Icom IC-801E NMEA Control

[Peter Tyers]

Has anyone successfully interfaced an IC-801E for NMEA remote control.

I am one of a few responsible for communications support for Australian Volunteer Coast Guard in Victoria. We have an ICOM IC-801E which we need to interface to our Omnitronics Remote console system.

I have acquired a DTECH USB-NMEA interface which appears to function perfectly but cannot get the 801E to respond to NMEA commands at all.

Initial settings are as follows REMOTE IF - NMEA, device code set to 08 (not default 11). Wiring to REMOTE plug as per pp59 of User Manual. I have even reversed the NMEA connections given reference made in one post that ICOM had these reversed on the 802, no joy. Have tried all speeds 300-38400 all 8 bit, noparity, one stop bit, no flow control.

Unit will not respond to MNMEA sentence $PICOA,90,08,REMOTE*7D or any other command including the more generic non-proprietry $CNCTQ,SFI*00 command.

Is there something I've missed or despite the ICOM manual does the radio not work with remote control unlike its 802 sibling?
Local ICOM office has not been overly helpful in this matter because I dont think they have much marine exposure.

If someone has successfully interfaced a 801-E I would appreciate hearing how you did it.