iCom M506 not sending AIS on 0183

[Copper Dog]

I've got a Raymarine a97 chart plotter sending GPS data to an iCom M506 AIS VHF radio using 0183 however I cannot get AIS data to go the other way from the radio to the plotter.

I do know that the AIS requires the 34800 baud rate and I've tried that however that simply results in a loss of GPS to the radio and still no AIS to the plotter.

I've heard someplace (can't recall where) that AIS will not send over 0183. Anyone have a definitive answer for this?

I'm thinking I should just cough up for a NMEA 2000 backbone.

Thoughts?

[Dsanduril]

We do AIS over NMEA 0183 from a Vesper Watchmate just fine, so it can be done.

The M506 manual is a little light on the 0183 capabilities, it only has this to say:

NMEA 0183 IN/OUT LEADS
Brown: Talker B (Data-L), Data Out (–)
White: Talker A (Data-H), Data Out (+)
Connect to NMEA input lines of navigation equipment, to
receive position data of other ships.
• A NMEA 0183 (ver. 2.0 or later) sentence format DSC or DSE
compatible navigation equipment is required.

That makes me think it only sends DSC position reports out the NMEA 0183 line, nothing else. The NMEA 2000 PGNs listed in the manual include all the AIS data.

[Reefmagnet]

AIS requires 34800 baud due to the volume of data and won't work on 4800 baud settings. Anything receiving this data needs to be configured to 38400 baud or it won't receive the data (4800 is the default baud setting for most devices). The radio should already have an inbuilt GPS??


If you are considering NEMA 2000 this is definitely a good idea. Ultimately it's simpler as system complexity increases. Most new stuff now has NEMA 2000 capability.

[Copper Dog]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

AIS requires 34800 baud due to the volume of data and won't work on 4800 baud settings. Anything receiving this data needs to be configured to 38400 baud or it won't receive the data (4800 is the default baud setting for most devices). The radio should already have an inbuilt GPS??


If you are considering NEMA 2000 this is definitely a good idea. Ultimately it's simpler as system complexity increases. Most new stuff now has NEMA 2000 capability.

It won't work on the 38400 baud and the this particular iCom didn't come with GPS, only AIS. On 4800 the plotter sends GPS data no problem. On 38400 the buffer isn't detecting packets and the plotter indicates no AIS connected.

I'm really trying to determine if I'm wasting my time attempting to do this with the 0183 . If so I'll just go right to the 2000. Raymarine is very vague on this stuff.

[Dsanduril]

You have to set the 38400 rate on both ends, sender and receiver. I don't see an option on the M506 to set 38400?

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by Copper Dog

It won't work on the 38400 baud and the this particular iCom didn't come with GPS, only AIS. On 4800 the plotter sends GPS data no problem. On 38400 the buffer isn't detecting packets and the plotter indicates no AIS connected.

I'm really trying to determine if I'm wasting my time attempting to do this with the 0183 . If so I'll just go right to the 2000. Raymarine is very vague on this stuff.

From the transceiver's perspective The NMEA talker will be 38400 (because AIS cannot use a lessor baud rate) but the NMEA listener (at the radio) is most likely 4800 baud. This is fairly standard with AIS devices.


Of course, this means that your chartplotter would require two NMEA channels to supply GPS info to the radio, which it may not have. The radio probably expects you to hook the talker output to a chartplotter set to 38400 and to hook the listener input to an external GPS (at 4800).


A NMEA 2000 starter kit is cheap in boat dollars!

[smac999]

The icom 506 does not send ais data via 183.

You will either need a diff radio. Ie standard horizon. Or a an actisense nmea183 to 2000 converter plus You’ll also need a powered n2k backbone. If you need to get 183 ais data somewhere.

If your plotter is nmea2000. Stop wasting your time and connect via 2000


The standard horizon ais models. (Except. The very first model). Will send 183 ais data at 38,400 and accept gps at 38,400. So you only need one port. This is the radio of choice for 183 plotters.

[Copper Dog]

Originally Posted by smac999

The icom 506 does not send ais data via 183.

You will either need a diff radio. Ie standard horizon. Or a an actisense nmea183 to 2000 converter plus You’ll also need a powered n2k backbone. If you need to get 183 ais data somewhere.

If your plotter is nmea2000. Stop wasting your time and connect via 2000


The standard horizon ais models. (Except. The very first model). Will send 183 ais data at 38,400 and accept gps at 38,400. So you only need one port. This is the radio of choice for 183 plotters.

Thanks for the information. Apparently I didn't do enough research when I went looking for a radio. I had heard elsewhere that the 506 won't send AIS via 183....after I had it installed of course.

I'll just go with the 2000 protocol. We need to replace a different radio soon so I'll look the the Standard Horizons.

[scooper321]

Originally Posted by Copper Dog

Thanks for the information. Apparently I didn't do enough research when I went looking for a radio. I had heard elsewhere that the 506 won't send AIS via 183....after I had it installed of course.

I'll just go with the 2000 protocol. We need to replace a different radio soon so I'll look the the Standard Horizons.

I’m looking to add AIS and the m506is my top choice at this time. I plan to add an NMEA2000 network at that time, too, so I can GPS to the m506, and AIS back from it, on that network. Also, no VHF splitter will be necessary, since the m506 is a VHF radio and AIS receiver, all in one. I hate the idea of using 0183 anywhere, so the more N2K I can utilize, the better!

I love SH radios and the GX2000 looks good. Except it doesn’t have N2K. SH is slow to implement that on its radios. I think you have to go up to the GX6000 to get N2K, and that one still needs a VHF splitter (or separate AIS antenna).

[smac999]

the icom 506 is great if you want to use nmea 2000.

the SH ~2000 are great if you require nmea 183. IE a raymarine E120.

if you have nmea 2000 on your plotter use that.