Using a laptop with a Raymarine E-80?

On 2006-02-25 04:48:35 +1100, "Dennis Pogson"
said:

> Bill Kearney wrote:
>> What options exist to use a laptop in a boat that's got a Raymarine
>> E-80 setup?
>>
>> I'd like to be able to do two things. One being pull a live GPS
>> signal for laptop nav software (Coastal Explorer). The other being
>> upload/download waypoints and routes to the E-80. I'd prefer to do
>> this with a minimum of cabling into the laptop. As in, one serial
>> port not several. The laptop doesn't have serial anyway so I'd be
>> using a keyspan adapter.
>>
>> What bridges/interfaces should I consider using?
>>
>> -Bill Kearney
>
> You will need to pick up data-out, data-in and ground from the Raymarine
> E-80 and connect respectively to pin 2, pin 3 and pin 5 on the 9-pin serial
> plug. Raymarine used to use there own protocol, called Seatalk, not NMEA,
> and a converter was necessary, but I don't know if that still applies. I
> suspect that Coastal Explorer requires NMEA sentences.
>
> Dennis.

Good to see your still alive and kicking Dennis. The current crop of
raymarine C and E series displays support both NMEA and Seatalk. The E
series also supports Seatalk HS the CAN bus variant. That is the only
difference between the DSM250 and DSM300 fishfinder is the Seatalk HS
i/f.

--
Regards,
John D Proctor
 >> Stay informed about: Using a laptop with a Raymarine E-80? 

> > You will need to pick up data-out, data-in and ground from the Raymarine
> > E-80 and connect respectively to pin 2, pin 3 and pin 5 on the 9-pin
serial
> > plug. Raymarine used to use there own protocol, called Seatalk, not
NMEA,
> > and a converter was necessary, but I don't know if that still applies. I
> > suspect that Coastal Explorer requires NMEA sentences.

Right, Coastal Explorer uses NMEA. The question is what're the options on
getting NMEA in/out of a Raymarine setup and what's better about each? I
can, of course, just go with an NMEA serial right out the back. Actually, I
can't in this boat's setup as that port's already taken. So I have to get
it from somewhere else. Either throught a Seatalk, hs, hs2 or high-speed
port. And then out of there as either serial or usb.

So whose bridge works best (and whose should I avoid)?
 >> Stay informed about: Using a laptop with a Raymarine E-80? 

what's a bridge? I'm interested in all this stuff, but have no
experience in it. I just bought a Ray marine, wind/speed/depth combo,
but I think I made a mistake. It doesn't do NMEA without another
Raymarine gadget, costs $160. I'd like to be able to use my Gps,
(Garmin) depth, and a DSC VHF. What a mess this all appears to be! I
also imagine that NMEA sentences don't just "do" something on a laptop
without some software. Can anyone tell me if this is correct?
Bill Kearney wrote:
> > > You will need to pick up data-out, data-in and ground from the Raymarine
> > > E-80 and connect respectively to pin 2, pin 3 and pin 5 on the 9-pin
> serial
> > > plug. Raymarine used to use there own protocol, called Seatalk, not
> NMEA,
> > > and a converter was necessary, but I don't know if that still applies. I
> > > suspect that Coastal Explorer requires NMEA sentences.
>
> Right, Coastal Explorer uses NMEA. The question is what're the options on
> getting NMEA in/out of a Raymarine setup and what's better about each? I
> can, of course, just go with an NMEA serial right out the back. Actually, I
> can't in this boat's setup as that port's already taken. So I have to get
> it from somewhere else. Either throught a Seatalk, hs, hs2 or high-speed
> port. And then out of there as either serial or usb.
>
> So whose bridge works best (and whose should I avoid)?
 >> Stay informed about: Using a laptop with a Raymarine E-80? 

"luc" wrote in message

> what's a bridge? I'm interested in all this stuff, but have no
> experience in it.

The bridge in this case is a protocol converter that converts the Seatalk
protocol from Raymarine into NMEA and vice-versa. Navigation software uses
NMEA because it is "the" universal standard.

> I just bought a Ray marine, wind/speed/depth combo,
> but I think I made a mistake. It doesn't do NMEA without another
> Raymarine gadget, costs $160. I'd like to be able to use my Gps,
> (Garmin) depth, and a DSC VHF. What a mess this all appears to be! I
> also imagine that NMEA sentences don't just "do" something on a laptop
> without some software. Can anyone tell me if this is correct?

You need indeed a "bridge" to convert Seatalk into NMEA. And NMEA sentences
don't "do" something on your laptop, it is just sentences that contain data
from your instruments. You need software to make this info into something
meaningful, like displaying your position on a chart and displaying the info
of the other instruments.

Meindert
www.shipmodul.com
 >> Stay informed about: Using a laptop with a Raymarine E-80? 

> You need indeed a "bridge" to convert Seatalk into NMEA.

So whose bridges are worth considering? Raymarine makes their own, of
course, but there are others. Anyone have experience with them?

-Bill Kearney
 >> Stay informed about: Using a laptop with a Raymarine E-80? 

"Bill Kearney" wrote in message

> > You need indeed a "bridge" to convert Seatalk into NMEA.
>
> So whose bridges are worth considering? Raymarine makes their own, of
> course, but there are others. Anyone have experience with them?

Raymarine makes i'ts own indeed, but this one crashed when you feed it too
much data. Also the GPS data conversion to NMEA sometimes produces erroneous
positions, 200-2000 miles off.

Then there are a few NMEA multiplexers on the market that offer Seatalk to
NMEA translation (one way): Brookhouse and ShipModul. I only know the latter
best, since I make them
And if you need a reference, we also produce multiplexers for Raymarine

www.brookhouseonline.com
www.shipmodul.com

Meindert
 >> Stay informed about: Using a laptop with a Raymarine E-80? 

Thanks for that answer Meindert. It is as I suspected, and I am
somewhat annoyed that the RayMarine gadgetry doesn't automatically talk

NMEA. to other components. I thought the entire reason for NMEA
standard is to have different brand components communicating.
Raymarine has ignored that.

My Garmin has wiring that says "DSC". Can I assume that it will work
just by wiring it into my ICom VHF?

This stuff is fascinating, but it doesn't seem like there's much
information available about it. Do you know of any books on this
subject?

thanks

Luc
 >> Stay informed about: Using a laptop with a Raymarine E-80? 

> Thanks for that answer Meindert. It is as I suspected, and I am
> somewhat annoyed that the RayMarine gadgetry doesn't automatically talk
>
> NMEA. to other components. I thought the entire reason for NMEA
> standard is to have different brand components communicating.
> Raymarine has ignored that.

To say it that way indicates a level of ignorance about the issues involved.
Raymarine certainly didn't "ignore" anything. For what they wanted their
devices to do they chose to use something better suited than just plain
NMEA.

If you bought stuff that doesn't do what you want, then who's to blame here?

> My Garmin has wiring that says "DSC". Can I assume that it will work
> just by wiring it into my ICom VHF?

Start by asking ICOM. They'd certainly be a position to know.

> This stuff is fascinating, but it doesn't seem like there's much
> information available about it. Do you know of any books on this
> subject?

The market for nav equipment is considerably smaller than other technology
products. As such there's not much written up about it.
 >> Stay informed about: Using a laptop with a Raymarine E-80? 

Did you have a look at the st60-multi? It has one nmea in and one nmea
out. It will forward almost all seatalk data on the nmea bus. Have a
look at.

http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/ProductResource.asp?SITE=1&SECTION=...AGE=236

Maybe this is a alternative for you when you only want to connect your
pc to nmea.

Cheers,
Dirk
 >> Stay informed about: Using a laptop with a Raymarine E-80? 

> Did you have a look at the st60-multi? It has one nmea in and one nmea
> out. It will forward almost all seatalk data on the nmea bus.
> Maybe this is a alternative for you when you only want to connect your
> pc to nmea.

Hmmm, interesting idea. I have no need (or room) for another display at the
helm. I'm not sure whether I'd have room for (or want) another display in
the cabin. That and the price for the ST60 is a LOT more than what a
seatalk/nmea bridge goes for! But it would provide an interesting way to
get the laptop-out signal in a situation where another display would be
handy. Thanks for the pointer!

-Bill Kearney
 >> Stay informed about: Using a laptop with a Raymarine E-80? 

"luc" wrote in message

> Thanks for that answer Meindert. It is as I suspected, and I am
> somewhat annoyed that the RayMarine gadgetry doesn't automatically talk
>
> NMEA. to other components. I thought the entire reason for NMEA
> standard is to have different brand components communicating.
> Raymarine has ignored that.

Well, NMEA has some limitations and manufacturers also like to bind their
customers to their system.

> My Garmin has wiring that says "DSC". Can I assume that it will work
> just by wiring it into my ICom VHF?

Yes. If you feed the NMEA Out from the Garmin to the VHF, it should pick up
the location info.

> This stuff is fascinating, but it doesn't seem like there's much
> information available about it. Do you know of any books on this
> subject?

Not really. I've tried to make a web page that explains a bit about NMEA
connections and the need for multiplexers. See
www.shipmodul.com/en/nmea.html for some info.

Meindert
 >> Stay informed about: Using a laptop with a Raymarine E-80? 

Meindert Sprang schrieb:


> Then there are a few NMEA multiplexers on the market that offer Seatalk to
> NMEA translation (one way): Brookhouse and ShipModul. I only know the latter
> best, since I make them
> And if you need a reference, we also produce multiplexers for Raymarine
>
> www.brookhouseonline.com
> www.shipmodul.com
>

.... and if you would like to be able to make Seatalk to NMEA
translation and NMEA to Seatalk Translation ( two way ), than you
either need the Raymarine Bridge, or you could have a look at
www.tklinux.de

Frank
 >> Stay informed about: Using a laptop with a Raymarine E-80?