NMEA/interface/hub/ignorance

[archie]

Hi

On my boat I have an ICS Nav6 navtex/GPS, an ICS Nav6 repeater, a Garmin chartplotter, a DSC VHF and a portable Garmin GPS docking station all networked through an ICS Nav6 hub.

I also have a bunch of Tacktick intruments which I would like to connect to the other kit so that they can share info.

I have bought a Tacktick NMEA wireless interface but I'm not sure how to wire it in.

My question is do I wire it in to the hub, if so how, or do I wire it in to the cable between the chart plotter and the hub?

I have attached a photo of the hub in case anyone is able to work it out.

any help gratefully received.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Have you tried reading the manual?

 

[archie]

neither of the manuals for the ICS hub or the Tacktick NMEA interface have the info i need.

the ICS garmin kit was already in the boat when I bought her, i added the Tacktick kit and just want to join it all up.

 

[AndyJ76]

The instructions I found for the T-122 Wireless Interface (which is what I'm guessing you have) were atrocious.

It looks like it has two ports to receive data, with one connected to a GPS and one to a PC.
I think that you probably wire the output of the hub as though it were the GPS in the instructions. However, the output of the hub is connected to the displays, so you'll need to put two wires into each port (that should be ok, as the hub is the talker and you can have multiple listeners)

You're looking for the port with blue and black wires, connected to Display 1 (see the Nav6 Hub instructions, page 10 and 17 http://www.icselectronics.co.uk/sites/default/files/user_uploads/files/man3029.00.pdf )

 

[AndrewB]

I have had hell trying to sort out NMEA connections for a Tacktick. The Tacktick won't handshake properly, it just rams out continuous sentences that break into the sentences coming from other devices. The result was, for practical purposes none of my instruments worked when it was networked in. I monitored this on my PC - it looked like a DOS attack!

After far too many tries, eventually I've given up and made the Tacktick a listening device only. It will at least display GPS etc information. (Though the solar charged wireless displays won't last through the night).

 

[ghostlymoron]

Sorry Archie, grumpy mood this morning. I agree that some manuals are very poor.

 

[archie]

Yes the t-122. I knew it want just me with the instructions.

do you not think it would work if i cut into the cable between the chart plotter and hub and connect the chart plotter cable to the NMEA in port and connect the cable to the hub to the NMEA out port?

 

[prv]

The Tacktick won't handshake properly, it just rams out continuous sentences that break into the sentences coming from other devices.

Errm, that's how NMEA's supposed to work. There is no handshaking, the talker device just emits data whenever it wants (usually continually). You're not supposed to have any other talkers on the circuit.

Pete

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Would a multiplexer help here?

 

[AndrewB]

Errm, that's how NMEA's supposed to work. There is no handshaking, the talker device just emits data whenever it wants (usually continually). You're not supposed to have any other talkers on the circuit.

Pete

Yes, OK, but most devices seem to be slowed down to perhaps one transmission per 2 secs, to make it easier for multiple talkers. Not Tacktick though.

I thought a Brookhouse multiplexer might help, but it still doesn't seem able to cope with the Tacktick. Of course, I've probably missed some vital instruction among all these pieces of kit, but I've struggled with this for quite a while, including calling in a marine electronics guy, so it sure as hell ain't easy.

Anyway, what do I lose by keeping Ticktack as a listener only? Well, I can't run my autopilot to the wind, and I can't display depth on my GPS. I'll live with it.

 

[ianj99]

I have the Tacktick wifi interface and its been working fine. A Garmin GPS module is connected to one nmea input and the output connects to a Shipmodul multiplexer.
I agree the TT instructions are poor and I was annoyed to find that it will not pass through depth data as my plan was to connected this to input 2. (hence the need for the multiplexer)
Tacktick's feeble excuse was that the nmea inputs were just required for gps data to allow it to show true wind speed and direction and not necessarily act as a multiplexer.

The data is never slowed down its just passed on as it comes in - most gps units update once a second although newer ones can do 5 or 10 updates /sec.

It sounds like you might be feeding the TT data in at 38400baud - the TT will then output garbage as it expects 4800baud.