GPS antenna HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Giulietta]

OK guys, especially the ellectronics gurus here...I really need your help with a question, please.

I have a Garmmin 185C GPS on my boat, that has it's dedicated antenna, that was embedded in the deck for low profile.

Now, as most know I have a radar I am installing, and that has GPS feature.

My question is, do I need a dedicated antenna for the raymarine or I can "tap" off the Garmin's antenna??

If I can what wire and connectors should I use.

I hate having to drill holes on my boat for a second GPS antenna..that's why I ask.

Thank you for your responses

Alex

[sailingdog]

Yes, you probably need to have Raymarine's GPS antenna. I doubt that the two brands are interchangeable.

[Giulietta]

damn....one more hole...I reallly hate holes..

O already have to do 4 holes for the radar mast base.

[btrayfors]

Giu,


Most GPS devices have an output connector, which allows you to connect other devices which can make use of the positioning information. This usually takes place via standard NMEA connections.

The Garmin GPSMAP 185C Sounder supports up to 3 NMEA devices. The following is from Appendix A of the Garmin manual,

"NMEA Formats
The following formats are supported for connection to up to 3 NMEA devices:
. NMEA 0180/NMEA0182
. NMEA 0183 version 1.5
. NMEA 0183 version 2.0"

So, you hook the output of the 185C to your Raymarine, and you should be good to go.

By the way, apropos of your other recent post, you'll want to be sure that the AWG18/2 wire connecting the Garmin to the radar is approved by Garmin, Raymarine, the NMEA, the ABYC, the EU, and other appropriate regulatory bodies :-) In my experience, this should not take longer than about six months. No doubt Dog will also want a piece of the action!

Bill

[ckgreenman]

Originally Posted by btrayfors

Giu,


Most GPS devices have an output connector, which allows you to connect other devices which can make use of the positioning information. This usually takes place via standard NMEA connections.

The Garmin GPSMAP 185C Sounder supports up to 3 NMEA devices. The following is from Appendix A of the Garmin manual,

"NMEA Formats
The following formats are supported for connection to up to 3 NMEA devices:
. NMEA 0180/NMEA0182
. NMEA 0183 version 1.5
. NMEA 0183 version 2.0"

So, you hook the output of the 185C to your Raymarine, and you should be good to go.

By the way, apropos of your other recent post, you'll want to be sure that the AWG18/2 wire connecting the Garmin to the radar is approved by Garmin, Raymarine, the NMEA, the ABYC, the EU, and other appropriate regulatory bodies :-) In my experience, this should not take longer than about six months. No doubt Dog will also want a piece of the action!

Bill

This is what I was thinking although the Raymarine might not accept NMEA input from another device since I think it's equipped with its own receiver correct?

I think the actual question was whether the Raymarine and the Garmin can share the same antenna. I can't speak for the specific devices but my answer would probably be no or at least not out of the box. In order for 2 devices to use the same antenna you would have to isolate them from each other using some sort of duplexor. Whether one exists for this application, I don't know. Now if you want to use the Raymarine INSTEAD of the Garmin then you might be able to find an adapter for the antenna connections.

[GeorgeB]

Again, I’m posting from work so I don’t have all my technical notes before me so I can’t get into specifics, but here goes. I also was faced with a similar situation as you and was able to make it work with a single GPS. The Raymarine E system allows for either a Raymarine protocol “talker” (in this case the GPS) or one that uses NMEA protocol. The difference is Raymarine puts an extra letter (“R”?) in front of each message sentence that supposedly makes their network run better. You can hook the NMEA device into the proper connector in back of the “E” unit. The problem is the “E” unit processes the sentence and then puts the “R” in front of it, making it useless for any NMEA reading devices downstream (In my case my DSC radio). What I did to fix this was splice a junction block in the GPS cable before it connects to the “E” unit and run a cable from the junction to the NMEA reading device. You may need a multiplexer (highly unlikely) if the junction block solution doesn’t work. You can “bench test’ all of this on your boat before you start drilling and cutting cable.

I did this a couple of years ago on Freya and it took a little bit to all the devices to talk to each other – Just wait until you add an AIS unit to the mix! The good news is your oldest is just the right size for pulling cable. I was lucky, I used my nephew right before he had a major growth spurt. Now, I have to look around for another “little guy”. I think that your GPS mounting is perfect where it is and I see no reason to mount another (you can use a handheld unit as a back-up on your ocean trip.) Good luck on your installation.

One other thing. The coating Raymarine uses on their display screen isn’t very durable, making it subject to marring and scratching. There is a company that makes protective film coverings for palm Pilots and such that makes one for the E system. I highly recommend it. (I have that name down at the boat so I won’t be able to tell you before next week.)

[camaraderie]

GeorgeB has it exactly right Giu...I did the exact same thing on my boat to plit the NEMA signal beofore running it to my Ray Plotter and two other DSC devices. Your installer should have no problems with this.

[Giulietta]

THANK YOU...

Damn...you guys made my head spin...what the hell are you talking about???

In a boat I can only sail...are you nuts??? I don't even know half thje stuff you guys talk about..

I m calling Cam on the phone...I am more confused than before...

sorry..my fault not yours

[Cruisingdad]

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

One other thing. The coating Raymarine uses on their display screen isn’t very durable, making it subject to marring and scratching. There is a company that makes protective film coverings for palm Pilots and such that makes one for the E system. I highly recommend it. (I have that name down at the boat so I won’t be able to tell you before next week.)

I am interested in hearing about that, George. My outside unit has a scratch on the screen. I quickly learned to be very careful cleaning it.

Brian

[ckgreenman]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

THANK YOU...

Damn...you guys made my head spin...what the hell are you talking about???

In a boat I can only sail...are you nuts??? I don't even know half thje stuff you guys talk about..

I m calling Cam on the phone...I am more confused than before...

sorry..my fault not yours

Ok I'll rephrase. I'll make sure to use small words for you

take the garmin thingy and get a wire to hook it to the raymarine thingy so they can talk and be friends. If they get along the garmin thingy till tell the raymarine thingy where the boat is and the raymarine thingy will show you. Just be nice to the raymarine thingy..