GPS NMEA input for old DSC VHF

[CUSAC]

Please forgive all the acronyms in the title!

My old chartplotter is dead due to having about 200ml of water in it! The problem is that the old plotter had NMEA 0183 out to provide the ICOM IC-M423 with a position. Don't want to spend a fortune on a new plotter and the cheaper end of the market seem to have done away with NMEA output.

I still have a Lowrance LGC 12W GPS puck on the A frame from the old plotter. Does anyone know if this can be wired to the radio with a power input added or does it need the plotter to convert its signal to something readable by the ICOM.

Any assistance or an alternative way to cheaply get a position to the radio would be appreciated.

If not then I either have to live without a position on the radio which isn't ideal or replace the radio but the new models all seem to be smaller (why do they do this?! great for a new boat but PITA for upgrading) so would need an adaptor plate.

Thanks

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by CUSAC

Please forgive all the acronyms in the title!

My old chartplotter is dead due to having about 200ml of water in it! The problem is that the old plotter had NMEA 0183 out to provide the ICOM IC-M423 with a position. Don't want to spend a fortune on a new plotter and the cheaper end of the market seem to have done away with NMEA output.

I still have a Lowrance LGC 12W GPS puck on the A frame from the old plotter. Does anyone know if this can be wired to the radio with a power input added or does it need the plotter to convert its signal to something readable by the ICOM.

Any assistance or an alternative way to cheaply get a position to the radio would be appreciated.

If not then I either have to live without a position on the radio which isn't ideal or replace the radio but the new models all seem to be smaller (why do they do this?! great for a new boat but PITA for upgrading) so would need an adaptor plate.

Thanks

It seems that the output of the LGC12 is native NMEA0183. In theory, you should be able to put this straight into your VHF.

[CUSAC]

Many thanks, that's useful. Wasn't quite sure on the output language. Happy with providing 12v power direct to the unit and a ground. Can't quite work out which cable on the Icom to connect the "data out" to.

The Icom has a green "listener B" cable for NMEA negative and a yellow "listener A" for NMEA positive. The Lowrance puck just has one "data out" whereas the plotter had two wires.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by CUSAC

Many thanks, that's useful. Wasn't quite sure on the output language. Happy with providing 12v power direct to the unit and a ground. Can't quite work out which cable on the Icom to connect the "data out" to.

The Icom has a green "listener B" cable for NMEA negative and a yellow "listener A" for NMEA positive. The Lowrance puck just has one "data out" whereas the plotter had two wires.

It can only go one of 2 ways,if it doesn’t work swap it around. You won’t do any damage.

[CUSAC]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

It can only go one of 2 ways,if it doesn’t work swap it around. You won’t do any damage.

True! Thought it might have needed the two wires but sounds like from your comment the radio just needs the one wire input. Will give it a go and see. Thanks

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by CUSAC

True! Thought it might have needed the two wires but sounds like from your comment the radio just needs the one wire input. Will give it a go and see. Thanks

You’ll need the data out from the GPS (orange) to a listener on your radio. The shield on the gps cable needs earthing. You can connect it to the -ve on the 12V supply. You might have to go into the configuration on the VHF to tell it which com port to use.