Proper DSC hookup to GPS on new VHF

jwfoster4

New Member
May 28, 2007
94
Niceville, FL
Boat Info
270 DA
Engines
454 Mercruiser w/Bravo III Drive
As I stated in my other thread, I am doing some electronics upgrades, wiring and maintenance. One of the things on the list is to finally hook up the VHF to the GPS to enable the positioning transmit function of my DSC radio. I searched one thread, but they were talking + and -

I assume the VHF's "GPS DATA IN" wire connects to my Garmin's Blue "NMEA Out" wire. But which Garmin wire gets connected to the VHF's "GPS GND" wire? Is it the main Black Gnd.

I want to be sure, so I don't fry anything.

Garmin 392 & Uniden Solara DSC
 
I don't know the specifics about your cables (although I think NMEA cables are std color coded?), but do want to add to make sure you get your MMSI number from Boat/US for free and then input that into your VHF.

I'm going to check mine and if no one has provided an answer, post which cables I have connected between mine (Northstar VHF and GPS via NMEA).

Esteban
 
As I stated in my other thread, I am doing some electronics upgrades, wiring and maintenance. One of the things on the list is to finally hook up the VHF to the GPS to enable the positioning transmit function of my DSC radio. I searched one thread, but they were talking + and -

I assume the VHF's "GPS DATA IN" wire connects to my Garmin's Blue "NMEA Out" wire. But which Garmin wire gets connected to the VHF's "GPS GND" wire? Is it the main Black Gnd.

I want to be sure, so I don't fry anything.

Garmin 392 & Uniden Solara DSC

I know in my Garmin manual it's pretty clear on how to hook it up, have you looked in the Manual for your 392? You can get a copy from the Garmin website if you don't have it.
 
I assume the VHF's "GPS DATA IN" wire connects to my Garmin's Blue "NMEA Out" wire. But which Garmin wire gets connected to the VHF's "GPS GND" wire? Is it the main Black Gnd.

Looking at the Solara DSC manual, there are no clear indications how to wire the unit to a GPS device aside from showing the green "GPS data in" wire and the brown "GPS ground wire" on the ACC cable.

However, the Garmin 392 manual does show the wiring as you state - Garmin blue "NMEA out" wire to the Uniden green "GPS data in" wire, and Uniden brown "GPS ground" wire to the Garmin main "(black) ground" wire terminating at the negative battery connection.

So according to Garmin, you are correctly wiring the two units. It would be nice if the Solara instruction were a bit clearer, but by them identifying the brown ACC cable wire as "GPS ground" it seems as if their intent is to get you to the same ground termination as shown in the Garmin instructions.

Don't forget to set the NMEA protocols on the GPS so it can talk to the Uniden.
 
Once u get everything talking to each other let me know how u make out. When i first purchased my boat DSC didnt work. Was wired wrong from factory . Then once we got it going. Raymarine does not transmit the sec's part of lat and long. So its pretty much uesless in my eyes.. Send a location request to a buddy .... ull see ull be miles off ...

sad as it has potential to be perfect.


Rob
 
The comment about sending a location to a buddy does not work on most DSC radios that are sold for recreation use. I know on my Solara VHF when I hooked up my GPS and VHF for the DSC function it was strictly a one way flow Garmin data out to VHF in to be used with the rescue 21 system only. I know the VHF says it is getting the info, but sure would be nice for someway to test it other than pushing the distress button which is a big no no. Guess I just would like some piece of mind knowing that it would work if I had to push the button.
 
Chuck, there is a way to test the DSC w/o sending a distress. I found it on this forum the other night while doing my own research.

I just tried to search it again and can't get any search functions to work, but if you search DSC, MMSI or AIS you should be able to find the thread. I believe it was a link to another site.
 
Just completed the DSC hook up between a garmin 595s and a Uniden Oceanus w/ DSC.

connected the NMEA 1 + wire one the GARMIN to the GPSIn on the Uniden. then set the NMEA0183 profile on the Garmin to GPRMC (this is in the manual). Once this was done I could see a satilite icon on the VHF. when I press the select button in. I could see LAT/LONG/Bearing/KTS displayed on the VHF which matched the GPS. Wha La it works.


check you solara manual or download it from Uniden at : http://www.uniden.com/index/manuals_results.cfm?cat=7

it's actually very easy. just seems to easy.
 
Yup.

On the Garmin I have NMEA 1 out (Blue wire) on the Uniden I have "GPS Data In" (green wire). connect the 2 wires and set the communications on the Gramin based on the info in the Uniden manual, do the setup up on the Uniden and it works.

ya I know too easy.


Also found out from the mechanic that just replaced the fuel pump on my boat that their is a Blue and White wire up in the dash connected to the smart craft engine management system which is designed to connect to a NMEA0183 device. So tonight I'll be hunting for those to get all my engine info to display up on my Garmin.

this is getting to be fun.
 
Yup.

On the Garmin I have NMEA 1 out (Blue wire) on the Uniden I have "GPS Data In" (green wire). connect the 2 wires and set the communications on the Gramin based on the info in the Uniden manual, do the setup up on the Uniden and it works.

ya I know too easy.


Also found out from the mechanic that just replaced the fuel pump on my boat that their is a Blue and White wire up in the dash connected to the smart craft engine management system which is designed to connect to a NMEA0183 device. So tonight I'll be hunting for those to get all my engine info to display up on my Garmin.

this is getting to be fun.

blue and white wire huh, no foolin, I asked MM a dozen times about connecting my garmin to my smartcraft and they said no way.

You know if it will pull the transducer data over to the garmin? Maybe you won't have to switch out the transducer if it does.
 
Nope on the transducer info for the fishfinder. And I can kind of understand that from a SmartCraft aspect what you want and what is normally display is depth and temp. I would think that this should come through, but no fish targets. Which for me that the whole reason I bought the 545"s". so that if I take the kids fishing. I can rest assured that they WILL catch fish.

The Mechanic I had was from the Tampa Store and based on how nice and cordual he was I think I will be taking my buisness to the Tampa Store from now on. Really nice guy, glad to work for someone that likes to do stuff on their own very informative and has the same option of the clearwater store that most of us do.
 
Next thing you know, you'll start reading up on NMEA multiplexers...

It is fun...
 
Nope on the transducer info for the fishfinder. And I can kind of understand that from a SmartCraft aspect what you want and what is normally display is depth and temp. I would think that this should come through, but no fish targets. Which for me that the whole reason I bought the 545"s". so that if I take the kids fishing. I can rest assured that they WILL catch fish.

The Mechanic I had was from the Tampa Store and based on how nice and cordual he was I think I will be taking my buisness to the Tampa Store from now on. Really nice guy, glad to work for someone that likes to do stuff on their own very informative and has the same option of the clearwater store that most of us do.

Yea I eventually want to add a fish finder to my garmin 3205 but what I didn't want to lose was the depth and water temp off the smartcraft I want it on both the smartcraft and the garmin so if I can link them up for now that would be great and then when I'm ready for the fish finder I'll hopefully be able to add a second tranducer for it and not interfer with the existing.

Thanks for the tip on the Tampa store I've been cruious to know if their service was better I mean I guess it can't be any worse. It's just in a weird not so safe part of town and it's odd that MM would have a store there.
 

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