AIS 350 install

[DFMott]

I have a Ray218 VHF radio connect to my MFD via NEMA 0183. I would like to add an AIS350 to receive position data. If I connect the Nema 0183 wires on the AIS350 to the RAY218's Nema 0183 wires will that suffice for the network connection? What about the Antenna? How can these devices share the VHF antenna? Right now its plugged into the RAY218. There is a diagram in the manual that shows the antenna connected into the AIS350 but not to the VHF which seems to imply the VHF can share through the AIS350's Nema connection.

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum DFMott,

Q1. I have a Ray218 VHF radio connect to my MFD via NEMA 0183. I would like to add an AIS350 to receive position data. If I connect the Nema 0183 wires on the AIS350 to the RAY218's Nema 0183 wires will that suffice for the network connection?
A1. Yes. The MFD's NMEA 0183 input leads would need to be interfaced to the 38400 BAUD NMEA 0183 output leads of the AIS350. Additionally, the MFD's NMEA 0183 output leads would need to be interfaced to the 38400 BAUD NMEA 0183 input leads of the AIS350. Finally, the AIS350's 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 output leads would need to be interfaced to the NMEA 0183 input leads of the Ray218.

Q2. What about the Antenna? How can these devices share the VHF antenna?
A2. It would be necessary to install a Class B AIS antenna splitter (ex. AIS100, etc.) if electing to utilize a single VHF antenna for both the AIS receiver and for the VHF radio.

Q3. There is a diagram in the manual that shows the antenna connected into the AIS350 but not to the VHF which seems to imply the VHF can share through the AIS350's Nema connection.
A3. This is not a correct interpretation ... see the response to Q2.

[DFMott]

Thank you for the response.

Q1. When you refer to leads above do you mean lead (1 wire)?
A1. No. NMEA 0183 communications requires one pair of leads for each direction of communications. Accordingly, the MFD features two NMEA 0183 input leads
Do I need to keep a NEMA connection between the VHF and the MFD? Is there a downside of sharing the Antenna?

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Q1. When you refer to leads above do you mean lead (1 wire)?
A1. No. NMEA 0183 communications requires one pair of leads for each direction (transmit or receive) of communications. Accordingly, the MFD NMEA 0183 Cable features two NMEA 0183 input leads (+/A & -/B) and two NMEA 0183 output leads (+/A & -/B). The MFD will expect 4800 BAUD (default) or 38400 BAUD NMEA 0183 communications via these leads depending upon how the MFD's NMEA 0183 Port setting has been configured. AIS receivers/transceivers featuring a NMEA 0183 communications interface are designed to communicate at 38400 BAUD with chartplotting products. The AIS350/650 features an internal multiplexer which is cable of re-transmitting at 4800 BAUD, the NMEA 0183 sentences received from the MFD at 38400 BAUD. Accordingly, devices such as DSC VHF radios which are designed to communicate via 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 communications may be interfaced to the 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 leads of an AIS350/650 to receive data from the MFD.

Q2. Do I need to keep a NEMA connection between the VHF and the MFD?
A2. No ... see the response to Q1.

Q3. Is there a downside of sharing the Antenna?
A3. Yes. Please click here to view a FAQ addressing this subject.

[DFMott]

Looking deeper into this - since a second antenna is not desirable, I think a better option for me may be to swap the RAY218 for a Ray70. Connect the RAY70 to the antenna and to the MFD via a SeaTalk cable. My question on this is that if I have a GA150 connected to my ES97 would the RAY70 make use of it same as if I had a RS130 on the network?

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

DFMott,

Q. If I have a GA150 connected to my ES97 would the RAY70 make use of it same as if I had a RS130 on the network?
A. Yes.

[DFMott]

Does the Ray70 automatically manage the splitting of the AIS and VHF signals to optimize the sharing of a single antenna?

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

DFMott,

Like a VHF radio which does not include an AIS receiver, these VHF radios cannot simultaneously transmit and receive. Outside of periods where the Ray70 is actively engaged in transmitting voice communications, the Ray70's AIS receiver will receive and process AIS data received. In this regard, it is no different than that of an AIS receiver / transceiver and VHF radio which utilize a single VHF antenna via a Class B AIS antenna splitter.

[DFMott]

Thank You - I am fine with that since I rarely transmit on the VHF radio. This is actually a more economical solution for providing me with AIS recieve over the receiver + splitter and I prefer the SeaTalk (NMEA 2000) network connection to NMEA 0183.

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

You're welcome.