[bbbullock]

I am seeking some expertise in recommending the proper setup to connect Raymarine Seatalk devices to MacENC...here is the equipment I have installed on my Beneteau (all vintage about 2003/2004):

ST60 Tridata
Raystar 120 GPS Receiver
ST6001 Smartpilot
Pathfinder Radar

Today, all of this is brought together on an hsb2 Plus Series Color LCD Display, but would like MacENC to capture data realtime, and be able to transfer waypoints back and forth.

I've looked at the Miniplex 41 and 42 (BT preferred), but am not able to really understand what is the proper device to purchase...and what functionality to expect with either. Or, is there a better solution altogether?

Also, any tips/hints on installation/setup would be greatly appreciated. I'm only on my boat 4 or 5 times a summer, and minimizing the time and aggravation of setting something like this up would be a big bonus!

Thanks!

Brian

[xymotic]

I opted so save a couple hundred and get the 41. So far have not seen any need for the features of the 42 like sentence filtering, etc.

(I have st60+'s a garmin plotter/sounder and a milltech AIS all talking to macENC via bluetooth.

It's a pretty straightforward process, you hook up the seatalk cables, pair the bluetooth and then use the little configure app from gpsnavx to setup the multiplexer to reed seatalk on one port NMEA on the other and the AIS on the serial port.

It's sort of easier to answer specific problems than a general question like this. IS there anything in the 42 you think you might need now or in the future?

[bobetter]

As xymotic says, the installation is fairly straightforward. If you are planning on using the system to drive the boat with the Autopilot, you will almost certainly need to filter to avoid creating a feedback loop with the Raymarine gear.

[bbbullock]

Thanks everyone for the input on this...one question that I'm not sure I've got an answer to:

Is it possible to transfer waypoints between a Raymarine chartplotter and MacENC?

[GPSNavX]

Yes the Raymarine chartplotter should respond to the $GPWPL message for transfer of waypoints from MacENC to the plotter. Anyway point that is activated on the chart plotter will automatically be transferred to MacENC.

[bbbullock]

So, it sounds like I can do everything with the 41BT, and do not need to go to the 42BT.

Thanks!

[rirvine]

Some points:

1. Raymarine devices that convert Seatalk to NMEA often do not convert all the sentences and/or all the data in the sentence on the Seatalk to the corresponding NMEA sentence. Their chart plotters may only convert the GPS related sentences.

2. When MacENC sends a waypoint to the chartplotter the same data is converted to Seatlak and and arrives at the autopilot. This causes my ST4000 to lock up. To recover from this lock up required the autopilot to be power cycled. I do not know how other Raymarine autopilot might react.

3. I have not taken the time to understand / solve this problem. I always set the waypoint on the Raymarine chartplotter.

4. None of these issues have anything to do with MacENC but with Raymarine's products.

5. My, all Raymarine, set-up can be seen at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crews_nest/549486483/

6. You can see that I bring the AIS and GPS data (from the chart plotter) in on one NMEA lines and the instrument data (+anything else on Seatalk) in on a second NMEA connection

7. I use the Raymarine Seatalk to NMEA converter because I go it at the right price – free.

Take care, Ray

[GPSNavX]

For reference the Raymarine Seatalk/NMEA converter is here

It is known to be quite buggy in its conversion, where the Shipmodul Miniplex 41/42 are much more solid.