Furuno 1623 NMEA Output

[richardsussex]

My Furuno 1623 radar has given good service for a few years. Problem is that it won't (never has) output NMEA TLL (Target Latitude and Longitude) or TLB (Target Label) sentences when the Mark button is pressed, no matter what I try:

- Incoming NMEA (from the Garmin GPS) is being read and also re-output through the "NMEA Out" wires on the 1623
- When "Mark" is pressed, a small menu appears for EBL VRM and TTL. EBL and VRM work fine. the line and circles appear on the display centred on thh cursor. So far so good
- Nothing is output for TLL. I have scanned the port and all the GPS sentences are there and being updated but no TLL (or TLB) sentences. All is in the correct format if then fed into a Chartplotter this data displays fine.

I have emailed Tech Support at Fujitsu UK and ditto at Fujitsu Japan and have also asked their semi-techie people at boat shows but all I get back is either "Well, it should work" or "send it to us and for £99 + return postage + VAT we'll have a look at it".

Looking around the net there have been some issues with Furuno-generated NMEA messages, but allegedly these have been syntax errors in the TLL sentences - and weren't on radar devices but on sonar-type kit.

Anybody else had problems? Any ideas or suggestions please? All gratefully received!

Thanks

 

[earlybird]

To output TLL, the 1623 requires HDG as well as position, (Para 1.27 of the handbook). For some plotting, if HDG is unavailable, the 1623 can use COG if speed is >2 knts, but the handbook doesn't say this for TLL output.
Is a compass connected?

 

[richardsussex]

Hi earlybird,

Many thanks for the reply. You're absolutely right! I have read that page loads of times and it just didn't register ....

Will get the HDG sentence input and see what happens

All the best