NMEA Connection Difficulty, Suitability for Do-It-Yourself

Electrical and electronic topics for small boats
Masbama
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NMEA Connection Difficulty, Suitability for Do-It-Yourself

Postby Masbama » Fri Jan 12, 2018 9:13 pm

Is [a NMEA connection] an easy do-it-yourself project?

Is [a NMEA connection] a matter of running cables and plugging in?

Or, is [a NMEA connection] something left for trained service personnel?

jimh
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Re: NMEA Connection Difficulty, Suitability for Do-It-Yourself

Postby jimh » Sat Jan 13, 2018 9:39 am

Are you asking about NMEA-0183 serial data connections?

Or, are you asking about NMEA-2000 network data construction?

The two are quite different approaches to exchanging data between marine electronic devices.

If you are asking about NMEA-0183 serial data connections, please read my several articles about them:

The following are listed in the REFERENCE section index, under the sub-heading of NMEA-0183:

Guide to NMEA-0183 Interconnections
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/guideNMEA0183.html

Universal NMEA-0183 Interface
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/UniversalNMEA0183.html

and to help you interconnect various products, see my collection of information at

NMEA-0183 Interface Data Collection
http://continuouswave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=816

Note the above article is pinned to the listing of articles in this forum's index.

If you are asking about NMEA-2000 network construction, read my extensive primer about NMEA-2000 networks which has been written for readers who have no prior knowledge of them. It has been available in the REFERENCE section listing. You can find it at

NMEA-2000 Networks and Modern Outboard Engines
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/NMEA2000.html

The primer also links to more than a dozen follow-on articles containing more information. Reading those additional articles will also be informative.

Masbama
Posts: 355
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2015 8:33 pm
Location: Mobile, Al

Re: NMEA Connection Difficulty, Suitability for Do-It-Yourself

Postby Masbama » Sat Jan 13, 2018 2:29 pm

Thanks. I have some homework to do.

jimh
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Re: NMEA Connection Difficulty, Suitability for Do-It-Yourself

Postby jimh » Tue Jan 16, 2018 11:26 am

Which connection protocol are you interested in? NMEA-0183? Or NMEA-2000?

Masbama
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Location: Mobile, Al

Re: NMEA Connection Difficulty, Suitability for Do-It-Yourself

Postby Masbama » Tue Jan 23, 2018 8:25 am

[Interested in] NMEA-2000 connections.

jimh
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Re: NMEA Connection Difficulty, Suitability for Do-It-Yourself

Postby jimh » Sat Jan 27, 2018 10:20 am

Installation of NMEA-2000 networks is explained in the article I directed you to earlier. Because NMEA-2000 networking uses standardized and pre-wired connectors and typically all devices come with pre-wired and pre-connectorized cables, installation of NMEA-2000 is generally very straightforward and simple, consisting only of mating standardized connectors in the proper arrangement. Although the directions are clear and the standard network wiring extremely simple, nevertheless there are apparently countless boaters who invent new and incorrect methods of joining the pre-wired cables together into networks that do not work. This may be a case of boaters having limited familiarity with network wiring and a general inability to follow directions. Follow the recommended wiring practices to avoid these errors.