AIS to Garmin Echomap plotter via WIFI?

[fredrussell]

The plotter is in, and very nice it is too. I’d like to go the AIS route next, and the WiFi enabled units I’ve looked at (Emtrak, Digital Yacht etc) all seem to describe the WIFI feature as for tablet/phone link up.

My plotter has WIFI, can I connect AIS to it by WiFi? Plotter has NMEA2000 but cable access to rear of plotter very tight.

 

[Daverw]

Don’t think you can, the wifi normally connects to a tablet via an app, the AIS will use NEMA 2k and be hard wired, would be worth fitting a small backbone to allow future connections anyway, you may be able to get angled connection for the plotter

 

[PaulRainbow]

The plotter is in, and very nice it is too. I’d like to go the AIS route next, and the WiFi enabled units I’ve looked at (Emtrak, Digital Yacht etc) all seem to describe the WIFI feature as for tablet/phone link up.

My plotter has WIFI, can I connect AIS to it by WiFi? Plotter has NMEA2000 but cable access to rear of plotter very tight.

No, you cannot use wifi for AIS. You can use NMEA 2000 or NMEA 0183, the Echomap supports both. As you must have the power cable connected, you can easily use NMEA 0183 because the wires are part of the power cable. I have supplied and fitted several Emtrak AIS units to the Echomap, using both N2K and 0183 and they all work fine.

 

[fredrussell]

Ok, cheers guys. Having done a bit more research I think Garmin do a right angled nmea 2000 cable. I’ll purchase one and see if I can shoehorn it in there. Much obliged.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Ok, cheers guys. Having done a bit more research I think Garmin do a right angled nmea 2000 cable. I’ll purchase one and see if I can shoehorn it in there. Much obliged.

Why not just connect to the NMEA 0183 wires that you already have connected to the plotter ? There is no need to install an NMEA 2000 network just for AIS if you do it this way.

 

[MikeCC]

Don't forget that you can't just connect the AIS to Garmin point-to-point with a single NMEA2000 cable. You will need some sort of starter kit or an all-in-one multiway (like Actisense small boat network) depending on how you might use NMEA2000 in future.

 

[fredrussell]

Why not just connect to the NMEA 0183 wires that you already have connected to the plotter ? There is no need to install an NMEA 2000 network just for AIS if you do it this way.

Well, I liked the idea of nmea 2000 being ‘plug and play’ but your point about the 0183 wires being already there is a good one. I’ll go that route and leave installing a 2000 network for later should the need arise. Cheers again.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Well, I liked the idea of nmea 2000 being ‘plug and play’ but your point about the 0183 wires being already there is a good one. I’ll go that route and leave installing a 2000 network for later should the need arise. Cheers again.

Only 2 wires to connect Fred, what could possibly go wrong

 

[thalassa]

My Emtrak shares its fast 0183 data out connection with the Echomap and a Yakker wifi module . Just works.