I am very new to using technology on my sailboat and have hit a snag.
I have two wires coming off my Tillerpilot plug that is for NMEA
interface. I have a GPS linked to a laptop with SeaClear running.
SeaClear can have an autopilot listener hooked to it but it says to use
the same com port. How do I get the information from the TALKER i.e.
laptop to the LISTENER i.e. Simrad TP22 Tillerpilot??
Thanks.

On 27 Sep 2006 10:46:16 -0700, "dash trash"
wrote:

I am very new to using technology on my sailboat and have hit a snag.
I have two wires coming off my Tillerpilot plug that is for NMEA
interface. I have a GPS linked to a laptop with SeaClear running.
SeaClear can have an autopilot listener hooked to it but it says to use
the same com port. How do I get the information from the TALKER i.e.
laptop to the LISTENER i.e. Simrad TP22 Tillerpilot??
Thanks.

I would use a switch to select either the GPS output or the Data Out
line of the serial port to feed the autopilot.

There are two wiring diagrams at
http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/idx_wire.html that may help...



--
Peter Bennett VE7CEI
email: peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
GPS and NMEA info and programs: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/index.html
Newsgroup new user info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq

Peter Bennett wrote:
On 27 Sep 2006 10:46:16 -0700, "dash trash"
wrote:

I am very new to using technology on my sailboat and have hit a snag.
I have two wires coming off my Tillerpilot plug that is for NMEA
interface. I have a GPS linked to a laptop with SeaClear running.
SeaClear can have an autopilot listener hooked to it but it says to
use the same com port. How do I get the information from the TALKER
i.e. laptop to the LISTENER i.e. Simrad TP22 Tillerpilot??
Thanks.

I would use a switch to select either the GPS output or the Data Out
line of the serial port to feed the autopilot.

There are two wiring diagrams at
http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/idx_wire.html that may help...

You are assuming his laptop has a serial port, It could be a USB GPS!

My GPS is a serial that I have had to get an adapter for. My computer
only takes USB connections. So if you are not familiar with SeaClear,
it will use one port for the TX/RX. Can I simply splice into the line
that goes from the GPS and tap off the GND and TX to connect those to
the tiller-pilot?

dash trash wrote:
My GPS is a serial that I have had to get an adapter for. My computer
only takes USB connections. So if you are not familiar with SeaClear,
it will use one port for the TX/RX. Can I simply splice into the line
that goes from the GPS and tap off the GND and TX to connect those to
the tiller-pilot?

From memory, all you need is to connect pin 3 and pin 5 (gnd) of the serial
port to your Tillerpilot. Your software should do the rest.

Dennis.

On 28 Sep 2006 21:05:12 -0700, "dash trash"
wrote:

Can I simply splice into the line
that goes from the GPS and tap off the GND and TX to connect those to
the tiller-pilot?

Should work, all else being OK. NMEA TX is supposed to support
something like 3 or 4 listeners if my memory is correct.

From memory, all you need is to connect pin 3 and pin 5 (gnd) of the serial
port to your Tillerpilot. Your software should do the rest.

Dennis

The serial port is being used. That is why I ask if I can splice into
the wire.

dash trash wrote:
From memory, all you need is to connect pin 3 and pin 5 (gnd) of the
serial port to your Tillerpilot. Your software should do the rest.

Dennis

The serial port is being used. That is why I ask if I can splice into
the wire.

You break into the plug, not the port! If the plug is moulded, cut the wire
and buy one of the self-assembled plugs from Radio Shack (US), or
Maplin(UK). You can use the existing wire if there are 5 or more strands
inside the casing, failing that, buy some 6 or 7-strand data lead.

Dennis.