Another DSC / GPS interface question

Razorbill RIBs · 29 January 2010, 22:36

Sorry...have searched the forums and lots out there, but am confusing myself. It's an old garmin GPS mating to a new Standard horizon GX1500...so a basic set up.

I have wired a common earth and both units are powering up. Now need to make NMEA connections......I have:

Garmin Blue NMEA OUT
Garmin brown NMEA IN

S/H Blue NMEA OUT +
S/H Green NMEA OUT –
S/H Grey NMEA IN +

Could someone please tell me which S/H colour goes to which Garmin Colour....intend to upgrade to a decent plotter soon, but need to get this wired in the morning if possible.

Thanks

Dan

PS I have a Demek vHF kicking around if anyone wants it (free to good home - postage only). It wouldn't have looked out of place on Noahs Ark, but works fine.

geoffs · 29 January 2010, 23:25

Garmin Blue to SH grey
Garmin Black to SH black (-ve to -ve)

Unless you want the radio to talk to the plotter i.e. return the DSC data then that is all you need. If you do then:

Garmin brown to SH blue
Garmin black to SH green

Enjoy.

Razorbill RIBs · 29 January 2010, 23:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by geoffs

Garmin Blue to SH grey
Garmin Black to SH black (-ve to -ve)

Unless you want the radio to talk to the plotter i.e. return the DSC data then that is all you need. If you do then:

Garmin brown to SH blue
Garmin black to SH green

Enjoy.

Thanks Geoffs...just the one connection left to make then...will upgrade to a plotter when I can afford it!

Much appreciated

Razorbill RIBs · 30 January 2010, 18:12

Not working............

I have made the connection Garmin blue to S/H grey.

The earth is common in so far that both the black cables (one from the Garmin GPS and one from the S/H vHF) are both in the same block of the buzzbar...

Is this common earth solution sufficient?

I am seeing no GPS symbol on the vHF....can anyone help? Do I need to tell the GPS to look for the vHF? It's an old Garmin model 120XL...can't find anything in the manual.

Can anyone shine any light on this please?

Sorry to be a pain, but I'm having a pretty bad day generally....LOTS of probs which simply shouldn't be there (with the OB). Despite a polite approach, the offending dealer has really pushed my buttons today. He has now been extended what will be his final chance to rectify his shoddy behavior /misdescription....not in may nature to act like this and might sound melodramatic, but I would hate for another RIBnetter to suffer the same fate....it isn't acceptible to me to be treated like this......will be taking pics as we delve into the issues and will keep you posted if a satisfactory conclusion isn't reached.

Dan

JSP · 30 January 2010, 18:21

Name and shame Dan !!

Razorbill RIBs · 30 January 2010, 18:43

Hi JSP.....long time no speak... hope you are well mate!

As you may tell I'm a little wound up at the moment, and am going to pop out for a pint to calm down. I will be seeking a more detailed understanding of the issue / a resolution tomorrow....am also waiting to see if my polite request is met....

If it's not i will not hesitate to detail the issues I have encountered in a balanced and unemotional way.......what is most annoying is that others here have seemingly had good service from the same party....lets hope there is a 'positive' in that!

Dan

Poly · 30 January 2010, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Worth

I am seeing no GPS symbol on the vHF....can anyone help? Do I need to tell the GPS to look for the vHF? It's an old Garmin model 120XL...can't find anything in the manual.

quite possibly or to tell it which baud settings etc to use.

You want to be sending data in NMEA 0183 'format'.
This is 4800 baud (may be called something like speed or bps) - you may need to set number of data bits, parity etc if it is a really old unit - google/wikipedia will reveal the answers.

EDIT: A quick look suggest p43 of your manual: http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/GPS12...nersManual.pdf will tell you how to set the OUTPUT data format.

Downhilldai · 31 January 2010, 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Worth

As you may tell I'm a little wound up at the moment, and am going to pop out for a pint to calm down. I will be seeking a more detailed understanding of the issue / a resolution tomorrow....am also waiting to see if my polite request is met....

If it's not i will not hesitate to detail the issues I have encountered in a balanced and unemotional way.......what is most annoying is that others here have seemingly had good service from the same party....lets hope there is a 'positive' in that!

Dan

You back from the pub yet?

Sorted and happy or name and shame time?

Razorbill RIBs · 01 February 2010, 08:15

Got back from Pub (and on an unrelated note, have even mamaged another sneaky visit since....bonus)

Think we are making progress....see what the week brings. Things not as bad as they could have been, but pretty far from happy! Will let you know when I get things sorted.

D.

9D280 · 01 February 2010, 10:12

I had similar fuin with my GPS12 & an Icom DSC- if you aren't using any input to the Garmin, pick "NMEA/NMEA" (means you don't end up with it looking for NMEA on it's input & squirting something random out that the radio wonlt understand) then (from memory) when you are in "System- interface - NMEA" ther is a "settings" option - highlight it & play with the baud rate. I think I had to reduce mine to 3600 (your SH may be at the lower baud rate to allow connection to really old stuff)

Also not fully digested your wiring, but I have separate -ve (earth) for the data & power - the theory being that when I finally get a plotter, I can patch them across should the plotter take a canary fit. Also means the data isd independant of any weird earth loops caused by short circuits / internal wiring of future toys.

Hope this helps, although may be a tad late........

Razorbill RIBs · 09 February 2010, 17:27

Hope this helps, although may be a tad late........ [/QUOTE]

9D280, Polwart et al,

belated thanks for your assistance with this....sorry i didn't thank you at the time, have been a bit preoccupied

Upshot is that I couldn't get them talking easily, got fed up trying, bashed my credit card and ordered a SH C180i Chartplotter....due with me this week.....defeatest attitude I know, but needed my own plotter anyway

Logic being that SH to SH interface can't defeat me

Thanks for the PM's re other probs...will update you when we have everything sorted

Dan

jyasaki · 10 February 2010, 16:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Worth

Upshot is that I couldn't get them talking easily, got fed up trying, bashed my credit card and ordered a SH C180i Chartplotter...

Well, yeah; that's one way to take care of it.

Luck with the new toy...

jky

Razorbill RIBs · 11 February 2010, 17:43

All rigged and working /talking.....Hooray!

I have been using heat shrink connectors for the wiring, but as i was working on the boat today a mate came past and saw what I was doing....

He gave me some connectors which are (very similar to) those which he uses at work as a BT engineer

They are brilliant, little clear crimp shut connectors which have a glue inside,,,literally put the wires into the block, clamp down and you have a waterproof connection, no stripping of wires etc.

Worth trying to 'find' some if anyone is doing similar work (they only work on small gauge telecoms type sized wires).

Oh, loving the C180 joystick too!

Dan

Downhilldai · 11 February 2010, 19:41

I've used them - good aren't they?