Caribboat
Member
I have a Raymarine C80 chart plotter presently connected to an Icom411 vhf and, via an ST1-STNG converter to Raymarine Evolution system. Dies anyone know whether I add an Icom MA500TR AIS unit to the chart plotter?
Electronics question
- Thread starter Caribboat
- Start date
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
Difficult to be too specific, you don't give enough initial information, no mention of what the plotter is. I'd say that was a bad choice, it does not support NMEA200 and is expensive. STNG is N2K with different connectors, so it makes sense to fit a N2K compatible AIS.
Malish
Well-Known Member
"no mention of what the plotter is."
"I have a Raymarine C80 chart plotter "
"I have a Raymarine C80 chart plotter "
Caribboat
Member
I’ve been offered the Icom unit as a barely used 2nd hand unit. It uses nmea0183 as does the C80 plotter. What I don’t know is whether, given my current installation, it can be added to the C80.
I’d have to get the mmsi changed over.
I’d have to get the mmsi changed over.
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
Should have gone to spec savers :ambivalence:
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
If the plotter has a spare NMEA 0183 port that will receive at 38,300 then it will work with AIS.
Caribboat
Member
I think you’ve answered my question by not going to Specsavers - my chart plotter is eleven years old and in the nature of things electronic might fail at any time. We’ve already had one scare when the position of the boat kept jumping around (cured by doing a factory reset). My point being that if I find myself having to replace it the new one would operate on nmea 2000 leaving me with a non- compatible AIS unit. I think I’ll get a (new) Raymarine AIS 700 unit instead and not look too long at the bill!
cobolt
Well-Known Member
First off, you need to check your C80 is software version 3 or higher.
Then the issue you face is potentially conflicting baud rates.
The C80 has only 1 x NMEA0183 in.
If you set this to 38400 baud-rate (usual for AIS) instead of 4800 baud-rate, then I believe this means that the C80 will also output only at 38400 baud, rather than 4800 baud.
You may therefore find that the ICOM VHF stops receiving a GPS position (you need to check whether your radio can accept 38400 baud NMEA0183).
The alternative is that the MA500TR AIS can be switched to 4800 baud according to the tech. specs., so that might be an option.
Then the issue you face is potentially conflicting baud rates.
The C80 has only 1 x NMEA0183 in.
If you set this to 38400 baud-rate (usual for AIS) instead of 4800 baud-rate, then I believe this means that the C80 will also output only at 38400 baud, rather than 4800 baud.
You may therefore find that the ICOM VHF stops receiving a GPS position (you need to check whether your radio can accept 38400 baud NMEA0183).
The alternative is that the MA500TR AIS can be switched to 4800 baud according to the tech. specs., so that might be an option.
laika
Well-Known Member
The MA500TR appears to have multiple NMEA-0183 outputs: the best option given the stated kit would seem to be to disconnect the radio from the c80, reconfigure the c80's nmea port for 38000 and hook up the MA500TR, then connect the radio to another NMEA output from the MA500TR at 4800 fro GPS. I'm guessing (unsure but my slightly newer icom has no mention of this feature) the 411 is too old to support the feature to initiate a dsc call from the ais target list and you'd lose any vhf->MFD functionality (e.g. position reporting) if the C80 supports that but lots of people aren't even aware that exists and don't bother connecting it up.
carriboat's reasoning about going with the AIS700 for ease of integration with a potential replacement raymarine MFD seems sound though
pvb
Well-Known Member
Why choose the AIS700? Consider the Em-trak B100 instead, it has NMEA2000 and NMEA0183, it has an SD card to log data, and it has a global 3-year warranty. Best of all, it's around £400 cheaper!
laika
Well-Known Member
It's £350 cheaper if you buy from the cheapest ebay seller. You then need to buy a splitter and a seatalk to seatalk-ng converter cable. Now I'm sure you can google splitters under £100 (leaving us wondering why the navico one is £250) and argue that you can still end up with a £200 saving but paying the extra cash you can buy buy from your favourite raymarine dealer to whom you can have some recourse, there's no palming off responsibility if there are connectivity problems, you get to do all firmware updates for the AIS over seatalkng from the mfd and you don't have to stress over which spltter is ok. The emtrak is doubtless a great budget choice for a lot of people but there are also reasonable arguments for paying the extra money.
Caribboat
Member
Thanks everyone. I never ceased to be amazed at the depth and breadth of knowledge on this forum!
pvb
Well-Known Member
The AIS700 seems to be around £800 from all the UK retailers. Using your eBay argument, the B100 is £350 on eBay, which makes it £450 cheaper.
You don't need to use a splitter; indeed many people are unhappy using splitters on their main VHF antenna. A pushpit antenna for the B100 is relatively cheap, gives adequate range, and can act as an emergency VHF antenna in the unfortunate event of dismasting.
I'm not aware that em-trak have any history of "palming off responsibility", they seem to be a sensible company with good quality products.
As for updating the AIS via the plotter, I'm not sure how well that process works with legacy plotters like the OP's C80.
laika
Well-Known Member
I'm sure arguments regarding range of masthead vs pushpit AIS have been done elsewhere but for many people just being able to plug in the existing VHF antenna is a plus. I'm not suggesting em-trak have poor support and the comment about interconnections is generic to all products from two manufacturers: Mostly buying everything from raymarine avoids *raymarine* palming off responsibility when something isn't displayed on their MFD. The seatalkng upgrade thing works OK from a C90W (I recently updated my new pilot and head) but I'd also be suspicious about it working from a C80 classic. However the OP's rationale for considering the AIS700 was a potentially imminent upgrade of the MFD.
I wasn't criticising your choice of product: it's a good option and seems regularly recommended here, simply suggesting that for many people something that just works with minimal stress is worth paying extra for
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pvb
Well-Known Member
I'd agree, but £450 extra is a hefty premium!
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
That would be my choice, it'll fit now and also fit future upgrades.
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
The emtrac will work just fine, no need for converter cables etc.
Connect its 0183 out to the C80 at 38400 and the VHF to the 2nd port on the AIS, set to 4800.
It would even be possible to connect the AIS to the autopilot using the N2K port on the AIS with a STNG to N2K cable.
Edit. I favour the 2nd antenna option that PVB mentioned, but if a splitter is favoured then buy the emtrac sail pack, it only costs an extra £100 and includes a splitter.
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