VHF Location

rpwillia · Oct 12, 2012

Wired Remote

I have a Standard Horizon down below with a wired remote microphone in the cockpit. Love it and the batteries are never dead.

rpwillia · Oct 13, 2012

Wired into a plug ...

gpd955 said:
I considered that. Is it permanently wired or do you plug it in every time you go out? I want to avoid having a wire in the cockpit.

that comes out in the NavPod. Every time I go out I just bring it up from below and plug it in. Only problem I have had is one time the Admiral sort of managed to plug it in and, ahem, did not quite get it quite aligned correctly. Not sure how that happened

but I was able to get the pins straightened out. Definitely proved that the whole set up is pretty robust and somewhat admiral proof.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...l4HgAQ&usg=AFQjCNEWwRa9J3_Vxjkk-G0HPYjmqQBBFg

Silvio · Oct 14, 2012

Similar to rpwila, I have a Standard Horizon GX 2150 mounted below with a fully functioning Remote Access Mic in the cockpit. I usually leave the RAM connected and only remove it for long term storage. On the GX 2150 the RAM has a small screen that displays the AIS and ind the RAM controls all functions of the radio. I should also add that wiring the radio's AIS into the chart plotter was very simple.

paulj · Oct 14, 2012

gpd955

I keep the handheld radio on me.

I'm sure you all know why ....so I do not start a seperate disscusion on this thread.

I do not have control of the vhf radio below the deck from the helm.

paulj :troll:

paulj · Oct 15, 2012

gpd955

I'm sure you have your MMSI number..............right?

paulj :troll:

Long Story · Oct 15, 2012

I guess I am like most, the main radio below and I keep a handheld at the wheel. I got myself a Simrad HH33 this year. Is nice because it has a number of scan features, plus has DSC and (a big AND) has GPS built right it, so it gives me one more backup GPS (we have three on the boat) Sometimes just wish handhelds had more power to reach out. (the advantage of a remote mic on the main station.)

rpwillia · Oct 15, 2012

Ditto

paulj said:
I'm sure you have your MMSI number..............right? :troll:

Easy - go to BoatUS.com.

Silvio · Oct 15, 2012

rpwillia said:
Easy - go to BoatUS.com.

yup, takes all of five minutes to register an mmsi and about the same to program it into the GX 2150.

Long Story · Oct 16, 2012

Yes I do have my number - the Boat US site worked well for that. Got set up as soon as the radio arrived, even before taking it up to the boat.....

Your right, having the system without registering your number is like calling 911 and not having caller ID or your address....

paulj · Oct 16, 2012

So now that all of you have the new radios up to date and working etc.

I would like to hear about your reflected power tests................

paulj :troll:

Long Story · Oct 17, 2012

Well Paul - funny you should ask... I get bothered that, (because I have the lower station on also) I can hear traffic on the radio that my hand held does not pick up, and a 5W radio does not reach out like a 25W. It seemed some days when racing that I could not even reach the committee boat. So, (because you can't put a SWR in line on a hand held) we used a field strength meter to test. What I found out. 1. Standing helps as it gets me above the house structure and improves the signal. 2. Signal is better to the stern and sides of the boat then forward. (I believe the mast makes a difference) 3. When running scan and the GPS function you seem to run out of power in about 6-8 hours. (I know not a SWR question) 4. Handheld is great for bridge communication and ship to ship in the lanes. (we do have freighters sharing our water in Green Bay) 5. Best reception is with unit standing straight up, under the dodger but that puts it outside the reach of the person at the helm. 6. While I have my numbers the DSC locate system is not active on the great lakes as of yet, 7. Keep the antenna tight on the handheld or your signal drops to 0.

rpwillia · Oct 18, 2012

Huh?

gpd955 said:
... Didn't realize my chartplotter isn't compatible. ...

What do you mean. Doesn't the radio accept nmea 0183? What are the symptoms? On mine it would not work, would not work

, would not work

, and then out of desperation/frustration :cussing: I added a second ground at the base radio off the buss bar there (I had tied the ground in at the wheel to the GPS) and it worked like magic. :dance:

Forrest15112 · Oct 19, 2012

Long Story said:
Well Paul - funny you should ask... I get bothered that, (because I have the lower station on also) I can hear traffic on the radio that my hand held does not pick up, and a 5W radio does not reach out like a 25W. It seemed some days when racing that I could not even reach the committee boat. So, (because you can't put a SWR in line on a hand held) we used a field strength meter to test. What I found out. 1. Standing helps as it gets me above the house structure and improves the signal. 2. Signal is better to the stern and sides of the boat then forward. (I believe the mast makes a difference) 3. When running scan and the GPS function you seem to run out of power in about 6-8 hours. (I know not a SWR question) 4. Handheld is great for bridge communication and ship to ship in the lanes. (we do have freighters sharing our water in Green Bay) 5. Best reception is with unit standing straight up, under the dodger but that puts it outside the reach of the person at the helm. 6. While I have my numbers the DSC locate system is not active on the great lakes as of yet, 7. Keep the antenna tight on the handheld or your signal drops to 0.

The handheld's small ( compromise) antenna is the reason for lesser performance than the larger fixed mount. The power output isn't as big of a deal as the placement and type of antenna. If your handheld allows you to remove the antenna, you could run a coax jumper from it to the regular antenna connection at your fixed radio. This is assuming you have a better antenna, mounted higher. The handheld will perform dramatically better like this. It's a cheap fix that works great if you can deal with the cable extending out the top of the radio. Most handhelds will allow some type of wired, or wireless headset that would allow you to put the radio in a fixed position, with the big antenna connected and still have the convenience of using it without having to deal with that antenna cable sticking out the top. I wouldn't be concerned about the added cable loss from the jumper either. It is insignificant and the increase in performance from the regular antenna will far outweigh any cable loss issues.

rpwillia · Oct 21, 2012

From the 276 manual

Page 88

How Can Garmin Help You with DSC?
To receive distress calls or position reports, you must have a DSCequipped
chartplotter as well as a VHF radio with DSC support.
During normal, non-emergency position report communication,
Channel 70 (156.525 MHz) has been set aside as the VHF/DSC
digital call channel.
For a distress call, press the MayDay button on the VHF radio. The
call transmits on an emergency channel with the MMSI number
attached to the call, if the receiver has DSC support. Any DSCequipped
mariner (on sea or land) within range can receive the call.
When the GPSMAP 276C is connected to a VHF with DSC support,
the GPS unit shows a call list, log, and a directory. Basic wiring
is required for the Garmin unit and VHF radio to send and receive
NMEA data from each other.

So, you want to connect the blue and black wires to the back of your radio (see also the attached diagram). I also attached the diagram from the SH 2150 manual. Pages 15-20 in the SH 2150 manual explain it and in the Garmin manual pages 88, 103 and 104.

All that being said, my experience with the newer Garmins has been less than stellar and for me I would not have one.

VHF Location

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