Dear Mr Panbo,
Thank you very much for your very informative web site.
I would be interested in your comments on the following article;
http://www.milltechmarine.com/AIS_chart_plotters.htm
on the use of the SR 161 AIS and Garmin 4000 5000 series plotters. Have you done any testing on this combination? I am interested because I purchased the ais unit a few years ago and now would like to upgrade to one of the garmin plotters and continue to use the SR161. I would have thought that this issue would affect other ais units as well most probably the NASA unit.
I would be very grateful for any response on this.
Kind Regards, Chris F., U.K.
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"...the Smart Radio products do not work well or are often damaged when used with a chart plotter the expects true NMEA RS422 signals. Therefore do not use Smart Radio products with chart plotter systems that only have NMEA input ports."
That's discouraging to hear, and whereas Milltech has sold and supported lots of SR AIS receivers, I'll bet its true. Milltech also did a nice job of explaining the subtle differences between RS422 (aka NMEA 0183) and RS232 (aka PC Serial). I think, as I'm not expert on this.
Hi, Just for information, I am using a Digital Yacht AIT250 AIS TRANSPONDER SYS (CLASS B) with a Garmin 4012. No problems with the connections and it works well. I used a PAS-Thru Box (as recommended by Ben! 16 Jul 2007) for the NMEA0183 hookup - the box also connects an ICOM VHF DSC radio to the Garmin for GPS position information.
I believe that the Digital Yacht AIS unit is identical to most of the other units, including Comar.
Hugh
The Digital Yacht AIS is based on the SRT design which includes BOTH RS-422 and RS-232 interfaces. As long as you choose the right one (RS-422 for NMEA and RS-232 for PC) you'll be fine.
The SR-161 only provides RS-232, I believe, so you'll need a converter to talk to NMEA.
On my GPS PCB, I opened it up and strapped an RS-422 driver from Maxim-IC in parallel with the existing RS-232 driver, which works well but required some very delicate soldering......
I am not sure I understand the comments on the MIlltech systems with chartplotters. I have an SR161 connected to my Standard Horizon plotter via NMEA 0183 and it works flawlessly. Chuck
And I am using a SR161 connected to an E-80 with no problems.
However, I have had plenty of serial signal level issues recently with various "RS-232" to USB interface chips. So I recognize the possibility for problems.
Jon
I use the SR161 and Magellan MAP color into my HP 1000 running Fugawi ENC with no problems whatsoever.
Also have installed SR161 on E120 with RS125...no problems
Howard
Although the Garmin manual would indicate that it is compatible with rs232 coms I have sourced a 232 to 422/485 converter if the old man ends up with said plotter I will report back.
Chris
Guys, I have been trying to register, but I haven't received the email to finish the process.
I'm in a quandry... I'm trying to save some money and do an install myself. This involves a Nauticast B--->Actisense NDC-4A--->Raymarine E-120.
The current hardware associated with the E120 is the RS125 (SeaTalk), Simrad AP26, 2 DSC radios. I haven't disconnected the cables and wires yet, because I'm not sure of the final connections using the multiplexer.
Could someone, please walk me thru this or send me a diagram of the setup? The multiplexer is already set for 38400 Baud, good to go there. Now the fun part with the RS125, and AP26.
My email is [email protected].
Thanks in advance....!!!!
Capt. Hank
Hi Hank,
I haven't tried exactly what you're doing, and am not familiar with Actisense's control software, but here's how I'd approach it:
* Don't worry about the RS125; it stays on SeaTalk.
* #1-4 inputs to the Multiplexer: Nauticast B (w/ its own GPS), AP26, and the two radios.
* A-C outputs: try both radios on A, E120 on B, and AP on C.
All interfaces should be set at 4,800 baud except Nauticast and E120, which are 38,400. Don't forget to change the NMEA 0183 speed setting on the E.
If all works OK, your radios will be getting GPS from the Nauticast, but incoming DSC calls should get to the E. I think the E will tolerate getting GPS from two sources, and may even fail over if one goes away. But if not, it sounds like you tell the multiplexor to filter GPS out of the data stream to the E.
Good luck, and please tell us how it goes.
(Also, I enabled your registration, so you should be able to sign in as "Capt. Hank")
Did you ever complete the install of the SR161 and the Garmin Chartplotter? We've a Garmin GPSmap 540 and have heard good things about the SR161. Want to see if we need to pony up the extra $ for a RS-422 unit.
Bentley
efax2 *at* Jimages.com