Connecting Ray54 (DSC enabled VHF) with Raymarine C-70

[Hunter]

I bought a 2008 Maycraft Pilothouse last year and it came equipped with a Raymarine C-70 and a Raymarine Ray54 VHF radio, equipped with DSC capability. I finally got around to sitting down with the manual to understand more about this radio. I have secured my MMSI ID number but discovered that whom ever installed this combo failed to provide a connection (NMEA 0183 cable?) from the C-70 to the radio to provide GPS location data. The connection for the NMEA cable on the back of the VHF and the C-70 look like they are ready to 'plug and play'. Am I missing anything here, or is it as simple as I just need to connect the correct cable and there you go? Can anyone with experience chime in on this and where would I order a cable from? Thanks

[mrobertson]

I just did what you are doing on a Ray49 VHF and a Raymarine E-120.

For my application the VHF was not plug and play. I purchased a NMEA cable that plugged into the back of the E-120, then i had to splice 2 of the wires together at the VHF. I used those telephone wire (scotchlok) connectors. Very easy and seems to be working for me.

I just registered for an MMSI number and will be entering it into the VHF either today or tomorrow.

[Hunter]

mrobertson - thanks for your response. While I am waited for a reply to my post I have also sent an inquiry to Raymarine's "ask a technician".

But I came across something that you might be interested in since you have a Raymarine GPS. For the most part, the NMEA info flows one way and that is from your GPS to your VHF. But if you hear a distress call from another DSC equipped VHF you can set-up your Raymarine E-120 to display that boater's position on your chartplotter. You need to turn "ON" the feature within your E-120. Look in your user's manual under 'system integration', which is a sub-menu under 'system set-up'. See page 2-8.... http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/SubmittedFiles/Handbooks/Navigation/81221_2.pdf ......Don

[cwhite331]

I saw one of the NMEA cables in stock at the west marine in annapolis recently. Did you ever get this resolved? I do marine electronics work and could get this done for 1 hour labor + parts.

Call me if interested...

Craig
410.570.7355

[cwhite331]

You might want to check the software version on your C70 also. Raymarine released many upgrades over the years to the Classic C Series units.

[Hunter]

You might want to check the software version on your C70 also. Raymarine released many upgrades over the years to the Classic C Series units.

It is current as of last fall.

[Hunter]

I saw one of the NMEA cables in stock at the west marine in annapolis recently. Did you ever get this resolved? I do marine electronics work and could get this done for 1 hour labor + parts.

Thanks...I ended up sending in a question to Raymarine and they answered my question, I think. They sent me a cable to connect to my Ray54, but forgot to answer my question about a cable for the C-70. I have done some further research about the remaining NMEA cable I need for the C-70, which should have come standard with the unit when it was new. I think I now need a Raymarine #R08004 cable. From the (MFD NMEA) cable from the C-70 I need to connect the yellow and brown wires to the VHF NMEA cable (Yellow connects to the NMEA IN+; Brown connects to the NMEA IN-). Is the cable #R08004 correct? I have located a few on Ebay...Thanks