Installation of DSC VHF radio to the stock GPS antenna

[tdonoughue]

Success!

I got a Uniden Solara D UM380 radio for Christmas. It supports hookup to a GPS antenna to provide location to the transmitter. I have a 2012 AR240, but I could not find any info on pinouts, etc. on the GPS antenna that comes with the boat for the speedometer, so some experimentation was required...

The antenna is NMEA 0183 compliant. The cable from the antenna has three wires. They are:
Orange - NMEA out +
Red - 12v +
Black - Ground

This is in the compartment forward the helm:


I recommend going beyond the connector and making any connection on the boat side of the wiring. The wires from the antenna to the connector are very thin. Those on the boat side of the connector are normal gauge. Colors are the same on either side.



Radio manual said to hook ground to ground and then just the yellow radio wire (NMEA in +) to the NMEA out +. I hooked the radio ground to black, positive in to orange and got nothing. Tried a few things and finally hooked the radio NMEA in - to black as well. Poof! Lots of nice data.

So, black from the antenna may be NMEA out - as well. However you want to call it, but it works. Hope that helps someone.

The final install...

 

[Bruce]

Great job and thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

I am curious if the radio gets in the way of your knees?

 

[farrelltravis]

This will be awesome info for many! Thanks for posting!

The radio install looks great!

 

[Captbob]

Great job and thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

I am curious if the radio gets in the way of your knees?

I have a Horizon 1700 GPS VHF in the same place. It has never interfered with my knees or anything else.
Bob

 

[tdonoughue]

Great job and thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

I am curious if the radio gets in the way of your knees?

Nope. Sits just to the side. Plus, I rarely am fully seated there. Either standing or have the seat folded up and leaning on it while piloting...