ICOM VHF Loran Input

[shemandr]

I'm trying to get GPS input from my Raymarine GPS/Charplotter to the VHF radio in order to take advantage of the DSC function.
The manual indicates the input to the VHF from the GPS is and RCA jack.
It doesn't say how to connect the GPS NMEA output to a RCA type jack. Is this possible? Where should I look for the GPS NMEA output? For an integrated system like this, I really don't know where the NMEA output comes out. Would it be at the display in the cockpit or at the module under the aft berth? Can an NMEA output wire be 20 or more feet long?

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GPS RECEIVER JACK​

Connects to a GPS receiver to input the position data and
time data.​

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A GPS receiver requires an NMEA0183 ver. 2.0 for position or
time indication, etc. Ask your dealer about the GPS receiver.​

NMEA (+)
RCA​

NMEA (—)

 

[caguy]

I take it you read the BoatUS article on this. If not you may want to check it out, if anything to increase universal feeling that you are not alone. I tried to hook up my Garmin to my VHS and it appeared to be fairly straight forward. There was no plug and play, but the pigtails were appropriately colored. I got no reaction from my radio that it was connected to the GPS. I can’t figure out how to tell if it’s the GPS or the radio malfunctioning.
I finally gave up and bought more flares.
Even if you do get it hooked up there is no way to test it without alarming everyone within a 100 mile radius.

 

[Ron20324]

LORAN ??? On the Ray C80 there is a jack on the back with a 5-pin connector. You need an RCA to 2 of the 5 pins cord.

 

[Bill Roosa]

NMEA out from the chart ploter should come from the unit in the aft birth. The Oner's manual will have the pinout for NMEA out + and NMEA out - (the - may be a common ground also). Common practice is to make the center terminal of RCA jacks the communications "hot" or the NMEA out + from the chart ploter. The - is connected to the outside terminal.
You can check if the VHF is getting NMEA data by noting that your lat-long are displayed on one of the screens or there is a "have NMEA data" icon displayed.

 

[caguy]

Is there a meter that can be used to see if the is an NMEA Signal? Would a volt meter work?

 

[windward54]

ICOM uses RCA phono jacks to hook up the GPS lines for the DSC function. The C80 should have a 5-pin plug, which really only has four wires. Two wires do NMEA in and two wires do NMEA out, a hot and a ground. Hook the two wires for the NMEA out from C80 to the NMEA in for the radio. The center pin of the jack is the hot, the outer case is the ground.

If there is a second RCA jack, that is for the DSC received signal back to C80. When some one hits the button or "calls" your radio, this line will place the info onto the C80. This jack is hooked up to the NMEA in on the C80.

The C80 plug wires are color coded. I don't have my manual here, but you can look it up in your book. And RCA plugs can be bought at your local Radio Shack.

 

[Bryce22345]

Is there a meter that can be used to see if the is an NMEA Signal? Would a volt meter work?

NEMA 0183 is a slow speed digital square wave. an old analog meter will work best. you'll see the needle wiggling somewhere mid range. most of the never digital meters have slow sampling rates so its hard to see if there is data available.

 

[Ron20324]

My C80 uses cable number R08004. NMEA out + is pin 3/yellow. Nmea- is pin 4/brown.

 

[caguy]

NEMA 0183 is a slow speed digital square wave. an old analog meter will work best. you'll see the needle wiggling somewhere mid range. most of the never digital meters have slow sampling rates so its hard to see if there is data available.

Thanks I'll give it another try.

 

[windward54]

Thanks I'll give it another try.

Frank, check to make sure you have the NMEA out of the gps unit going to the NMEA in on the radio. I see people hooking up the wires incorrectly a lot of the time, going out-to-out or in-to-in. Also, if you spliced the wires, this might be another problem. I've had a terrible time splicing such small wires. I now use termianl eyes and a termianl block. Turns out to be easier for me, makes it a snap to check continuity, and allows me to add on later easier.

 

[Scott B]

NMEA out on my Raymarine 435 is Brown (+) and Yellow (-), I just looked for them on the weekend. Mine are inside the instrument panel at the helm below the chartplotter.

ICOM input is RCA with (+) centre and (-) outer.

Question I have is what type of wire to run. I have about 30' snaking from helm to nav station inside the cabin. You'd think with all the wires running from the helm to the nav station / electrical panel insdie the cabin, they'd run a couple extra just for this..... Hey Hunter you listening ???

 

[Ron20324]

...GPS input from my Raymarine GPS/Charplotter to the VHF .

Have you comsidered getting the manual for the chartplotter? You never said what model you have, so helping is difficult.

 

[Bob S]

Scott,

I asked the same question a few weeks ago. I had some Beldon shielded wire I used to make RS232 runs with. I am using it for my hookup. What a pain snaking wires. I couldn't get it up the pedestal guard. I used an electrician's snake but it kept disconnecting at the bend. I guess the small crimp from the bend was just enough to strangle the wire. It is the huge radar cable Raymarine uses. Measures over a 1/2".
CAT 5 cable was also suggested and it has 8 leads for future needs?

I am hooking up a Standard Horizon radio and it says your chart plotter's NMES output be transmitting at 4800 baud rate. I'm not sure what the factory setting is for the C80.

 

[JVB]

On my Cobra VHS you can do a position send operation. Send to any ship or better send to a friend whose MMSI number you know. That confirms that it is working without sending a MayDay.

 

[caguy]

NEMA 0183 is a slow speed digital square wave. an old analog meter will work best. you'll see the needle wiggling somewhere mid range. most of the never digital meters have slow sampling rates so its hard to see if there is data available.

Thanks Bryce et al. I checked the GPS nmea out and in wires with a digital meter and the reading cycled between 0 volts a 2 volts approximately. So I bought a new VHF radio and in taking out the old radio I cut the red and black wires at the same time shorting it out and blowing the fuse. That was fine I rationalized that the power should be off when I hook up the new radio anyway. I hooked up the power line and then hooked up the in and out wires to the GPS. Turned the radio on and still no GPS. Its a good thing I don't have an oven on the boat or I would have stuck my head in it. Then it dawned on me when the fuse blew it also turned off the GPS which had to be restarted. I anxiously waited while the GPS located satellites and finally the GPS locked in, I checked the radio and taa daa there on the radio it said GPS ok. I hit the button and there was the lat and longitudes.
Thanks for all of you help.
BTW: Don't give up shemander, it worth the effort. After being out in 35 mph winds and 10ft seas yesterday I came to appreciate how important that feature is, especially if you are solo and something goes wrong.