Can I get my ST50 Tridata (Seatalk 1) to talk to Garmin NMEA2000

[Blue Drifter]

Grateful for advice on whether it is possible to get my existing Autohelm ST50 (depth, speed through water & temp) to connect into a Garmin NMEA 2000 network. The manual for the ST50 Plus Tridata states that it can only be connected to other Seatalk products (none on board) however a ST50 Plus Tridata repeater can output NMEA 0183. Is a repeater, if I can get one, the way forward, or are there alternatives (Actisense?).

I am seeking the simplest and cheapest way (if at possible) to get depth and speed through the water from what I presume is Seatalk 1 onto the NMEA 2000 network.

To make things even more complicated I am also in the process of fitting a Raymarine EV100 tiller pilot and it would be useful to have this interfaced so that it receives wind information from the Garmin NMEA wind sensor. I am hoping this will be easier to get talking!

TIA - Chris

 

[superheat6k]

My ST50 Tridata plus has an extra double connector providing the NMEA0183 data output, I pick this up with my Garmin GPSMAP750, but it doesn't seem to bridge the data elsewhere on NMEA0183 output from the Garmin, even with Bridging on on the plotter, but could possibly be doing this onto the NMEA2000 network, I just have no way of checking, because my NMEA2K is presently limited to the Plotter and a Noland data convertor.

My wiring connections are here, also with a Furuno RO4800 VHF / AIS

https://www.dropbox.com/s/v5pzswohjeu71we/NMEA Connections Garmin - Radio Ocean - Sealtalk.pdf?dl=0

Might help you.

 

[pvb]

I think the simplest and most reliable way - and reasonably priced too - would be to fit a Garmin DST800 triducer, giving you depth, speed and temperature data as straight NMEA2000 data. I have one on my new boat and it seems to work well. It also has a valve in the transducer housing which allows you to remove it and fit the blanking plug with only a cupful or so of seawater entering the boat.

 

[superheat6k]

I think the simplest and most reliable way - and reasonably priced too - would be to fit a Garmin DST800 triducer, giving you depth, speed and temperature data as straight NMEA2000 data. I have one on my new boat and it seems to work well. It also has a valve in the transducer housing which allows you to remove it and fit the blanking plug with only a cupful or so of seawater entering the boat.

That does sound intersting. Do you know if my Garmin GPSMAP will bridge NMEA2K data coming in to NMEA0183 going out ?

 

[pvb]

That does sound intersting. Do you know if my Garmin GPSMAP will bridge NMEA2K data coming in to NMEA0183 going out ?

Haven't a clue! Best bet is to phone Garmin and ask.

Edit: I believe the "bridging" function on your GPSMAP750 only bridges 0183 data to the 2000 bus, not the other way round.

 

[Blue Drifter]

Thanks for the rapid responses.

Superheat6k - this looks like it may be easier than I initially thought as I am also connecting to a Garmin 750 chartplotter and I will try as per your diagram, red (signal) to brown (NMEA 0183 Port 1 Rx) and blue (ground) to black (ground). If this is the case then a fantastic result and I am very grateful.


PVB - many thanks and I have a new DST800 triducer but it is quite a lot of work to fit due to underwater profile of boat. Not impossible, but I'd rather not if there is an easier alternative. Agreed that this would be the ideal solution and may eventually go down this route.

Once again thanks both.

 

[superheat6k]

Thanks for the rapid responses.

Superheat6k - this looks like it may be easier than I initially thought as I am also connecting to a Garmin 750 chartplotter and I will try as per your diagram, red (signal) to brown (NMEA 0183 Port 1 Rx) and blue (ground) to black (ground). If this is the case then a fantastic result and I am very grateful.


PVB - many thanks and I have a new DST800 triducer but it is quite a lot of work to fit due to underwater profile of boat. Not impossible, but I'd rather not if there is an easier alternative. Agreed that this would be the ideal solution and may eventually go down this route.

Once again thanks both.

Works fine for me. I used a small plastic sealed box from Maplins with choc block and small screw jointed plugs and sockets from Maplins. These come in 2 to 8 ins, so I have a 2 pin on the Seatalk, 6 pin on the Garmin, etc. This way I cannot mess up the connection. With only two devices connected direct wire joints should be fine, but I would use adhesive lined shrinkwrap.

Make sure you set the correct speed on the Garmin for the channel used - Lo except AIS data out.

I have an older Furuno Radar repeater that can display available NMEA0183 data, which I have connected to the Garmin NMEA0183 outputs. This picks up data from the chart plotter, but doesn't bridge the Seatalk data (Log speed and depth) into the Garmin out to the Furuno. Not that big a deal just a bit incomplete on the Furuno display.