Navigation data to Garmin VHF 100i radio

[AArctander]

Hello, me again, purchased a 21EC in Norway. The following radio and chart plotter was installed in my new boat; VHF radio 100i, Sn 1G8011580. Garmin plotter 541s, sn 1J9030306. The VHF and plotter has been connected together, but no navigational data is transferred to the VHF. I have not touched the wiring made by the factory. What can be wrong? Software set up in the VHF or plotter? Wrong cables connected to each other? I have pictures of the wiring that I can send you on e-mail.

 

[SGIDAVE]

Hello, me again, purchased a 21EC in Norway. The following radio and chart plotter was installed in my new boat; VHF radio 100i, Sn 1G8011580. Garmin plotter 541s, sn 1J9030306. The VHF and plotter has been connected together, but no navigational data is transferred to the VHF. I have not touched the wiring made by the factory. What can be wrong? Software set up in the VHF or plotter? Wrong cables connected to each other? I have pictures of the wiring that I can send you on e-mail.

Hello AArctander,

The connection should be via NMEA 0183 which are the tiny, fiddly little wires; There should be two pairs required to get the GPS data to the VHF. Go into the Garmin 541 menu and make sure that NMEA 0183 data sharing is turned on . Then check the VHF setup menu and make sure it is set to receive via 0183.

It's weird...I just went to GArmins website and they have NO MANUAL for the 541. I guess you need to make sure it even CAN communicate via 0183 protocol. I would be surprised if it lacked that ability. If you see back behind the VHF two pairs of TINY wires joined then those would be your NMEA 0183 connections and you need to address the setup in the chartplotter first, then the VHF.

Is this a NEW boat? If so, your dealer should have brought you up to speed on the breaker, VHF DSC set up (i.e., getting gps data to the vhf), etc.

Fair winds and functioning electronics,

dave

 

[AArctander]

Dave,
OK all you said sound logical. I will try again, and ensure the correct colour leads from Plotter for NMEA is connected to correct colour leads on the VHF. Then check the software set up in the two devices. If that does not give any results, I have to double check the conductivity in the connectors used when the cables where connected at the factory.