Chart plotters and NMEAs

clyst

clyst

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I'm thinking of buying a Lowrance5150c chart plotter however in the "blurb" the following is printed [ QUOTE ]
Although no NMEA 2000 capability with this unit, there is still NMEA 0183 connectivity to DSC, autopilots etc.
Full two-year warranty

[/ QUOTE ]
Now, not being too bright about NMEAs what is the basic difference between 2000 &0183 /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif . do I need 2000 ??? What do the experts think .
 
I think MNEA 2000 is now the industry standard, meaning all and any electronic equipment which has MNEA 2000 is supposed to talk to each other.

I have recently insdtalled a Raymarine E80 chartplotter which is MNEA 2000 & 0183 compatable but all my stuff is MNEA 0183, it all still works with so far no issues.

I suppose it depends on what you want to plug into it.

I dunno if this helps or not, but all the best.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think MNEA 2000 is now the industry standard, meaning all and any electronic equipment which has MNEA 2000 is supposed to talk to each other.

I have recently insdtalled a Raymarine E80 chartplotter which is MNEA 2000 & 0183 compatable but all my stuff is MNEA 0183, it all still works with so far no issues.

I suppose it depends on what you want to plug into it.

I dunno if this helps or not, but all the best.

[/ QUOTE ]

yep,i think so... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
NMEA 0183 is an interface standard between units. Each item of equipment will act as a "talker" or a "listener" (or both), and you need to identify the output and input wires associated with each. Connect the output from the talker to the input of the listener and they should communicate. Several listeners can be connected to a single talker, but as there is no synchronisation between the signals you cannot connect a single listener to multilple talkers. NMEA 0183 is fairly slow (4800baud), but there is a high speed version used by AIS. If you want to connect to both a VHF and an AIS you will need at least 2 NMEA 0183 ports.

NMEA 2000, on the other hand is a data network. You lay a "data bus" from one end of the boat to the other, and connect units (instruments, sensors etc) directly to the bus, by means of "T" pieces. Coumminication is at a higher speed than NMEA 0183, and each unit monitors the bus so that 2 units will not try to talk at the same time. There are standard NMEA2000 connectors, but some manufacturers (eg Raymarine and Simrad) are going their own way, and producing their own systems based on NMEA 2000 standards, but using their own connectors.

Adaptors exist which will convert between NMEA 0183 and 2000, but the cost of these is such that you might prefer to replace the older units

Unless you are considering replacing all your instruments, then I wouldn't worry about not having NMEA 2000 on the plotter. NMEA will remain the standard for connecting small numbers of units together for the foreseeable future.

John
 
Thanks for all your help chaps . Checked my equipment to-day all are 0183 so ordered one .

Cheers
Terry
 
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