SH GX2100 Combined VHF & AIS

This unit has been mentioned a couple of times recently in AIS related threads - and I am seriously looking at buying one as a result.

General reports were pretty positive - I am sure it won't need an aerial splitter (why should it - it is a single device). The only downside in my mind is that I think it is NMEA 0183 only - and these days I think I would like to start building a NMEA 2000 network.
 
Thanks Richard.

I think this is the solution for me. My existing vhf is non-DSC, which is fine 99% of the time, but the problem arises when offshore in shipping lanes. I can see the buggers either by eye or on the stand-alone radar, but I can't identify them by name or contact them on Ch 16.

As regards NMEA, I'm a bit low-tech here. No chartplotter, and only a 10-yr old fixed Garmin GPS, which being old technology I assume will connect to the SH unit?

What, out of interest, is the benefit of NMEA 2000?
 
Got one too... very pleased. AIS passive is stand alone provided you give it a GPS feed.

Another good point is the range... My antenna is atop the mast 65 plus feet off the water line... on my passage from Palamos NE Spain to St Raphael S France, I heard Dijon CG on Ch16.

Being 87 nm from Dijon, I was surprised at the range, so I gave them a call. They replied and we went to Ch 10 whereupon I gave them my position, course and speed and ETA Saint Raphael. All 5/5!

Surprizing range really... since found out the antenna for Dijon is on top of a hill just inshore but nonetheless....:D
 
Another happy GX2100 owner, works a treat, no splitter required.

Grab a CMP30 remote mic too, makes a perfect dual station VHF/AIS device but beware the cable supplied with the remote mic, it is only just long enough to make it from the helm to the nav station below following the normal cable-run. (Bav 36)

NMEA2000 will not feed into a GX2100 as far as I know - it's a much more sensitive beast than NMEA0183. Any NMEA0183 capable GPS will work with the GX2100, even the SH GPS Smart Antenna alone.

Wiring diagrams are here, under GX2100 current .....

http://www.standardhorizon.com/?cmd=showMarineManuals&DivisionID=3

For a bargain basement all-in-one system then a SH CP180i coupled with a GX2100 gives you plotter, AIS, DSC.
 
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On my SH GX2100/CP300 setup the AIS data is sent from the VHF at 38400 Baud, and the GPS data is sent from the Plotter at 4800 Baud.

These two data streams cannot be combined without an NMEA multiplexer (€€€€) as they are different speeds.

As NMEA is effectively compatible with a standard PC serial port, the data can be extracted from the boat for use with a PC very easily. (2 x female serial connectors, 5 wires and a bit of soldering.)

I fitted 2 x 9-PIN D-Sub female serial connectors next to my chart table. 1 is plumbed into the NMEA AIS feed from VHF, the other is plumbed into the Rx/Tx from the Plotter.

I then have a 2 x Serial to USB cable to my laptop. Like this ...

61886-4e8ec9fc6013e.jpg


DELOCK 61886, Delock Adapter USB 2.0 > 2 x Serial (€19)

It's nice because the little green lights flash when data is being transferred :)

I can send waypoints and routes from the laptop to the plotter and display AIS data on the laptop using OpenCPN which is free. I also don't need a seperate GPS reciever for the laptop as this info comes from the Plotter.

If you have a spare laptop and a Plotter/VHF that outputs NMEA, AIS data then a fully functioning laptop chart plotter can be added for €25.

The only issue I have is that if I connect the serial side before the USB side, Windoze detects a serial mouse and the pointer starts hopping around the screen. Connect USB first, let the driver load and then connect the serial connections and everything is great. (I can disable serial mouse detection on the PC but haven't done it yet, so I expect to get rid of this little problem too.)

It was a fun practical project with a minimum of technical knowledge required. I've got the wiring diagrams (including plotter/VHF install if anyone is interested - already posted in a different thread).

I finished the install on Saturday and it fired up and worked first time - (Including the waypoint export to the Raymarine autopilot, which was a big surprise :D)
 
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RS232 Serial to USB Adaptors

Baggywrinkle said:
I then have a 2 x Serial to USB cable to my laptop...
Click to expand...

Looks good, what make is it?

If anyone else is thinking of getting a serial to USB adaptor, be warned not to buy a non-branded one on eBay (such as this type), even some of the branded ones are suspect. There are many that use a cheap chip with very buggy drivers, even after getting the latest ones.

After suffering daily BSODs and general instability, I researched the chip manufacturers then bought a pair of these which have a well supported chip (Moschip MCS7720) with stable drivers. I now have 4 RS232 ports for AIS, SeaTalk (via a converter), GPS, and a spare port for the emergency hand-held GPS.
 
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Baggywrinkle said:
On my SH GX2100/CP300 setup the AIS data is sent from the VHF at 38400 Baud, and the GPS data is sent from the Plotter at 4800 Baud.

These two data streams cannot be combined without an NMEA multiplexer (€€€€) as they are different speeds.

As NMEA is effectively compatible with a standard PC serial port, the data can be extracted from the boat for use with a PC very easily. (2 x female serial connectors, 5 wires and a bit of soldering.)

I fitted 2 x 9-PIN D-Sub female serial connectors next to my chart table. 1 is plumbed into the NMEA AIS feed from VHF, the other is plumbed into the Rx/Tx from the Plotter.

I then have a 2 x Serial to USB cable to my laptop. Like this ...

61886-4e8ec9fc6013e.jpg


DELOCK 61886, Delock Adapter USB 2.0 > 2 x Serial (€19)

It's nice because the little green lights flash when data is being transferred :)

I can send waypoints and routes from the laptop to the plotter and display AIS data on the laptop using OpenCPN which is free. I also don't need a seperate GPS reciever for the laptop as this info comes from the Plotter.

If you have a spare laptop and a Plotter/VHF that outputs NMEA, AIS data then a fully functioning laptop chart plotter can be added for €25.

The only issue I have is that if I connect the serial side before the USB side, Windoze detects a serial mouse and the pointer starts hopping around the screen. Connect USB first, let the driver load and then connect the serial connections and everything is great. (I can disable serial mouse detection on the PC but haven't done it yet, so I expect to get rid of this little problem too.)

It was a fun practical project with a minimum of technical knowledge required. I've got the wiring diagrams (including plotter/VHF install if anyone is interested - already posted in a different thread).

I finished the install on Saturday and it fired up and worked first time - (Including the waypoint export to the Raymarine autopilot, which was a big surprise :D)
Click to expand...

Anyone know which pins of the dsubs to use for the SH 2100 GX AIS & DSC before the dsub gets lugged in to a dsub-usb convertor?? I cant seem to see it anywhere!?!
 
roblpm said:
Anyone know which pins of the dsubs to use for the SH 2100 GX AIS & DSC before the dsub gets lugged in to a dsub-usb convertor?? I cant seem to see it anywhere!?!
Click to expand...
Just normal com port, pin 2 to send data into the computer and 3 to send data out, with 5 being common-http://pinouts.ru/SerialPorts/Serial9_pinout.shtml
 
JohnGC said:
Hello,

You might like to consider this alternative combined VHF & AIS.

http://www.force4.co.uk/9657/Radio-Ocean-RO4800-DSC-VHF-Radio-with-Integral-AIS-Receiver.html

It's NEMA 0183 not 2000.

It doesn't require a splitter.

The main handset has numbered buttons (like a phone), makes entering MMSI numbers easy.

There is an optional wireless handset which is great for use on deck.

I installed mine a few month ago. So far it's been fine.

John.
Click to expand...

The Sh GX2100 has an NMEA 0183 input for the GPS but of course it outputs AIS at 38400 baud (I think you need to as the data rate might be higher). It has a third serial line on which it outputs NMEA 0183 DSC sentences

Not having number buttons on the 2100 is a bit of a pain.
 
Babylon said:
Does anyone know if this unit needs a separate VHF aerial splitter, or does it do it all off the single cable?

http://www.cactusnav.com/standard-horizon-gx2100-fixed-with-built-p-11544.html

Also does anyone have experience of using the unit - easy? intuitive?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Used my SH GX2100E linked to my SH 300i plotter for over a year now and a great bit of kit with many built in features.

Used my existing VHF radio aerial (on top of the mast) straight into the back of the radio, the AIS screen is small but I only use it only as a back up as the AIS reception and quality on the plotter is excellent.

My only tip on set up is do not click all the alarms to 'ON', do them one at a time as you may not need them all !

Mike
View attachment 39032View attachment 39033View attachment 39034
 
Bi111ion said:
The Sh GX2100 has an NMEA 0183 input for the GPS but of course it outputs AIS at 38400 baud (I think you need to as the data rate might be higher). It has a third serial line on which it outputs NMEA 0183 DSC sentences

Not having number buttons on the 2100 is a bit of a pain.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys that's great.

Yes the plan is on dsub for the ais output, one dsub for the dsc output.

The gps is already wired in to the vhf, will be paralleled to the stowe boxes, and yet another usb nmea0183 connection to the usb hub and the pc.

Apparently opencpn can then sort it all out!!

We shall see. Anyway its fun trying. I will be slightly disappointed if it all works!!
 
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