Raymarine C80 NMEA 0183 to DSC/AIS VHF

[Brewgyver]

Originally Posted by brownr377

I had a similar setup with C80 and standard horizon gx2150.

GPS to C80 on seatalk
Radio NMEA 0183 out to C80 in
C80 NMEA 0183 out to Radio in
Data rate set to 38400 on both.

That setup worked fine for me.

Unfortunately, Si Tex manual says only source options for GPS in are NMEA 2000 and Si Tex Smart GPS antenna/receiver.

[svmobert]

Originally Posted by Thank you dad

Its listed in the first post, Si-Tex MDA 4.

I can set the baud rate for the raido at 4800 or 38000.

I will try again this morning.

thanks

Sorry, I originally read your question as the MDA4 being it's own AIS, and having a separate radio, before looking up the MDA4 itself.

You can certainly try to connect the MDA4 directly to the C80, input and output and run at 4800 to see if that will work. The manual for the MDA4 leaves ALOT to be desired, but since you state that you can set the speed (not mentioned in the manual that I can find) you should try 38400 speed on the C80 and the VHF. and just connect them directly to each other. The C80 sends and recieves GPS and AIS data at 38400 speed no problem.

On the C80, make sure you have the latest firmware (it's not very new (2012), but just be sure you have the most recent one). Software Update: C Classic (C70, C80, C120)

One caveat is that the C80, being an MFD with no built-in GPS, it sends it's NMEA GPS sentences with an EC* prefix instead of a GP* prefix. This indicates to other NMEA devices that the data was forwarded from a charting system, not form the actual GPS sensor. Some radios will ignore EC* sentences, others don't care. Since the SiTex MDA4 manual has no information, it's hard to tell whether it will care or not.

NMEA2000 is unlikely to work properly with the C80 because the SeaTalk2 port on the C80 does not feature full NMEA2000 compatibility.. It was designed for Engine data specifically.

An alternative that might make sense is to use an NMEA0183 <-> NMEA2000 adapter like the Actisense NGW-1. Connect the VHF to the C80 via that adapter using the C80's NMEA0183 ports and the Radio's NMEA2000 port.

Also, what is the GPS device you are using with your C80? How does it get GPS data? Is it a SeaTalk1 GPS (like an older RayStar?) or is it newer?

[Pizzazz]

The C80 will output GPS data over nmea 2000 and 0183. The C80 will send DSC and receive AIS over the nmea 0183 port irrespective of the baud rate. So, first you try nmea 0183 at 4800, hoping that the radio will get it. If not and you have a working nmea 2000 network then you do GPS over nmea 2000, AIS over nmea 2000. You still need to connect nmea 0183 from the C80 to the radio for DSC. If the second option sounds too complicated and expensive you are better off replacing the radio with a Lowrance Link 8, which will work better at 4800 or 38400 and will be less expensive than building a nmea 2000 network from scratch.

Good luck.

[blubaju]

Raymarine, a special breed, the E120 mfd and ais500 both have nmea2000, only to bring the ais data to the e120, it only works on a nmea0183 @38000bd connection.

Not mentioned in the thread, did you check for nmea sentence compatibility? E.g. Icoms m802 radio ONLY accepts GPGGA. Took me some time to find that out.

[svmobert]

Originally Posted by Pizzazz

The C80 will output GPS data over nmea 2000 and 0183. The C80 will send DSC and receive AIS over the nmea 0183 port irrespective of the baud rate. So, first you try nmea 0183 at 4800, hoping that the radio will get it. If not and you have a working nmea 2000 network then you do GPS over nmea 2000, AIS over nmea 2000. You still need to connect nmea 0183 from the C80 to the radio for DSC. If the second option sounds too complicated and expensive you are better off replacing the radio with a Lowrance Link 8, which will work better at 4800 or 38400 and will be less expensive than building a nmea 2000 network from scratch.

Good luck.

Are you positive that the C80 will receive AIS data over N2K? Where is that documented?

[brownr377]

Originally Posted by Brewgyver

Unfortunately, Si Tex manual says only source options for GPS in are NMEA 2000 and Si Tex Smart GPS antenna/receiver.

Ahh I hadn't dug up the Si Tex manual. That's too bad then. For the OP, getting the SiTex Smart GPS may not be a bad idea, I haven't seen what GPS you are currently running but if it's an old Raystar Seatalk 1 device you are on borrowed time with it already and newer GPS receivers perform much better.

You could get the SiTEx GPS receiver connect directly to the radio, NMEA Radio (AIS, GPS) -> C80, that's all predicated on figuring what Si Tex intends for using for the NMEA connections.

I just added a Vesper AIS Transponder and am sending AIS data + GPS from this to my C80 and the GPS fix time and accuracy are greatly improved from my dying Raystar receiver.

[smac999]

I also was confused and thought yiu had a separate ais and vhf. As I have never seen a sitec vhf

The best radios for a c80 is a standard horizon 2150 as it will send ais and rx gps at 38,400.

I haven't looked at your manual. But based on above posts it it looks like it wasn't the right choice. When you are dealing with trying to intergrate really old stuff. It needs to be planed out before you but. Not after.

[Thank you dad]

Originally Posted by smac999

The best radios for a c80 is a standard horizon 2150 as it will send ais and rx gps at 38,400.

I dont believe they make this model any more, if i exchange my radio and purchase the newer model, 2200, will i sill work?

Seems like a better option because of the built in GPS and as mentioned, the raystar GPS is on its way out, use the gps from this to power my system.

thanks

[chuckr]

I guess I am an old guy who is just not tech savvy. I want my radio to be my radio and my AIS to be my AIS. We have a ACER AIS with a separate antenna for both gps and vfh output. We will absolutely not put on a splitter.


We have a 2nd gps antenna that feeds our VHF radio, epirp, c70 in the saloon, and HF radio.


We also have a C80 and a lot of miles and I am just a simple guy so need my life uncomplicated. Makes it easier that way.

[Pizzazz]

Originally Posted by Sea-TechSystems

Are you positive that the C80 will receive AIS data over N2K? Where is that documented?

It will not. But I did not say that. It will receive/send GPS data on nmea2000. For the AIS/DSC connection you need to wire the nmea 0183. It will work at any baud rate, 4800, 9600 or 38400.

[ballvalve]

Check also the you have the latest firmware on the c80 as the last update has some ais fixes - i think it was 5.14

[svmobert]

Originally Posted by Pizzazz

It will not. But I did not say that. It will receive/send GPS data on nmea2000. For the AIS/DSC connection you need to wire the nmea 0183. It will work at any baud rate, 4800, 9600 or 38400.

Sorry, I may have mistyped.. But where is it documented that GPS data is supported on the SeaTalk2 port? I am not disputing it, I just can't find anything documentation that supports that.