AIS Connection Lost | C90W | IC-M506 | NMEA-2000

[jeffhare]

Hello,

We had a new RM system professionally installed last fall.

EV-200 Sail / T1 Linear drive with p70 head
I70 SailPack Depth/Speed/Wind
ITC-5,
2 - i70 display units
RD418 Radar
ICOM IC-M506 AIS VHF (connected to ITC-5)
C90W MFD
RS130 GPS

We have had significant problems with "AIS Connection Lost" alarms on the C90W running the latest v2.35 firmware. Every 10-20 seconds or so we have to reset this alarm.

The only way either my installer or I can find to stop this is of course, to disconnect the radio from the N2K bus. When it is connected, we do see AIS information on the i70 instruments and chart plotter.

Disconnecting the radio means it doesn't receive GPS information on the base or hand-held, nor can the radio or handheld show AIS information anymore.

Any ideas here?

See Images:
http://forum.raymarine.com/attachment.php?aid=569
http://forum.raymarine.com/attachment.php?aid=570

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum Jeff,

Prior to the introduction of Raymarine's current generation of MFDs (i.e. the a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFDs), the MFD would only support a single source of data. In this case, I suspect that the duplicate source of GPS data is causing the reported problem. It is corresponding recommended that you verify that the MFD's internal GPS has been configured OFF.

[jeffhare]

We are fairly certain that the internal GPS is turned off. We will double check and report back.

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Noted.

[[email protected]]

I also have an Icom M506 and C90W using N2K. The 506 is getting time and long/lat. The C90W will not show a AIS connection (Receiving no data). Please advise how the C90W should be setup and how I can verify that the AIS is getting to the C90W?

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum Gregg,

Please click here to view a FAQ addressing this subject. The items within the referenced FAQ addressing NMEA 0183 networking may be skipped. Unlike the MFD designs which followed the C-Series Widescreen MFDs, the SeaTalkng diagnostics of the C-Series Widescreen MFDs is quite limited. Should the other items listed within the FAQ be satisfied and should these products be interfaced to one another via a powered and properly terminated SeaTalkng / NMEA 2000 backbone, then it would be necessary to interface a NMEA 2000 network analyzer (ex. Actisense NGT-1-USB w/NMEA Reader software, etc.) to determine whether the AIS data is present on the backbone. If so, then it may indicated a fault with the MFD's SeaTalkng communications interface.

[jeffhare]

Greg, I would be happy to have my ICOM M506 only getting Time, Lat/Long! As it is, I also get AIS information on the C90W when they're connected, but the C90W alarms with AIS Connection Lost 2 to 3 times a minute and has to be manually reset. That's a non-starter to have the CP alarming non-stop.

From what I the following link reads, they're just incompatible, but you've apparently found at least the short term solution that I'd love to duplicate (which is to be able to at least get GPS/Time to the radio even if AIS isn't being shown on the C90W).

This thread is what lead me to a disappointing conclusion:
http://raymarine.ning.com/forum/topics/c...connection

ps: Chuck, I did have the internal GPS disabled. Greg, are you using your internal GPS?

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Jeff,

Please click here to view a FAQ addressing how GPS data from a SeaTalkng/NMEA 2000 source may be supplied to an ICOM VHF radio.

All,

The periodic alarming which has been reported within the old Raymarine Forum thread which has been referenced by Jeff is the only such occurrence which I am aware of with a third party NMEA 2000 AIS receiver and you may want to determine whether any software updates were released for the ICOM product. Alternatively and as the C-Series MFDs are a retired product (i.e. not future software updates will be produced for this product), you may want to consider interfacing the NMEA 0183 output of the ICOM product to the MFD's NMEA 0183 input port to supply the system with AIS data.

[jeffhare]

Thank you Chuck, those are two great recommendations I'll follow up on (look for ICOM updates as well as the 0183 approach). I'll summarize my results for any other interested M506 users when I get this done and some mileage on it.

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

You're welcome.