Cobra MR F57B E vhf radio connection to garmin 128 gps

Carib said:
Also worth noting that Garmin 128s go for surprising money on Ebay. I just sold one for £160 even without an aerial, and they go up to £200 - you might factor that in to your decision if you do upgrade as it gives a reasonable sum towards something else.
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Sorry for the drift but why are they being bought at those prices - I have one on my boat that I haven't powered up for around 2 years.
 
I have a very similar setup, a GPS128 but into a SIMRAD RD68 radio. It's also worth going into the "interfaces" page of the setup and ensure it's outputting NMEA for the radio. The default for the 128 is a proprietary Garmin protocol (it shows as "GMN/GMN" IIRC on the setup/interfaces page. I think it should be set to "None/NMEA" and it'll output to the right format. I think you get an option of the version of 0183 too, I think mine is set to V2

I did this last weekend as mine had reset itself due to being powered off for so long. The radio (and the cockpit repeater) accepted the input within a few seconds.

(I think they're great little units BTW, I have one totally independent to the chart plotter and use it for SOG and waypoint indications on a repeater)

Andrew
 
Carib said:
Also worth noting that Garmin 128s go for surprising money on Ebay. I just sold one for £160 even without an aerial, and they go up to £200 - you might factor that in to your decision if you do upgrade as it gives a reasonable sum towards something else.
Click to expand...
Yeah you're right. This place appears to be selling one for £286 Reliance Marine - Garmin 128 I've actually only aquired one since it came with my boat and knew nothing about that particular gps before hand
 
easton said:
I have a very similar setup, a GPS128 but into a SIMRAD RD68 radio. It's also worth going into the "interfaces" page of the setup and ensure it's outputting NMEA for the radio. The default for the 128 is a proprietary Garmin protocol (it shows as "GMN/GMN" IIRC on the setup/interfaces page. I think it should be set to "None/NMEA" and it'll output to the right format. I think you get an option of the version of 0183 too, I think mine is set to V2

I did this last weekend as mine had reset itself due to being powered off for so long. The radio (and the cockpit repeater) accepted the input within a few seconds.

(I think they're great little units BTW, I have one totally independent to the chart plotter and use it for SOG and waypoint indications on a repeater)

Andrew
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Great thanks some really useful info there will give it a go. In regards to the version does that affect compatibility? Say the vhf was on one version of NMEA and the GPS on another..

Think the gps 128 manual states it supports version 1.5 and 2.0
 
Hardyowner said:
Great thanks some really useful info there will give it a go. In regards to the version does that affect compatibility? Say the vhf was on one version of NMEA and the GPS on another..
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I have a (older) Cobra radio and it doesn’t care what NMEA version the 128 is set to. Don’t think it is likely to make a difference. Just make sure the 128 is putting out 4800 baud NMEA and it’s going to work.
 
bitbaltic said:
I have a (older) Cobra radio and it doesn’t care what NMEA version the 128 is set to. Don’t think it is likely to make a difference. Just make sure the 128 is putting out 4800 baud NMEA and it’s going to work.
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Cool fingers crossed then! I'll report on how successful it is when I do it so it might help someone else out in the future
 
So after spending a few hours fiddling I I appear to have success!

Using the wiring and setting on the gps as discussed both the vhf and the garmin are now displaying coordinates.

Thanks for everyones help.

Hopefully this might help out someone else in a similar situation.
 
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