Watchmate 650

[addboy]

I have a watchMate 650 that I'm trying to get hooked up to either my ASI transponder or my PC running OpenCPN. I have not been able to get it to receive any data at all. I have checked it on port #1 and port #2. I know that the AIS transponder is working because I get targets on my chart plotter. I know that the ASI receiver that I have for OpenCPNis working because I get targets on it as well. Anyone know the wiring schematic I need to use? Thx
Dave

[barnakiel]

http://downloads.vespermarine.com/Wi...mSet-WM650.pdf

[barnakiel]

It looks W650 is a rs232 (?).

If your transceiver talks 422 (?) (RX+-, TX+-) you may need a 422 to 232 adapter.

(rs232 is RX,TX,GND - 3 wires rather than rs422 4 wires)

There is a 422 to 232 wiring trick that you can google out but it does not work with all devices. You can try it but it may or may not work for you.

b.

[addboy]

below is a link to the USB adapter that I'm using:

http://www.amazon.com/Serial-Convert...ilpage_o08_s02

[barnakiel]

It is a 422 to USB cable. The chipset in the cable does all work. The green breakout only a cabling interface. Used for 422 to PC connections.

If this is the adapter between your AIS transponder and your PC then your transponder is 422 output.

Now, your Watchmate650 seems 232 input. Check out the images in my earlier post.

422 does not talk to 232 as a rule, unless one uses an adapter that translates 422 to 232.

There is a trick shown on the Internet of how, at times, 422 can be plugged directly into 232, as said this may work, or not. (It did not work for me with Simrad to PC connection).

You can confirm the above by looking up your AIS transponder manual -4 cables(rx+, rx-, tx+, tx-) is 422, 3 cables is 232 (tx, rx, gnd).

If my assumptions are correct, then you will want a 422 to 232 adapter.

b.

[barnakiel]

http://cms.nobeltec.com/CMS/Files/Co...20computer.pdf

Here they show how at times 422 can be plugged directly into 232. It did not work for me though.

If it does not work for you, you will use a 422 to 232 converter between the transponder and the other device.

If you happen to have a 232 to USB cable at hand, you can test it by plugging it into the PC and connecting it to the Watchmate. Many PC programs can forward nmea data from one port to another (e.g. OpenCPN).

Make sure data speed settings are set right (38400 for AIS, at both ends),

b.