DSC Radio and GPS position

I feed my Standard Horizon VHF DSC radio from a Garmin 152 GPS. I presume any GPS unit with a compatible output could be used.
 
I have a DMK Box:

http://www.dmkyacht.com/

It sends GPS to my DSC radio over NMEA, and also provides GPS over wifi so I can use my iPad as a chart plotter.

It's probably overkill for what you're talking about though. I think a "headless" gps such as the Garmin GPS 17 would be cheaper / simpler:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=288&pID=11626

If your radio doesn't support NMEA 2000 you could probably pick up the previous GPS 16 model which uses the older NMEA protocol.
 
I believe the traditional PBO budget solution is something like a globalsat br355 (ps2 connector version, end cut off, £25 delivered form ebay) powered by a butchered phone charger. Despite the output of the br355 being single-ended it works ok with my icom 603
 
laika said:
I believe the traditional PBO budget solution is something like a globalsat br355 (ps2 connector version, end cut off, £25 delivered form ebay) powered by a butchered phone charger. Despite the output of the br355 being single-ended it works ok with my icom 603
Click to expand...

Exactly this (except I would use a new regulator rather than butchering a phone charger). My new instrument plans include one of these for the VHF even though there will be several other GPS receivers on board. Just makes things simple when you don't have to ensure the correct combination of circuits and devices is turned on.

Pete
 
on my old boat i successfully used the output of a garmin 12. cheap to pick up on ebay and has the advantage of being a fully functional gps as opposed to simply a gps source for the radio.

there was also an ebay source for the data and mains plug that allowed me to run it off the 12v on the boat for a pound or so as opposed to payiong for the dedicated garmin lead
 
My GPS feeds the Maxsea comp, radar and DSC. I use stackable phono plugs and cables from Rapid electronics, as two way adaptors. What I would like is a multi output socket so I could plug each in individually.
 
Many thanks to all respondents. I am looking for a budget solution but do not understand the favoured proposal. As yet I have not bought a DSC radio but am looking at a Standard H budget buy for about £100. However, that now seems like short term thinking. I had looked at the explorer which has built in GPS but was unsure if it works down below. It is also £100 more.

Perhaps I better wait until I have made my mind up about a chartplotter.
 
Enya said:
Many thanks to all respondents. I am looking for a budget solution but do not understand the favoured proposal. As yet I have not bought a DSC radio but am looking at a Standard H budget buy for about £100. However, that now seems like short term thinking. I had looked at the explorer which has built in GPS but was unsure if it works down below. It is also £100 more.

Perhaps I better wait until I have made my mind up about a chartplotter.
Click to expand...

Most GPS units will work quite happily at the chart table of a GRP boat.
Even my £5 pound eBay cheapy works perfectly well just taped to the top of the plotter at the chart table, as does my IPad GPS.
 
Enya said:
I am looking for a budget solution but do not understand the favoured proposal.
Click to expand...

Buy one of these for £23 (or this one for a bit more if you're worried about buying from Hong Kong).

Also buy one of these, as suggested by Nigel, because the GPS needs 5v rather than 12v.

Cut the plugs off both items. Solder the power supply to the red and black wires from the GPS. Connect the VHF (as described in its manual) to the black and the green wires. Connect the power supply input to the same circuit as the VHF. Job done, the VHF will have position information independent of any plotter you may or may not have.

Pete
 
Further to others' points above about mounting aerials inside or outside, will the BR-355 be ok mounted on the underside of the cabin roof, or does it really need to be mounted outside?
 
Reptile Smile said:
Further to others' points above about mounting aerials inside or outside, will the BR-355 be ok mounted on the underside of the cabin roof, or does it really need to be mounted outside?
Click to expand...

I don't know for sure, but the actual GPS chip is the Sirf Star III, which is quite well regarded. I'd expect it to be fine under a GRP deck, and I certainly intend to mount mine that way.

Pete
 
I've only tested my br355 with the boat moored up so far, but no problems with signal in the cabin. Note that the output from this thing is single-ended rs232 (ie the signal is the difference between a single wire and ground) whereas the input to your VHF is most likely differential rs422 (the signal is the difference between + and - lines) and your inputs will likely be labelled something like "nmea in +" and "nmea in -". If you do as prv suggests and wire the "tx" line from the gps to "nmea in +" and ground to "nmea in -", although the electrical standards differ, it should work. Be prepared for those signal wires to be very thin and fiddly
 
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