Installing new VHF Radio

[Moonlight Graham]

I have a 1992 Bayliner Capri 16'. I am trying to install a new VHF Radio Uniden UM380. Here is the issue I would love help with:
The New Uniden comes with a Red + wire and a black - wire. It also has an accessories group of wires.
The radio I am switching out has THREE wires, red, orange and black. The red wire connects to where the key goes in. The orange wire goes to the fuse box. The black wire goes to a little connection are that has a few black wires (right next to the fuse box).
all three wires come together and run toward the old radio. The red and orange wire then go through another fuse connection, before all three come together again in to a plastic female connection that connects with the radio 3 wire make connector.
So any idea what I am seeing here? And how do a connect a 2 wire radio to this setup?
Thanks for ANY help!

 

[GA_Boater]

What is the old VHF radio you are taking out?

At first blush I would say connect the new radio red and black wires to the same connections as the old and ignore the old orange wire. You can't connect the old 3 wire connector to the new radio anyway.

 

[Moonlight Graham]

GA Boater, Thanks.
The old radio is a Midland Model 77-118 CB/Weather Radio, Weather Max
So I am gonna run the red wire to the fuse box. Run the black wire to that negative connection. That sound right? And do I not run anything to that key connection that has a bunch of wires to it?
Thanks!

 

[GA_Boater]

Can't find a manual online for the Midland, so red to power, black to ground and ignore the orange.

 

[Scott Danforth]

put the red power wire on a switched +12 volt accessory feed.

 

[mike_i]

Midland radio is beyond old and obsolete. I haven't heard about them since soon after I got into the communications field. The above posts are correct red connects thru a fuse to switched pos, black to ground The other wires are for the nema output for the connection to your gps. .If your'e going to be on saltwater get your MMSI and program it into your new radio, make sure you know what your'e doing most radios only give you three try's before you get locked out.

 

[jhebert]

A Uniden UM380 radio is a perfectly good, current model, VHF Marine Band radio qualified to DSC CLASS-D. It follows the NMEA recommendations for NMEA-0183 interfacing signals and wiring color codes. Like ALL modern DSC radios, entry of the radio's maritime mobile service identity (MMSI) can only be performed once by the end user, NOT three times.

For advice on interfacing the radio to your GNSS receiver to provide automatic position updates for DSC use, see

NMEA-0183 Interface Data Collection: UM380 Radio
http://continuouswave.com/forum/view...=9&t=816#p5412

When installing a VHF Marine Band radio on your small boat, there is much more to consider than the wire color insulation of the power cord. For concise advice on installation of a VHF Marine Band radio, see

VHF Marine Band Radio Installation on a Small Boat
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/ref...tallation.html

 

[mike_i]

"entry of the radio's maritime mobile service identity (MMSI) can only be performed once by the end user, NOT three times. "

I stand corrected, it's worse than I thought. I rechecked my radio's manual. With my radio you have to enter the MMSI twice to confirm it but as jherbert said you only get one chance to do it.