Help for the hard of understanding.Raymarine.

[oldgit]

Problem.Have existing ancient Raymarine RL70CRC.
Have just purchased an even more ancient Raymarine 520 chartplotter to use as repeater screen up on flybridge.
All wiring plugged in to both units including HSB2 and Seatalk.
Everything on main screen is being displayed properly including correct location.

However on second screen although fish finder and charts/data boxes are being displayed correctly,the thing insists on giving me a NO FIX message.
Do I have to "tell" the RL70 to retransmit the GPS receiver signal somehow or do we have to switch something "on" in the 520 to recognise the data coming from GPS aerial.
All comments welcome. OG

Ps.Yes I have RTFM.... have it in front of me.

 

[DAKA]

I recall a similar problem when connecting a chart repeater to the RL70C

Each unit has its own software (there is not just HSB and HSB2 , there are various versions of HSB2)
on start up the version will be displayed on the screen before it automatically moves on.

If you need it now and require a temporary fix, you should be able to bypass the problem by using the 3 pin semi curved socket which carries gps signal and using them to connect into the main cable of the repeater.

That is you take the GPS signal wires from the main cable of the repeater (520)and connect each of two wires to the connected 3 pin outlet cable to the main RL70.

If this doesnt make sense please attach a photo of the back of your 520 unit and RL70 so I can direct you to the correct socket.


(technically illegal due to regulations regarding Radar interference. )

 

[jfm]

Daka, as I read it OG has already done that, by connecting the ST1 sockets on both units together using the ST1 cabling. At least I hope he has!

OG the repeater gets the GPS position via ST1 network. Your problem is either a bad connection, or a software setting/incompatibility. So can you confirm to us whether the ST1 wiring is working ok? I mean, does the repeater 520 display depth ok? If it displays depth ok, which it gets from ST1, then the ST1 connection must be ok, and your problem is then in software/compatibility

 

[DAKA]

Daka, as I read it OG has already done that, by connecting the ST1 sockets on both units together using the ST1 cabling. At least I hope he has!

Yes I got that, the 520 wants a gps signal and will be happy to accept it through the main cable.

This can be from another gps close by or perhaps a DSC VHF that already has gps connected .
I got two units working that did not share the same software by sending the gps data via a DSC vhf .
If I recall correctly the seatalk plug is the 3 wire curved one, its easy to tap the required gps signal from that if there isnt a dsc vhf in reach that has already got the signal from elsewhere.

at least if he tries it he will ascertain if the 520 is ready for the gps signal.

 

[jfm]

Yes I got that, the 520 wants a gps signal and will be happy to accept it through the main cable.

This can be from another gps close by or perhaps a DSC VHF that already has gps connected .
I got two units working that did not share the same software by sending the gps data via a DSC vhf .
If I recall correctly the seatalk plug is the 3 wire curved one, its easy to tap the required gps signal from that if there isnt a dsc vhf in reach that has already got the signal from elsewhere.

at least if he tries it he will ascertain if the 520 is ready for the gps signal.

I think what you're saying is to give the GPS signal to the 520 repeater using the nmea0183 connections, as opposed to the ST1 connections. That would be a good idea imho. Though I think OG should first confirm whether his ST1 wiring is working ok, just by seeing if the 520 repeater will display, say, depth

I may have missed some of your point Daka but that's because I don't know what you mean by "main cable". I think we need to talk in more precise terms than "main cable"!

 

[DAKA]

I think what you're saying is to give the GPS signal to the 520 repeater using the nmea0183 connections, as opposed to the ST1 connections. That would be a good idea imho. Though I think OG should first confirm whether his ST1 wiring is working ok, just by seeing if the 520 repeater will display, say, depth

I may have missed some of your point Daka but that's because I don't know what you mean by "main cable". I think we need to talk in more precise terms than "main cable"!

I did ask for photos.

Its 5-6 years years since I resolved a similar issue.

Main cable = the big one which screws on and has power and gps wires.

 

[DAKA]

just a thought og, the hsb cable is the same as the hsb2 cable but you need to add a hsb2 converter (looks like a black extension socket), I presume that you have fitted one only and not one to both ends ?

 

[oldgit]

I think what you're saying is to give the GPS signal to the 520 repeater using the nmea0183 connections, as opposed to the ST1 connections. That would be a good idea imho. Though I think OG should first confirm whether his ST1 wiring is working ok, just by seeing if the 520 repeater will display, say, depth

I may have missed some of your point Daka but that's because I don't know what you mean by "main cable". I think we need to talk in more precise terms than "main cable"!

The wiring on the fly is an exact duplicate of the wiring in the wheelhouse.
Seatalk/HSB2/power connections are plugged correctly to both units.
The 520 repeater is showing both fishfinder/depth information and a chart in the background, the cursor will allow you to go anywhere you like on chart,so charts are being repeated from main RL70.
The repeater display has NO FIX.
Am assuming that signal from GPS receiver is either not reaching or not recognised by 520 on flybridge ?

 

[oldgit]

just a thought og, the hsb cable is the same as the hsb2 cable but you need to add a hsb2 converter (looks like a black extension socket), I presume that you have fitted one only and not one to both ends ?

Will check connections for convertor.

 

[jfm]

The wiring on the fly is an exact duplicate of the wiring in the wheelhouse.
Seatalk/HSB2/power connections are plugged correctly to both units.
The 520 repeater is showing both fishfinder/depth information and a chart in the background, the cursor will allow you to go anywhere you like on chart,so charts are being repeated from main RL70.
The repeater display has NO FIX.
Am assuming that signal from GPS receiver is either not reaching or not recognised by 520 on flybridge ?

Ok thanks. The sea talk wiring must be working if it show depth. Both depth and GPS are transmitted on sea talk. So

Connect nmea0183 out on the lower unit to nmea0183 in on the repeater unit. Two wires and observe polarity. This a perfectly good bodge. Dakas idea

Or play around with menus and software upgrades to try to fix it. I'm no longer familiar with this gear so can't be more precise sorry, on the menus side if things

 

[oldgit]

Going to remove RL70 from downstairs and connect up the flybridge.Its never been up there.If it works properly the GPS must be reaching there and might point to the problem being to do with 520.Will have quick look in options menu in both devices.
When unit arrived it was in simulator,problem might have done something in my attempts to get it out of that mode
Might try factory reset on 520.
If no luck will try DAKAs suggestion.

 

[oldgit]

Back ....Again.

just a thought og, the hsb cable is the same as the hsb2 cable but you need to add a hsb2 converter (looks like a black extension socket), I presume that you have fitted one only and not one to both ends ?

Err...have just had good look at the installation.
Plse ignore previous ramblings.

Depth/fisherfinder info displayed on both screens.
Radar info displayed on both screens.
Chart info and position on main screen only.

It appears that only the charting stuff and GPS receiver info is not being picked up by unit on flybridge.
Does this help..or just confuse further.

 

[MikeBrazier]

No experience of this, but the second one may have a menu option/section to set where it gets position info from, you might have to specify which input has the data on it perhaps to avoid conflicts.

Mike.

 

[oldgit]

the back of the RL70.
No NMEA data out lead to transmit charts info up to fly ?

 

[jfm]

I'm confused by what your point with that picture is OG (?). There is a NMEA out port. You just have to buy the lead. OR there may be nmea out cores in the multi core cable with the square shaped ferrite clipped on it - check the manual for that

But as mentioned above the answer is in the menu settings of the repeater. I bet the repeater is set to look for GPS info on nmea0183-in, not on Seatalk. Just set it (via menus) to look for nmea on Seatalk, and it will work.

 

[oldgit]

Whats confusing me is when you take the RL70C upstairs it is also not receiving any chart/GPS info.
Got to be that GPS/Chart info for whatever reason is not getting to flybridge on existing cables.

 

[DAKA]

Err...have just had good look at the installation.
Plse ignore previous ramblings.

Depth/fisherfinder info displayed on both screens.
Radar info displayed on both screens.
Chart info and position on main screen only.

It appears that only the charting stuff and GPS receiver info is not being picked up by unit on flybridge.
Does this help..or just confuse further.

that is exactly how I envisaged the situation.

I suspect if you set off the most irritating feature you have is no head up in radar mode.

Agreed it may just be a case of telling the 520 to look for incoming but if not you could

pinch the signal from the unused NMEA out (4 pins unused) , just use two insulated slim spade crimp terminals to the flybridge.(pm me your address and I will post you two that fit) keep the crimps as close as possible to the shielded cables you use as there are strict laws governing this.

as you look at your photo RL70
top left goes to orange (green) +
top right goes to Yellow (blue) -

(two nmea inputs)

or use any nmea out (such as DSC VHF) and join to the power/NMEA plug the round screw on black cable with the square on it.
could do with a photo of the 520, thats the only bit of kit I have not seen up close before !
520 power in cable screw on nmea
ch1....(ch2)
orange(green) +
yellow (blue) -