Enabling AIS targets on RDP-149

[dvarholy]

Spent hours trying to figure this out before posting here. I am attempting to display AIS targets on an RDP-149 by connecting it to a Simrad RS40-B AIS. My present settings/connections are as follows:

White wire TX_A from the AIS is connected to yellow wire RD-A on the MFD
Brown wire TX_B from the AIS is connected to green wire RD-B on the MFD

NMEA 0183 from AIS is connected to DATA2 on the MFD
Port monitor for DATA2 is always empty.
Baud rate is set to 38,400 on the MFD
Default baud rate is 38,400 on the AIS. I still need to verify this setting.

Have up to date C-map chart card installed. Charts do scroll properly as I move.
My boat's AIS target does appear when searched on marine traffic or ship finder.
I cannot locate a menu on the MFD asking whether or not I wish to display AIS targets.
The manual mentions an "AIS interface" although the dealer said I would not need that.


Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

Daniel

 

[dvarholy]

I have since discovered the AIS baud rate was not set to 38,400 on the transponder. After correcting this, I checked the port monitor for DATA2 and now see characters. One step closer, but still no AIS targets appear on the MFD. Will keep trying.

Daniel

 

[TheReaper]

What software version are you using? Go to Menu-System Configuration-System Setup-Test & Clear-Memory I/O Test-Display Unit Test and provide me with the whole "program number", please.

If software is current (195002404.03), things to ensure are:
1. Have good GPS position to display AIS on chart plotter. Have good GPS and Heading to display AIS on radar.
2. Ensure local time offset is correct. Menu-System Configuration-General Setup
3. Ensure Target Tracks Display is set to either Both or AIS Only. Menu-Chart Setup-Tracks & Marks Control

If all those items are correct, it will display AIS targets. If it still doesn't, it may be an incompatibility with the Simrad AIS device. Maybe try checking to see if Simrad has a NMEA version selection and ensure that it's no higher than v2.0

 

[dvarholy]

The software version is current.
GPS position is accurate.
I have tried Both and AIS only. No change either way.

My local offset is UTC-5. I can't figure out how to change +00:00 to a negative value. The attached image only allows a positive value to be entered.

I have been unable to find which NMEA 0813 version the AIS uses.

Daniel

 

[TheReaper]

The UTC +/- button appears on the same button you pushed to edit the value (one of the five buttons on the right side of the screen).

The Simrad RS40-B User Manual shows NMEA 0183 states IEC 61162-1 & -2. This indicates that it's at least v3 or higher, so it may not be compatible with the RDP-149


I also found in the Simrad RS40-B User Guide that there is a checksum setting. It seems to imply it only affects input, but I would toggle the checksum setting to OFF. Also, the Time Offset setting...ensure it's set to the -5 hour offset as well. If you are in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) time zone, we are currently -4 hours due to daylight savings (DST). Might try changing it to that here and also on the RDP149 (with DST option set to OFF).

 

[dvarholy]

Thank you for all the help so far. I will disable the checksum on the RS40-B. I will attempt to set both the AIS and the MFD to my offset.

Daniel

 

[TheReaper]

Thank you for all the help so far. I will disable the checksum on the RS40-B. I will attempt to set both the AIS and the MFD to my offset.

Daniel

It's worth a shot, but I have a feeling that the Simrad RS40-B is just not compatible with the RDP149.

 

[dvarholy]

It appears I will need to add a separate AIS receiver for my MFD. That means yet another antenna. Is there a recommended antenna for my RDP-149? It would be nice to keep the system all Furuno.

Daniel