TV Repeater for Garmin 5212 Chartplotter on R-27 Classic

[MorningCall]

Hello TugNuts,

My name is Todd and I am a fairly new owner of a 2011 Ranger Tugs R-27 Classic.

I am trying to use the onboard television as a repeater for the Garmin 5212 Chartplotter display and have not had any luck making it work. I am hoping someone can share information on how they accomplished this, or how the system appears to have been configured in the factory.

I purchased a Garmin video cable that has a VGA plug and two yellow RCA plugs labeled "Video-1" and "Video-2." I connected the VGA plug to an HDMI cord and also tried to plug into the TV using the RCA plugs with no luck.

The TV's is a Majestic unit with the following available inputs: HDMI, VGA, Component RCA (red, blue, green), Standard RCA (red, white, yellow), Coaxial, and S-Video.

Questions:

Was your TV set up as a repeater in the factory?
If so, how does the Garmin appear to be connected to your TV?
Or, did you set up the TV as a repeater yourself?
If so, how did you accomplish this?

Thank you, in advance, for your time and assistance!

Best,

Todd Vorenkamp
2011 Ranger Tugs R-27 Classic
M/V Morning Call
Westerly, RI
www.trvphoto.com

 

[Bruce Moore]

Bumping post delayed in moderation queue.

 

[jpdewitt]

Todd, did you ever get an answer or figure out how to use your TV as a repeater for the Garmin chart plotter?

John DeWitt
Sunny Tug
2012 Ranger 29S

 

[Martin610]

I actually did this on my boat's 5212. It was a while ago so I don't remember all the details. I think there was a VGA cable that I plugged in and then changed the Majestic input to display the 5212. I will check next time I am at the boat. I do remember that the display was very grainy on the 5212.

 

[bill46]

Our 2014 R31CB came with a VGA wire from garmin to salon TV. As I recall Garmin has input and output cables. Found unused ones in bag with books and install instructions.
Good luck.

 

[Martin610]

Hey Todd.

I was down at the boat today, and you can indeed run video out from the 5212 to the Majestic TV. I did this a couple of years ago. I was adding a ROKU stick to the TV and while rooting around behind the set I found the VGA cable. Plugged it in, changed the input on the TV to VGA, and voila, Garmin output on TV. I think I removed the TV from the mount to do this. Was actually not as grainy as I had thought.



This shot is today, while sitting in my slip in Mantoloking NJ. I haven't used it much, but it could be useful for planning as more than one person can look at the screen.

 

[GaylesFaerie]

HI Martin, I would like to try and do the same on my 2012 R27 with a Garmin 5212. Can you describe in more detail the cable and connectors on each side? Where in the boat did you run the cable from the TV and down into behind the helm dashboard? Which connector on the back of the Garmin was used? Thanks! GF

 

[knotflying]

You should have a video cable that plugs into the back of the Garmin. It is a 17 pin plug. The other end has a VGA plug. As far as running the cable to the unit, It all depends on how well you want it to look. If it were me, I would run the cable into the overhead storage and then across to starboard and drill a hole and run the cable in the corner where window meets wall. Can't remember, but there may be space between the window and ledge to fish the cable through or you may have to drill another hole. You can hold the cable in place along the window using clear silicone caulk and tape it in place until it cures.

 

[Martin610]

Hi Guys,

In my case the video cable was already run into the cabinet area where the TV is mounted in my CW-28. The TV is mounted on a swing hinge so it can be viewed either from the stateroom or the galley/salon.

I saw the VGA end while installing the ROKU. I traced it back to the 5212 where it terminated in video out.

I had to remove the TV from the wood backing of the swing arm to install the VGA cable to the TV. The VGA input was on the bottom of the TV. This is a bit tricky and seems to take three hands so a helper is good.

Once connected, simply change the input on the TV to VGA and turn on the Garmin. I did not have to make any changes on the Garmin itself.

-martin

 

[GaylesFaerie]

KnotFlying and Martin, thanks to you both. A nice project to add for the winter. GF

 

[MorningCall]

Todd, did you ever get an answer or figure out how to use your TV as a repeater for the Garmin chart plotter?

John DeWitt
Sunny Tug
2012 Ranger 29S

Hi John,

It looks like some have made it happen. I submitted this post in May, but it must have just published. Thanks for asking!

Best,

Todd

 

[MorningCall]

Our 2014 R31CB came with a VGA wire from garmin to salon TV. As I recall Garmin has input and output cables. Found unused ones in bag with books and install instructions.
Good luck.

Thanks, Bill!

Best,

Todd

 

[MorningCall]

Hey Todd.

I was down at the boat today, and you can indeed run video out from the 5212 to the Majestic TV. I did this a couple of years ago. I was adding a ROKU stick to the TV and while rooting around behind the set I found the VGA cable. Plugged it in, changed the input on the TV to VGA, and voila, Garmin output on TV. I think I removed the TV from the mount to do this. Was actually not as grainy as I had thought.



This shot is today, while sitting in my slip in Mantoloking NJ. I haven't used it much, but it could be useful for planning as more than one person can look at the screen.

Thanks, Martin!

I am not sure why it didn't work for me. I will keep trying!

Best,

Todd

 

[MorningCall]

You should have a video cable that plugs into the back of the Garmin. It is a 17 pin plug. The other end has a VGA plug. As far as running the cable to the unit, It all depends on how well you want it to look. If it were me, I would run the cable into the overhead storage and then across to starboard and drill a hole and run the cable in the corner where window meets wall. Can't remember, but there may be space between the window and ledge to fish the cable through or you may have to drill another hole. You can hold the cable in place along the window using clear silicone caulk and tape it in place until it cures.

Thanks, Mike!

That sounds like a project!

Best,

Todd

 

[MorningCall]

KnotFlying and Martin, thanks to you both. A nice project to add for the winter. GF

Hi GaylesFaerie!

Let me know if you want to practice on mine! 🙂

Best,

Todd

 

[GaylesFaerie]

I daren't! Its first time jobs like this that take me days sometimes so I don't ruin anything and can remember how to put stuff back together. Stay tuned...

 

[mikey]

sooner than buying another 7212 chart plotter to have chart/sounder at the stern cockpit for fishing why not buy a 12-16" TV at a fraction of the price?

 

[jpdewitt]

After reading the posts, went to the boat and found the boat was already prewired/configured for the TV to be a repeater for the Garmin 5212. The 5212 had a video cable already installed at the video port and the Majestic TV had a VGA cable installed. The VGA cable was loose and needed to be tightened. I turned on the chart plotter, switched the TV source to VGA and the TV screen replicated the chartplotter screen.

John & Della
Sunny Tug
2012 Ranger Tug 29 Sedan
Pensacola, FL

 

[mikey]

thanks for the input Martin. Is the display on the TV a repeat of the 5212 or can the TV display radar while the Garmin display chart/sounder? If the TV is a repeat of the 5212 or in my case 7212 it could be mounted under the overhang in the aft cockpit -great for fishing

 

[GaylesFaerie]

Does anyone know the technical description of the cable used? I've searched all over the internet for "VGA 15 pin 17 pin" and come up empty. I searched Garmin's site as well looking at 13 pages of cables and none matched the 17 pin round collar connector (for the back of the Garmin) and the 15 pin trapezoidal VGA connector on the other end. There's got to be a more technical description of the connectors that may show up in a web search. If anyone knows, please respond. Thanks, Gary