Cheap USB to serial adapters / opencpn / NMEA 0183

[Refueler]

Here's the link to the USB / NMEA / Seatalk multiplexer .. may or may not be of use ...

NMEA2WIFI - 2x INPUT NMEA 0183 TO WIFI MULTIPLEXER WITH SEATALK INPUT SUPPORT | eBay

I'm looking at where I might use it ... I have a combined Plotter / AIS Transponder as well as separate USB AIS rcvr + GPS into my Acer 1 with Seaclear.
My DSC CHF has been replaced with one having built in GPS - so no need to link that in now ... but could be interesting to include the above plexer to expand services ?

 

[Sea-Fever]

I have one of those nmea2wifi widget thingymajigs. Worked great for a season but made the mistake of switching it on whilst the battery charger was on and I suspect a transient high voltage blew a diode on the switching regulator. To be fair it cost about 60p for a replacement diode and a 5 minute job to solder it in.

Not exactly marine spec but if its hidden in a cupboard or behind a panel then does it have to be submersible? If it's under water I've got bigger problems than looking at ais data on my phone.

Functionally it solves quite few problems....multiplexes nmea 0183 at various baud rates, filters, repeats and spits it out over wifi to boot....what's not to like? It serves my cockpit plotter with ais over 38400 wires and ais over wifi to the navionics on my phones/tablets. All for 50 quid.

 

[Refueler]

I have one of those nmea2wifi widget thingymajigs. Worked great for a season but made the mistake of switching it on whilst the battery charger was on and I suspect a transient high voltage blew a diode on the switching regulator. To be fair it cost about 60p for a replacement diode and a 5 minute job to solder it in.

Not exactly marine spec but if its hidden in a cupboard or behind a panel then does it have to be submersible? If it's under water I've got bigger problems than looking at ais data on my phone.

Functionally it solves quite few problems....multiplexes nmea 0183 at various baud rates, filters, repeats and spits it out over wifi to boot....what's not to like? It serves my cockpit plotter with ais over 38400 wires and ais over wifi to the navionics on my phones/tablets. All for 50 quid.

Thank you - was wondering if anyone had used one ..... I see guy now does two versions ... to cater for the less than dexterous among us !!