In Spring of 2007 we had radar installed on the boat. In reading the sales literature I noted the recommendation that a Solid State Heading Sensor (SSHS) be used with the radar to get full functionality so I got one of those too. We went for Nobeltec because we already use the software for navigation.
As our launch date approached the installer was having some difficulty obtaining info from the vendor about terminating the cable that runs to the heading sensor. I got involved and the vendor told me that a SeaLevel 2106 serial to USB adapter was needed to get the instrument to talk to the PC. It sounded like an easy thing to install so we took the boat with intentions of completing the heading sensor install later.
Because of a series of missteps and accidents including a water logged laptop that turned into a brick, I wasn't ready to set up the heading sensor until now. Reading the manuals for both the heading sensor and the USB adapter it was clear that both expected 2 pairs of conductors, 1 for transmitting data and another for receiving it. So that was great, no mismatches there but, the heading sensor needs +12v on pin 2 (the read wire). Yuck, it came with a DB9 serial connector but the USB adapter wasn't going to supply +12v. This must have been the original problem that the installer had trying to connect the SSHS. Wish he had been clearer about this obstacle.
My solution is ugly but it works. I ran a pair of wires back to the boat's power panel and attached 1 to ground, the other to +12v. Then scored the insulation on the SSHS's cable and pulled out the red and black wires, connected the +12v to the red conductor and ground to the black along with a jumper from the black to pin 5 of the DB9.
I run the navigation program now and see data from the SSHS. Yeah!
Of course the only way I have to turn it off is take out the fuse. Details, details .
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