ICOM MA510tr Ais transponder - nmea accessory cable

[robmcg]

For this unit, ICOM just provide a 12 pin plug and no wire. You have to make the cable up yourself which seems a bit much considering it's fine work with a soldering iron. Has anyone made up such a cable? Can yo get one ready made? It's only going to be needed to send the AIS info to a Digital Yacht WiFi doohickey. It's all Nmea 0183 as there is no names 2000 networking on the boat.

 

[mickywillis]

Made one a few months ago, used a 12 pin Serial D plug and some data cabling to connect to CP300 Chartplotter.
I did try to use an old computer monitor serial cable lead cut off for the bare ends, but not all of the wires inside the cable were terminated or were cross jumpered.

 

[KompetentKrew]

For NMEA 0183 I'd use Wago connectors in one of their holders, like this:

Or a 4-way molex connector like this:

Former you can probably get from your local electrical factors, the latter is eBay item 233332015709

 

[robmcg]

Unfortunately, the plug is no longer a serial plug but a round 12 pin plug about the size of the tip of your little finger. ICOM UK have confirmed that they do not sell a pre wired plug so you are on your own in sourcing and soldering on a 12 core cable. I would say that it requires soldering at an intermediate level and that a standard soldering iron is, I suspect, too large for the job. I appreciate that most of these units are connected through NMEA 2000 these days but NMEA 0183 is hardly obscure. Why provide the functionality of 0183 but not provide a working cable for the user to connect on to? It just seems odd to me as every other bit of marine electronics kit usually has the appropriately wired cable .

 

[PaulRainbow]

That's pretty poor Rob. I would complain very loudly to Icom. They have the plugs and obviously have the facilities and staff to make the cable. Very poor indeed.

How old is the AIS ?

 

[robmcg]

How old is the AIS ?

Bought a few months ago. It's their current model. I agree, it's a poor solution from ICOM who I always felt produced good kit.

 

[robmcg]

"I'm afraid no cable is available pre-made, you would usually use a multicore cable with enough cores just for the pins you need to connect to."

This was their email reply to my query about a pre made cable. It's a bit more of a Heath Robinson solution to outputting NMEA 0183 than I would have hoped for .

 

[PaulRainbow]

"I'm afraid no cable is available pre-made, you would usually use a multicore cable with enough cores just for the pins you need to connect to."

This was their email reply to my query about a pre made cable. It's a bit more of a Heath Robinson solution to outputting NMEA 0183 than I would have hoped for .

Tell them you would like to return it as unfit for purpose.

 

[robmcg]

I have emailed Icom UK again asking for some clarification regarding how they see the MA510tr being integrated into an NMEA 0183 system. I have asked specifically about whether they think it is practical for the end user to be soldering on that many cables to very closely packed pins in a small multiply and the fact that their own instructions note the assembly has to use a sealing ring to retain its waterproofing. For this to work, the end user needs to know the diameter of the multicore cable so it fits, surely. I'm not sure Icom have thought this one through .

 

[mickywillis]

Is that 12 pin connector the same as this: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/indu...YUrs_2J5Zuhzh4Djl6xoCzK0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[robmcg]

Is that 12 pin connector the same as this: PX0410/12S/6065 | Bulgin Circular Connector, 12 Contacts, Cable Mount, Miniature Connector, Socket, Female, IP68, IP69K, Buccaneer 400 | RS

Looks very similar.

 

[johnsouthwell]

hi... just wondering if anyone came up with a solution which doesn't involve a soldering iron.... Seems pretty poor approach from ICOM.

thanks for any advice.