Date and time reported by my MFD are not correct

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Date and time reported by my MFD are not correct

UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) data received from the GPS satellites via the MFD's internal GPS sensor or an external GPS sensor. As such, GPS sensors are not only responsible for supplying the system with the vessel's latitude, longitude, SOG, and COG, satellite signal strength, satellite usage, HDOP, etc., but also with UTC (date and time) data. The MFD's GPS Status dialog is exclusively designed to report UTC rather than local date/time. The Local Date and Local Time data items which may be displayed within the MFD's Databar, Data application, Databoxes, and Tide/Current dialogs. In order for local date and local Time, tide, and current data to be properly reported, the MFD's local time offset feature (for MFDs running LightHouse 3 software: HOME->Touch time displayed at top left of screen->TIME OFFSET FROM UTC; for MFDs running LightHouse Sport software: HOME->Select time displayed at top left of screen->OK->TIME ZONE->OK->Select time offset from UTC->OK; for MFDs running LightHouse II software: HOME->CUSTOMIZE->TIME & DATE SET-UP->LOCAL TIME) must be configured for the local time zone's offset from UTC (previously referred to as GMT).

Should the problem persist thereafter, then it is possible that there is a problem with the manner the system's external GPS sensor has been interfaced to the system. One of the most common NMEA 0183 GPS sensor installation errors involves the wrongful assumption that autopilots are designed to function as complete NMEA 0183 to SeaTalk/SeaTalkng data bridging devices. In fact, autopilots will commonly only bridge GPS data items which the autopilot requires to perform its function as an autopilot ... these GPS data items do not include date, time, satellite signal strength, etc.. It is generally recommended that NMEA 0183 GPS sensors be interfaced to the system via one of the following methods:
- via one of the MFD's NMEA 0183 ports
- via a third party NMEA 0183 to SeaTalkng/NMEA 2000 data bridging device (ex. Actisense NGW-1-STNG, etc.
- via an E85001 PC/SeaTalk/NMEA 0183 Interface Module (retired)
- via a third party NMEA 0183 to SeaTalk data bridge (ex. Brookhouse MUX, etc.)

RAYFAQ#