T&T: Connecting SR161 AIS to a Garmin Chartplotter

[Rich Gano]

My Garmin 4208 has several NMEA 0183 inputs and is in fact a AIS-capable
unit.  Last night, Garmin came back to me via email about how to configure
the NMEA inputs.  I followed their advice, and, viola, I had AIS information
on the chartplotter.  Tested later in evening and nothing.  Been through all
the wiring with VOM twice, and still no luck.  Hmmm.

-----Original Message-----
From: Garrett Lambert [mailto:garrett.lambert at gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 12:30 AM
To: trawlers-and-trawlering
Cc: richgano at gmail.com
Subject: Connecting SR161 AIS to a Garmin Chartplotter


Hi Rich

I went through this. Garmin chartplotters including and earlier than
the 2006/2010 cannot handle external NMEA input, so if your
chartplotter falls into that group you're out of luck. I have a couple
of 2010's, and ended up connecting the SR161 to my laptop. It works
with both Nobeltec Admiral 10.x and with Sea Clear II, but it took
three tries before I found an RS232 to USB adaptor that worked on the
laptop with VISTA was a PITA.

Cheers, Garrett