Getting newer GPS to talk to older Raymarine Radar

colbysmith

colbysmith

Active member
I got most my electronics hooked up a week ago only to find out that my new Garmin GPSMAP 541s doesn't seem to communicate with my old RayMarine 72+ Pathfinder radar. Specifically in providing course and position information. OTOH, it appears that it is communicating with my Solara DSC VHF Marine radio, or at least I see the symbol on the radio that shows it is receiving location data fromt he GPS. Anyone else have trouble with a newer Garmin GPS connected to older equipment for sharing position information? I suppose I really don't need to mirror that position information on my radar, but it's nice to do so.... Also, can anyone recommend a good website for learning about DSC or AIS, or can provide a good brief on how to insure my VHF is working properly with the DSC? Colby
 
The Garmin installation guide only shows a NMEA 2000 output. I doubt this is compatible with your Raymarine radar. You might need a 2000 to 0183 converter.

Does the Garmin have an NMEA 0183 output? The installation guide references NMEA 0183 ver. 3.01, but shows no output connection. . I'm not sure what the difference is between MNEA 0183 ver. 3.01 (actually, I've never heard of it,) and the older versions, but if it's available as an output you might have to select the right sentences after you hook it up..

I'd be surprised if the Garmin can talk to an older Raymarine radar. It's the age difference, young gun versus ald un.

Boris
 
The GPSMAP 541S I have does speak NMEA 0183....in fact the wiring comes with it for that. To go to NMEA 2000 requires optional connections. But I too suspect it's the age thing....new vs. old. Sort of like trying to run all my old software on Windows Vista and newer... I'll probably talk to Garmin and RayMarine later. Right now in the middle of a move and the C-dory stuff has kind of all been put on hold... Colby
 
Now that we're discussing interfacing different units with NMEA 0183, I remember I had a hard time getting the Raymarine autopilot to receive what the JRC plotter was putting out (does that sound obscene?) I finally went into the JRC setup and selected the NMEA 0183 sentences that the Raytheon specified. It then worked. Of course, then I had to screw around some more because the VHF radio wasn't reading the data correctly. It now all works.

Good luck, Boris
 
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