NMEA2000 GPS data sharing

[Robin]

I also have a Standard Horizon DSC VHF and feed GPS data to it (NMEA0183) from my AIS (Digital Yacht AIT2000). I'm prepared to bet a dollar that your GPS feed also comes from the AIS (assuming it is mounted below deck near the VHF)!

If this is the case then the only remaining question is "will the plotter accept the NMEA0183 RMC sentence" . If it does, you just need the NMEA0183 wiring installing and you're done.

You are probably correct as the AIS black box is fitted behind thes ame panel at the nav table that the VHF is mounted in. I will ask the installer man if he remembers and how easy it would be to route a link cable up to the coachroof mounted plotter and have a switch in the line so it was only feeding data if required. Many thanks.

 

[Robin]

I also have a Standard Horizon DSC VHF and feed GPS data to it (NMEA0183) from my AIS (Digital Yacht AIT2000). I'm prepared to bet a dollar that your GPS feed also comes from the AIS (assuming it is mounted below deck near the VHF)!

If this is the case then the only remaining question is "will the plotter accept the NMEA0183 RMC sentence" . If it does, you just need the NMEA0183 wiring installing and you're done.

I've been studying the bits of the manual that usually only come out when in trouble and lo and behold there is confirmation that the plotter does accept the NMEA183 RMC sentence. Before I believe Garmin techs totally that there is no positional data sent to the plotter by the AIS GPS I think I will try a simple experiment and cover each of the two antennas (on the pushpit rail side by side) in turn with some aluminium foil or even a tin can and see what the actual effect is on the plotter display of ship's position. I may be wasting my time totally but live in hope....

 

[Playtime]

I've just taken a quick look at the AIS600 spec and noted that GPS data IS output in NMEA0183 format. It uses the RMC sentence (as well as VDM and VDO for the AIS data - see Page 9).

I've been studying the bits of the manual that usually only come out when in trouble and lo and behold there is confirmation that the plotter does accept the NMEA183 RMC sentence. Before I believe Garmin techs totally that there is no positional data sent to the plotter by the AIS GPS I think I will try a simple experiment and cover each of the two antennas (on the pushpit rail side by side) in turn with some aluminium foil or even a tin can and see what the actual effect is on the plotter display of ship's position. I may be wasting my time totally but live in hope....

Presumably you've now read Page 9. :encouragement:

Although your AIS outputs NMEA0183 GPS data, I will be surprised if this is input to the plotter. It will require a cable from the nav centre AIS to the plotter at the helm. Your installer will only have fitted this if specifically requested.

I don't think covering the antennas with aluminium foil will be a definitive test. It would be safer just to look at the back of the plotter and see if there is any wiring to the NMEA0183 socket.

 

[Talulah]

Raymarine AIS650 Software update v1.7 April 2013 "Stopped output of GPS position to NMEA2000 bus"

then the latest update v1.10:
New config file to prevent conflicting GPS data being transmitted onto STng (PGN129026)

 

[Playtime]

Raymarine AIS650 Software update v1.7 April 2013 "Stopped output of GPS position to NMEA2000 bus"

then the latest update v1.10:
New config file to prevent conflicting GPS data being transmitted onto STng (PGN129026)

If I understand this correctly, Raymarine are solving the problem of 2 (possibly conflicting) data streams on STng by removing output of one of them.

Would it not be better to allow all receivers of the data to choose which stream they accept? Maybe that would require too many changes and it is easier to just suppress it from the AIS, or maybe it's an STng bandwidth issue?

PS Is this thread drift - the original question was about Garmin kit (with a bit of Standard Horizon mentioned later).

 

[Robin]

Presumably you've now read Page 9. :encouragement:

Although your AIS outputs NMEA0183 GPS data, I will be surprised if this is input to the plotter. It will require a cable from the nav centre AIS to the plotter at the helm. Your installer will only have fitted this if specifically requested.

I don't think covering the antennas with aluminium foil will be a definitive test. It would be safer just to look at the back of the plotter and see if there is any wiring to the NMEA0183 socket.

I need to ask Mr Installerman as he for sure took NMEA183 from somewhere to feed the Raymarine autopilot ( ST40000 wheelpilot) as well as to the SH DSC VHF. The Garmin 4010 is in a Navpod housing mounted on the coachroof so the back of the plotter is not especially easy to access.

I'm not sure page 9 in my manual is the same as you see in yours . My page 9 is talking about charts and chart views and viewing additional info like tides, objects etc.

I just now received an email of a weekend only special offer from West Marine for a Garmin 50s fishfinder GPS plotter combo for $450 which has all USA charts built in which could very easily offer a standalone backup mountable in the cockpit see here http://www.westmarine.com/buy/garmin--echomap-50s-fishfinder-gps-combo-us-coastal-inland-maps-no-transducer--14259030?cm_mmc=EM-_-Promo-_-140807-_-N/A BUT first I need to call Mr Installerman and see just what he did do.

 

[Playtime]

I'm not sure page 9 in my manual is the same as you see in yours . My page 9 is talking about charts and chart views and viewing additional info like tides, objects etc.

I guess you have been reading the plotter manual. I was referring to Page 9 of the AIS 600 manual (http://static.garmincdn.com/pumac/AIS600_Instructions.pdf).

The Garmin fishfinder/plotter unit sounds like a good deal and would cover the situation when your plotter dies, rather than just its built-in GPS. You would (probably) need another transducer to give the fishfinder capability.

 

[Robin]

I guess you have been reading the plotter manual. I was referring to Page 9 of the AIS 600 manual (http://static.garmincdn.com/pumac/AIS600_Instructions.pdf).

The Garmin fishfinder/plotter unit sounds like a good deal and would cover the situation when your plotter dies, rather than just its built-in GPS. You would (probably) need another transducer to give the fishfinder capability.

Correct on all counts. I never received a manual as such for the AIS, only a fold up installation instruction leaflet which I now see is what your link goes to and the page numbers are those in the .pdf file.

A new transducer would be needed for that Garmin deal but at under $90 for a basic in hull one is also worth a thought in the name of redundancy and having a backup depthsounder as we sail in very skinny waters.