PC/SeaTalk/NMEA

Interface Box

Owner’s

Handbook

Document number: 81166-3

Date: 1 February 2002

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Copyright © Raymarine Limited 2002

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Operation and Installation

Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction .......................................... 3

Chapter 2: Mounting ............................................... 4

Chapter 3: Operation/Wiring ................................. 6

3.1 NMEA Output 6

3.2 NMEA Input

3.3 Main Alarm

9

12

3.4 Connecting to a Personal Computer 14

3.5 Connecting to a PC with RayTech Navigator 19

Chapter 4: Fault Finding ....................................... 20

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2 PC/SeaTalk/NMEA Interface Box

EMC Conformance

All Raymarine equipment and accessories are designed to the best industry standards for use in the leisure marine environment.

The design and manufacture of Raymarine equipment and accessories conform to the appropriate Electromagnetic

Compatibility (EMC) standards, but correct installation is required to ensure that performance is not compromised.

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Operation and Installation

Chapter 1: Introduction

SeaTalk is the language used by Raymarine products to share information. This is unique to Raymarine. The PC/SeaTalk/NMEA

Interface, by providing conversion between SeaTalk, RayTech PC and NMEA 0183 data formats, allows operation with other manufacturer's equipment and with PCs.

The PC/SeaTalk/NMEA Interface provides:

• Connection of SeaTalk to a PC running RayTech

• Conversion of NMEA 0183 data format to SeaTalk

• Conversion of SeaTalk to NMEA 0183 format

• Operation of the Raymarine Main Alarm when an alarm condition exists on the SeaTalk bus

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4 PC/SeaTalk/NMEA Interface Box

Chapter 2: Mounting

Select a suitable location that is:

• away from direct contact with water

• clean and grease-free

• accessible for cabling

• reasonably well protected from physical damage.

1. Once a suitable location has been found, thoroughly clea n the surface with an alcohol based cleaner.

2. Remove the protective backing from the PC/SeaTalk/NMEA

Interface box and firmly press onto the mounting surface.

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Operation and Installation

3. Alternatively, the PC/SeaTalk/NMEA Interface box may be attached using the 2 self tapping screws provided.

4. Remove the top of the Interface box by squeezing the lid at each end and pull away from the base.

5. Route all the necessary cables into the Interface box.

6. Connect the wires as described in Chapter 3. Also, secure cables close to the unit.

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6 PC/SeaTalk/NMEA Interface Box

Chapter 3: Operation/Wiring

EMC Installation Guidelines

All Raymarine equipment and accessories are designed to the best industry standards for use in the leisure marine environment.

Their design and manufacture conforms to the appropriate Electromagnetic

Compatibility (EMC) standards, but correct installation is required to ensure that performance is not compromised. Although every effort has been taken to ensure that they will perform under all conditions, it is important to understand what factors could affect the operation of the product.

The guidelines given here describe the conditions for optimum EMC performance, but it is recognised that it may not be possible to meet all of these conditions in all situations. To ensure the best possible conditions for EMC performance within the constraints imposed by any location, always ensure the maximum separation possible between different items of electrical equipment.

For optimum EMC performance, it is recommended that wherever possible:

• Raymarine equipment and cables connected to it are:

• At least 1 m (3 ft) from any equipment transmitting or cables carrying radio signals e.g. VHF radios, cables and antennas. In the case of SSB radios, the distance should be increased to 2 m (7 ft).

• More than 2 m (7 ft) from the path of a radar beam. A radar beam can normally be assumed to spread 20 degrees above and below the radiating element.

• The equipment is supplied from a separate battery from that used for engine start. Voltage drops below 10 V in the power supply to our products, and starter motor transients, can cause the equipment to reset. This will not

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Operation and Installation damage the equipment, but may cause the loss of some information and may change the operating mode.

• Raymarine specified cables are used at all times. Cutting and rejoining these cables can compromise EMC performance and so must be avoided unless doing so is detailed in the installation manual.

• If a suppression ferrite is attached to a cable, this ferrite should not be removed. If the ferrite needs to be removed during installation it must be reassembled in the same position.

The following illustration shows typical cable suppression ferrites fitted to

Raymarine equipment. Always use the ferrites supplied by Raymarine.

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Connections to Other Equipment

If your Raymarine equipment is to be connected to other equipment using a cable not supplied by Raymarine, a suppression ferrite MUST always be fitted to the cable close to the Raymarine unit.

EMC Conformance

Always check the installation before going to sea to make sure that it is not affected by radio transmissions, engine starting etc.

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8 PC/SeaTalk/NMEA Interface Box

3.1 NMEA Output

Provided you have the appropriate SeaTalk instrumentation, the data listed below is transmitted in NMEA 0183 format for use with non-SeaTalk equipment.

Note: NMEA is also output in response to NMEA input.

Data

Apparent Wind Angle

Apparent Wind Speed

Bearing to Waypoint

Course Over Ground (M)

Cross Track Error

Date

Depth

Distance (Log)

Distance (Trip)

GPS Fix/No Fix

GPS HDOP

GPS PDOP

Data

GPS Satellite Azimuth

GPS Satellite Elevation

GPS Satellite PR Number

GPS Satellite SNR

GPS Differential Station ID

GPS Differential AGE

GPS Number of Satellites

Transmitted NMEA Header

MWV, VWR

MWV, VWR

BWC, APB

VTG

APB, XTE

ZDA

DBT

VLW

VLW

GGA, GLL

GSA, GGA

GSA

NMEA Header

GSV

GSV

GSV

GSV

GGA

GGA

GGA

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Operation and Installation

GPS Antenna Height

GPS Quality Indicator

Heading (Magnetic or True)

Latitude & Longitude

Locked Heading

MOB (Cancel)

Rudder Angle

Speed Over Ground

Speed Through water

Temperature, Water

Time

Time Offset

True Wind Angle

True Wind Direction

True Wind Speed

Variation

Waypoint Capture

Velocity Made Good to Wind

Waypoint Capture

Waypoint Destination No.

Waypoint Arrival Alarm

Waypoint Distance

Waypoint Time To Go

GGA

GGA

HDM, HDG, VHW, HDT

GGA, GLL*

HSC

PNATA

RSA

VTG

VHW

MTW

ZDA

ZTG

MWV, VWT

MWD

MWV, VWT, MWD

HDG

WPL

VPW

WPL

APB, BWC

APB, AAM

BWC

ZTG

* GLL version 1.5 is transmitted if version 1.5 is received via

NMEA. If GLL version 2.0 is received via NMEA, GLL version 2.0

will be transmitted.

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Cabling

The PC/SeaTalk/NMEA Interface should be connected to SeaTalk and the other manufacturer's equipment as follows:

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Yellow (Data)

Screen (0v)

Red (v+)

Red

(v+)

5A

+ -

Power

Screen

(0v)

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Operation and Installation 11

3.2 NMEA Input

The PC/SeaTalk/NMEA Interface can also be used to convert NMEA

0183 data to SeaTalk. NMEA 0183 data is also re-transmitted on

NMEA "OUT" in response to NMEA "IN". This allows non-SeaTalk equipment to be connected directly to the SeaTalk bus.

Note: Data will not be transmitted to SeaTalk if it is already on present on the SeaTalk bus.

Data

Apparent Wind Angle

Apparent Wind Speed

Bearing to Waypoint

Course Over Ground (M)

Cross Track Error

Date

Depth

Distance (Log)

Distance (Trip)

GPS Fix/No Fix

GPS HDOP

GPS PDOP

GPS Satellite Azimuth

GPS Satellite Elevation

GPS Satellite PR Number

GPS Satellite SNR

GPS Differential Station ID

GPS Differential AGE

Received NMEA Header

MWV, VWR

MWV, VWR

APB, BWR, BWC,

RMB, BER, BEC

VTG, VTA, RMC, RMA

APB, XTE, APA, RMB, XTR

ZDA, RMC

DBT, DPT

VLW

VLW

GGA, GSA

GGA, GSA

GSA

GSV

GSV

GSV

GSV

GGA

GGA

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Data

GPS Number of Satellites

GPS Antenna Height

GPS Quality Indicator

Heading (Magnetic or True)

Latitude & Longitude

MOB (Cancel)

Route

Speed Over Ground

Speed Through water

Temperature, Water

Time

True Wind Angle

Variation

Waypoint Destination No.

Waypoint Arrival Alarm

Waypoint Distance

Waypoint Lat & Lon

Waypoint Capture

Waypoints, last one & next 4

PC/SeaTalk/NMEA Interface Box

NMEA Header

GGA

GGA

GGA

HDM, HDG, VHW, HDT

GGA, GLL (inc. Version 1.5)

RMC, RMA,

IMA, GLP, GOP, GXP, GDP

PNATA

WPL

VTG, VTA, RMC, RMA

VHW

MTW

ZDA, GLL, ZFO, ZTG

MWV

HDG, HVM, RMC, RMA,

HVD

APB, BWR,

BWC, RMB,

BOD, WCV, BER, BEC

APB, APA, AAM

BWC, BWR

RMB, BER, BEC

BWC, BWR, BEC, BER

WPL

PNATA

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Operation and Installation

Cabling (ST1,2,3000 autopilots)

Yellow (Data)

Screen (0v)

--

+

Screen

(0v)

Red (12V)

5A Fuse

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D5509-1

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14 PC/SeaTalk/NMEA Interface Box

3.3 Main Alarm

The PC/SeaTalk/NMEA Interface can be used to drive the

Raymarine Main Alarm (Cat No Z035). This alarm will sound as soon as one of the following alarms is present on the SeaTalk bus:

• Deep Depth

• Shallow Depth

• Autopilot off course

• Watch alarm*

• Wind shift*

• Low battery*

• Large Cross Track Error*

• No NMEA data*

• NMEA Data error*

• No autopilot Main power

• No autopilot actuator (Drive stopped)*

• Radar Guard Zone Alarm

• Stern drive auto release

• Waypoint advance*

• Wind alarm

*The Main Alarm will sound 30 seconds after the instrument alarm.

This allows the alarm condition to be cancelled and, therefore, avoiding sounding of the main alarm.

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Operation and Installation

Cabling

The Main Alarm should be wired to the PC/SeaTalk/NMEA

Interface as follows:

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Black

Red

Main Alarm

Z035

Yellow (Data)

Screen (0v)

Red (v+)

Red

(v+)

5A

+ -

Power

Screen

(0v)

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3.4 Connecting a Personal Computer

The PC/SeaTalk/NMEA Interface can be used to send or receive

SeaTalk and NMEA data to or from a personal computer via the

"RS232 OUT and NMEA IN" terminals, as shown in the following illustrations.

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Transmit

Ground

16

Yellow

(Data)

Red

(v+)

5A

+ -

Power

Screen

(0v)

Screen (0v)

Red (v+)

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Operation and Installation 17

Yellow (Data)

Screen (0v)

Red (v+)

Ground

Receive

Red

(v+)

5A

+ -

Power

Screen

(0v)

D1773-2

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PC Serial Port Connections to NMEA

The following diagram shows the pin connections for 25-pin and

9-pin PC serial ports to NMEA.

2

3

7

Transmit (from PC)

Receive (into PC)

RS232 Ground

2

3

Receive (into PC)

Transmit (from PC)

5 RS232 Ground

DB9

9-PIN SERIAL CONNECTOR

DB25

25-PIN SERIAL CONNECTOR

D5903-1

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Operation and Installation 19

3.5 Connecting to a PC with RayTech Navigator

The PC/SeaTalk/NMEA Interface can be used to connect a

SeaTalk system to a personal computer equiped with RayTech

Navigator charting software. Connection is via the "RS232

OUT and NMEA IN" terminals, as shown in the following illustration.

SeaTalk

System

ST40

9-pin Cable

(E86001)

Yellow

Direct SeaTalk Interface

(E85001)

Yellow (Data)

Screen (0v)

Red (v+)

DEPTH

Blue

Green Black

D4127_2

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Chapter 4: Fault Finding

All Raymarine products are comprehensively tested prior to packing and shipment. In the unlikely event that a fault does occur, the following check list should help cure the problem.

Fault

No operation

Cause

No power supply

Action

Check the SeaTalk bus connectors are correct between the Interface box and the power supply.

NMEA data not converted Equipment not set up to Refer to the manufacturers and transmitted onto the transmit correct NMEA operating handbook.

SeaTalk bus.

sentences.

Interface box incorrectly Check connections.

wired.

Variable information, such as XTE, bearing to waypoint, Lat/Lon already on SeaTalk bus.

Information not present Connect required SeaTalk on SeaTalk bus.

Instruments.

Required NMEA information not transmitted from the interface box.

Main alarm does not sound.

30 second alarm delay applicable.

Refer to Section 3.4.

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Operation and Installation 21

Servicing and Safety

• Raymarine equipment should be serviced only by authorised Raymarine service technicians. They will ensure that service procedures and replacement parts used will not affect performance. There are no user serviceable parts in any Raymarine product.

• Some products generate high voltages, so never handle the cables/ connectors when power is being supplied to the equipment.

• When powered up, all electrical equipment produces electromagnetic fields.

These can cause adjacent pieces of electrical equipment to interact with one another, with a consequent adverse effect on operation. In order to minimise these effects and enable you to get the best possible performance from your

Raymarine equipment, guidelines are given in the installation instructions, to enable you to ensure minimum interaction between different items of equipment, i.e. ensure optimum Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC).

• Always report any EMC-related problem to your nearest Raymarine dealer.

We use such information to improve our quality standards.

• In some installations, it may not be possible to prevent the equipment from being affected by external influences. In general this will not damage the equipment but it can lead to spurious resetting action, or momentarily may result in faulty operation.

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