NMEA 2000 - Help Please

[Soup]

So here is the scoop,

NMEA 2000 back bone hooked up. Raymarine auto pilot connected to backbone via adapter T..

Zues9 MFD shows network connected... But says auto pilot computer not connected? I am able to use auto pilot from MFD way ponts...So why no computer message?

Thanks!

[Reefmagnet]

I would suspect terminations and sequence of connections. NMEA devices need to be daisy chained off the back bone so this means that the head of the "T" (connector) extends the backbone while the tail of the "T" (connector) goes to one device only as in you cant tee of it to another device along the way. The start and end of the backbone needs to be terminated with a suitable terminator, although the masthead transducer normally includes a terminator internally.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Soup.

[Ziggy]

I'm not sure, but I think the Zeus MFD is telling you that there is no Simrad autopilot connected. It does not care about the Raymarine, since it can't control it If you ask the MFD to list all NMEA2k devices, the Raymarine autopilot should be included.


Your Raymarine autopilot receives the NMEA2K waypoints and other data, but the Simrad MFD does not command the Raymarine autopilot.

[s/v Jedi]

Agree with Ziggy

[mikedefieslife]

The MFD is looking for a B&G,Simrad or Lowrance autopilot. It cannot communicate and control another system. What it can do though is send tracks to the Raymarine unit.

Create a route on the MFD, activate it, then hit Track on the autopilot display. The pilot will then follow the route.

That is about as good an integration you’ll get.

[s/v Jedi]

Note: and you can disable the "no autopilot computer" alarm so you won't have to see it again

[Soup]

[Soup]

THANKs everyone, y'all so helpful, and quick to respond... Guess I'm SOL as Ziggy mentioned... But everything else is working fine... ��

Thanks!!

[skipmac]

Maybe SOL, maybe not.

I have a B&G/Simrad AP and it works quite well with my Garmin plotter. Maybe as others say the B&G plotter doesn't work the other way with other plotters but I would still give it a try.

First, does the Raymarine AP use the old Seatalk or SeatalkNG? Second, what kind of NMEA2000 backbone? Is the backbone based on the B&G equipment and using their standard connectors? You've noticed I guess that Ray uses their own and you need an adapter cable to connect to standard NMEA2000 cables.

If I recall, you need to connect the Ray network to the backbone, not a T then use a Ray T and terminator on that end of the cable. Check the Raymarine support forum and they will have good diagrams on how to do this.

[moseriw]

SeaTalk NG is very similar to NMEA 2000 BUT IT IS NOT NMEA 2000
Maybe your Raymarine AP can be switched to NMEA 2000 too.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by moseriw

SeaTalk NG is very similar to NMEA 2000 BUT IT IS NOT NMEA 2000
Maybe your Raymarine AP can be switched to NMEA 2000 too.

Raymarine tech support when I contacted them was quite certain that SeatalkNG is fully compliant with NMEA2000. The standard as I understand it mandates the communication protocols but does not specify the physical connectors to be used and Raymarine was adamant that they complied with the protocol.

I was able to connect my old Raymarine soeed and depth display to my NMEA2000 network and it works just fine.

[mikedefieslife]

I don't think any manufacturer allows you to control their autopilots from 3rd party devices. Raymarine Evolution autopilots use proprietary n2k sentences. These have been reverse engineered, but you're not going to get other mainstream manufacturers including them in their software.

[Squanderbucks]

The OP states that the Raymarine AP is not visible on the network as a device. I suspect that the Raymarine Seatalk NG connection may be an issue. Raymarine requires an adapter to interconnect to a "standard" NMEA 2000 backbone and they do not sell one except in certain situations and equipment purchases. My solution was to "splice" a segment of Seatalk NG backbone onto my Garmin Backbone allowing both types of "T" adapters to be used on my system.
I made up one to connect a short Raymarine Seatalk NG backbone segment with a Regular 2000 backbone plug. This allowed the Raymarine NG to connect directly to the other backbone. Raymarine connectors are not the same so a dropcable from say a Garmin or Simrad version of NMEA 2000 wont plug in to the Ray network either.
I think I bought the extra Male or Female connector from Airmar or one from Raymarine and the other from Garmin I don't remember. Strip one back and wire it to the corresponding wire one the other system and plug the two backbones together. Then need a Raymarine "T" for it's dropcable and their Terminator on the NG end.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by mikedefieslife

I don't think any manufacturer allows you to control their autopilots from 3rd party devices. Raymarine Evolution autopilots use proprietary n2k sentences. These have been reverse engineered, but you're not going to get other mainstream manufacturers including them in their software.

I can perfectly with my Garmin. I have a Garmin plotter and a Simrad/B&G autopilot. I can set a waypoint on the Garmin and the Simrad AP will steer to that waypoint. I also use the Simrad compass to supply the heading information to the Garmin plotter. All very seamless.