GP1871F: Selecting and Monitoring NMEA2000 Source

[drewc228]

Hello, I'm doing a new install of a GP1871F and need help connecting to some NMEA2000 sources. I have a Vesper XB8000 AIS sensor that is providing AIS data on the bus. Another source is a Garmin SteadyCast sensor that provides heading data (HDT) on the bus. I have tried using the "Select Input Device" menu to connect to these sources, choosing "NMEA2000" as the only option available (I do not see any "Specific sensor selection" as discussed in the Installation Manual on Page 28) After connecting, I do not see either AIS or Heading data displayed, either on the chart plotter display or in the data boxes. When I pull up the "NMEA2000 Monitor", I do not see the corresponding PGMs (129038/39, 127250) lit up.
So, question is, what am I overlooking or doing wrong here?

Thanks, Drew

 

[Johnny Electron]

Being that you have no data showing in the NMEA 2000 monitor; you have a problem with your NMEA 2000 bus or connection. Do you have a drawing of how you have the bus configured (terminations and power)?

Once you have the NMEA 2000 devices on a good bus with drop cable you should see the PGN data on the monitor and also the devices will show as a possible source under the INPUT source as described in the manual.

 

[drewc228]

Thanks Johnny, I'll verify that the NMEA2000 network is configured and working correctly.

 

[Johnny Electron]

Since you have two units of the same type and same data on the bus, you might also consider changing the instance number of one of the GP1971F units. This would have to be done with a PC or maybe a TZT/TZT2 unit. The GP1971F doesn't have where you can change it internally.

 

[drewc228]

Thanks for the detailed info...very helpful! The GP1871F is now displaying the NMEA2K sources and I can select and display all of the data on the bus. Was a defective N2K cable. Problem now is that I'm not able to select the "Instruments" tab in the display screen windows function...it's greyed out. I am assuming that I can display all of the usual instruments, including nav data, wind, engine, etc., from the N2K bus (similar to FI-70). Since I now have the data coming in, any thoughts about why I can't activate the Instruments function?

 

[Johnny Electron]

Instruments are not allowed to be setup for full screen or half screen. They can only be used in quarter screen. Try building a screen with a half and two quarters as your setup option. Put plotter in the half screen, then put the instruments in each of the two quarter screens. Does that work?