Standard Horizon Matrix AIS GX2100E wiring?

nigelmercier

nigelmercier

RIP
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Live in Kent, boat in Canary Islands
www.bavariayacht.info
I've recently bought a Standard Horizon Matrix AIS GX2100E VHF radio. The unit has been delivered to my boat in Gibraltar, so I can't check it out before pre-wiring some external devices, and making a Distress Notice. Has anyone got one, and can answer a few questions?

I've managed to find some images of the rear of the device:

Matrix-AIS-GX2100E-Rear-ViewLR-1.png


From manual:
[13] Accessory (GN, BU, GY, & BN).
[14] PA (RD & Shield).
[15] Ext Speaker (WH & Shield).
[16] DC Input.

[Q1] How long are the attached cables at the rear of the device?

[Q2] The diagram and photo don't seem to agree on the wire functions, the 3rd and 4th appear to be paired as power leads in the photo, but the diagram has the 4th an 5th paired.

[Q3] In the manual, it says on Page 47: "Transmitting a DSC Distress Alert with Nature of Distress ... 2. Press the [NATURE] soft key ... 3. Press and hold the [DISTRESS] key". Have they missed out a stage between 2 and 3, namely: "Press the [SELECT] soft-key to select the entry."
 
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Good choice! I'm very happy with mine, especially the AIS thing. Installed it myself:
A1. From memory, about 10 inches.
A2. I do understand your dilemma, but I would go by the wire colours. I don't remember any problem identifying / knowing what to do.
A3. Sorry no help on that one.

Good luck!
 
I checked all offerings from a performance POV... at a reasonable price. I now have 2100. The screen is small but usable. My antenna is a good one located at the top of the mast .. circa 65 feet above SL. I am very impressed with all aspects especially the reception RANGE!!!

Dread thrift: I was sailing SE of Majorca and picked up a MAYDAY from a boat near Toulon in France. I copied the L & Long and forwarded the info to Spanish CG who relayed the info to Froggy CG. It transpired I had been the only one to hear the Mayday.... over 300 nm away!!

Had to be a skip zone!!! Lucky people.
 
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G12 said:
Is the display any good?
Click to expand...

The display is small but useable. We don't use the display on the main unit which is down below. Instead we use the even smaller display on the cockpit remote. Much more convenient than having to go below. In the cockpit, any of the crew can and do use the remote to get AIS and weather info, much more than they would if they had to go below to the main unit.

I suppose I'm saying that the few ££ and effort to add a cockpit remote is well worth it. Almost it's only use on our boat is for AIS info, frequent use of that, especially on night passages, wouldn't be without it. Can't remember anyone using it (or the main unit) to transmit this whole season!

Back to your screen question: the 2100 display shows you centered in the plot, surrounding boats shown with directional tails. But the real useful AIS info (CPA and TCPA) comes from a table of info that you call up for each boat. So the display size is not that important for AIS in our experience.

We don't have a chart plotter, which would prob be different. Perfectly workable without chart plotter.
 
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richardm47 said:
In the cockpit, any of the crew can and do use the remote to get AIS info, much more than they would if they had to go below to the main unit...
Click to expand...

I agree, so I bought the remote microphone as well.

I'm a little concerned that it may need to use both my chart plotter (CP180) inputs. The connection diagram shows the GX2100E having two outputs to the CP180: one at 4800 Baud and one at 38400. I understand the need for a 4800 input to the GX2100E (for position data) and obviously the 38400 output (for AIS). I'm guessing the 4800 output to the plotter is for DSC call data; I'm not sure if I would ever use that, certainly not as much as the other data I currently share: SeaTalk and Waypoints from the PC.
 
nigelmercier said:
......I'm guessing the 4800 output to the plotter is for DSC call data; I'm not sure if I would ever use that, certainly not as much as the other data I currently share: SeaTalk and Waypoints from the PC.
Click to expand...

I have an earlier model of S-H VHF (the GX1500E) used with a CP180i plotter, and I think you'll find the purpose of the other connection is to send distress call data to the plotter. If you receive a DSC distress call you can pull up its position on the plotter, gives you an immediate eyeball on where it is and therefore if you are near enough to help.
 
Cantata said:
I have an earlier model of S-H VHF (the GX1500E) used with a CP180i plotter, and I think you'll find the purpose of the other connection is to send distress call data to the plotter. If you receive a DSC distress call you can pull up its position on the plotter, gives you an immediate eyeball on where it is and therefore if you are near enough to help.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that is a useful feature. Looks like I'm making a switch box!
 
richardm47 said:
The display is small but useable. We don't use the display on the main unit which is down below. Instead we use the even smaller display on the cockpit remote. Much more convenient than having to go below. In the cockpit, any of the crew can and do use the remote to get AIS and weather info, much more than they would if they had to go below to the main unit.

I suppose I'm saying that the few ££ and effort to add a cockpit remote is well worth it. Almost it's only use on our boat is for AIS info, frequent use of that, especially on night passages, wouldn't be without it. Can't remember anyone using it (or the main unit) to transmit this whole season!

Back to your screen question: the 2100 display shows you centered in the plot, surrounding boats shown with directional tails. But the real useful AIS info (CPA and TCPA) comes from a table of info that you call up for each boat. So the display size is not that important for AIS in our experience.

We don't have a chart plotter, which would prob be different. Perfectly workable without chart plotter.
Click to expand...

Great info, thanks! That's just what I wanted to know and with the added bonus of info on the RAM mike that I was going to fit anyway. :-)
Was going to make my mind up at the boat show, I'll probably still wait and see if I can get a decent price there instead.
 
Got one of these a year ago very pleased, as said already range is very good.

I have a Raymarine C80 so had to fit an Actisense ND4 to multiplex demux the data from the 4800 DSC output / position input and the 38400 AIS data. C80 only has one input / output. Works well.

Asked Actisense if they would add an option to allow me to filter out the class B AIS as the use of Class B is just an irritation when all I'm really worried about are large ships creeping up on me. However after discussion it was felt that it wasn't really the done thing. Shame that.
 
Nigel
I also have the SH CP180i plotter and take the NMEA input from the SH GX1500E VHF. When a Mayday DSC alert is heard at the radio it immediately shows on the plotter as a position indicator and gives you the option of choosing it as your next waypoint. Immediate course and distance to alert are then shown.. Very useful.

Regarding wire lengths. Different model but same manufacturer - about 18".

Regarding identification of the power lead - When you are with the radio it will be obvious. From the photo it looks like the description is indeed correct.. the right hand two wires (red/black) are the thicker power ones.

Regarding selection of 'type of distress' that you are sending.. this is optional. You can either choose.. or just send.. Undesignated will be sent if you don't have time or inclination to choose.
 
Nigel,

I bought a Matrix 2100 VHF / AIS and a CP180 chart plotter at the boat show this year. I found this idiots guide:

http://www.standardhorizon.com/down...atrix AIS.pdf&FileContentType=application/pdf

on the SH web site, so yes you do need to use 2 of the plotters inputs. As I like to remove instruments over winter, I bought a male and female pair of 4 way DIN plugs from Maplins, and soldered them onto the leads from the VHF and CP180, as per the link above, and it all works well.

There were, I think, two other outputs from the CP180, one of which I use to drive the GPS repeater, but no other input.

With regard to the lengths of the leads from the VHF, I thought they were rather short at around 10".
 
Thanks for all the replies.

The reason I wanted to know about the power leads being the wrong way round is because I was going to tell SH that there was an error, I'm sure it is clear when wiring it. I'll ask them about having to press SELECT when making a distress call with "Nature of Distress", not something you want to find out when the fan gets messy.

I've decided to make up a 3 way switch, so I can select what goes to the plotter. Most of the time I can leave it connected to the radio, but change to SeaTalk data or Waypoints from the PC as necessary.

Anyone thinking of buying one of these, I found it cheapest at MES. Note that it doesn't say it is the GX2100E but they assured me it was.
 
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If you need any help or further information re this unit, contact Sam Ruddy at Standard Horizon. I have found him to be very helpful indeed with a query that I had earlier this year, he even put together an interconnecting wiring diagram for me from their kit, to Garmin and emailed as a pdf document.

Sam Ruddy sam.ruddy@yaesu.co.uk
Service Manager
Yaesu UK Ltd/Standard Horizon
 
I bought one of these late last year. A few things to check.

Early models had software problems that need solving by returning the unit to Standard Horizon. Their service is excellent. Check that all 'menu' items are present on the DSC setup.

The wiring diagrams in the manual have some errors. Inputs and outputs are mixed up on the NMEA connections. Download the latest manual from the Standard Horizon website, http://www.standardhorizon.co.uk/files/GX2000E_GX2100E_OM_ENG_EM044N202_V2.pdf for the correct labeling.

Lastly the cutout template. The written dimensions are correct but the outline drawing scaling is wrong. Check by measuring the radio before cutting the hole.

Apart from that, common issues in the early stages of a products life, I think this is an excellent unit. I have combined it with a ShipModul NMEA multiplexor and a netbook running openCPN navigation software.
 
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