ST1 vs STng for SPX-5 and p70R

[Dylancs]

Good day,

I have recently purchased a boat that has an all Raymarine setup which I am modifying slightly. My current set up is-

Into multiple D244 ST1 busses-
-SPX-5 course computer ST1
-ST40 Bidata ST1
-S100 ST1
-p70R (recently upgraded from ST6002) via a ST1-STng adapter cable

From the D244 ST busses via a ST1-STng adapter cable-
ST1-STng converter

Into the ST1-STng converter is currently an e95 MFD white spur, 12 vdc white spur and the ST1-STng yellow adapter cable from the D244 busses

From e95 MFD NMEA0183-
T122 Wireless interface-
T101 wireless wind
There is also a Raymarine HD Color radar

I recently added the p70R Autopilot control head and the T122 wireless interface. Because the p70R is on the ST1 network, I had to update the p70R software by plugging it directly into the ST1-STng converter, updating and then plugging back into the ST1 network.
I have a Ray218 VHF that was wired into the NMEA 0183 from the e95 for DSC GPS position. I had to use the NMEA 0183 output from the e95 for the T122 for wind information to and from the e95.
The system seems to work now, however, the p70R seems to be lacking some functionality. When I attempt to use the Seatrial Wizard, it won't allow me to. In the basic setup, the only option given is language selection. I can't input any other information for the autopilot setup. I also don't have GPS for the Ray218 VHF anymore.


Here is my proposed setup which would include a second ST1-STng converter. I believe I would have to buy a VHF-NMEA 0183 converter kit (E70196), a blue backbone cable (A06036) and a white spur to stripped end cable for the course computer (A06044)

Into a first ST1-STng converter-

SPX-5 course computer STng white spur (3m spur cable not long enough to go directly to p70R)
p70R STng white spur
ST40 bidata and S100 into a D244 bus then a yellow ST1-STng spur adapter cable
Blue Backbone cable to second ST1-STng converter-

Into the second ST1-STng converter-

Blue backbone from the first ST1-STng converter
e95 white spur
12vdc red/black power cable white spur
VHF -NMEA 0183 yellow adapter cable to give GPS position to the Ray218 VHF
The T122 would remain connected to the NMEA 0183 output from the e95.

If my thinking is correct, the p70R and the SPX-5 course computer would then show up on the diagnostics page on the e95 and both be part of the STng network. I would then have full functionality of the p70R. Only the ST40 bidata and the S100 would be on the ST1 network. The Ray218 would receive GPS from the VHF-NMEA 0183 adapter cable.

1. Is this unnecessarily complicating the wiring?
2. Is there actually anything to be gained by putting the p70R and the SPX-5 course computer on the STng network vs the ST1 network?
3. Would the simplest solution to getting GPS position to the Ray218 VHF be to use a blue backbone cable from the current ST1-STng converter to a VHF-NMEA 0183 converter kit (basically just a second ST1-STng converter with adapter cable)?

Thanks

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum Dylancs,

Q1. Is this unnecessarily complicating the wiring?
A1. Maximum performance of devices having a SeaTalkng communications interface will occur when those devices have been interfaced to the system via SeaTalkng. As SeaTalk has been replaced by SeaTalkng communications, the SeaTalkng backbone which you will be creating will better position your system for any future devices having a SeaTalkng / NMEA 2000 communications interface which may be interfaced to the system. Doing so will also facilitate being able to more readily update software within the products having a SeaTalkng communications interface.

Q2. Is there actually anything to be gained by putting the p70R and the SPX-5 course computer on the STng network vs the ST1 network?
A2. As SeaTalk only supports communications of heading data a 1Hz, interfacing the autopilot to the SeaTalk backbone installed of the SeaTalk bus will permit the MFD to receive 10Hz heading data from the autopilot via the SeaTalkng backbone ... improving the performance of all heading dependent functions of the system.

Q3. Would the simplest solution to getting GPS position to the Ray218 VHF be to use a blue backbone cable from the current ST1-STng converter to a VHF-NMEA 0183 converter kit (basically just a second ST1-STng converter with adapter cable)?
A3. I favor this solution as it also open the door to adding an external GPS sensor (ex. Raystar 150 GPS, etc.) to the system, making if possible to switch off power to the MFD, while still being able to supply GPS data to the Ray218 VHF radio.

[Dylancs]

Thanks Chuck.
After doing some more reading about NMEA 0183 and the e95 install instructions, I see that contrary to what I was told over the phone by a Raymarine specialists, (most likely because of my poor explanation) I can send GPS data from the e95 NMEA 0183 output port to up to 4 devices. Which means I could send and receive data to/from the T122 and send GPS data to the Ray218 VHF. I think I will wire it this way for now and if I need to add an external GPS, I can do that in the future. Instead of adding a second converter I will add a 5-way splitter.

Thanks again,

Dylan

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Dylan,

You're welcome. It is indeed valid to do as you have suggested.

[Dylancs]

One more question. After reading the SeaTalkng manual, I'm a little confused as to how I can power the network. For an unbalanced network, as mine will be, it says the power should come from the end/beginning of the network via a backbone tee. Is it also suitable to have the power cable coming into the 5-way spur connector? Or do I have to run a short backbone cable from the 5-way to a tee with a blanking plug and have the power spur cable go into the tee?

Thanks again

Dylan

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Dylan,

To avoid potential power related issues, it is recommended that the power insertion spur socket be located at the approximate midpoint of the backbone's LEN load. The spur socket of a SeaTalkng T-Piece, SeaTalkng 5-Way Connector, or iTC-5 may be used for this purpose.