NMEA and chart plotter advice

[petrolhead63]

I apologise for a slightly long post, but I am not too bright with the NMEA stuff...and even that is old now !
I wish to alter out chart plotter set up to a pair I have, one on lower station and a smaller one up on flybridge. Both are elderly, working Standard horizon units.
The current one unit is an even older Standard Horizon.
The replacement pair use a powered active antenna I have.
Currently I have a repeater, an AIS unit and a VHF interfaced to run from information on the old plotter...which is the old non powered type aerial. However the power and data cable is the same as thew updated one so can plug straight in! woo hoo.

My questions somebody may help me with are as follows.

Using an NMEA output from a plotter, can more than one unit be given the same sentences from the single output? for example if both use RMC can they run off one output?
Is there a limit to the number of other units can run taking sentences off one output of the plotter?

I assume my 2nd plotter can take the position information from the main unit at the lower helm from an output?

Finally, more product specific....once working is there a way the two units are able to share information...for example a waypoint or route added to one shared with the other?

Any help appreciated!

 

[PaulRainbow]

I apologise for a slightly long post, but I am not too bright with the NMEA stuff...and even that is old now !
I wish to alter out chart plotter set up to a pair I have, one on lower station and a smaller one up on flybridge. Both are elderly, working Standard horizon units.
The current one unit is an even older Standard Horizon.
The replacement pair use a powered active antenna I have.
Currently I have a repeater, an AIS unit and a VHF interfaced to run from information on the old plotter...which is the old non powered type aerial. However the power and data cable is the same as thew updated one so can plug straight in! woo hoo.

My questions somebody may help me with are as follows.

Using an NMEA output from a plotter, can more than one unit be given the same sentences from the single output? for example if both use RMC can they run off one output?
Is there a limit to the number of other units can run taking sentences off one output of the plotter?

I assume my 2nd plotter can take the position information from the main unit at the lower helm from an output?

The plotters will be using NMEA 0193. A 0183 device has input (listener) and output (talker) ports. An listener can only receive data from a single source. A talker can transmit to 4 or 5 listeners. So your GPS can send data to both plotters and the VHF, for example.

Finally, more product specific....once working is there a way the two units are able to share information...for example a waypoint or route added to one shared with the other?

Any help appreciated!

Not directly. You would need to save the route data from one plotter to a memory card, then copy it from the memory card to the other plotter.

 

[petrolhead63]

The plotters will be using NMEA 0193. A 0183 device has input (listener) and output (talker) ports. An listener can only receive data from a single source. A talker can transmit to 4 or 5 listeners. So your GPS can send data to both plotters and the VHF, for example.

Not directly. You would need to save the route data from one plotter to a memory card, then copy it from the memory card to the other plotter.

Thank you, Yes I fitted the older unit some years ago with the three listeners. You say a talker can transmit to 4 or 5 listeners...is that per output? So for example if I have three talking ports I can have up to 4 or 5 listeners on the same talking wire?

I assume can run the second plotter as a simple listener from the unit receiving data from the antenna? with the correct sentences!

your guidance was much appreciated.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thank you, Yes I fitted the older unit some years ago with the three listeners. You say a talker can transmit to 4 or 5 listeners...is that per output? So for example if I have three talking ports I can have up to 4 or 5 listeners on the same talking wire?

Each output port (talker) can be connected to up to 4 or 5 input ports (listeners). Exactly how many varies, depending on what's connected, so keep each to a minimum, don't cram everything onto one port and leave others empty.

I assume can run the second plotter as a simple listener from the unit receiving data from the antenna? with the correct sentences!

your guidance was much appreciated.

Yes, you can send GPS data to one plotter, then forward to the second plotter by NMEA. You cannot share charts or user data this way though.

 

[petrolhead63]

thanks yet again! I am learning....better with old stuff ;0)
So safely assume up to three listeners on a talk output.
Do shared talk output listeners have to use the same sentences or will they just take the info needed ignoring unwanted sentences if the correct sentences are on that output? or do I need to put listeners needing the same sentences on a talk output?
Apologies to ask more but I wish to get it right!
Regarding shared info....the units use C;map NT, so I assume I need a blank card to transfer info from one unit to another? although have a funny feeling there may be another card facility on at least one of them.

 

[PaulRainbow]

thanks yet again! I am learning....better with old stuff ;0)
So safely assume up to three listeners on a talk output.
Do shared talk output listeners have to use the same sentences or will they just take the info needed ignorinor do I need to put listeners needing the same sentences on a talk output?

All data is output on each port, no need to group anything. Just note the baud rates of the ports, which have to match the baud rates of the listening equipment.

Apologies to ask more but I wish to get it right!
Regarding shared info....the units use C;map NT, so I assume I need a blank card to transfer info from one unit to another? although have a funny feeling there may be another card facility on at least one of them.

You need a blank card to copy waypoints etc from one plotter to the other. Each plotter will need a chart card.

 

[petrolhead63]

thank you, we have chart cards for each plotter, and can programme which sentences for each port if the default ones do not suffice.
The most annoying feature and reason we used for 23 years our black and white Navman is that there is no way I am aware of to transfer the 100 odd waypoints from it to the new units..so one new unit I will have to programme from scratch with waypoints. Gutting!!

 

[PaulRainbow]

thank you, we have chart cards for each plotter, and can programme which sentences for each port if the default ones do not suffice.
The most annoying feature and reason we used for 23 years our black and white Navman is that there is no way I am aware of to transfer the 100 odd waypoints from it to the new units..so one new unit I will have to programme from scratch with waypoints. Gutting!!

Which model of Navman do you have ?

Do you have a blank card for user data ?

 

[petrolhead63]

Which model of Navman do you have ?

Do you have a blank card for user data ?

Hi, the old Navman is a Tracker 900, I still love it! bought new in 2001 and moved boat with us.
I have a C map NT Data transfer card 128K, Not actually plugged it in yet to see if it is blank or has somebodies info on it but assume it can be over written or cleared if it has.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Hi, the old Navman is a Tracker 900, I still love it! bought new in 2001 and moved boat with us.
I have a C map NT Data transfer card 128K, Not actually plugged it in yet to see if it is blank or has somebodies info on it but assume it can be over written or cleared if it has.

Have tou checked the menus to see if there is a way to export/download the waypoints.

 

[petrolhead63]

Have tou checked the menus to see if there is a way to export/download the waypoints.

I have studied the manual/handbook...but not the unit yet in case it has something hidden.