Garmin, Raymarine and MacENC

[Joidevivre]

Hey folks,

Planning out new electronics and have a question about networking...

FACTS:
1) Have an apple laptop running MacENC, with a USB GPS puck.
2) Have a Raymarine ST2000 tiller pilot.
3) Plan to purchase a Garmin GMI20 display w DST800 triducer and gWind wireless transducer
4) Plan to purchase an Actisense NGT-1 USB to N2k gateway.

QUESTIONS:
1) What is the best way to get info to the TP?
Ray manual is a tad unclear about Seatalk vs N2k. From what I can tell, it listened to N0183 or ST, but not N2k

2) Can I connect the GMI20's N0183 out to the Ray TP N0183 input?

3) Do I need an Actisense USG-1 USB to N0183 as well to speak to the TP?

4) Will the TP be able to steer to waypoints and routes from MacENC or to wind data from the Garmin gear?

5) Will MacENC be able to receive wind, depth, etc from the Garmin gear?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
JdV

 

[buzzerk]

I installed/wired MacENC w/Raymarine SPX-5 wheel pilot, bluetooth and usb GPS pucks. And Camino-101 class B AIS. Using ShipModul MiniPlex lite as the data buffer. To the VHF (DSC distress) as well.

As for getting NMEA data to MacENC it's the format 0183 or newer 2000. Not the manufactures formatting.

You must ensure the NMEA data you want is available as such FROM the device! (to get MacENC to see the data)

IMHO, diff manu are loath to share data; even NMEA . . . check, check, and double check.

I have to endure additional expense just because RayMarine is NOT backward compatible!! In order to get the Bi-Data ST-40 (depth, speed) to talk to the SPX-5 ($150 wire). And then check to see if it (depth, speed) becomes available as an output to NMEA data for MacENC, which I doubt. (last I looked, nothing in the Owners Manual (RayMarine)).

I should have 'bit the bullitt" and gone with Furuno.

After you are certain the data is present for MacENC then it becomes a sequencing problem . . . I think the order you connect from MacENC is critical, as I had to make notes to be sure I remembered.

hope that helps . . .

 

[Prime Time]

I've called Raymarine technical support. Long hold time but that are helpful once you get to talk with a person. Don't conjecture just ask them.