charplotter antenna gps

MI3GTO · 28 January 2012, 15:35

Folks in general if I have a chart plotter that uses a external antenna, if I feed any NMEA signal to it should it detect the data? I think I have a broken antenna and would like to test the plotter unit by using another working gps with nmea out. likewise if i connect the suspect antenna to a 12v supply and the nmea wires o a serial on a laptop running nmea monitor software should i see the data? i ask as i am not sure the antenna uses nmea???

MikeCC · 29 January 2012, 10:08

Can you post the plotter and GPS antenna make/model numbers?

MI3GTO · 29 January 2012, 12:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeCC

Can you post the plotter and GPS antenna make/model numbers?

Yep guess that would help :-)

I will tomorrow as the kit is not here at home. I have found that there was no 12vdc out from the plotter to the antenna. I fed a 12vdc on the cable from an external battery but still no recognition of the antenna by the plotter. So the thinking is along the lines of testing the antenna first to see if it is sending data out. If the antenna is working that leaves the plotter.

I will post make and model tomorrow. Are there service diagrams available for marine kit?

ashbypower · 29 January 2012, 13:48

Is it NMEA 2000, if so a seperate 12v feed is required to the backbone!!!

MI3GTO · 29 January 2012, 16:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Is it NMEA 2000, if so a seperate 12v feed is required to the backbone!!!

I don't think so...will check all tomorrow

jyasaki · 29 January 2012, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Is it NMEA 2000, if so a seperate 12v feed is required to the backbone!!!

Lowrance does not need external 12V if all you're using is the GPS module. Anything else, and yes, you're right.

Don't know if that's true with other manufacturers.

jky

ashbypower · 29 January 2012, 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Lowrance does not need external 12V if all you're using is the GPS module. Anything else, and yes, you're right.

Don't know if that's true with other manufacturers.

jky

Sorry But beg to differ, we have installed numerous Lowrance networks

Taken from the Lowrance website
" The NMEA 2000® network 12 Volt Power Source connects to the boat's 12-volt supply to power devices like the EP-10 Fuel Flow Sensor, LMF-400 Multi-Function Gauge, and LGC-2000 GPS Module."

MI3GTO · 30 January 2012, 15:17

Lowrance GlobalMap 3300C with LGC-2000 antenna.

jyasaki · 30 January 2012, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Sorry But beg to differ, we have installed numerous Lowrance networks

Stand corrected. I recalled what I said from setting up my old unit; incorrectly, apparently, from rereading the manual.

Sorry for the confusion.

jky

ashbypower · 30 January 2012, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Stand corrected. I recalled what I said from setting up my old unit; incorrectly, apparently, from rereading the manual.

Sorry for the confusion.

jky

Chris · 30 January 2012, 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by MI3GTO

Lowrance GlobalMap 3300C with LGC-2000 antenna.

If your antenna is not working drop me a note as I have a spare one that has never been used.

9D280 · 31 January 2012, 15:50

Back to the original question, yes, but be careful that your other GPS is likely to throw out NMEA 0183. The Lowrance "backbone" uses NMEA 2K.

I don't believe they are electrically compatible, although the digital "sentences" are the same...

If it is plotter function you want to test, no reason why not to plug, say, a handheld garmin in to feed it lat / long on the 0183 bus. (probably wired through the same connector as the unit power supply if it's like mine) That won't prove the backbone / NMEA 2k connection / decoding functions tho'.

.

MI3GTO · 01 February 2012, 12:14

Interesting I have looked at the manual for the unit. One question arises. If the antenna uses NMEA2000 do you have to connect both the NMEA2000 power cable (red + black and shield -) and the units power supply cable (red + black-) if you are running the unit separate from any other 2000 network ie only the antenna and the plotter?

9D280 · 01 February 2012, 15:43

Yes!

The NMEA2K network needs "bus power" (yes, I know it sounds like a public transport forum!) to feed the sensors etc. If you don't have that power in the network, your GPS pod is about as much use as being up a hill holding an Etrex with no bateries in.

If you already have a network, there may be a power feed into it somewhere. If that feed was , say from the plotter you are replacing, then there will be no feed now. If you got an old network, follow the entire length of it, and look for a T that goes to a power supply (should go via a switch & a 3A fuse) If this is a totally new installation, the NMEA power lead on your plotter does that job, and saves you another T connector rattling around inside your console. - the Plotter then supplies the network power. Just remember the switch & the fuse, and only connect one power supply to the backbone!

For reference, the NMEA 0183 is simply comms - no power on that cable.

MikeCC · 01 February 2012, 20:05

From a quick look at the manual it seems fairly clear. If you have no othee NMEA 2000 devices you plug the GPS antenna via the adapter cable straight into the unit where it gets power and comms (ie it's a one device NMEA 2000 bus). You must have the terminator on the 'spare' bit of the cable though. In that respect, jky is correct as the cable does all that's needed when you only have the GPS antenna.

So actually you don't need any other power source as long as the GPS antenna is the only device.

Best way to check (assuming connection is OK) is to borrow another antenna and see what happens.

NMEA 2000 sentences have a different structure to 0183 - binary not ASCII for starters. You won't see anything hooking up to a serial port. The only way to connect the antenna to a PC is using a gateway - like the Actiisense NGT-1 @ around £120.

If it proves to be faulty, a new NMEA 2000 antenna is quite pricey but no reason not to connect an 0183 type.

9D280 · 02 February 2012, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeCC

So actually you don't need any other power source as long as the GPS antenna is the only device.

I maybe didn't write that too clearly yesterday. The Lowrance plotters have 2 power cables - one for the plotter itself, the other to supply power to the network. The theroy being if you already have a powered up network (e.g from another plotter in the chart room) and now want to install your new plotter on the fly bridge, you can do so without "double powering" the network.

If I was reading right above, then MI3GTO has only a plotter & the GPS pod, but has so far only connected the plotter power cable.
If I misunderstood, apologies for confusing matters.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeCC

NMEA 2000 sentences have a different structure to 0183 - binary not ASCII for starters. You won't see anything hooking up to a serial port. The only way to connect the antenna to a PC is using a gateway - like the Actiisense NGT-1 @ around £120.

If it proves to be faulty, a new NMEA 2000 antenna is quite pricey but no reason not to connect an 0183 type.

I tested mine last night - switched off the 2K power, and patched my 0183 from the Garmin handleld into the plotter. One "where's my GPS signal?" error message on the plotter and a dive into the setup menu to turn on "0183 in" later and off it went.

MI3GTO · 02 February 2012, 19:36

A real big BIG thanks to everyone. I have yet to get it working but now understand it a lot more and am making progress as now I see power on the antenna cable. Also found this link that may prove useful Troubleshooting Module Not Responding

Have a new antenna on route (cheers Chris) so will let you all know the result. G