Garmin chartplotter and cameras

[boaterholic]

I have a Garmin 1243 that I would like to add a couple video cams to. The manual says "A Garmin®Marine Network PoE Isolation Coupler (010-10580-10) must be used when connecting any third-party device, such as a FLIR®camera, to a Garmin Marine Network. Connecting a Power over Ethernet (PoE) device directly to a Garmin Marine Network chartplotter damages the Garmin chartplotter and may damage the PoE device"

The cameras I'm looking at are POE types and I just want to make sure I understand correctly what the manual says. If I buy the isolation coupler am I understanding correctly that it will protect the system and still power the cameras?

Thanks

 

[hughespat57]

Garmin Network uses Ethernet cables but they DO NOT use it in the standard fashion.

A little network background:
Ethernet is 4 pairs of wire, data and gnd for each signal pair, 8 wires in all.
Normally two pair are transmit TX data and two are receive data RX
All four pair are only needed for Gigabit speeds (Gbs), the older 100 Megabit speed (Mbs) only needs two pair.
The typical Ethernet connector is an RJ45, and in addition there is shielded or un-shielded cables available.

Garmin Network operates at the older 100Mbs speed and makes use of an unused wire to signal other devices on the "network" that a chart plotter is turned on and the other devices (like radar) should turn on and start communicating. The extra wire is taken to ground (low) to signal this.
Also Garmin uses sheilded cable since boats do have a lot of RF and electrical noise from other devices/engines.
And Garmin expects by default a "cross-over" cable where the TX at one end crosses to the RX at the other end.
But this is only for the two pair carrying data. The other "unused" pairs are wired straight thru.
Pins 1, 2, 3, 6 are data and wired crossover (1-3, 2-6, 3-1, 6-2)
Pins 4, 5, 7,8 are proprietary Garmin use wired straight (4-4, 5-5, 7-7, 8-8)
Pin 5 taken to ground tells other devices to power up

A standard Ethernet POE switch would be using that wire to provide power to devices like the camera.
This would fry the Garmins control circuit. Thus the need to isolate POE from the Garmin network.

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=MNUtEt8k5EA2s8dR9eqIQ9
https://static.garmin.com/pumac/Marine_Ethernet.pdf

Isolation: two ways -
If you intend to use a separate Ehternet POE switch to provide camera power then between it and the Garmin Network hub use a data cable that has ONLY pins 1,2,3,6 connected the other locations are empty. (therefore isolated)
https://www.l-com.com/ethernet-cat-5-10base-t-patch-cable-rj45-rj45-10-ft

If you intend to use a "passive POE" power injector be sure internally it does not connect on the data side to Garmin hub.
Below J1 is camera J2 is Garmin hub

 

[alnav]

Be careful which camera(s) you select. Flir definitely will work. As to other brands, even though the Garmin Camera Integration Guide (http://static.garmin.com/pumac/Camera_Integration_Guide_EN.pdf) seems to indicate that a wide range of Axis cameras will work, there's only a very short list:

I found this out the hard way. I believe @SKybolt is using one of the encoders which opens up the range of cameras that can be used, perhaps he will chime in.

 

[ttmott]

Be careful which camera(s) you select. Flir definitely will work. As to other brands, even though the Garmin Camera Integration Guide (http://static.garmin.com/pumac/Camera_Integration_Guide_EN.pdf) seems to indicate that a wide range of Axis cameras will work, there's only a very short list:
View attachment 109169
I found this out the hard way. I believe @SKybolt is using one of the encoders which opens up the range of cameras that can be used, perhaps he will chime in.

I will second this. I attempted to integrate my Lorex security camera system (Lorex is a division of Flir) into the Garmin network without any luck including trying to emulate the Garmin IP addresses. I even had a couple of IT companies at the boat and they couldn't break the "code". In the end I connected my cameras via HDMI to the chartplotter. The Garmin equipment is well locked down; probably a liability issue as it is a navigation system. Don't mess around with POE blockers other than Garmin - your Garmin warrantee will thank you. Search for related threads with my User Name and you will find a lot of the technical background on how I tried to break the code. Message is use Garmin listed cameras.
As an edit here is a picture of under my helm with the Garmin network switch and POE (yellow) blocker installed. The white ethernet cable not connected is from the camera system. I ended up routing my Fusion audio system network cable through the POE blocker so I could get the SiriusXM art on the MFD.

 

[Skybolt]

Be careful which camera(s) you select. ...
I found this out the hard way. I believe @SKybolt is using one of the encoders which opens up the range of cameras that can be used, perhaps he will chime in.

So I can definitely verify there is a very short list of what will work with Garmin and not. The blanket statement that Axis will work, does not cover that. @Irie308 found an older Axis encoder that works. I am using that encoder and it works real well, but I am only using fixed camera's in the engine room. I have this encoder working on a 1243 and 76xx series systems. The on screen controls allow switching between camera's or all 4 on the screen at once (for me two). I still use my Foscam PTZ's for security and remote monitoring.

The encoder needs to be part of Garmin Marine Network, I have it plugged into a switch that is plugged into the GSM10 and is shared with the RA770 and it's IP remotes.

The Axis encoder that works is: AXIS M7014 4-Channel Video Encoder
That is an older encoder and can be had on ebay for ~$85.

The issue with what is publicly supported by Garmin is the encoders list for $1000 or so and the camera's are half that.

 

[Skybolt]

Just a side note about passive POE injectors. They can be used as blockers only if you don't connect any power to them. I am using one to connect to my GMN and I just cut the external power cable piece off. I am sure what @ttmott said about the warranty issues are correct so keep that in mind if you go the passive route as well.

 

[boaterholic]

I will second this. I attempted to integrate my Lorex security camera system (Lorex is a division of Flir) into the Garmin network without any luck including trying to emulate the Garmin IP addresses. I even had a couple of IT companies at the boat and they couldn't break the "code". In the end I connected my cameras via HDMI to the chartplotter. The Garmin equipment is well locked down; probably a liability issue as it is a navigation system. Don't mess around with POE blockers other than Garmin - your Garmin warrantee will thank you. Search for related threads with my User Name and you will find a lot of the technical background on how I tried to break the code. Message is use Garmin listed cameras.
As an edit here is a picture of under my helm with the Garmin network switch and POE (yellow) blocker installed. The white ethernet cable not connected is from the camera system. I ended up routing my Fusion audio system network cable through the POE blocker so I could get the SiriusXM art on the MFD.
View attachment 109170

Thanks to everyone for the immense amount of information. ttmott, You said you ended up connecting to chartplotter via HDMI. I thought the HDMI of chartplotter was an output only, at least on the 1243 anyways. I was actually planning to run an HDMI cable from it to the tv in salon so I could see chartplotter info displayed on the tv.

 

[boaterholic]

So in reading all that you all have posted, it appears that at least using non Garmin brand cameras will need at least en encoder and isolation coupler. What about using the Garmin brand cameras listed on their website? Are any of those going to be able to plug directly to either the chartplotter or since I have a GSM10 plug direct to that and done? Or still have to use decoders and isolators? I was trying to keep it simple as possible.
Thanks again.

 

[boaterholic]

Another question comes to mind; There is a composite video connection on back of the chartplotter, a BNC type plug. Would a security surveillance camera that uses that type of video output (BNC) with a separate 12 volt power connection work with BNC plugged direct to chartplotter?

 

[alnav]

So in reading all that you all have posted, it appears that at least using non Garmin brand cameras will need at least en encoder and isolation coupler. What about using the Garmin brand cameras listed on their website? Are any of those going to be able to plug directly to either the chartplotter or since I have a GSM10 plug direct to that and done? Or still have to use decoders and isolators? I was trying to keep it simple as possible.
Thanks again.

The camera page on Garmin.com is down right now, but from memory, I think they are down to two models. I have the wireless version and it only needs a power connection, then will connect over the MFD wireless access point; works well for me as an engine room camera. The other is an IP camera and needs a power connection and connects via ethernet cable to one of your Garmin Network ports. I believe both are plug-and-play.

 

[ttmott]

Thanks to everyone for the immense amount of information. ttmott, You said you ended up connecting to chartplotter via HDMI. I thought the HDMI of chartplotter was an output only, at least on the 1243 anyways. I was actually planning to run an HDMI cable from it to the tv in salon so I could see chartplotter info displayed on the tv.

Mine has both an HDMI In and Out

 

[ttmott]

What @SKybolt is talking about is an analog camera interface converter to a single IP ethernet feed.

I have IP POE cameras which are a different animal.

 

[boaterholic]

Mine has both an HDMI In and Out

Ah, makes sense. Thank you