Raymarine Chart Plotter & External GPS

[Travelmate]

The Raymarine GPS antenna on the chart plotter has become unserviceable. Can I use the NMEA feed from an active GPS antenna or another GPS to feed the position data and other info into the chartplotter.

Tony

 

[rosssavage]

Re: Raymarine Chart Plotter & External GPS

Tony, it depends on the model of plotter...

Is your antenna a simple coax connector or a compound plug (black plug with usually seven pins..)? If it is a coax connector then no, if compond then possibly yes.

It also depends on what NMEA sentences the plotter can receive - this will be listed in the back of your owners manual.

As usual, answer a question with two more questions! Good luck,

Ross

 

[Heckler]

My raytheon rl70 radar happily accepts nmea from my lowrance plotter without any fiddling, if i wanted to i could feed it raw stuff from the external gps which feeds the lowrance
Stu

 

[Travelmate]

Re: Raymarine Chart Plotter & External GPS

The plotter will accept NMEA information from a GPS.
Found the original spec sheet for the antenna. It is model 125 with 5 wires. Yellow is NMEA out from the active antenna. Will simply connect NMEA out from another GPS (Garmin) into the display.

Should work.

Thanks for the input
Tony

 

[Elessar]

Yes. I'd recommend the unit from digital yacht which is very good value.
If you have AIS it is a bit more complicated but possible - reply and I'll explain.

 

[Pete7]

Re: Raymarine Chart Plotter & External GPS

Tony, have you tried replacing the watch battery inside the 125?

Pete

 

[Travelmate]

Re: Raymarine Chart Plotter & External GPS

Connected external GPS to unit with no luck. Display head would not show position. The 125 GPS antenna flashes red, then orange a few times and now and again gives a green flash indicating a position fix. Fix will last a few seconds before it drops out. Hand held GPS will generate and maintain a fix from inside the boat. Display head and 125 is on its way back to Supplier for second time in the last few months.
Interesting photo on battery inside 125!!!

Thanks to all who replied.

Tony