[oceandove]

Ok I am a Newbie here.

I have been run Macs for the last 20 years and have been looking at bring them aboard Ocean Dove to integrate with the Nav equipment I have aboard. I have just started to install a Raymarine X-30 core pack autopilot and ST70 control head. I have ST 60 speed log, depth, and wind, C 70 chartplotter at the nav station (backup) and C80 chartplotter at the steering stand. I have the Demo of the MacENC software, but there are a number of question as how the software will integrate with my Raymarine system.

What interface do need between Macbook Pro and the Raymarine SeaTalk, Seatalk NG or NMEA-2000/NMEA-0183?

Can I use the Navionics CF card and the Raymarine card reader with MacEnc or will I be forced to purchase the charts again through x-traverse.com?

How do I transfer waypoints between MacEnc and my C series chartplotter?

Thanks
Derek
Ocean Dove

[ReeferJon]

Hi there and welcome to MacSailing.net.

As a MacENC and Raymarine C90 & ST60 series user, I can try and answer your questions.

Getting NMEA data out of the Raymarine
I would assume that your Raymarine ST60s and C90 are connected via the Seatalk bus on the back of the C90 and are running as a single Seatalk network.

Basically you have two options around getting data in and out of your Raymarine C90 in NMEA 0183 format.

Option A: Via NMEA 0183 port + Serial to USB adapter
As you are aware, there is an NMEA 0183 output and input on the C90 (and I presume the C80) that will talk to a Mac, provided you can complete the connection (part 2!) However, if you're using these ports for either Navtex or AIS, you may have problems. If you're lucky, the C80 on the nav station won't have anything connected to the NMEA port and you can just use this. (you can also patch a cable to the "NMEA output" and clone this data to your Mac. However if you try the same pumping data into the Raymarine, you may run into problems with multiplexing data.)

You'll also need to convert the "serial" RS232 interface to something you can plug into the Mac. The cheapest option is a Serial to USB adapter which will cost you around $10, and will usually come with fairly basic Mac drivers.

Option B: Via Seatalk bus with Raymarine interface + Serial to USB adapter
If you're unable to use the NMEA ports on the C-series chartplotters, your other option is to plug an interface into the Seatalk bus that translates data between Seanet's proprietary Seatalk and NMEA 0183 . There are two manufacturers that I'm aware of who do this. First is Raymarine with their Seatalk to NMEA Interface which I've been using quite happily with PCs and Macs for about 6 years. Unfortunately, it doesn't support uploading of data to chartplotters, or streaming AIS data, but is sufficient for GPS and nav instrument data.

You'll also need the Serial to USB interface discussed in Option A.

Option C: Via Seatalk bus with ShipModul USB / BT multiplexer
The second option is to purchase a ShipModul multiplexer. There are a number of different models available, depending on your exact requirements. These are more expensive, but do a lot more, including combining different NMEA feeds from different sources, and increasing / decreasing baud rates as necessary. ShipModul multiplexers also solve the "NMEA to Mac" part of this problem as they can interface with the Mac directly either via USB or via Bluetooth. Moreover our resident guru GPSNavX has written software for the Mac that allows you to configure the ShipModul from a rather neat little Mac app.

I hope this helps.. I'd start with Option A and see how you get on. If this doesn't work, or all your NMEA 0183 ports are in use on the Raymarine, or if you want the "professional" option, then the ShipModul is the way to go.

Cheers,

Reeferjon

[ReeferJon]

Oh, forgot to mention.. the CF cards aren't currently compatible with MacENC, I believe.

However, I've been using the Fugawi Xtraverse system to install Navionics charts on MacENC, and am really impressed... but you'll need to purchase them, which is obviously a consideration!

[oceandove]

Thanks ReeferJon for your Expert advice.

I have been looking at Brookhouse a New Zealand company NMEA 0183 multiplexer for the Raymarine C/E series Chartplotters with the SeaTalk and USB options added,
cost $307 plus shipping.
Have anyone used this multiplexer before?

http://brookhouseonline.com/index.htm

Regards
Derek
Ocean Dove