Nmea experts - a tricky one

[doug748]

I have an unusual bit of kit, a Digital Yacht Smarterchart 500 which has GPS and AIS receive built in. The external wiring diagram is shown at bottom.

I would like to see if I can connect it to what would be essentially a repeater for the AIS data - a Vesper Watchmate WM670 diagram below:




As seen the AIS repeater is expecting position and AIS data from a conventional transponder. Three questions:

1) Can I just connect up the colours and expect it to work - or is it a complete dead loss?
2) If it is incorrectly wired do I risk ruining either unit?
3) Any suggestions that are more likely to succeed?

.

 

[andsarkit]

I think it is worth trying.
If you get the wiring wrong the data will be garbage but you will not do any damage.
Wiring information often varies between manufacturers and so in/out +/- A/B are often used in different ways. You might need to experiment a little.
From the manual:


Is the AIS transceiver above a separate box that you can just omit?

 

[KompetentKrew]

The Digital Yacht Smarterchart 500 and the Vesper Watchmate WM670 are both AIS receivers, so I don't understand the benefit of connecting them.

 

[Refueler]

mmmmmm Quote : "SmarterChart 500 AIS ComboThe SmarterChart 500 AIS Combo from Digital Yacht is the worlds first 5 chart plotter to feature a built-in AIS receiver."

Did someone forget to tell them that Onwa ... Matsutech and a few other Chinese brands beat them to it ?? In fact they are Transponders TX and RX ... not just RX.

Anyway ... as KompetentKrew comments ... why connect together two units that basically have same AIS function ? I can understand if connection was to another unit that has no AIS RX .. but you want target display.

But anyway ... NMEA specification says that no damage should occur if NMEA wiring is wrongly made ... its not uncommon due to instructions having a different wire colour when units or instructions are updated ... so you end up touching wires together to get results. Of course taking care not to play same with the +ve power lead !!

 

[ylop]

mmmmmm Quote : "SmarterChart 500 AIS ComboThe SmarterChart 500 AIS Combo from Digital Yacht is the worlds first 5 chart plotter to feature a built-in AIS receiver."

Did someone forget to tell them that Onwa ... Matsutech and a few other Chinese brands beat them to it ??

In 2009?

Anyway ... as KompetentKrew comments ... why connect together two units that basically have same AIS function ?

I think the watchmate is just a dumb repeater - the watchmate-Rx has the receiver built in.

 

[doug748]

I think it is worth trying.
If you get the wiring wrong the data will be garbage but you will not do any damage.
Wiring information often varies between manufacturers and so in/out +/- A/B are often used in different ways. You might need to experiment a little.
From the manual:
View attachment 203366
View attachment 203367
Is the AIS transceiver above a separate box that you can just omit?

I am already in over my head but that's reassuring, thanks. It will be a few weeks before I get around to it but I will give it a shot.

With 4 random wires (plus Baud rate with I suspect will be a complication) trial and error would be a long job. After trying the respective colours is there any combination which is more likely?

.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I have an unusual bit of kit, a Digital Yacht Smarterchart 500 which has GPS and AIS receive built in. The external wiring diagram is shown at bottom.

I would like to see if I can connect it to what would be essentially a repeater for the AIS data - a Vesper Watchmate WM670 diagram below:


View attachment 203363View attachment 203362

As seen the AIS repeater is expecting position and AIS data from a conventional transponder. Three questions:

1) Can I just connect up the colours and expect it to work - or is it a complete dead loss?
2) If it is incorrectly wired do I risk ruining either unit?
3) Any suggestions that are more likely to succeed?

.

Combo grey goes to watchmate green
Combo green goes to watchmate white

Should be no need to worry about baud rates.

Simples.

 

[PaulRainbow]

In 2009?


I think the watchmate is just a dumb repeater - the watchmate-Rx has the receiver built in.

That is correct. Interconnection is a simple, 5 minute job.

 

[Refueler]

In 2009?


I think the watchmate is just a dumb repeater - the watchmate-Rx has the receiver built in.

I didn't look at the dates ...

 

[Refueler]

The Digital Yacht Smarterchart 500 and the Vesper Watchmate WM670 are both AIS receivers, so I don't understand the benefit of connecting them.

Strange you get a then later post by another - they contradict .... Oh well ... such is life.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Strange you get a then later post by another - they contradict .... Oh well ... such is life.

I glanced at post #1 and gave the thumbs up in post #3, not noticing that the Watchmate in post #1 was the very early model, which does not have a built in AIS, later models do have the AIS built in. Post #5 correctly identified it as a repeater.

 

[Refueler]

I glanced at post #1 and gave the thumbs up in post #3, not noticing that the Watchmate in post #1 was the very early model, which does not have a built in AIS, later models do have the AIS built in. Post #5 correctly identified it as a repeater.

yah toja ....

means - me also.