DS VHF to Handheld GPS

[Roach1948]

Post the Ouzo tragedy I have decided that I really should take advantage of the safety advances and upgrade DSC. Currently I have been quite happy day sailing with a Garmin 12 and just an Icom handheld VHF (naughty I know). The Garmin has no NMEA output - so that is obsolete. So I would need a new GPS that can connect to a cheap DSC set. I would still like to have a portable GPS though. Anybody recommend both a DSC set and the GPS to marry up?

The set up I was thinking of was a of a large telephone like curly cable that still allows me to use the GPS in "mobile mode" whilst attached to the VHF (I single-hand a lot). By the way I have a tiny weekender, so a chart mounted GPS will prove a waste. Oh yes, I want a LOW COST solution as I hardly use either machine (most of my sailing is estuary sailing), but I would like it to work if I ever need to press the red button!

 

[davidpbo]

I use a Silva S10 DSC radio with a Garmin 76 Map GPS, seems to work O.K. although I do not use the radio much. The S10 is lacking in dedicated buttons. I would prefer rotary knobs for volume and squelch, and a dedicated switch for Hi/Low VHF TX power. The S10 I have now is a replacement, the 1st one I had was subject to a recall because of software issues.

I have the radio mounting in the companionway so I can reach the mic and listen from the cockpit. The GPS connects to the radio and the standard Garmin interface lead (Garmin plug to bare ends) is long enough for me to use it in the cockpit with it plugged in. The lead also powers the Garmin off the radio 12V supply without any extra bits, saving the AA batteries in the GPS.

 

[Roach1948]

Re: DSC VHF to Handheld GPS

Thanks for your comments.

It is interesting what you say regarding the squelch and vol controls as I have the same furstration with my (rather expensive) handheld.

Does your set-up have one cable for power and another for GPS NMEA data or are they both the same cables ? I am slightly confused by this.

 

[fireball]

If your Garmin 12 still works, then all you require is a GPS mushroom that can give position data to a fixed DSC VHF.

I assume you are happy with the Garmin 12 and therefore do not need the "features" available on a newer unit.

 

[oceanfroggie]

The GPS12 does have an NMEA out (ie covered socket on the back). All you need is the optional bare wires power data cable to connect it to a fixed DSC VHF set.

However I suggest that both the handheld and VHF are mounted, otherwise the cable may pull out.

 

[Inselaffe]

I have an Garmin eTrex and a Navman 7100.
Both low cost and it all works fine.
The etrex mounts facing aft on the bulkhead in the cockpit of my Etap 22 using a modified Garmin bicycle handlebar mounting that allows the GPS to clip on and off.
I can easily see/use the GPS whilst single-handed, and it connects both to 12V power and the DSC using a combination data and power cable (I think from GPS warehouse). I just had to cut off the computer serial data plug and connect the wires to the cable supplied with the Navman, which was easy.
I could have put in a longer wire to allow me to use the GPS at the tiller, but because of where its mounted I dont need to and then there are no problems with the wire accidently pulling out.

 

[Roach1948]

Re: DSC VHF to Handheld GPS

I am quite happy with my GPS 12 actually as it does all I really need it to do and that is position and speed/distance/bearing to waypoint. You are indeed quite right about the 12 having NMEA 0183 output - I have just checked with a supplier. The thing that confused me is that the power socket is the same as the NMEA output which seems a bit odd. I would have thought there would be two sockets. As the chap was more into selling car satnav he could not answer my question of what I should be looking for in my new VHF to accept the hard-wired cables he was trying to sell me. I would like a set-up like davidpbo whereby the GPS is also run from the VHF 12v supply.

Anyway, as you all are suggesting, I think I need some sort of cradle in order not to pull the cable out from the VHF. This should not be a problem - I can make one out in wood and the feed the cable back to VHF via a bulkhead rather than going through the companionway so its always ready to use.

 

[Roach1948]

Re: DSC VHF to Handheld GPS

Having gone searching on the Garmin web site I notice that GPS 12 does not appear to accept data AND power from the same cable so maybe it is worth upgrading.

GPS 12 cable -This data cable has bare wires at the end so you can hard wire your GPS directly to another electronic device. This allows you to send speed and position data to devices such as a chartplotter, computer, auto pilot, radar, etc. Data cable doesn't have power — you'll have to run off your unit's batteries.

GPS 76 cable -This power and data cable has bare wires at the end so you can hard wire your GPS directly to a DC power source or some other electronic device. This allows you to send speed and position data to devices such as a chartplotter, computer, auto pilot, radar, etc.

 

[claymore]

I have a Garmin 76 portable gps that talks to both my laptop and the Icom VHF.
Icom - you could pay another £100 and get a remote waterproof microphone - I'm sure that would solve the problem

 

[oceanfroggie]

Re: DSC VHF to Handheld GPS

There used to be a bare wires cable option for the GPS12 (ie 12v + NMEA). I used the cable from my old GPS76 to connect to the GPS12 for NMEA and upload/download of waypoint data from my laptop. There is only one socket, the cable has the 12v and RS232 wires (ie NMEA)

 

[Roach1948]

Re: DSC VHF to Handheld GPS

Well the Garmin web site does not help much as the 12 is discontinued so its hard fishing the facts. I was just worred in the accessories section where it said the data cable for the 12 did not provide power - so taking your advise I should buy the GPS 76 cable 12v plus NMEA (as I think they all have the same plugs on the back) and I should be sorted?

 

[oceanfroggie]

Re: DSC VHF to Handheld GPS

A pal of mine used the bare wires power data cable to hook up his GPS12 to the boats 12V supply and to his raymarine C70 via NMEA (ie GPS12 provides position data to C70, he does not have a raystar)

 

[stephenh]

The garmin 12 does have a NMEA output - well mine does !

You can get plugs from these guys and make your own connections

http://www.pfranc.com/projects/g45contr/g45_idx.htm

for plans of the connections go to the Garmin website.
If you can't find it PM me and I will dig it out of my PC.

 

[Gin]

I use a Garmin 12 with a custom made adaption to a Garmin data/power cable which drives my Yeoman chart plotter ( so it would do a VHF just as well) and this cable terminates in a cigarette lighter plug so it runs from the boat's 12V battery, with the Garmin's own AA's as back-up if necessary.

I got the cable from Garmin and a local electronics man adapted the cable to fit the Yeoman, which may not be necessary in your case as i can't remember quite how the Garmin cable was set up when I bought it

 

[Roach1948]

Many thanks all. This was a really useful thread for me. Thanks for the tip on the connectors stephenh, but I think I will just buy the 76 cable on the Garmin website and that should do it.