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I have connected my VHF (DSC) radio to my Garmin GPS via an NMEA 0183 interface cable. I am looking at buying a more modern fishfinder(current favorite-to-buy is a Raymarine DS400x) that takes the GPS input. Can I hook the GPS to both the GPS and the DS400x at the same time? Do I need some type of "Y" cable or how is this done?

In case any of you had the same questions - an angler in the Pensacola Fishing Forum turned me on to this excellent GPS to other devices wiring article - tells me everything I need to know - case closed !

http://www.oceanskiffjournal.com/Subscr ... Talk1.aspx

Some people just don't care for interaction.

Dang Ranger, I started post to say, I've never hooked up a network, but figured someone, who had, would offer some help.
I guess, most here, like myself, don't have any sophisticated enough electronics to know anything about it.
Thanks for the site, I bookmarked in hopes of needing it sometime.
Seems to me, friends and info is what these forums are suppose to be all about.. I guess your post just slipped through the crack.

Now that's a cool observation, Qoutrage. Hey guys, yours truly has got a NETWORK on his boat. Welcome to the fooooture !! This is better than sliced bread !!

You do not need a Y splitter to hook up NMEA to multpile devices.

You have NMEA in and out on all those devices.


<splice together>
GPS NMEA OUT
FISHFINDER NMEA IN
VHF NMEA IN
</splice together>
(This should give you GPS coords on both your fishfinder and VHF for DSC)

FISHFINDER NMEA OUT ==> GPS NMEA IN
(This should give you temp and/or depth on your GPS)


This should work just fine, but reading instruction manuals on NMEA connections will make you head spin. I managed to get it done after reading the instructions 5 or 6 times and then by trial and error.

I just got my sea tow magazine and some really neat features are going to be available.

VHF phone calls

Your family or others will be able to see your position on a home computer from the VHF and GPS interface.

Really need to check into it a little more.

Tom Keels wrote:You do not need a Y splitter to hook up NMEA to multpile devices.

Thanks Tom - this is getting demystified pretty quick with all the help I am getting from you guys.

Now all I need is a firewall, wireless broadband, web and data servers, and a domain controller and I'll be serving up fish locations and weather conditions in real-time on the internet, ha ha !!