C70 & AIS ?

[Tex]

Can the Raymarine C70 display AIS and if so what extra kit is needed other than an AIS recevier ?

 

[pvb]

Assuming you're talking about the original C70, the answer's yes. You'd need first to install the latest software (version 5.04) which is a free download from the Raymarine website. Depending on which AIS engine you buy and what other kit you have connected to your C70, you may need a multiplexer.

If you're talking about the latest C70, the answer's still yes, but the software will already be installed.

 

[Tex]

More info:
C70 is 2008 and has not had the 5.04 software upgrade - I will try and do this.
Have radar and GPS connected to plotter.
Any recommendations for a compatiable AIS engine?

 

[pvb]

More info:
C70 is 2008 and has not had the 5.04 software upgrade - I will try and do this.
Have radar and GPS connected to plotter.

If your C70 is 2008, doesn't its software already include AIS compatibility? Be aware that installing software 5.04 disables the radar/chart overlay feature unless you have a compass input to the C70.

 

[DipperToo]

Is your GPS connected via the Seatalk or NMEA interface on the C70? If it is via NMEA then you will need either a multuplexor (combine GPS and AIS data onto a 38400 baud rate) OR, look for an AIS receiver that has an NMEA in port. The AIS receiver in the latter case will be able to multiplex the GPS onto the AIS signal and output a single data stream at 38400 baud.

I installed the EasyAIS and used its NMEA input to multiplex the Raymarine S2 Fast Heading data (NMEA) and it works well.

Bear in mind that these C70/80 series will have BOTH the NMEA input and output at the same data rates, so if you use the NMEA output from a C70 in 'AIS Mode' (38,400 baud) then other equipment may have trouble (DSC VHF radio for example).

Maybe an expert may correct me, but I believe you can have multiple NMEA 'Listeners' on a circuit so if your GPS is NMEA and you also use the NMEA for the DSC radio, say, then you can always feed the NMEA GPS to both the radio and the AIS receiver to get round the data rate issue imposed by the C70/80.

Hope this helps.

 

[Tex]

[QUOTE Be aware that installing software 5.04 disables the radar/chart overlay feature unless you have a compass input to the C70.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the warning, I am maybe better off without the 5.04 update.

Not sure what conections are but i think seatalk as GPS is raystar and Raymarine VHF & radar.

 

[fastjedi]

I haven't installed my AIS engine yet so I may be talking rubbish!

I have a 2008 C70 with a Raystar 125 working in NMEA mode (they will work in Seatalk or NMEA mode depending on how they are wired). I configured it this way so that I can feed position data to the VHF without having the chartplotter on.

I have bought a NASA AIS 3 engine which will take NMEA information from the GPS at 4800 baud and output GPS+AIS data to the C70 at 34800 baud.

I dont believe a software upgrade is required.

 

[pvb]

I dont believe a software upgrade is required.

No, you shouldn't need an upgrade on a 2008 C70, although the 5.04 software includes a "corrected AIS TCPA calculation", which suggests that earlier versions might not have been correct.