Raymarine AIS700 GPS Output

[KeelsonGraham]

Hi AIS experts! Does anyone know if its acceptable/possible to output the AIS700’s GPS position signal directly into a DSC Radio? It seems to have the data cable capable of doing it but I heard/read somewhere that the AIS’s GPS signal should only be used for the AIS???

 

[pvb]

AIS transceivers have to have their own dedicated GPS input, but there's no reason why you shouldn't share that with a radio. It does mean that you'd need to have the AIS transceiver switched on all the time you're on the boat, which some people wouldn't want to do.

 

[KeelsonGraham]

Thank you pvb. Good point about the power supply.

 

[PaulRainbow]

AIS transceivers have to have their own dedicated GPS input, but there's no reason why you shouldn't share that with a radio. It does mean that you'd need to have the AIS transceiver switched on all the time you're on the boat, which some people wouldn't want to do.

AIS transceivers do indeed have to have a dedicated GP, that's mostly an internal GPS receiver with an external GPS antenna or built in antenna too.. But you cannot directly share that with a VHF, as such. You would need to use the AIS NMEA output to send GPS data to the VHF.

Probably what PVB meant, but just wanted to be sure.

 

[KeelsonGraham]

Thanks Paul. Yes, I think the AIS700 has a NMEA output that should allow me to do this.

 

[pvb]

AIS transceivers do indeed have to have a dedicated GP, that's mostly an internal GPS receiver with an external GPS antenna or built in antenna too.. But you cannot directly share that with a VHF, as such. You would need to use the AIS NMEA output to send GPS data to the VHF.

Probably what PVB meant, but just wanted to be sure.

Yes, but in a further complication, the AIS700 only supports a very limited number of NMEA0183 sentences, so it would probably be a case of using NMEA2000 to output position data to the radio. As not all radios have NMEA2000 connectivity, this could be a constraint.

Regardless, I think the inability to turn off the AIS700 without denying the radio its position data means that the OP would be better looking to another piece of equipment to feed his radio.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Yes, but in a further complication, the AIS700 only supports a very limited number of NMEA0183 sentences, so it would probably be a case of using NMEA2000 to output position data to the radio. As not all radios have NMEA2000 connectivity, this could be a constraint.

Regardless, I think the inability to turn off the AIS700 without denying the radio its position data means that the OP would be better looking to another piece of equipment to feed his radio.

Yes NMEA 0183 isn't going to work, it would need N2K, but i don't see any problem having to power the AIS for VHF GPS. The "other piece of equipment" would have to be powered and that's usually a chart plotter. If it's not desirable to have the AIS transmitting, a silent switch can be added.

 

[pvb]

If it's not desirable to have the AIS transmitting, a silent switch can be added.

Yes, that would work.

 

[Sea-Fever]

I've got a feeling that the ray ais650 does NOT send its internal gps to nmea out but it WILL send any gps signal received over nmea (and potentially multiplexed with other data including the internally generated ais data) back out over nmea at various baud rates...ais obviously going over 38400. Not massively helpful in my book. It would be nice if it punted out its own location sentence. Not sure how the 700 compares with the 650 mind you.

The above may need fact checking but dont assume your 700 will do what you want.

 

[KeelsonGraham]

Hmm Sea-Fever and PVB I think you’re right. Looking at my installation manual, the limited number of 0183 sentences doesn’t seem to include GPS position. My old Vertex radio only accepts 0183 inputs.

I’m also installimg an Axiom Pro which, ironically, would be the ideal GPS source but I flat out can’t squeeze any more cables down the helm positions Edson guard rail

The only other option seem to be a SeatalkNG capable new radio.

 

[Sea-Fever]

It is a simple connection at 9600 baud. And yes it may output data to those standards...but what data?....don't assume it's ALL data that the unit sees or derives.

I might be wrong....it's been known to happen.

My ais650 did not put out usable gps sentences over 0183 to my SH VHF by itself. But it DID successfully multiplex a gps signal back out to both my plotter together with ais data at 38400 and on it's own to the vhf at 9600.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Hmm Sea-Fever and PVB I think you’re right. Looking at my installation manual, the limited number of 0183 sentences doesn’t seem to include GPS position. My old Vertex radio only accepts 0183 inputs.

I’m also installimg an Axiom Pro which, ironically, would be the ideal GPS source but I flat out can’t squeeze any more cables down the helm positions Edson guard rail

The only other option seem to be a SeatalkNG capable new radio.

GPS data is not sent over 0183, but it is over N2K.

The Axiom Pro has no 0183 ports, so cannot be used with your VHF either.

The Axiom Pro has no SeatalkNG ports, it is N2K.

The simple solution might be a new VHF with built in GPS, such as those made my Icom or Standard Horizon.

 

[jwfrary]

GPS data is not sent over 0183, but it is over N2K.

The Axiom Pro has no 0183 ports, so cannot be used with your VHF either.

The Axiom Pro has no SeatalkNG ports, it is N2K.

The simple solution might be a new VHF with built in GPS, such as those made my Icom or Standard Horizon.

AIS 700 doesn't transmit a position PGN on N2K unfortunately.

I have one and I would like it to!

Haven't actually tested the 0183 output - it's not rs232 though so some radios might be tricker, you don't mention what you have.

When I'm next on the boat I'll test it!

 

[KeelsonGraham]

I think PaulRainbow is right. The simple solution is a new radio with in-built GPS.

 

[PaulRainbow]

AIS 700 doesn't transmit a position PGN on N2K unfortunately.

I have one and I would like it to!

Haven't actually tested the 0183 output - it's not rs232 though so some radios might be tricker, you don't mention what you have.

When I'm next on the boat I'll test it!

The manual says it transmits 129029:

129029
Field # Field Description
This parameter group conveys a comprehensive set of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) parameters, including position
information.
1 Sequence ID
2 Position date
3 Position time
4 Latitude
5 Longitude
6 Altitude
7 Type of System
8 Method, GNSS
9 Integrity
10 NMEA Reserved
11 Number of SVs
12 HDOP
13 PDOP
14 Geoidal Separation
15 Number of Reference Stations
16 Reference Station Type"1"
17 Reference Station ID"1"
18 Age of DGNSS Corrections "1"
19 Reference Station Type "n"
20 Reference Station ID "n"
21 Age of DGNSS Reference Station "n"

 

[jwfrary]

The manual says it transmits 129029:

129029
Field # Field Description
This parameter group conveys a comprehensive set of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) parameters, including position
information.
1 Sequence ID
2 Position date
3 Position time
4 Latitude
5 Longitude
6 Altitude
7 Type of System
8 Method, GNSS
9 Integrity
10 NMEA Reserved
11 Number of SVs
12 HDOP
13 PDOP
14 Geoidal Separation
15 Number of Reference Stations
16 Reference Station Type"1"
17 Reference Station ID"1"
18 Age of DGNSS Corrections "1"
19 Reference Station Type "n"
20 Reference Station ID "n"
21 Age of DGNSS Reference Station "n"

Ok, but elsewhere in the manual it says it doesn't!

 

[jwfrary]

By the time you by an n2k to 0183 adapter your most of the way to a shiny new radio. That's likely the way to go. Whether you go n2k or inbuilt gps is dependent on which wiring you would prefer to do!

 

[jwfrary]

Ok, but elsewhere in the manual it says it doesn't!

I'm going to crack out the actisense tools and see what's actually coming out of the thing!

 

[NZJourneyMan]

Just to revive an ancient thread, and hopefully put up some information that will help folks with this issue:

I recently had an issue where my VHF, which was connected to the AIS 700 Lo NMEA0183 network stopped receiving GPS information. I wont go through all the shenanigans I had to get up to in order to get things working again (lots of poking around with an Actisence 0183 adaptor), but I will go through what does and does not work. Hopefully it helps someone!

Scenario 1: If the AIS700 receives GPS messages on the NMEA0183 Hi network it will forward those messages to the NMEA0183 Lo network.

Scenario 2: If the AIS700 receives GPS messages on the NMEA2000 network it will NOT forward those messages to either of the NMEA0183 networks.

Scenario 3: Configure the AIS700 to output GPS messages. These messages are only output on the NMEA0183 Hi network, and NOT on the NMEA0183 Lo network. I didn't check to see if these messages are output on the NMEA2000 network

My VHF was attached to the AIS700 NMEA0183 Lo network, and when I upgraded my MFD there was no longer GPS info being sent to the AIS700 NMEA0183 Hi network, so nothing was forwarded to the NMEA0183 Lo network. I fixed the issue by:
o Moving the VHF to the NMEA0183 Hi network
o Configuring the AIS700 to:
oo Output GPS messages
oo Change the baud rate of the Hi network from 38400 to 4800

Voila! It all burst into life. As a side benefit now I only need the AIS and VHF on for the VHF to get GPS. Previously I also needed the MFD and GPS unit up and running.