e7 plotter, AIS receiver, NMEA 0183

[MikeBz]

I’m now pretty confident that the AIS receiver is u/s. So, what to replace it with. I want to simply replicate the existing functionality- so replace the existing unit reusing existing wiring. Only needs to have AIS receive, must be compatible with e7 plotter (NMEA 0183). I guess either of these will do the job:

AIS Receivers - Nasa AIS Engine 3 Receiver edit, scrub that one as its single channel.
AIS Receivers - McMurdo Smartfind M15 Dual Channel AIS Receiver

Is NMEA 0183 foolproof in terms of compatibility or can there be issues between specific makes/models? NMEA 01803 uses RS422, and I know from previous RS232 experience in the PC world that sometimes particular serial cards don’t work with a specific device due to timing tolerances.

 

[WindyWindyWindy]

It's still worth checking that the E7 is still working properly. I find Raymarine kit to be pretty fragile, and they abandoned the E7 a while back for repairs.

 

[MikeCC]

Even if the AIS is not receiving, it will possibly be still be sending out other status info on NMEA. On the e7 there should be a system screen showing the NMEA input stream. Try looking at that to see what's happening.

 

[MikeBz]

Even if the AIS is not receiving, it will possibly be still be sending out other status info on NMEA. On the e7 there should be a system screen showing the NMEA input stream. Try looking at that to see what's happening.

Yes I did find that, nothing shown. The boat is sold but I’m committed to getting the AIS working, so I’ve ordered the McMurdo I quoted above - as well as NMEA0183 output it has a USB laptop connection so at least that will tell me whether the anything is being received even if the plotter still shows nothing.

 

[Dellquay13]

Receive only ??

Forgive my 'ignorance' but surely there are only two types :

Active (powered with amplifier built in)
Passive (unpowered that just split without any amplification).

Both are TX / Rx units ????

A bit of thread drift, but I have an AIS splitter from Weatherdock AG EasyAIS designed for TX/RX on the VHF and RX only AIS. It is 12v powered for the switch isolation of the AIS connection while VHF TXing. So it is “active” in having a powered circuit to detect VHF TX and quickly switch off the AIS RX port, but no form of RF “active gain”.
The user guide clearly states the AIS port is RX only, maybe that is what was meant earlier?

 

[Refueler]

Just an aside .... Single or Dual I don't really think makes much difference for us ... as the info will stil get through on a 'slot' whether single or dual .. B is always in a waiting game ... reason why B+ was later initiated to get into slot along with A.

I may be wrong - but as I understand it - single was only an issue with basic B class ... B+ has put that issue aside ??

My AIS USB stick is single and it swaps back and forth between A and B ... or I can set it to just A or B ... similar to the NASA product ... last time I used the 'stick' - it was fine ... no real difference to AIS targets received by my ONWA AIS.