Making TP22 work with waypoints from Garmin 451

tmtracey

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I have just installed a new TP22 tillerpilot and it doesn't want to take waypoints from my chartplotter, an old Garmin 451. Can someone please advise on next steps??

My connections are:
Data - TP22 data red line to the Garmin Port 1 Tx (blue)
Negative- TP22 blue (common) to the Garmin common negative (black), which goes to Battery Negative. Some of the this connection is solid core electrical wire.. would that matter?

I've check Garmin Port 1 is ON and on standard baud rate.

Should the TP22 blue (data common) be connected to the Garmin or to it's own negative? I assume they're all connected to the same common negative.

NMEA sentences - in settings, is it best to turn all sentences on, or just the ones that looks relevant i.e. APB looks like it covers everything I need. VHW looks like it does boat speed, which might be useful.

My Garmin doesn't have a built in compass / heading.

Appreciate any help,

Toby
 
Sounds like your connections are correct. Maybe do a continuity check on the wires.
Or you can just put a meter across the data wires at TP end while plotter is set for a waypoint. Analogue type is better for this but even with a digital meter you should see quick changes in voltage from 0 to around 3-5V as signal changes.

Is port definitely on NMEA and not Garmin output?

Solid core wire is best avoided, simply because of the higher risk of fracture from vibration/movement. Replace with screened stranded data cable if possible. It's not expensive.

The chart plotter needs to be throwing out the waypoint before you select NAV mode.

Long shot - if you have long waypoint names, try it with simple short one as an experiment.

A list of the NMEA sentences received by TP is in the manual. No point sending out more than that.
 
Thanks for that - very informative and helpful. I will go those a try this morning.

From necessity, the date lines do have 2 block connectors on the way to the chart plotter- I don’t know if that would affect the interference in the line.
Is there any particular order in which the two bits of kit are turned on? Usually do chart plotter first.

I’ll try those fixes first anyway and report back.
 
I couldn't get mine to NAV either. My waypoint was output on N2K from my VHF radio. It will steer to wind or heading from the same bus so It must be message format as my Triton2 receives the position output fine.
 
Thanks. Yes it is definitely on Nmea not Garmin.

I still can’t get it working. One theory is that as I’ve only tried it in the river, the chart plotter is refusing to send out waypoints that would take me across land. Is that a possibility?
 
I tried to do this with a Garmin 556 (same range as your 451) speaking to a Raymarine ST2000 tiller pilot. Like you, I had it all wired up correctly but would not work. Turned out the Garmin does not transmit the necessary NMEA sentence that the Raymarine required. Might be the same with your TP? Check hand book for both products.
 
I tried to do this with a Garmin 556 (same range as your 451) speaking to a Raymarine ST2000 tiller pilot. Like you, I had it all wired up correctly but would not work. Turned out the Garmin does not transmit the necessary NMEA sentence that the Raymarine required. Might be the same with your TP? Check hand book for both products.

I might ring Simrad and ask them. I did try just turning all the nmea sentences to ON but with no success.
Did you manage to get it going? If so, which nmea sentences were the correct ones?
 
No I did not get it to work. The Garmin does not transmit the required three letter nmea sentence that my autopilot needs to steer towards a waypoint. The Simrad may be different, but I suspect this may be your problem. Is Paul Rainbow still posting on the forum? I think he may know for sure.
 
Just a thought - so don't shoot me if not viable .........

A multiplexer such as :

NMEA2WIFI - 2x INPUT NMEA 0183 TO WIFI MULTIPLEXER WITH SEATALK INPUT SUPPORT | eBay

or its later version ... maybe this can help.

It can accept NMEA / Seatalk ... output WiFi / NMEA / Seatalk as needed .... doesn't cost arm and a leg as others do ...

Just wondering if using such could bring the two to communicate ??

I'm fitting one to my boat to give WiFi etc., and flexibility to display on tablets etc. I don't have NMEA capable Tiller Pilot though .. I have the last of the non NMEA AH800 and AH1000 with press buttons and cable remote. But the topic is of interest to me - as I'm sure in future I will have to look at replacing my AH's

Interested that Monnbeam says Garmin doesn't transmit the reqd NMEA sentence ...
 
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