Stowe NMEA output to Raymarine

[Nickcf]

I wanted to display depth info in a databox on my Raymarine RC631 plotter. Depth data comes from a Stowe databox which feeds NMEA (I think!) into a dedicated Stowe display unit. Stowe kit is circa 1994 but the Raymarine is 2002.
However when I tried to link up my Stowe depth sounder NMEA output to my Raymarine Chart plotter, although the depth data worked ok, it somehow interfered with the GPS data for the plotter. Does anyone know why this might be? Is there something about Stowe NMEA that means it cannot interface directly to Raymarine kit?
I used the white and green NMEA outputs into Channel 1 NMEA data in (orange/yellow) on the chartplotter.

thnks


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[philip_stevens]

Could there be a conflict between the older Stowe, with perhaps NMEA 0180 and the newer Raymarine that is probably 0183.

I think I have a similar problem trying to get Lat. and Long. on my older Raytheon radar, that has an input for "data from a Loran" that could well have been 0180, from my new Navman that outputs 0183.

The radar knows there is something being received, but cannot display it. All that shows are ?? ??.?? and ??? ??.??

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip

 

[pvb]

I have a 1990 Stowe Dataline system which, according to the manuals, uses NMEA0183. So I'd guess a 1994 Stowe system should also use 0183. Can't offer any ideas why it doesn't work though.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[philip_stevens]

Just a thought, though I was hoping someone might come up with a reason why I cannot get data on my Raytheon from the Navman - what did the Loran output?? Anyone any idea?

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip

 

[Birdseye]

Following a problem with a Garmin, their tech dept insisted that the NMEA sentences were backward compatible ie new kit can read old sentences. I'm not convinced since I still have a problem with a plotter reading an old Garmin quite happily but not a new one.

What I have found can happen is that individual sentences conflict, so you have to set the system up to transmit / receive only the sentences that you need. There is an NMEA website which will tell you what each sentence contains, and there is some overlap between them.

So go to the set up menus on both bits of kit and set up the system so that one sends and the other receives just the min sentences required

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.

 

[philip_stevens]

I think I may have a problem doing just that, as the GPS outputs to a Yeoman plotter, and an Autohelm ST3000 (via the Interface), so I have to send out what both units ask for from the GPS.

The Raytheon only asks for lat. and long. but as there is only one output on the GPS, it has to have what the other units want.

I intend to fit an older AP-Philips Mk6 GPS next winter, mainly as a back-up, and this has four separate outputs, and two inputs. I think I can tell this GPS to output in either 0180 or 0183 and to send what is asked for. But this is the winter coming.

What is the url of the NMEA site you mention?

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Phillip,

Look at:

http://pcptpp030.psychologie.uni-regensburg.de/trafficresearch/NMEA0183/

and

http://pcptpp030.psychologie.uni-regensburg.de/trafficresearch/NMEA0183/types.txt

Rgds

Neil

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[philip_stevens]

Now I know what all the abreviations mean, I can have another go at getting lat. and long. on my radar display.

Thanks for the URL.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip

 

[bedouin]

Are you trying to feed two NMEA signals into the same input on the plotter - because that will not work. You can attach one NMEA output to multiple inputs but not the other way around as both senders could try to send at the same time and the messages get garbled.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[philip_stevens]

No, what I have is a Navman GPS, a Yeoman plotter, an Autohelm 3000, and the Raytheon radar (an oldish one with CRT - Raytheon "something" 20, the manual is on the boat).

I have no problems with the gps "talking" to the plotter and autohelm. The only problem appears to be trying to "talk" to the radar. It is as though it can "hear" but not decipher the input. I have no cross connections talking to one-another.

I tried to "talk" to the radar alone, but it could still not hear properly.

I know that the 0183 has more sentences than the 0180, but was there any difference in the output language of the Loran to that of the 0183 of the GPS. i.e. GLL. The manual for the radar was probably printed before the advent of GPS, and gives no clue to what it wants to "hear". I am going to the boat tomorrow, so will pick up the manual.

The lat. and long. are not really necessary on the radar as I have the GPS and plotter right next to it, but I would like to see it on the radar screen, and don't want to give up trying.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip

 

[Nickcf]

thanks for the suggestions and ideas. I'll do some more testing and see what happens

rgds

nick

<hr width=100% size=1>