Raymarine A65 Chart plotter

[Norv]

Hi all, I have recently bought a Raymarine A65 Chart Plotter. I was wanting to know what I need to connect to it?
Due to the huge variety of GPS Ariels available, what is the correct one to connect to this device?
Other questions can you connect depth, wind, speed or should they be separate instruments?


Any advice appreciated

Cheers

 

[Momac]

I expect the manual is available free online.
If its the old type A65 with button controls I guess it will be compatible with a fish finder module as I had that on my previous boat. I may be wrong but I don't think it will be capable of showing other instrument readings.

 

[Arcady]

On the assumption that the A65 and A50 are part of the same family (I think so) then it should be capable of displaying NMEA data. I seem to recall cobbling up some inputs on the A50 on my last boat As others have suggested, download a manual online and study the details.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

I had the A50D, the D denoting sonar capability. It had NMEA0189 connectivity and would show AIS although the inability to input MMSI meant it constantly sounded an alarm for my own boat. No gps antenna required unless it’s deep in the boat.

 

[greeny]

Manuals attached

 

[greeny]

Manuals attached

Woops the 2 main manuals are too big for here. They're available online anyway if you need them at Raymarine.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

There is the old type A65;
The Raymarine A65, we review this chartplotter fishfinder combo.
ad there is the more recent touch screen MFD;
Raymarine a65 5.7 Inch Touchscreen MFD with WiFi and Navionics ROW Silver Chart - E70162-RW
You don't mention which one you have, but the older one is now obsolete, as it is no longer supported by the likes of Navionics, as I found out to my cost.
Edit: Sorry, you did mention that is the old type.
Regarding your question regarding the antenna, all I can say is that on my boat it is the standard type of 'mushroom' antenna, which is clamped to the pushpit rail.
I'll look at the manual tomorrow and see if I can elicit any details, model no, etc.
Regarding connectivity to other inputs; when I fitted mine I did so at the chart table, and continued to rely on the Bidata display in the cockpit, but as the A65 operates on NMEA0183, it would be possible to feed it speed and depth information using that protocol. Older instruments would just connect directly, but more more modern ones using Seatalk1 or Seatalkng would require a converter to communicate with it.