Raymarine C70 and DSC messages

Thanks for all the help so far guys. Much appreciated.


I guess I need to do something to test the DSC output from the radio is actually being output. Having done everything else perhaps this is where the problem lies.


I have a laptop so I guess I need an adapter for the USB. What software would you guys recommend?
 
wizard said:
What software would you guys recommend?
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There should be a terminal built into Windows - last time I used that OS it was called HyperTerminal in the Accessories directory, although that was ten years ago and they've probably moved it.

You can probably find instructions online for setting things up to read an NMEA bus; if you're not familiar with the concepts it's not necessarily self-explanatory (but neither is it difficult).

Pete
 
wizard said:
Thanks for all the help so far guys. Much appreciated.


I guess I need to do something to test the DSC output from the radio is actually being output. Having done everything else perhaps this is where the problem lies.


I have a laptop so I guess I need an adapter for the USB. What software would you guys recommend?
Click to expand...

What laptop Operating System do you have?
 
David2452 said:
The Actisense NMEA0183 reader is available as a free download from their site and is very user friendly indeed.
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Just looked that up - it looks just the job.

I will get this set up and running and come back with the results.

Many thanks again for the help
 
You can display the messages on the C display as instructions from the Raymarine site below, you should be able to see a message prefixed $DSC . Also make sure you use both wires into the C display you need to connect both +ve and -ve wires on the C70, I think the SH radios use a green common and then +ve out so connect the green common to the C70 green NMEA -ve in and the +ve out to the C70 White. I once had a bad joint on the -ve and got all manner of junk over the link.


From the raymarine site
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If you suspect a communications problem, try using the system diagnostics by selecting “System Diagnostics…” then “External Interfaces…”.

select “NMEA0183…” from the menu, then press the “Buffer…” softkey and view the messages. Press the “Direction” softkey to only show Rx messages.
 
To test your radio output you need to find someone with a DSC radio to whom you can send a Position Request. Their radio should then respond automatically with the appropriate Position Send message. Their radio must be enabled to do this as it is not necessarily the default.

If you haven't been testing this way, it could be the problem. You are unlikely to receive a DSC message by chance and need to receive a Position Send to test DSC tracking
 
wizard said:
I will certainly try that next time at the boat ( at this stage I will try anything!)
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I'm not sure on the C70, but most Raymarines MFDs have a facility to show all data that it receives via the external interfaces. On mine you need to go into system diagnostics, external interfaces, NMEA port and then you can choose to see how many sentences it has received (statistics) or the actual data it receives (buffer).

Also your VHF will only output a DSC sentence if there is a reason to do so. So you'll need to trigger this, either by sending a distress call (please do not do that unless you are really in distress :) ) or a position report (as response to a position request) from another VHF in range of your own VHF.
 
David2452 said:
Works fine on my C series, also shows position on the plotter when you request a position from a fishing buddy etc, NMEA 0183 will do it all at normal speed, as has already been said it can be disabled and it is worth mentioning that a software update may help as may a check on exactly what the VHF is sending.
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Is yours a C Classic or the newer C wide?
 
From the raymarine site
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you suspect a communications problem, try using the system diagnostics by selecting “System Diagnostics…” then “External Interfaces…”.

select “NMEA0183…” from the menu, then press the “Buffer…” softkey and view the messages. Press the “Direction” softkey to only show Rx messages.[/QUOTE]



Thanks for the heads up on this, it will prove most useful
 
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