Raymarine SPX-5 Tiller Pilot

[Wibo]

Hi,

when trying to enter the Track Mode I always receive the error message "No Data".
The course data is transmitted from a Garmin GPS 72 via the NMEA input of the ST6002 controller head and it actually arrives there because I can see the correct values for SOG, COG, XTE etc.

Is there anybody out there who is able to run this autopilot or one of its predecessors (S1, ST4000+ or similar) in Track Mode ?
If yes, which device is providing the course data to the autopilot ?

Arno

 

[richardbrennan]

I have a ST4000 which is fed by a Garmin 2010 GPS and this does operate in track mode. However, its so long since I wired it all up, including the ST60 instruments and a SL radar set, that I cannot rember exactly how the NMEA and Seatalk all went together.

I actually find the track mode of limited use, if there is a slight disagreement between the steering compass and autopilot compass you can appear to be steering of course, also if there is a cross tide or leeway to take into account, you cannot allow for this, the autopilot initially steers the track and only when cross track error builds up will it make a correction and it takes several attempts to settle on a correct course.

 

[earlybird]

My ST4000 is fed from a Furuno GP32 and enters track mode OK provided that the initial XTE is within the limits.
Sorry if it's a blindingly obvious question , but have you set a "go to" waypoint on the GPS, ( although, since you have XTE, I presume that you have)

 

[Wibo]

Thanks for specifying the types of devices you're both using.

However: Looking up the specs of the GPS 32 and the GARMIN 2010 didn't show a matching set of NMEA sentences.
I was told by the Raymarine support that the APB sentence is necessary to get into Track Mode. The GPS 32 transmits it, but the GARMIN 2010 doesn't.
So it looks like it's not needed (at least for the ST4000). Which makes me think again:

And here, poor fool! with all my lore
I stand, no wiser than before

BTW: I selected a route and started the navigation when trying to run the autopilot with my GPS72. So the AP would actually get a whole series of waypoints.

 

[whipper_snapper]

Is there anybody out there who is able to run this autopilot or one of its predecessors (S1, ST4000+ or similar) in Track Mode ?
If yes, which device is providing the course data to the autopilot ?

Garmin 152 -> SPX-5


No problems in track mode.

hth

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Hi,

when trying to enter the Track Mode I always receive the error message "No Data".
The course data is transmitted from a Garmin GPS 72 via the NMEA input of the ST6002 controller head and it actually arrives there because I can see the correct values for SOG, COG, XTE etc. Arno

Arno - it could well be receiving the sog/cog/xte sentences but not getting the one that it steers to when following a track. for example, it might want the APA autopilot sentence. You need to check up with Raymarine to find out which it wants and then check that the Garmin will produce that sentence and is doing so.

Plus there have been any number of revisions to NMEA 0183 so it isnt one consistent standard anyway. Some kit simply wont talk to other kit - for example my Raymarine wont talk to my Simrad autohelm. In short it is a standard that isnt standard. Cr*p.

 

[Wibo]

Hello hth,

thanks for mentioning the Garmin 152. That brought me definitely forward.
I compared the manuals of both devices and found that the only difference is that the GPS 152 also sends the PSLIB sentence which the GPS 72 doesn't.

As this is a proprietary Garmin sentence I don't think that this is causing the problem.

Hello Cr*p,

the GPS 152 does neither send the APA nor the APB sentence. So it's definitely not missing and its' gotta be something else. I've already contacted the Garmin support in the UK and the US and none of them could tell me the reason for the error message.

hth:

did you connect the GPS 152 to the controller (the device with the display and the keys) or to the course computer (the bigger box where the drive and the fluxgate is connected to) ?
I've connected the GPS 72 to the controller and used the input at the course computer for the wind data so that I can switch to wind vane mode (which actually works).

Arno

 

[jmalacamp@free.fr]

Hi,

when trying to enter the Track Mode I always receive the error message "No Data".
The course data is transmitted from a Garmin GPS 72 via the NMEA input of the ST6002 controller head and it actually arrives there because I can see the correct values for SOG, COG, XTE etc.

Is there anybody out there who is able to run this autopilot or one of its predecessors (S1, ST4000+ or similar) in Track Mode ?
If yes, which device is providing the course data to the autopilot ?

Arno

I have exactly the same problem with a meridian color GPS ans I am looking for a solution.

Jean