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Author	Topic:   DSC POS Request and Position Plotting on Chart Plotter
BellBoyBob	posted 08-12-2007 06:02 PM ET (US)         I have the Icom 402a VHF radio interfaced with the Garmin 178 Map / sounder. When a POS request comes in through DSC from another DSC radio, I know it is possible to see the caller's position on the map page of the [chart plotter]. And yet, I cannot effect this. Any ideas? The radio recognizes the GPS and the NMEA in and out seems to be wired correctly. Am I missing something? Thanks, Bob
jimh	posted 08-12-2007 11:21 PM ET (US)             Verify that the both the radio and the chart plotter support the NMEA sentences DSC and DSE. If they do, it should be noted in their specifications.
Moe	posted 08-13-2007 07:10 PM ET (US)             I downloaded the Icom 402a owner's manual to double-check this, and it doesn't show an NMEA output, only the NMEA in with an RCA plug that takes data from the GPS to transmit. For received position, you have to look at the radio's display since there's no provision for outputting it to a GPS. That's the way our 402s was with our Garmin 178. -- Moe
jimh	posted 08-13-2007 07:34 PM ET (US)             Moe--Thanks for taking the time and trouble to investigate this. Clearly there is no possibility for this configuration to work. I think the system designer did not understand the required components necessary to get this functionality.
Moe	posted 08-13-2007 08:25 PM ET (US)             If I recall correctly from when we bought ours in 2003, you had to step up to the 502 to get NMEA out to display on the GPS. The Standard Horizons that were comparably priced to our 402 didn't have it either, but the more expensive ones did. -- Moe
BellBoyBob	posted 08-14-2007 11:45 PM ET (US)             Thanks for the clarification on the 402. I was focussing on the Garmin side which, of course, has NMEA in and out for two ports. I looked again at the Icom 402 and now have realized that the radio only has NMEA in. This makes sense as the GPS position from the position report coming from another boat only shows on the Icom screen and not the Garmin. Lesson learned. Someone on E-bay will get a great deal on the Icom and I will upgrade to the 504. Best, Bob
jimh	posted 08-14-2007 11:50 PM ET (US)             Bob--You have to pay dearly in the ICOM brand to get the feature you are looking for. In other brands you can get these features for less than $150 in a very nice radio. ICOM has been slow to add these features to their radios and seems intent on keeping them only in their highest cost products.
BellBoyBob	posted 08-15-2007 08:55 AM ET (US)             Yes, it seems that Icom radios are far more expensive than Uniden or Standard Horizon for the same features. Is there such a "high end" build quality to Icom that they feel their products are worth the extra money? Is there a brand you would avoid? Thanks, Bob

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