GPS position data transfer

[yoda]

In an effort to move into the 21st century I have decided to try and link GPS data to a laptop so that in the future I can run AIS and a DSC radio. I already have a GPS mouse aerial which gives me a position on the laptop via either the serial mouse port or the USB port. I would like to keep the serial mouse port clear so it needs to go in via the USB port. No problem so far! Now, the GPS aerial is a bit of a pain because it needs to be routed out through the hatch with all the untidy wires that go with it. Far neater would be to use GPS data from the H/H Garmin which sits happily inside the boat and is already fixed in place. Again no problem as 2 types of data lead seem to be available, one with 2 data cables (NMEA I assume) and one with a serial port connector. So, if I get the lead with a serial port connector I should get position data into the computer. Now, bear with me here, the big question is how do I then transfer the position data to either an AIS set ( I aim to fit a class B transponder in the future) and/or a DSC VHF. What I am trying to avoid is having more than one position feed. Using the Garmin data lead to feed NMEA data to the DSC radio seems straight forward but can that feed be split or fed on again to an AIS set and then to the computer. Or do I need to feed the computer with the data and then find a way of sending it out again to the AIS and DSC? If anybody a) understands what I mean and b) can help I would be very grateful.

Yoda

 

[Danny]

Most NMEA 'senders' (ie your GPS) will drive three 'listeners' (PC, AIS and DSC) with no problem. Just connect the listeners in parallel.

 

[ToMo]

Forgive me for saying this! but forget about all that and get one of these: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GPS-RECEIVER-Recie...1742.m153.l1262

Problems! what problems?

 

[yoda]

Clear, concise and just what I needed to know. One supplementary question, how do I thake the 2 wire feed from the GPS and get it into the PC? Which pins on the serial port conection do I need to connect to? Thanks very much.

Yoda

 

[Blue5]

I have got this set up on the boat, with an NMEA serial port fitted to nav console, just have to plug cable from laptop and remove when finished. Regarding the pins to use, I dont have site details but if you do a search on Garmin nmea connections it will throw up several sites with the info or Garmins web site

 

[captainslarty]

Hi Re AIS B Transponder.
The one I have is the AIT250 and has a built in GPS, so if you go that route first, then you have both data from ais and position as well.
Joe

 

[Danny]

The pins of interest are pin 2 (receive data) and pin 5 (ground). The pin numbering is quite difficult to see but, if you use a magnifying glass, (or have very good close vision) you'll see that the two rows of pins on the connector are usually labelled 1 through 5 and 6 through 9.

In the GPS documentation find the connection called something like 'NMEA -ve' or 'Ground' or 'Common' and connect this to pin 5. Find the connection called 'NMEA +ve' or 'NMEA out' (or something similar) and connect this to pin 2.

If you intend to upload and download waypoints or routes between the PC and the GPS then you'll want to connect pin 3 (transmit data) to the appropriate connection on the GPS.

Hmmm... maybe not so "clear and concise" this time /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[yoda]

No that is great, pin 2 = data in, pin 5 = ground, pin 3 =data out. Glad somebody can take the mystery out of it all!

TVM

Yoda