ICS Navtex and Seatalk

[RJD393]

I have an ICS Nav6 plus connected into my Raymarine system via the NMEA output from the plotter (RC530). However this doesn't give the full information needed by the Nav6 for all functions. Short of buying the expensive Raymarine NMEA/Seatalk converter does anyone know of a way of getting the information. Many thanks. Richard

 

[pvb]

Set-up...

Are the required NMEA sentences switched on in the System Set-up on the plotter?

 

[FWB]

You need the converter, at least thats what the guy who installed my system did. Works really well as a repeater for the instruments.

 

[Guest]

Cannot give a full definitive answer to your questions - but bear in mind :

Raymarine have their own Seatalk format that they do not release to third parties - ensuring they sell you the gear and converters. There was and is a "public" older version of Seatalk - but they are not compatible.
NMEA from a Raymarine item in some cases is incomplete - leading to similar problems as you experience.
Pity as Raymarine I think have lost an opportunity in being defensive with "their" seatalk.

 

[Talbot]

Apple versus IBM source code comes to mind as a parrallel

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
Apple versus IBM source code comes to mind as a parrallel

[/ QUOTE ]

IBM Basic and MS Basic .... another !

 

[BlueSkyNick]

[ QUOTE ]
Works really well as a repeater for the instruments.

[/ QUOTE ]

Fully agree - one of the best bits of kit on the boat. Particularly with the 15minute logging function, so if you miss recording an hourly position you can easily read it off afterwards.

 

[tome]

[ QUOTE ]
this doesn't give the full information needed by the Nav6 for all functions

[/ QUOTE ] The Nav 6 plus doesn't actually need all this, rather it is able to display all kinds of NMEA including instruments etc. Perhaps you're being seduced into populating all fields?

If so, even the xpensive Seatalk/NMEA bridge won't do. You'll need an NMEA multiplexer also

 

[FWB]

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I know that you are very knowledgeable in these matters. My Nav6 displays all my instrument data. As far as I know I only have the Raymarine NMEA/Seatalk converter. Do I have one of these multiplexer thingies somewhere as well?

 

[tome]

This is our Nav 6 setup, but you can do *most* of it via the NMEA/Seatalk converter and it works fine. You will need the mux if using fast heading or various other bits

Here's a bit of a channel crossing recorded on the ICS Nav 6 plus at 15 min intervals - you can see that not all the fancy fields are reproduced

Log =============== 12/10/2003 14:15 UTC
Position 50°40.530N 001°01.200W
Ground 5.6 kt @ 023.1°T
Water 6.5 kt @ 056.5°T
Wind 22.7 kt @ S 061.0°T
Depth 17.1 m
Distance 42016.4 NM
Log =============== 12/10/2003 14:00 UTC
Position 50°39.340N 001°01.780W
Ground 4.0 kt @ 010.3°T
Water 5.7 kt @ 044.0°T
Wind 22.7 kt @ S 064.0°T
Depth 13.8 m
Distance 42014.8 NM
Log =============== 12/10/2003 13:45 UTC
Position 50°38.390N 001°02.220W
Ground 4.4 kt @ 016.4°T
Water 7.2 kt @ 051.3°T
Wind 23.3 kt @ S 055.0°T
Depth 21.0 m
Distance 42013.2 NM
Log =============== 12/10/2003 13:30 UTC
Position 50°37.300N 001°02.330W
Ground 6.0 kt @ 342.4°T
Water 6.6 kt @ 036.9°T
Wind 16.0 kt @ S 087.5°T
Depth 23.3 m
Distance 42011.8 NM
Log =============== 12/10/2003 13:15 UTC
Position 50°35.980N 001°02.090W
Ground 5.3 kt @ 342.3°T
Water 6.3 kt @ 022.0°T
Wind 20.0 kt @ S 077.0°T
Depth 27.7 m
Distance 42009.9 NM
Log =============== 12/10/2003 13:00 UTC
Position 50°34.580N 001°01.650W
Ground 5.5 kt @ 353.5°T
Water 6.7 kt @ 029.8°T
Wind 21.2 kt @ S 090.5°T
Depth 28.9 m
Distance 42008.2 NM
Log =============== 12/10/2003 12:45 UTC
Position 50°33.120N 001°01.290W
Ground 5.5 kt @ 344.2°T
Water 7.5 kt @ 028.8°T
Wind 19.7 kt @ S 087.0°T
Depth 38.1 m
Distance 42006.4 NM
Log =============== 12/10/2003 12:30 UTC
Position 50°31.660N 001°01.070W
Ground 6.8 kt @ 342.9°T
Water 7.0 kt @ 357.2°T
Wind 25.2 kt @ S 106.0°T
Depth 35.2 m
Distance 42004.8 NM

 

[FWB]

I have ST60 wind,depth,speed,graphic. ST4000+ autopilot. Garmin 128 and Lowrance 3500C (with switch for Garmin or Lowrance). This all displays on the Nav6.
If it works when it shouldnt well it's a bonus!

 

[tome]

That's fine and as you say works well. It's when you start adding fancy heading sensors etc that it all gets a bit complex

 

[RJD393]

Thanks all for the input. It has also been suggested that it might be better to connect it to the NMEA output from the course computer rather than the plotter. Will play around but the Seatalk/NMEA junction looks favourite.

 

[JerryHawkins]

I was in a similar position and got the NMEA/SeaTalk bridge. Got mine off eBay. There was another one there yesterday - just looked and its gone, but they seem to pop up now and again (brand new ones), so keep a lookout.

Just one point - my Nav6 wouldn't display heading until I set the damping to zero on the Nav6. The heading data is from my Raymarine "G" series autopilot.

Cheers,

Jerry

 

[Gypsy]

I have the same setup as you and the initial connection to the plotter NMEA left some "holes" in the data displayed by the ICS unit. I Purchased the Raymarine SeaTalk-NMEA converter and am quite satisfied with the results. Almost everything is properly translated for a sailboat application. Sometimes a field (data display) is missing but it is re established by a power on/off of the sender or the Nav6+. All of this is very useful to provide alternative (fail-safe) paths for some of this information. I too love the logging feature of the Nav6+. I use it to update my paper log after a day's journey/leg.

Ray