Seatalk GPS help pls

[Davepa1967]

Hi,
Am new to the forum and really need some help,
My Raymarine SeaTalk 120 gps has given up the ghost. I have replaced the on board battery to no avail.
My problem is how do I connect a non sealtalk unit in?
I have Raymarine pathfinder SL70c with a tri data st60 unit.
I have a spare seatalk in out but no visible Nmea connection.
There is a large cable coming from the rear of the sl70 but I can see no visible termination point (it’s on a targa 40).
Do I have to splice into the cable ? Or is there an easier way?
Thanks

 

[Shuggy]

Perhaps I’m being dim but I can’t work out what you’re trying to do. Can you articulate it more clearly or draw a diagram? What bit requires NMEA?

 

[Shuggy]

On reflection, I think I do understand. Would you not be better to buy a legacy Seatalk GPS mushroom? I have a spare one but can’t remove it for 2 weeks or so as it’s been sitting unused on the pushpit. I think your problem will be the cost of an NMEA to legacy Seatalk converter, which is about £100. It may be that you can do something without one, but getting the NMEA data to both the plotter and the instruments may be tricky. Are you sure the instruments need their own GPS input? I would have thought not...

 

[Nauti Fox]

Digital yacht do a converter...https://digitalyacht.co.uk/product/st-nmea-iso/ I had the same problem as yourself and couldn't find a replacement Raystar 120.
Now, I bought one just over a month ago as I wanted to join where the seatalk did, also a NMEA GPS , They sell as a bundle, https://digitalyacht.co.uk/product/st-nmea-gps/
It would save a lot of hassle and upsidedowness if I could do this.
Unfortunately, it didn't work as it transposed the longitude and the boat was apparently in Chertsey instead of Cuxton.
Got in touch and they looked into it and promptly gave me a soloution, which didn't work.
Got back to them and they looked into it again and they found a fundamental fault and developed a firmware update.
I sent the converter to them for the update and should be re fitting it this weekend, I'll let you know how it goes.
They have now updated all the converters in stock.
Digital Yacht have acted in a professional way during this and I've had good communication with them and I think this has just been one of those unfortunate glitches.

 

[dk]

You could also try Actisense for a NMEA/ST converter.

 

[pvb]

I have a spare seatalk in out but no visible Nmea connection.
There is a large cable coming from the rear of the sl70 but I can see no visible termination point (it’s on a targa 40).
Do I have to splice into the cable ? Or is there an easier way?

The NMEA connections are incorporated in the power/data cable. Colour codes will be in the manual.

 

[Rafiki]

The NMEA connections are incorporated in the power/data cable. Colour codes will be in the manual.

Yes, this is exactly right. When I had the same problem with the same unit I bought a NMEA GPS 'mushroom' from Digital Yacht and connected it to the wires within that large cable - either refer to manual or experiment. Once sorted it worked better than before and the GPS mushroom picked up the signal just fine from within the cabin, so no need to attach it to the rail, just use blue tack, or velcro, to keep it upright within a nearby locker.

 

[pvb]

Yes, this is exactly right. When I had the same problem with the same unit I bought a NMEA GPS 'mushroom' from Digital Yacht and connected it to the wires within that large cable - either refer to manual or experiment.

Simply connecting to the NMEA wiring is so much cheaper than the SeaTalk converter solutions proposed. The OP didn't mention whether he already has a NMEA0183 GPS receiver. If not, the Evermore SA-320 is keenly priced at around £90 (versus around £150 for the Digital Yacht version).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Marine-Evermore-SA-320-Antenna-Output/dp/B001JDAU4S

 

[Nauti Fox]

I only mentioned mine as I can't get close to the main cable using a sensible GPS cable run without getting into positions I can't get out of, hopefully the OP can readily get to his...

 

[Nauti Fox]

Success with the converter, but out of interest I tried running the GPS cable across the boat to the power cable for the radar/plotter ( upper helm )and connected it to the nmea wires, yes it worked fine.
Problem was it didn't link to the lower helm plotter as I presume it needs the nmea out to be connected, of which I don't have a cable.
Still, all up and running now with an ultra quick gps fix.