Help !! I am trying to set up a NMEA 2K network. I have a Garmin 7212, GPS19 antenna, VHF300 AIS. The GPS is working and sees the GPS 19 antenna on the network. As soon as I hook the VHF into the network, the whole network is not seen ?? The 7212 has the latest software (v4.6) and the VHF 300AIS has version 2.1(not sure how to update). The VHF is set to comunicate on NMEA 2K. the network is properly terminated and I have tryed chancing tee's and cables with no luck. Still drops out. The VHF works fine all but networing ?? Any suggestions ??
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Not a lot of information here. Please list each component on your N2K backbone starting from the first terminator. Please explain how your backbone is powered.
staring from first terminator: 1) Garmin 7212 MFD, 2)Garmin GPS 19X antenna,3) 12V power supply coming from fuse panel(power @ tee verified, 4) aprox 12' of backbone cable, 4) Garmin VHF300i AIS, 5)end terminator. The 7212 sees the GPS19 antenna on the network when the VHF300 is removed and terminated. As soon as the VHF300 is added it will not see the network... ???
I think that your trouble shooting indicates that there's something wrong with the NMEA 2000 port on that VHF 300. I've had a Garmin VHF 200 plugged in all sorts of N2K networks -- some quite slap dash -- without any issues.
IMHO there is a chance it is a wiring problem, one of the two data wires inside the cable shorted. Do you have enough wires to substitute / troubleshoot that as a possible source? Maybe disconnect the GPS19 and use that wire to connect the VHF300 ?
In your description you made no mention of drop wires from the backbone to the MFD, GPS 19X, and VHF300. How long is each?
Are all the wires pre-made? e.g. you didn't add ends to the N2K cables or do any splicing yourself ?
What do you mean exactly when you write the VHF 300 is removed and terminated? "The 7212 sees the GPS19 antenna on the network when the VHF300 is removed and terminated."
Interesting idea, especially if you used one or more "field installable" connectors. Even if you don't have extra cables, the 7212 should see the VHF300 if it's put on the drop cable currently used by the GPS19.
The cables and fittings are all pre made Garmin units(no field splices). Yes, as I said earlier all of the cables and tee's have been changed with known good ones. I have plenty of extra's. The drop cables are 1'. My reference to "removing and terminating" the VHF300 refers to removing the tee going to it and placing the termination fitting on the end of the run. I am leaning twords sending the VHF300 unit to Garmin for checkout ?? Thoughts ?
No manual wiring and in addition you sound confident you swapped enough cabling parts to eliminate a cable or tee from being the problem. Contacting Garmin would be the next logical course of action.
Please post what the result is, I am really curious!
Thanks for the help, I will let you know. May be a while before I get the unit back.