 switch

3

Fusion PartyBus zone stereo or remote control

Wireless Networking Considerations

When you are planning your network, observe the following considerations for all wireless connections.

  • Wired connections are more reliable than wireless connections. You should plan your network to use network cables, but if it is not possible, many Fusion PartyBus devices are Wi‑Fi compatible. You can connect them to wireless routers or access points.

  • If you install a wireless router on the network, it should be configured to be the DHCP server by default. See your wireless router instructions for more information.

  • If you are not using a wireless router, you can configure this device as a wireless access point, so you can connect other devices within wireless range.

    NOTE: You should not configure this device as a wireless access point if you have a router installed on the network, because it may introduce DHCP conflicts and result in poor network performance.

  • If you connect a Fusion PartyBus device to the network as a WI-FI CLIENT, you cannot connect any additional wired Fusion PartyBus devices to that device.

  • You can connect a smartphone to the wireless network to control any stereo on the network using the Fusion Audio app.

  • You can connect an Apple® device to the wireless network to stream media to multiple stereos on the network using Apple AirPlay® 2.

  • Connecting a Bluetooth® device to the stereo may interfere with some Wi‑Fi connections.

  • Wi‑Fi signals may interfere with Bluetooth device connections. You should turn off the Wi‑Fi setting on your stereo if you are not using it to connect to a wireless network or to provide a wireless access point.

Wireless Access Point Example


Network diagram with callouts

1

Fusion PartyBus stereo

2

Fusion PartyBus zone stereo

3

Mobile device using the Fusion Audio app

Wireless Network Example with a Wired Switch or Router


Network diagram with callouts

1

Fusion PartyBus stereo

2

Wired network switch or wired network router

3

Fusion PartyBus zone stereo or remote control

4

Fusion PartyBus zone stereo

5

Mobile device using the Fusion Audio app.

Wireless Network Example with a Wireless Router or Access Point


Network diagram with callouts

1

Fusion PartyBus stereo

2

Wireless network router or wireless access point

3

Fusion PartyBus zone stereo or remote control

4

Fusion PartyBus zone stereo

5

Mobile device using the Fusion Audio app

Constructing a Network

You should have a basic understanding of networking when building a network for Fusion PartyBus devices.

These instructions guide you through the basics of building and configuring a network, and should apply to most situations. If you need to perform advanced networking tasks, such as assigning static IP addresses to devices on the network or configuring advanced settings on a connected router, you may need to consult a networking professional.

  1. Determine the installation location of the Fusion PartyBus devices you want to connect to the network.
    NOTE: Wired connections are more reliable than wireless connections. When planning your network, you should run network cables instead of using wireless connections when possible.
  2. Determine the installation location of any needed network routers or switches.
  3. Route network cable to the installation locations of the stereos, switches, and router.
    NOTE: If you are connecting this stereo only to other stereos or devices with a Garmin BlueNet network port, you can run Garmin BlueNet cables instead of Cat5e or Cat6 cable. If you are connecting to other stereos or devices with a standard RJ45 network port, you must use an RJ45 to Garmin BlueNet adapter cable (010-12531-02, not included) to connect a Cat5e or Cat6 cable to this stereo.
  4. Connect the network cables to the stereos, switches, and router.
    NOTICE

    Do not completely install the stereos yet. You should test the network before you install the stereos.

  5. Turn on all devices connected to the network, including wireless devices.
  6. Select an option:

    • If you are using a network router (wired or wireless), consult the documentation provided with your router to configure the router as the DHCP server, if necessary. When using a router as the DHCP server, all stereos on the network should use their default configuration (DHCP client).

    • If you are not using a wireless router, you should configure a stereo as a wireless access point, if necessary (Setting the Fusion PartyBus Device as a Wireless Access Point). Configuring a stereo as a wireless access point makes that stereo the DHCP server, and all of the other stereos on the network should use their default configuration (DHCP client).

    • If you are not using a network router, not using a stereo as a wireless access point, and there are no other DHCP servers on the network, you should configure one of the stereos as the DHCP server (Setting the Fusion PartyBus Device as the DHCP Server).

  7. Test the network by selecting Menu > GROUPS to view a list of devices connected to the on the network, and select an option:

    • If any Fusion PartyBus devices are not available to the network, troubleshoot the network (Network Troubleshooting).

    • If all Fusion PartyBus devices are available on the network, complete the installation for each stereo, if necessary.

Network Configuration

TIP: You can select the network status icon from any screen to open the network configuration menu.

Setting the Fusion PartyBus Device as the DHCP Server

If you connected more than two network devices together using a network switch or wireless access point but you did not install a router, you should configure only one Fusion PartyBus stereo to be a DHCP server.

NOTICE

Having more than one DHCP server on the network causes instability and poor performance for all devices on the network.

NOTE: If you have set up this stereo as a WI-FI ACCESS POINT, it is configured as a DHCP server by default, and no further settings changes are needed (Setting the Fusion PartyBus Device as a Wireless Access Point).
  1. If the device is connected to the network using an Ethernet cable, select Menu > SETTINGS > NETWORK > WI-FI OFF.
  2. If the device is connected to the network using an Ethernet cable, select STATIC IP > SAVE.
  3. Select ADVANCED > DHCP SERVER > DHCP ENABLED > SAVE.

Connecting the Stereo to a Garmin Network

NOTE: When you connect the stereo to a Garmin BlueNet network or a Garmin Marine Network , you are limited to using only Garmin and Fusion devices. You will not be able to use third-party routers or other network products with this stereo directly.

You cannot use Wi‑Fi networking to connect to a Garmin chartplotter, nor can you use Wi‑Fi networking on the stereo when it is connected to a Garmin chartplotter using a wired network connection.

You can connect this stereo to a Garmin BlueNet network or a Garmin Marine Network in order to view and control the stereo using a compatible Garmin chartplotter.

NOTE: If a Garmin chartplotter is detected on the network, the stereo automatically switches to GARMIN MARINE NETWORK mode, the stereo reboots, and all other network settings on the stereo are disabled. If this does not happen automatically, reset the stereo network settings and connect it again (Resetting Network Settings). If this still does not happen automatically, perform a factory reset on the stereo and connect it again.

This stereo is compatible with both Garmin BlueNet devices and Garmin Marine Network devices. You can connect the stereo to either type of network, but if you have multiple stereos, they should all be connected to one network type or another.

NOTE: If your vessel has a mix of Garmin Marine Network and Garmin BlueNet networks connected through a Garmin BlueNet bridge, all stereos should be connected to the Garmin BlueNet network for the best performance.

For more information about Garmin BlueNet technology, including best practices for constructing a network including both Garmin BlueNet devices and Garmin Marine Network devices, go to garmin.com/manuals/bluenet.

TIP: When the stereo is connected to a Garmin network, you can connect a mobile device to a wireless access point on a connected Garmin chartplotter and use the Fusion Audio app to control the stereo.
  1. Determine the best device on the Garmin BlueNet network or the Garmin Marine Network to which you should connect the stereo.
  2. Select an option:

    • To connect the stereo to a Garmin BlueNet device, use a Garmin BlueNet cable (not included).

    • To connect the stereo to a Garmin Marine Network device, use a Garmin Marine Network to Garmin BlueNet network adapter cable (010-12531-11 or 010-13094-00, not included).

Setting the Fusion PartyBus Device as a Wireless Access Point

Before you can connect additional Fusion PartyBus devices or smartphones to a Fusion PartyBus device wirelessly, you must configure one device as a wireless access point. This is not necessary if you installed a wireless router or other wireless access point on the network.

NOTICE

You should not configure this device as a wireless access point if you have a router installed on the network. Doing so may introduce DHCP conflicts and result in poor network performance.

For more detailed configuration instructions, see the owner's manual.

  1. Select Menu > SETTINGS > NETWORK > WI-FI ACCESS POINT.
  2. Select USE DEFAULTS and wait for the device to save the network settings.
    NOTE: After the default settings are saved, you can scroll down to the bottom of the NETWORK menu to view the default SSID assigned to the access point.
  3. Select Menu > SETTINGS > NETWORK > ADVANCED > WI-FI AP SETTINGS > PASSWORDand enter a password for the wireless access point.
NOTE: When you configure the stereo as a wireless access point, you can also use the wired network connection without changing any additional settings. The wired and wireless networks are bridged.

Connecting the Fusion PartyBus Device to a Wireless Access Point

You can connect this device to a wireless access point on a router or compatible Fusion PartyBus device on the network. This device can connect using Wi‑Fi Protected Setup (WPS), if it is supported by your access point. This device can connect using Apple Accessory Configuration (WAC) using a supported Apple device.

  1. Select Menu > SETTINGS > NETWORK > WI-FI CLIENT > SSID.

    A list of wireless access points within range appears.

  2. Select the Fusion PartyBus wireless access point.
  3. If necessary, select PASSWORD, enter the password, and select Check mark.
  4. Select SAVE.
NOTE: After you connect the stereo to a wireless access point, you cannot use the wired network connection.

Resetting Network Settings

You can reset all network settings for this stereo to the factory default values.

  1. Select Menu > SETTINGS.
  2. Select NETWORK > ADVANCED > RESET > YES.

Advanced Network Configuration

You can perform advanced networking tasks on a Fusion PartyBus device, such as defining DHCP ranges and setting static IP addresses. See the owner's manual for more information.
NOTE: When connected to a Garmin Marine Network via ethernet and configured as a DHCP client, the stereo automatically detects and connects to the Garmin Marine Network.

Network Troubleshooting

If you cannot see or connect to Fusion Apollo devices on the network, perform these steps.

  • Verify that all Fusion Apollo stereos, remote controls, network switches, routers, and wireless access points are connected to the network and turned on.
  • Verify that wireless Fusion Apollo devices are connected to a wireless router or wireless access point on the network.
    NOTE: Wired connections are more reliable than wireless connections. If possible, you should connect devices to the network using an Ethernet cable.
  • Verify that only one device, either a stereo or a router, is configured as a DHCP server. If you are connected to a Garmin chartplotter using a wired Garmin BlueNet or Garmin Marine Network connection, it acts as the DHCP server for the network and no connected stereo should be configured as a DHCP server.
  • Change the channel on your router or wireless access point to test for and correct interference.

    You may experience wireless interference if there are many nearby wireless access points.

  • Disconnect Bluetooth devices to test for and correct interference.

    Connecting a Bluetooth device to a stereo configured as a wireless access point or client may reduce wireless performance.

  • If you configured static IP addresses, verify that every device has a unique IP address, that the first three sets of numbers in the IP addresses match, and that the subnet masks on every device are identical.
  • If you have made configuration changes that might be causing networking issues, reset all network settings to the factory default values.
  • If you connected the Fusion Apollo device to a Garmin chartplotter using a wired Garmin BlueNet or Garmin Marine Network connection, the network settings on the device should change automatically to GARMIN MARINE NETWORK.

    If the network settings do not change as expected, reset the network settings on the device (Resetting Network Settings).

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August 2026
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