NMEA "hub"

[waybomb]

On my 42 Carver, I had all the instruments and radio talking to each other. I remember I had to buy a NMEA connection box. I believe it boosted the signals, maybe even made sure they came and went in order.

I'm wiring up my project Carver now, and using NMEA communication.

Does anybody know what I'm writing about here, and where to get one?

I have a NMEA heading sensor for ARPA on the radar, I have GPS, Speed and temp from the chartplotter that I'd like to use to fill in the blanks on the radar, and send a signal to the DSC radio, and signal to a Floscan. Possibly more in the future.

[AaHubb]

NMEA-0183 or NMEA-2000?

[waybomb]

0183

Thanks for the reply

[AaHubb]

Ok, Nmea 0183 is a serial based standard meant to go between two devices (similar to rs-232). Therefore you can only have one 'talker' at a time. In practice you can have one talker and up to four listeners interconnected. The problems occur when multiple devices want to send info because there isn't a way for one to tell the others to shutup. Raymarine has a device called a multiplexer that solves this problem for up to four devices, about ~$200 on Ebay. In your system the VHF most likely can output DSC location info that can be displayed on your chartplotter so you should connect both transmit an recv between those devices. The other devices if they only need to listen could be connected to only recv. data. A simple terminal strip may work just fine.
I am certainly not an expert, but I did read the West Marine catalog.
..Aaron

[Dadrock33]

Waybomb - not an expert here either (legal disclaimer) . . but I was under the impression that NEMA2000 (since I'm thinking that you haven't started all this project yet) was the way to go just for the reason that AaHubb stated above. Also, I know from my Lowrance info that there are adapters to get 0183 info to the 2000 version and, eventually, I'm sure someone somewhere will have an adapter that will take the info and put it into 4K sometime down the road. If you haven't started yet, why not put in the best that you can now before you start? Just my $0.02 . . . . . . . . however, I yield to those who are smarter than me . . . which means an awful lot of people . . .

[waybomb]

Dadrock33 - all installed and operational shortly after the thread started.
Some day I'll buy a new electronics suite, but what I have is fine for where I boat.
Thanks!