[CA] RS120 - NO FIX being reported on Pathfinder Series Display or Multifunction Display

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

RS120 - NO FIX being reported on Pathfinder Series Display or Multifunction Display

The Raystar 120 GPS Sensor was produced in both NMEA 0183 and SeaTalk versions. When manufactured, a vinyl medallion was affixed to the upper shell of the Raystar 120 GPS Sensor identifying which of two communication protocols (SeaTalk or NMEA 0183) it supported. Should this medallion have fallen off, then providing the sensor's product ID / serial number information (label affixed to the underside of the sensor), then the sensor's product ID may be used to identify which version is owned:
- E32025 Raystar 120 SeaTalk GPS Sensor
- E32026 Raystar 120 NMEA 0183 GPS Sensor

In all cases troubleshooting should begin with the following:
- connect the vessel to shore power, permit its batteries to be fully charged and then test the system after charging.
- verify that the GPS sensor has been installed in a location affording it an unobstructed view of the skies overhead
- verify that there is no obvious damage to the GPS sensor and/or its cables
- verify that all marine electronics power circuits (especially that which is supplying power to the GPS sensor has been switched ON) ... verify that power is being supplied to the GPS sensor's power leads
- verify that the MFD is communicating with the GPS sensor by examining the MFD's GPS status dialog(ex. it is not necessary for the GPS sensor to have acquired a position fix to view satellite data) from the GPS sensor ... if not, then the communications path between the MFD and GPS sensor should be checked.
- if the NMEA 0183 version of the Raystar 120 GPS sensor has been installed onboard and the MFD has been interfaced to an AIS receiver / transceiver via its NMEA 0183 communications interface, then verify that the MFD's corresponding NMEA 0183 Port has been configured to "AIS 38400".
- if the NMEA 0183 version of the Raystar 120 GPS sensor has been installed onboard and the MFD has not been interfaced to an AIS receiver / transceiver via its NMEA 0183 communications interface, then verify that the MFD's corresponding NMEA 0183 Port has been configured to "NMEA 4800".
- if the system is comprised of E-Series Classic MFDs, C/E-Series Widescreen MFDs, or a GPM400, verify that the MFD which has been interfaced to the SeaTalk bus has been configured as the system's Data Master MFD and that this MFD is has been switched ON whenever the system is in use. This item does not apply to A/C-Series Classic MFDs.

Should each of the applicable items listed above have been satisfied, then it would appear that the Raystar 120 GPS Sensor has suffered a failure and should be replaced with a Raystar 150 GPS Sensor.

- Interfacing a Raystar 150 GPS Sensor to a hsb/hsb2/SL Pathfinder Series Display
- Interfacing a Raystar 150 GPS Sensor to a C-Series Classic MFD
- Interfacing a Raystar 150 GPS Sensor to an E-Series Classic MFD

For any model of MFD having a SeaTalkng communications interface (ex. A-Series Classic MFD, C/E-Series Widescreen MFD, GPM400, a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFD), the Data Master MFD and Raystar 150 GPS Sensor would each be interfaced as a spur to a powered and properly terminated SeaTalkng / NMEA 2000 backbone.


RAYFAQ#