NMEA 2000 & 0183

nmea 0183 from 2000 on laptop?

2011-12-24T05:04:48Z

has anyone heard of a translation program that will run on a pc? i've got an airmar nmea2000 to usb converter, but want to use polarcom, which only talks 0183. it seems to me that getting a hardware bridge, then an 0183 to usb adapter, to get 0183 onto the pc is somewhat ridiculous. i would consider costal explorer express, which Does speak 2000, but it has no instruments.

ultimately, i'm looking to utilize a chartplotter program and make use of an airmar pb200's data. while the PB comes with Weathercaster, which is nice on it's own, it doesnt appear to lend itself well to sharing a screen as well as polarcom's instuments.

anyone been down this road?

TIA,
matt

NMEA 2000 Data Logger

2011-12-12T23:24:56Z

Are there any NMEA 2000 modules that log the data from the network and are also powered by the network (i.e., they don't draw much power).

I am finding leaving on the PC just isn't practical for me so I'm looking for some other data logging ideas.

Thanks!
-p

Lowrance LMF-400 or 200 Multi Function Guages

2011-12-06T18:36:50Z

I'm researching multi function displays/guages to add to my N2K network. Currenly our boat has a fish finder at the upper station. Last spring I installed a Garmin N2K back bone to support Garmin fuel flow meters along with a Garmin 740s chart plotter at the upper station. I'd like to at least add a N2K depth transducer along with a small multi function display at the lower station. Anyone have experience with the Lowrance LMF-400 or 200 Multi Function Guages? There very price competitive compared to say a Garmin GMI-10. Any info would help!

N2k analyzer and actisence

2011-10-28T19:46:07Z

Hi all,

I have a couple maretron j2k100 boxes that need to be configured so that I can use one for the port engine and one for the starboard. My question is do I have to use the maretron USB 100 and n2k software or could I use something else (a little cheaper). I already own an actisence ngt-1-USB maybe this could work.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

HDS and NSE 'conflict' - How Can That Be?

2011-09-29T13:43:39Z

I am planning on using a Lowrance HDS5 as a second station on a SIMNET network, and want it connected directly to the backbone (not interconnected to the NSE via ethernet) so that the HDS' GPS and digital depth data to appear as devices for the other N2K units.

I sent a note to Navico support via the SIMRAD website asking which cabling is required to go from the simnet junction to the HDS N2K connector. Here's the response I got:

>We don't recommend mixing HDS and NSE on EITHER the
>Ethernet, or N2K networks. They tend to interfere with each other
>transferring PGN's.
>If you want to try, you will need a SIMNET TO N2K MALE adapter,
>part number 24005729.

Now the various Navico brands all advertise sample systems where multiple MFD's are lined, via Ethernet OR N2k. I can't imagine why they need to be the same brand. Anybody have any idea what gives here?

Navnet 3D to Garmin Autopilot via NEMA 2000

2011-09-28T00:13:58Z

I need some help if anyone knows the solution to my NAVNET 3D talking to my Garmin autopilot. It's a very strange problem. Here goes:

The Navnet 3D is hooked up to my Garmin autopilot via NEMA 2000. The autopilot is sending heading data and my 3D is receiving same. I know it's receiving because my 3D will start beeping loss of heading whenever I turn the Garmin off. However, when I input a waypoint the autopilot doesn't steer to the waypoint when engaged. I've been in the installation part of 3D and confirmed that my Garmin is selected for heading data. I've also got the NEMA sentences for navigation and cross track error selected. When I go to the NEMA 2000 tab in the installation window and select Navnet 3D, I can see the sentences formatted for output. However, when I go to the Sentences output tab I see a blank window which would tell me that the 3D isn't outputting the sentences to the Garmin.

So my situation is my Navnet 3D is receiving NEMA 2000 but it's not outputting NEMA 2000 data. This is why I think the problem is with my Navnet 3D and not the Garmin. Any help is greatly appreciated.

NMEA 0183 to SeaTalkNG?

2011-09-25T17:58:13Z

I've got a CV7 ultrasonic wind transducer atop my mast, hoping to replace my Raymarine wand with something more accurate. My instrument system is currently a SeatalkNG backbone with two ST70s, and three older ST60s acting as repeaters.

The CV7 sends NMEA 0183 sentence MWV. SeatalkNG needs PGN 130306. What's the best way to get this data on the network? (My Brookhouse iMux combines this wind data with converted SeaTalk1 data from other instruments and sends it out via Wifi but, as far as I can tell, does not rebroadcast it on the SeaTalk1 network. Even if it did, I wonder if the ST60 or ST70 would receive it.)

I'm considering an Actisense NGW-1. Are there other alternatives?

If I do manage to get this PGN to SeaTalkNG, can anyone tell me, (Raymarine says this is 'uncharted territory'.), if an ST70 head unit will then make True Wind calculations. Can/will the ST70 display make these calculations from raw data on the bus, or does it require direct communication with its wind pod to do this?

Any advice helpful.

Thanks and Cheers,
Doug

NMEA 2000 to Seatalk NG

2011-09-18T12:08:06Z

I have a Garmen NMEA 2000 backbone installed already in my sailboat with a Garmen 740 GPS, Garmen Depth Intelliducer, Garmen Wind sensor and two Garmin GMI 10 Instrument displays connected to it. This NMEA 2000 backbone is powered thru a power cable going to the special NMEA 2000 Power Tee that I installed in the middle of the backbone. I have now purchased a Raymarine autopilot system consisting of a linear drive, a SPX30 Corepack and a ST70 Control Head.

Do I assemble the Raymarine Seatalk ng backbone for the autopilot and then install a normal Raymarine Seatalk ng tee in the Seatalk ng backbone, a normal Garmin NMEA 2000 tee in the NMEA 2000 backbone and then connect these two backbones tee's with a Raymarine Adapter cable (A06046)?

Do I have to supply power to the Raymarine Seatalk ng backbone (via the SPX30) or does it get powered from the Garmen NMEA 2000 backbone via the adapter cable?
Thanks for any help, JC

Wifi

2011-09-05T16:31:39Z

NX40/NX45 + AP28...Is it possible?

2011-05-29T14:18:22Z

Gents
Is it possible to have two command stations using a NX40 on the fly and a NX45 in the saloon, sharing radar/gps/depth transducers and a AP28? Some say that this is possible with a Simrad AT10, while others say that the NX was not designed for that purpoose. Who do I believe? The NX system fits my budget but the NSE os NSS don't.
Thanks for the help

Fernando

Simrad AP25 NAV mode strangeness

2011-05-14T17:42:30Z

I have a SImrad AP25 autopilot connected via N2K to a computer running MaxSea TZ. MSTZ is configured to output navigation data via a Maretron USB100 (which looks to MSTZ like a 0183 device).

Nav data seems to be getting to the AP25 correctly: when you press the NAV/WIND button, the waypoint data (well, some of it) is shown on the AP25 screen, and pressing NAV again hands control of the rudder to the AP25.

However, after running for a few minutes a problem shows up. The AP's XTE display will suddenly jump from (say) 100 yards right to 100 yards left, causing the AP to rapidly turn the boat to a new heading. A few seconds later it goes back. This happens repeatedly until I give up and switch back to AUTO mode and drive the XTE myself manually.

I'm trying to figure out what is going on here. One clue is that when I turn off XTE output in MSTZ, the AP consistently gets the heading wrong. This suggests that the AP is calculating an (erroneous) internal XTE which it uses when it doesn't get XTE from the nav source, and that MSTZ's XTE output is dropping out from time to time. When that happens, the AP's erroneous internal XTE drives the boat off course until the external XTE data reappears.

If the above is correct, the question is why the AP can't calculate a correct XTE. One theory I have is that the heading data supplied to MSTZ and the AP is different (it is; I have multiple heading sensors that don't all coincide perfectly). If heading is used to calculate XTE, that could cause the problem. However, I would think that COG would be a more useful input than heading for the calculation of XTE, given the natural errors in heading associated with magnetic variation/deviation, etc.

The manual doesn't go into much detail about the way that the AP25 calculates XTE. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks!

/afb

MARSSA, MARine Systems Software Architecture

2011-04-19T13:44:24Z

MARSSA (www.marssa.org) is the first open source community-driven project in the marine industry.

MARSSA will serve as the base for integration, compatibility and interoperability of electronic systems in the marine industry. With MARSSA the marine industry will become opportunity-driven and innovative with enhanced competitiveness. The customers and users will enjoy very high quality, reliable products and systems with seamless interoperability and a low threshold for introduction of the latest technologies. At the same time the total cost of ownership will be radically reduced.

Are you interested in contributing ?

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Blue Heron Marine unreliable ??

2011-03-30T20:44:58Z

Hi, I put an $3.200 order for nmea 2000 gear to Blue Heron in mid Feb.
Apart from the order confirmation I have not received anything.
No mails get answered and no explanation has been given on why no shipment has been made.
Have I done something completely stupid and lost my money or will they ship when they have stock?
Anyone experienced the same with Blue Heron?

Garmin 740 to Raymarine SPX30

2011-03-10T03:17:31Z

I connected the SPX30 to the Garmin 740 via SeatalkNG/N2k last weekend. I also have on the network a depth/speed sensor, wind sensor, and garmin's small GMI10 display.

From the 740 and the GMI, I can see all devices on the N2K network, including the SPX30. Boat speed, wind speed, XTE, its all there. I can even map the compass heading from the SPX30 to my 740 display. Sweet.

However, the SPX will not see anything from the 740 or any other network device. No distance to waypoint, no bearing to waypoint, no wind data, depth, etc.

Any ideas as to what's going on? The data appears to be broadcast out, but the SPX is not listening. Let me know what you think.

NMEA 2000 not "Open Standard" in UK

2011-03-07T18:25:37Z

Ben,
I know that this horse has been beaten plenty, but I just wanted to highlight a new resolution from the UK gov that concurs with my belief and many others that NMEA 2000 is not an Open Standard. It may be a standard, but is is far from open. Anyway, I wonder how this will affect sales of marine equipment to UK government agencies.

http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/UK-Government-defines-open-standards-as-royalty-free-1197607.html

Kenyon