Using PG700 with NavPilot 511

[Mariner62]

Hi there,
I have purchased and installed a PG700 to act as a compass for my NavPilot 511. I could not get my hands on a PG500 and the manual seems to indicate that its not mandatory to use the PG500. I have converted the N2K messages from the PG700 to NMEA0183 HCHDG messages at the appropriate Baud rate and fed them to the NMEA input of the AP. I have changed the COMPASS selection to be "OTHER" (rather than PG500).

When I check the incoming port activity, the HDG message from the PG700 does not appear. I know the wiring and Baud rate are correct as there are other messages coming in the same port, and these show up on the port monitor.

What do I need to do to make the 511 recognise this HDG input message.

Does it only accept this message on the compass port?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Mariner62]

Hi there,
I have purchased and installed a PG700 to act as a compass for my NavPilot 511. I could not get my hands on a PG500 and the manual seems to indicate that its not mandatory to use the PG500. I have converted the N2K messages from the PG700 to NMEA0183 HCHDG messages at the appropriate Baud rate and fed them to the NMEA input of the AP. I have changed the COMPASS selection to be "OTHER" (rather than PG500).

When I check the incoming port activity, the HDG message from the PG700 does not appear. I know the wiring and Baud rate are correct as there are other messages coming in the same port, and these show up on the port monitor.

What do I need to do to make the 511 recognise this HDG input message.

Does it only accept this message on the compass port?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Hi again,
For anyone attempting this in the future, here's what I found by trial and error:

1. The Compass port accepts NMEA0183 Heading sentences only. It ignores all other sentences. Logical!

2. The other NMEA inputs on the FAP5002 AP computer accept all data, except Heading data (not so logical).

3. The above means that you can feed a single NMEA-0183 output with heading and autopilot data (waypoints etc) into the FAP-5002 Compass port AND NMEA Port 1. This allows the system to find heading data and autopilot data and react accordingly.

4. I'd love to do this from one of my TZT3 plotters, but alas the TZT3 will NOT output heading sentences of any kind. (seems very illogical !)

My solution to integrate the PG700 into the 511 Navpilot is to use a Miniplex 3-N2K (which I have already in my system) to collect the heading data and pilot data from N2K and feed one of its 0183 outputs to both Compass and NMEA In of the FAP-5002. (It has a fan-out of 4)

I could of course just buy two complete new 700 series autopilots for an eye-watering price. But why do that if my 500 series pilots work just fine.

Carry on.