Raymarine AIS650 to C120

[whynot929]

I know there have been a number of threads on this issue and I've searched through them. I have two issues I can't figure out yet.

I understand that I need to connect to the C120 using NMEA0183. Do I connect it directly to the C120 and if so, mine has fasteners that I've never seen before and not sure where I get a tool to undo them. I also have a Raymarine Smartpilot controller back near the Navstation. I know the C120 is getting info from the autopilot and not sure if I connect the AIS650 to that or to the C120 at the helm.

The other issue I'm having is that the AIS650 starts amber and then goes to green when it acquires a gps signal. So far so good. But not long afterwards it changes to red. The installation manual says it's either the MMSI number wasn't configured correctly (I can check that next time I'm at the boat. I didn't have a USB cable to connect to my laptop.) or I need to make sure the VHF antennae is not short-circuiting to the vessel structure. No idea on how I would check that.

Any assistance would be appreciated. The first mate is going to throw me overboard if I don't get the cabin back together again.

[smac999]

if you didn't have an MMSI. it likely would never go green and always stay amber.

probably an antenna issue. when you connect your laptop it will give you a vswr error if the antenna or wire is bad.

you need to connect to the back of the c120. you need to have the nmea183 pigtail. if you are lucky it is pluged in, and not being used. you may not have it, or it may already be used to send gps to your VHF.