Raymarine System Problem

[alan]

I am having difficulty displaying latitude and longitude on my VHF radio.
System components (all Raymarine):

GPS/Plotter: 435
Autopilot: Smartpilot and 6002 controller
Radio: 240E

(1.) Originally the plotter NMEA ouput was connected to the 6002 controller NMEA input and the controller was connected to the Smartpiolt computer using Seatalk. I connected the radio to the Smartpilot using Sealtalk. No lat or long displayed on radio (also no UTC time on 6002).

(2.) After reading the manual (French version!!) I discovered that the 6002 does not process all the NMEA sentences from the GPS. So, I changed the GPS connection to the NMEA input on the Smartpilot computer. Still no lat or long on the 240 VHF but UTC time, BTW, DTW e.t.c. are being displayed on the 6002. So, it appears that the Smartpilot computer is converting the NMEA sentences onto the Seatalk bus.

Questions:

1. Does the VHF only display lat and long if an MMSI has been entered?

2. Does the Smartpilot computer only output onto the Seatalk bus part of the NMEA information (as does the 6002 controller).

3. Does the VHF only use the NMEA input for lat and long (the handbook says you can use either? or is there a way to select either NMEA input or Seatalk input? (I understand that Raymarine instruments use the following priority: Seatalk, NMEA1, NMEA2.

I have a possible solution, which is to use the NMEA out of the Smartpilot computer and connect that to the NMEA input of the 240E VHF; but as I have just spent Euro40 for 9m of Seatalk cable and run it in the loom, I would prefer to go with that!!

Anybody come across this problem? or able to supply an answer?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Alan. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[gianenrico]

Alan, in summary:
1) No, as i have same radio and pilot plus C70 and no MMSI number still entered.
2) and 3) Sorry dunno!! IMWHO is better to stick to only one proocol and to the proprietary one (Seatalk)

But: try and call Mr Mastellari Sr. at Target Service in Milano Tel 02 56816185: it is the service company established by Deck Marine, which is the official importer of Raymarine in Italy; he previously worked as an indipendent so knows most of trhe existing equipment.
Cheers and let me know

 

[Graham_Wright]

Why don't you ask Raymarine? They have always been courteous, helpful and enthusiastic answering my questions. You can correspond by e-mail.

 

[alan]

Thanks very much for your reply. As the VHF appears to not need the MMSI in order to displkay the lat and long, then I am a bit stumped!

Today I have made the connection from the Smartpilot NMEA#2 output to the 240E NMEA input ........... and it works O.K.
So, I still do not know why the Seatalk connection did not work. However, I am happy that it is working and I am not bothered (for the moment) whether the VHF gets its information via NMEA or Seatalk; I have asked Raymarine for their assistance and look forward to their reply.

Thanks very much for your reply and also the information regarding MMSI, this prompted me to investigate further!!

Tanti saluti,
Alan. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[alan]

Thanks for the suggestion; in fact I already did that yesterday and am waiting for their reply. But problem "solved" by using NMEA input to VHF from Smartpilot.

Thanks,
Alan.

 

[oceanfroggie]

1. It should be possible to connect the NMEA OUT direct from the plotter to the NMEA IN of any manufacturers VHF. Seatalk connection does not suffice for this, it is a proprietary raymaine protocol. Use NMEA only.

2. A common problem with NMEA on some setups including raymarine has been a VOLTAGE drop along the cabling run between source and the VHF. Put a volt meter on it and if it's only 3v instead of 5v most VHFs wont read the NMEA sentences (RS232).

3. Some plotters have an RS232 connection that can be menu configured to different output formats, ensure it is set to NMEA OUT.

The raymaine network is an excellent system, almost too flexible at times leading to confusion.