installing AIS and Raymarine c

[gjgm]

being a bit of a muppet here, I suspect, and I m not at the boat anyway.
I only have the plotter connected to a DSC radio, and now want to fit an AIS receiver, which has two NMEA output wires.
Umm.. how am I supposed to connected them to the C series? Is the dsc radio already occupying the plotter NMEA input socket, in which case, how is this done? If its not, is the plotter NMEA plug/socket an standard one, or is it a raymarine special?

 

[adrianb]

Sounds like my setup.

You'll need a multiplexor - got mine from MES.

Easy Peasy !

 

[jfm]

The dsc radio might be occupying only the NMEA-out from the plotter, in which case the plotter's NMEA-in is free to receive the NMEA-out from the AIS. Just find the two wire colours in the manual, and connect to those. No multiplexer needed.

However, if the DSC radio is also using the NMEA-in on the plotter (to display position of maydays on your plotter screen?), or if something else is already using the NMEA-in on the plotter (eg a FHS from the a/pilot?), then you need a multiplexer.

 

[gavina]

Which AIS receiver do you have - if its the EASY unit you might not require the multiplexer anyway?

 

[gjgm]

thanks..I was just wondering about the in and out on the nmea myself...dont really fancy getting a multiplexer...! I'd guess the GPS goes straight into the plotter, or I d just have to change it to that.

 

[jfm]

a multiplexer is a complete piece of cake to install! Dont worry!

 

[gjgm]

ha.. its the fact it costs 2/3 of the damn AIS unit thats p**ng me off!

 

[Nick_H]

I dug out the invoice for when AIS was added to my C80. The parts list includes:

Echopilot AIS
Echopilot Easy Split AIS
Raymarine NMEA/RS232/seatalk box

Don't know if that helps, but certainly suggests you need extra bits.

 

[gjgm]

ok thanks for that. This Comar unit has the splitter built in too.
Not easy to get inside the helm on this boat;one draw back of that perfect build.. there 's no bloody joins anywhere !
I think I saw something with seatalk on it;fingers crossed the box is already there then...
PS found out how to get the rev counters out last week. Took me about a year to figure that one out...

 

[jfm]

But that's cos you have an a/pilot with SHS Nick. The AIS unit outputs NMEA at 38.400 baud so would connect to the rs232 port on the multiplexer box. The smart heading sensor output would be NMEA at 4800 baud and connect to the normal nmea in on the multiplexer box. The box would then sort out the overtalking and the different speeds, and produce a clean nmea 4800 baud to feed into your C series

The splitter is so you can use one VHF aerial for both AIS and VHF

Back to OP, that reminds me, if he connects AIS to his plotter's NMEA in, he must remember to go into the plotter's menus and set the NMEA-in to 38400 baud

 

[Nick_H]

Actually there's no a/p on the Windy, but you're right there's only a single aerial for VHF and AIS.

edit: the windy seems to be pre-prepared for lots of things, for instance all the ducting is in for heating even if you don't order heating as an option, so it's posssible the wiring is in for the a/p even if it's not fitted.