Raymarine C80 NMEA 0183 to DSC/AIS VHF

[Thank you dad]

Trying to get my new AIS receiver VHF, Si Tex MDA 4, to read GPS data from my raymarine system.

I have the NMEA 0183 Cable plugged into the back on my C80 classic MFD which has 2 output wires. The VHF has 7 wires listed below

Red USBRX
Yellow +5V
Green USBTX
Black MINIGPS_RX
Brown NC
Qrange MINIGPS_TX
Bare GND

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Additionally, the plotter can read AIS data, will the VHF be able to send this data back on NMEA 0183 for the plotter to read?

Thank you
Jeff

[Dave852]

Your c80 classic can only receive Ais data at 38000 baud rate. But the radio can not receive GPS at that rate.
That's using NEMA 0183. There is a work around where you can export gps using NEMA 2000 and import AIS using NEMA 0183. Or supply GPS from a different source.

[Pizzazz]

The above is not fully correct. The C80 can receive both GPS data and AIS data at 4800. It is a little slower than the standard but works just fine. Connect radio tx to chart plotter rx and vice versa. Set chart plotter to output GPS on nmea, radio to output AIS on nmea. Set both ports to 4800. It would work. This is assuming that you have Seatalk GPS into the C80. If not, feed your GPS source to the radio and set the radio to pass GPS data along.

If you are having difficulty feeding GPS data into the system, solve that problem first, then the AIS problem.

[svmobert]

Originally Posted by Thank you dad

Trying to get my new AIS receiver VHF, Si Tex MDA 4, to read GPS data from my raymarine system.

I have the NMEA 0183 Cable plugged into the back on my C80 classic MFD which has 2 output wires. The VHF has 7 wires listed below

Red USBRX
Yellow +5V
Green USBTX
Black MINIGPS_RX
Brown NC
Qrange MINIGPS_TX
Bare GND

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Additionally, the plotter can read AIS data, will the VHF be able to send this data back on NMEA 0183 for the plotter to read?

Thank you
Jeff

You need to specify the vhf radio make and model for an accurate answer as to how to make this combination work best

[Dave852]

Originally Posted by Pizzazz

The above is not fully correct. The C80 can receive both GPS data and AIS data at 4800.

Maybe there has been a software update? Been messing with Raymarine classic product for years and you always had to receive AIS at 38,400

[smac999]

No ais unit puts out data at 4800 that I have ever seen. All are 38,400

You will need a multiplexer to make both work together.

You also need the newest software in plotter to get ais.

[Thank you dad]

Originally Posted by Sea-TechSystems

You need to specify the vhf radio make and model for an accurate answer as to how to make this combination work best

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

[Dave852]

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

Has to be at 38400 to receive AIS but nothing will show up until you get gps out using another method

[Thank you dad]

Originally Posted by Dave852

Has to be at 38400 to receive AIS but nothing will show up until you get gps out using another method

So you're saying that i cant use the GPS data from the C-80 ?

thank you

[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.

[Dave852]

Originally Posted by Thank you dad

So you're saying that i cant use the GPS data from the C-80 ?



thank you

No, you just can not use 0183, I did it using 2000, it's just been a while and I can not remember exactly. There were parts involved, perhaps a multiplexer as a previous poster had mentioned. I will try and look for a link to the discussion i had on the Raymarine forum about it

[brownr377]

The C80 can absolutely send GPS data out NMEA 0183 at 38400. I just checked that’s how my radio is getting GPS data from the C80 right at this minute.

[Thank you dad]

Originally Posted by brownr377

The C80 can absolutely send GPS data out NMEA 0183 at 38400. I just checked that’s how my radio is getting GPS data from the C80 right at this minute.

So based on the below wiring options going into the VHF, which should i connect to the 2 wires coming out of the C-80 NMEA port?

Red USBRX
Yellow +5V
Green USBTX
Black MINIGPS_RX
Brown NC
Qrange MINIGPS_TX
Bare GND


Thank you

[brownr377]

Originally Posted by Thank you dad

Red USBRX
Yellow +5V
Green USBTX
Black MINIGPS_RX
Brown NC
Qrange MINIGPS_TX
Bare GND

That i don’t know, usually nmea is — in +/- and out +/-, 4 wires total for an in/out connection. Might take a call to SiTex if that’s the only wiring information they give you.

[Brewgyver]

Your plotter will output GPS at 4800 baud on NMEA 0183, and on thousands of boats this is the only data connection made, so that the DSC function on the VHF will be enabled. Two wires, easy. BUT from looking at the Si Tex manual, your radio can't be set to receive GPS on NMEA 0183. The only two options listed for GPS source are Smart GPS and NMEA 2000. I'm not sure if the firmware on the C80 will output GPS on NMEA 2000, but if it can then you should be able to connect via NMEA 2000 and set the Si Tex GPS source accordingly. IF you're not able to get GPS out of the C80 on NMEA 2000, it looks like your simplest solution would be to get the Si Tex Smart GPS antenna and connect it.

The C80 will receive AIS over NMEA 0183 at 38400 baud, as mentioned above. Your radio can be set to output AIS over NMEA 0183, so no problem there. Connect Si Tex NMEA transmit pair to the orange/white - orange/green pair of the C80.

BTW, that Si Tex manual leaves much to be desired.