SeaTalk

[Gene]

Is it possible to connect a Garmin 182 up to a Autohelm ST3000? Garmin instructions show how to connect to a "autopilot" using NMEA. Do you just hook that NMEA data outlet wire up to the Autohelm SeaTalk wire? If so what communication is possible?

 

[Pete]

Call Garmin

Call Garmin tech support or Autohelm (Raymarine formaly Ratheon) tech support. I think you also have to ground the unit.At least I did on my unit.

 

[Allen Schweitzer]

Connect to NMEA, NOT Sea-Talk

Gene,I've got the ST4000+ Autohelm and on my unit there are 2 separtae data input terminals on the back. One pair is for Sea Talk, the other is for NMEA. They are NOT interchangable.Sea Talk is a proprietary communication protocol that only works with certain RayMarine products. NMEA is more universal, and there are NMEA inputs for your autopilot available as an option. The NMEA system only uses 2 wires. Just don't confuse the 2 terminals. You may damage the electronics if you hook it up wrong. If you don't have an owner's manual, go to www.raymarine.com & you can download one from their web site.I use NMEA to connect my AutoHelm to my Loran & it works great. From the NMEA I can get distance to waypoint, bearing to waypoint, crosstrack error, long/lat, and of course the autopilot will steer to a waypoint in "track mode." Though my loran calculates speed and ETA, my autopilot doesn't read in that information. Perhaps it's because my loran is over 15 years old.Good luck!Allen Schweitzers/v DrambuieC-30 Hull# 632

 

[Bob Bass]

Use the NMEA

I have a Garmin 120 and 48 MNEA outputs go to a two-pole two-throw switch so I can use either to run the autopilot. The NMEA signal then goes to the autopilot NMEA input. I have returned from the Bahamas to Ft. Pierce using 11 waypoints and never touched the wheel with the autopilot on TRACK. The autopilot puts the GPS signal into the SEA Talk system so that the data can be displayed on the radar and all other Raymarine instruments.