*Note…I have copied and pasted this response from the moderator to a new thread in the hopes of helping others find this solution*

Response from the moderator:

HL,

Unfortunately, should the VHF radio require the $GP talker ID, then the GPS data transmitted from the MFD to the VHF radio (via the AIS650) will not supplying your VHF radio’s GPS data requirement.  It is strongly recommended that any Icom product owner contact Icom rectify this problem within currently offered an future Icom products, as this should not be a requirement.

Please note that it is possible generate GPS sentences featuring the $GP NMEA 0183 Talker ID by adding a SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter (updated with v1.21 SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter software) to output GPS data from your system featuring the $GP NMEA 0183 Talker ID.

Following the introduction of the Raystar 130 GPS Sensor, it was recognized that some customers had devices requiring 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 GPS data sentences and either did not have a MFD, had an MFD which did not feature a NMEA 0183 port (ex. a65/a67 MFDs), or had a NMEA 0183 device requiring 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 GPS sentences featuring the $GP Talker ID.  Raymarine has introduced a feature within the v1.21 SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter software update permitting a SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter to transmit a limited set of 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 GPS sentences.

The SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter will output / transmit (tx) the following 4800 BAUD NMEA0183 v4.10 sentences:

• GGA – If L/L is present on STng, then GGA will Tx only populating data fields that are available, i.e. time/date etc.
• RMC – If L/L is present then RMC will Tx only populating data fields that are available, i.e. time/date etc.
• VTG – If SOG and/or COG valid in 129026 then VTG will Tx only populating data fields that are available, i.e. variation etc.

Following the software update, the SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter will be operate “sense mode” for the first twenty seconds.  If first generation SeaTalk communications packets are detected while in Sense Mode, then the SeaTalk to SeaTalk Converter will operate as a SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter.  However, if no first generation SeaTalk communications packets are detected while in Sense Mode, then the SeaTalk to SeaTalk Converter will transmit 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 GPS sentences featuring the $GP Talker ID.

Within the diagram below, your E-Series Classic MFD would replace the pictured a67 MFD and would interfaced to the SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter via the A06061 E-Series Classic MFD to SeaTalkng Spur Cable (approx. 5′).