[CA] Ray 260 to E80 MFD - how to get AIS data to the E80

[wherman]

I hooked up my new 260 to my two station navigation system by replacing the wiring from my old Northstar VHF with the new Raymarine. The old VHF was wired into the Raymarine DX30 Smartpilot computer using the NMEA0183 block. I cut the wires and used the same configuration to wire in the Ray 260. I am able to feed GPS data to the Ray 260 using the wiring and choosing NMEA 0183 and high speed from the 260's communication configuration. The E80 MFD's still read "no AIS" despite having wired both NMEA IN and NMEA out to the DX30. The E80's are networked using a Seatalk HS Switch. Is there a way to make AIS work with NMEA 0183? Am I missing the procedure to configure the E80?

Alternatively should I plug a Seatalk NG cable from the 260 to the DX30 and use it as a bridge?

Seems like there should be a solution with the products I already own. It seems that other AIS enabled VHF radios would do the trick. The Ray 260 should do it too.

Bill Herman

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum Bill,

Autopilot course computers are not designed either support 38400 BAUD NMEA 0183 communications nor to bridge NMEA 0183 sentences containing AIS data to SeaTalk or to SeaTalkng. Please click here to view a FAQ addressing how AIS receivers / transceivers must be interfaced to an A/C/E-Series Classic MFD. As indicated within the referenced FAQ, these MFDs have not been designed to process NMEA 2000 PGNs containing AIS data.
In a nutshell, the Ray260's NMEA 0183 I/O leads must be interfaced the NMEA 0183 leads of the MFD's NMEA 0183 Cable. The NMEA 0183 port setting of the MFD and the Ray260 must then be configured for 38400 BAUD NMEA 0183 communications. Please additional refer to the portion of the previously referenced FAQ addressing configuring the AIS Objects layer on within the MFD's Chart application.