Mixed NMEA 2000 and 0183 with Garmin 556 Plotter - will this work?

[bobdoughty]

I'm trying to work out whether I can combine some existing with new equipment as follows and would appreciate any advice: existing equipment - ICOM IC-M411 DSC radio (NMEA 0183): new equipment - Garmin AIS300 AIS receiver and aerial splitter, Garmin GPSMap 556 plotter. The idea is to feed the AIS information to the plotter via NMEA2000 and feed GPS data to the DSC radio from the plotter via NMEA 0183. The existing masthead aerial supplies both AIS and radio via the splitter in the AIS300.

The question is, will it work? I've currently got the radio hooked up to a GPSMap 450 (NMEA 0183) and a NASA AIS radar but would like to get the AIS data on the plotter. All help gratefully accepted!

 

[lpdsn]

I'm not sure quite at what level you're pitching your questions. Have you confirmed all the appropriate protocols and sentences PNGs in the manuals and are looking for practical experiences with those boxes? Or are you looking for a more basic level of info?

 

[vyv_cox]

I cannot speak for the Garmin plotter but my new b&g Zeus2 plotter is basically NMEA 2000 but has inputs and outputs of NMEA 0183 for AIS and VHF. I knew this before buying by downloading the installation instructions from B&G.

 

[tjbrace]

I have a Garmin 4012 plotter which connects to nmea2000 and nmea183. The gps data comes in from the underdeck antenna over nmea2000 and the position data goes to my vhf over the nmea183 from the plotter. No ais involved at present. I think you should be ok.

 

[pvb]

The question is, will it work?

It'll work fine. You'll probably need to go in to the plotter's configuration settings to make sure the appropriate NMEA sentences are turned on to send position info to the radio and to receive DSC info from the radio.

 

[salar]

Not sure why you want to add NMEA2000 if everything can talk NMEA0183 and you only have a few units to hook up. A NMEA2000 backbone even to connect two units will require drop cables, T pieces, male and female ends and a power supply. This will cost £££ whereas using NMEA0183 will only need a few soldered connections and shrink tube, assuming you have the NMEA cables supplied with the units. Garmin do a very good Introduction to NMEA2000 download if you search.

 

[bobdoughty]

Many thanks for all the advice!