RS125 connect to MFD via 0183 or SeaTalk?

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome back to the Raymarine Forum Bruce,

Q1. Is there a preferred method for connecting the RS125 to the E80, provided either way will work?
A1. Most RS125's are either interfaced to a SeaTalk bus which may or may not be interfaced to a SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter to permit the GPS data to be available to devices which have been interfaced to the SeaTalk bus and/or SeaTalkng backbone irrespective of whether the MFD is switched ON. This option is commonly used to preserve the MFD's NMEA 0183 input port for other devices when not considering to install a multiplexer. Others will interface the RS125 to the MFD via NMEA 0183 communications protocol and parallel the NMEA 0183 output of the RS125 to additionally supply GPS data to the VHF radio. The latter method is commonly used within systems where all equipment other than the MFD and GPS sensor will be switched OFF to minimize power consumption.

Q2. Are there any benefits in connecting one way or the other?
A2. See the response to Q1.

Q3. Are there any features or speed lost connecting one way or the other?
A3. No. While it is not applicable to your system, a SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter's software do not support bridging of the following non-critical GPS sensor data to SeaTalk:
- Satellite Status
- Sky View
- FIX rather than SD FIX will be reported within the FIX Status field when a WAAS GPS FIX has been acquired

All other GPS data items (lat, lon, UTC Date, UTC Time, HDOP, and Mode) will be correctly reported.