NMEA 0183 nightmare

rigi36 · 19 June 2014, 16:02

Wiring the Standard Horizon GX2100e to a Garmin 451s

I've wired it up according to this diagram:
http://www.standardhorizon.com/downl...lication%2Fpdf

Not getting any position/time shown on the radio so not convinced they are communicating.

I have been, however, setting up in a garage and the garmin hasn't found a satellite (flashing ? over the boat)

Could this be the reason nothing is being passed to the VHF? I'm not sure as the Garmin is displaying a position albeit in the wrong place in the USA.

Any help appreciated.

A1an · 19 June 2014, 16:28

Did you set the garmin to talk NMEA-NMEA.

Been there before.

rigi36 · 19 June 2014, 16:34

Garmin port 1 is set to nmea std

Do I have to change anything else?

A1an · 19 June 2014, 16:38

Erm, can't remember what menu it's in and my manual is in the boat but I don't think that's it.

I struggled for ages then I realised it was set wrong.

rigi36 · 19 June 2014, 16:51

Not with the boat now but there were some random acronyms that were either on or off in one of the menus that I didn't change from default. Can anyone advise? Thanks.

captnjack · 19 June 2014, 16:58

At least with mine...
The GPS does have to have enough of a signal to acquire a position otherwise you'll get a bunch of dashes on the VHF. You might have to pull it out of the garage.

Will75 · 19 June 2014, 16:58

Without a valid satellite the lock, the data will not be accepted by the VHF. If you are unsure if there is data getting through, just stick a meter on VDC across the two wires...should be 3-5v flickering on an off. If it was me I would stick the two wires on my tongue...its easy to tell that way....but that's me not you.

Alzi · 19 June 2014, 17:00

Online manual - have a quick look at page 51-52

http://static.garmincdn.com/pumac/GP...6_OM_WW_EN.pdf

Alan.

rigi36 · 19 June 2014, 17:13

Think it may be the sentence stuff but not sure what it needs to be set to

Pikey Dave · 19 June 2014, 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by rigi36

Think it may be the sentence stuff but not sure what it needs to be set to

You're on a hiding to nowhere until you get a valid GPS lock on the Garmin.

A1an · 19 June 2014, 17:27

Just been and had a look at boat, Serial Port 1 set to NMEA Std, in the shed the VHF displays no GPS signal being received, roll it to the door and it receives a fix from GPS.

I don't think I've ever tried it in shed before now.

jyasaki · 19 June 2014, 20:20

So it's working then?

jky

rigi36 · 19 June 2014, 20:47

Nope haven't been to the boat yet. Thanks for the suggestions, I will try it out. I guess there's no way to check the radio is transmitting to the VHF?

captnjack · 19 June 2014, 23:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by rigi36

I guess there's no way to check the radio is transmitting to the VHF?

You mean transmitting to the aerial? Other than a radio check?

jyasaki · 20 June 2014, 03:49

Radio *is* the VHF. Bit I know what you're saying.

If the VHF is receiving a position fix (which of course means the GPS has a position, which won't happen in a garage), there should be an icon on the VHF display (I think it's a satellite dish on SH units.) Mine will also display the last received coords (SH PS-2000 driven by a Lowrance plotter.)

jky

HughN · 20 June 2014, 06:40

Simulator mode (page 5 of the manual) results in 'valid' data being transmitted without the GPS needing to see a single satellite.

You can also edit the speed - that way you will be able to see the position data changing.

Have you set the baud rate? My VHF only receives at 4,800.

HughN · 20 June 2014, 06:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will75

If it was me I would stick the two wires on my tongue...its easy to tell that way.

The only time I have done this I followed it by shaking my head and muttering "Hmmm. Bit 28 of the GPRMC sentence seems to be set to zero..."

Will75 · 20 June 2014, 07:54

If you do it often enough you can learn to feel the status flag in RMC where you would normally taste sweetness.

boristhebold · 20 June 2014, 09:13

1. Take it out of garage and see if you get a satalite fix and position on your plotter.
If yes then;
2. check the nema connections twice
if ok
3. check the baud rates on whichever port your using

tips
different manufactures use different colour cables for nmea 0183 in many cases
make sure out connects to in and in connects to out
do a simple wiring diagram and check twice againts any diagrams provided
if using crimp connectors then check the connections carefully, the nmea wires are very thin and it is easy to have a bad connection.

rigi36 · 22 June 2014, 22:36

Thanks all

Pulled it out of garage and it all worked perfectly