[CA] [CA11] E80 MFD using AIS GPS

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum Derek,

Q. As the AIS unit has configurable GPS output capability via the NMEA 0183 hi speed output port, will the E80 accept the GPS sentences from the AIS via the current NMEA 0183 38400 AIS input if the external MFD GPS was disconnected.
The reason I ask this is that if the current external MFD GPS unit fails, is the AIS unit a viable backup alternative.
A. Unlike the current generation of Raymarine products, E-Series Classic MFDs did not support operation within a network featuring one than one source of any specific type of data (GPS, depth, wind, STW, etc.). However, should the SeaTalk source of GPS data be disconnected from the MFD, then it will indeed accept GPS data from an external NMEA 0183 GPS data source. Typically, class B AIS transceivers will not be configured to transmit GPS data along with their 38400 BAUD NMEA 0183 transmissions within the transceivers default configuration settings. Given the lack of support for multiple data sources within your MFD, it is recommended that the class B AIS transceivers not be configured to transmit GPS data with their 38400 BAUD NMEA 0183 transmissions unless 1) a failure occur with the system's primary GPS sensor and 2) the primary GPS sensor has been unplugged from the system.