[CA] E80-VHF DSC Ray54e-Ais

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum Tim,

Q1/Can i just simply put the ais transponder in between the radio and E80?
A1. Unlike Raymarine's AIS receiver and transceivers, the third party AIS transceiver which you are considering does not feature a bidirectional 38400 BAUD NMEA 0183 and 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 ports. As such, the third party AIS transceiver would be unable to simultaneously provide the Raymarine system with AIS data while providing GPS data to the VHF radio. It would typically be recommended that this issue be resolved by interfacing the AIS receiver or transceiver to the NMEA 0183 input port of on of the MFDs and that the VHF radio be interfaced to the NMEA 0183 output port of the other MFD. Alternatively, it would be necessary to install a third party NMEA 0183 multiplexer support 38400 to 4800 BAUD conversion to the NMEA 0183 output port of the MFD that the AIS will be interfaced to.

Q2. I will have to change Baudrate of the nmea 0183 port to 38400.
A2. The BAUD rate of the MFD which will be interfaced to the AIS receiver or transceiver will need to be configured to AIS 38400

Q3. How will the plotter talk to the ray 54e vhf? (you should be able to call a mmsi/ais directly from E80 screen i think?)
A3. Raymarine has not yet introduced a MFD which is designed to call a MMSI / AIS directly from the MFD's screen.

Q4. Would it be easier/better to add a RM AIS 650 or similar problem? (no gps included).
A4. Yes. BTW, the AIS650 and AIS700 which has succeeded the AIS650 are packaged with a passive GPS antenna which must be interfaced to the AIS transceiver's GPS antenna socket.