Watchman 750 AIS Receiver/Display

[pjf]

Hi,

I have just ordered a Watchman 750 AIS and note that it requires a GPS input in order for the CPA & TTCPA alarms and the heading up functions to work. Which is fine and the site says to "simply" plug one in and off you go.

It will only take NMEA 1803 input, which again is fine, my question is: If a I buy a basic GPS receiver/antenna what plug or connector must it have to "simply" plug it in or are they all standard. I have written to Vesper but wondered if any of you guys had any first hand knowledge or advice?

Ta

 

[prv]

I have a Watchmate 670 display. It ends with bare wires, like practically all NMEA 0183 devices; there is no standard plug. You will be able to wire any NMEA 0183 GPS into it.

Personally, I use a BR355 GPS "puck" glued to the underneath of my side-deck behind the chart table. It has no display or controls, just a wire that accepts power in and emits NMEA position data. I use it to supply the VHF and the Watchmate. The only slight snag with this unit is that it expects power at 5v rather than 12v; you used to have to build a simple converter circuit (as I did) but forumite "Angus McDoon" now sells a ready-made version: http://yappelectronics.co.uk/GPPS.htm (I think you have to PM him to actually order).

Pete

 

[pjf]

Thanks,

I'm a bit of a dunce when it comes to electronics, when you say it ends with bare wires, what does? the puck or the watchman display?
Looking at the manual for the converter device, it seems to suggest that you cut all the wires from the puck except 3 which you connect to one side of the device (what did the other wires do?). You have power in and out on another side, which I think is clear, then there are wires going to the AIS? where do these come from or are they the loose wires you referred to earlier?

As I said and as you can probably gather it's not my forte!!

 

[prv]

I'm a bit of a dunce when it comes to electronics, when you say it ends with bare wires, what does? the puck or the watchman display?

The Watchmate (assuming it's the same as my 670) will come with a length of cable with a plug on one end and a sheaf of individual wires coming out of the other. The plug goes into the back of the AIS, the wires connect to the various other devices.

Looking at the manual for the converter device, it seems to suggest that you cut all the wires from the puck except 3 which you connect to one side of the device (what did the other wires do?).

I believe it can accept some programming commands on the other wires, if you have the kit to send them. You don't need to do this, so cut those wires off and tape them up.

You have power in and out on another side, which I think is clear, then there are wires going to the AIS? where do these come from or are they the loose wires you referred to earlier?

Exactly - power + and - on one side of Angus's box, and the GPS input wires from the AIS on the other. I've looked up the manual for you and these are apparently the green and white wires from the Watchmate cable. Green to "Data" and white to "GND".

Pete

 

[pjf]

Many thanks Pete,

The mist is clearing!

I think the difference between the 750 and 670, is that the AIS is an integral part of the display, i.e no separate box. So I assume that there will likely be the wires you are referring to coming out of it. Of course it would help if I had actually seen it but I'm awaiting delivery.

Do all the GPS puck type devices require a separate power supply and are they all 5v?

 

[prv]

Do all the GPS puck type devices require a separate power supply and are they all 5v?

Ones intended for marine use accept 12v directly and so don't need a separate converter, but they're generally several times the price of the BR355 option (including Angus's box). I haven't looked at prices recently but I'd guess £120 - £150 versus £35? They will be waterproof, but in my opinion this is irrelevant in a fibreglass boat as a GPS aerial works perfectly well on the underside of the deck without the effort and leakage potential of passing a wire through.

Pete

 

[pjf]

Understood.

Many thanks again

 

[Danbury]

I've just installed a new VHF set and linked this to my Watchmate 750... so I can now initiate DSC calls from the Watchmate... just select the ship on the list, then 'call'... couldn't be easier !

 

[prv]

I've just installed a new VHF set and linked this to my Watchmate 750... so I can now initiate DSC calls from the Watchmate... just select the ship on the list, then 'call'... couldn't be easier !

What model is the VHF? Most don't support this, so people who want to do this would benefit from knowing of one that does work.

Pete

 

[Danbury]

What model is the VHF? Most don't support this, so people who want to do this would benefit from knowing of one that does work.

Pete

It's the Icom M423

I'm trying to embrace the whole DSC concept so I thought I'd make it a bit easier...

 

[prv]

It's the Icom M423

Cheers - I won't be changing my SH GX2100 for many years, but someone else might find that tidbit useful.

Pete

 

[JeffRobbins]

Thanks for posting the wiring info and beating me to it.

Only thing to add is the DSC calling feature currently works with all recent ICOM VHF radios. If the radio says it will work with the ICOM transponder it will work with a WatchMate 670, 750 or 850. Unfortunately, SH has decided not to implement this capability.