AIS Installation

[Tsuru]

The goal is to install a Si-Tex MDA-5 AIS transciever into the Raymaine STng backbone visible on our E127 MFD.

The installation seems pretty basic Power, VHF, VHF Antenna, GPS Antenna ito the AIS. NEMA2000 > STNG out....

The concern is that we'll have some type of data conflict with 2 different GPS sources on the STng backbone.

To be upfront, I talked to techs at Raymarine, they mulled it over and concluded that it would be fine. Per Raymaine the MFD uses it's internal GPS for charts and such and the AIS uses its internal GPS for AIS type affairs.

The Techs at Is-Tex weren't so positive and felt that the entire system should only see one GPS input.

Has anyone else installed a Is-Tex AIS into a Raymarine system?

There is really no downside for me installing it and seeing what happens but that's not ususuall how I roll.

Thanks for looking,
Ray

[SV_Sweet_Ruca]

Have not installed that system, but if the Si-Tex is sending a GPS signal to the N2k, could you turn off the integrated GPS in the settings of your plotter and use the other by selecting the other GPS on the network?

I believe AIS requires its own dedicated signal/antenna.

There are several GPS signals in my N2k network, all is good, select the one you want to display on the plotter of choice. Sometimes for whatever reason a device will forget its settings, just need to reset usually.

Hope that helped somewhat, if not, sorry & good luck!

[Tsuru]

Thank you for the response and it does help. I think it's how the system should work. I can't find a way to select the GPS for the Raymarine network.
Thank you

[SV_Sweet_Ruca]

Originally Posted by Tsuru

Thank you for the response and it does help. I think it's how the system should work. I can't find a way to select the GPS for the Raymarine network.
Thank you

Im on an e7 hybridtouch, so I will give the the instructions for that.

Top right
> Setup
> System Settings
> Internal GPS (Toggle on/off)

Top Right
>Setup
>System Settings
>Data Sources
>GPS
>Select GPS Source (should auto scan your network for sources, FYI, my Raymarine AIS source does not show on my e7, it only sees the B&G and its Internal Antenna)

[goboatingnow]

Raymarine originally had lots of issues with nmea2000 “ source select “ as it’s known. Sine MFDs couldn’t handle it correctly anD got confused , I beleive a firmware update at a certain point fixed it

Shouldn’t be a problem with later Raymarine gear

[smac999]

there are lots of boats with 6+ gps receivers on the boat. (4 screens + ais + external gps) it will either have manual selection of one or it will use want it wants. no issue having a bunch.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by smac999

there are lots of boats with 6+ gps receivers on the boat. (4 screens + ais + external gps) it will either have manual selection of one or it will use want it wants. no issue having a bunch.

There “ was “ significant issues with source selection on NMEA 2000 , certainly a few years ago , with devices jumping between the same PGNs , that were emanating from different sources. It’s largely been fixed these days

[Tsuru]

Thank you all for the thoughtful response.

I’m heading over to the boat later this morning and will try Sweet Rucas procedure. Since I’m installing an antenna on the AIS unit it seems logical to use it as the primary GPS.
I also see the benifit of being able to use different GPS inputs in case of a failure.

That said, I’m inclinded to believe Raymarine when they said it won’t matter (although Si-Tex wasn’t as optimistic). It seems like the Raymarine MFD will default to it’s internal GPS (which makes good logical sense). The SeaTalking network recongizes the other GPS units as part of the system. If the primary GPS fails the syetem may cycle to the secondary GPS.

I should be ready to install the system early January and I’ll update on how it goes.

Thanks again,
Ray

[Tsuru]

The Is-Tex MDA5 transciever has been installed without problems. The GPS conflict never materialized, and with the right adapters and some boat yoga the job was almost easy.
The highlight is that I learned a lot about the Raymarine system during the installation.
Thanks for the help and support,
Ray

[SV_Sweet_Ruca]

Great to hear it is a success!