garmin 451s to which vhf,-nmea183 or 2k?

[viago]

considering the options of buying a colour fishfinder and an nmea compliant gps to connect to the vhf-dsc, the sensible option seems to be to shell out a bit extra for the 451s and get a chart-plotter fully loaded with uk and ireland charts thrown in for about £100 more.
this particular bit of wizardry comes with both n183 and n2k connectivity to the vhf.
my query is whether there would be any significant benefit in buying the more expensive n2k radio?

 

[timbartlett]

considering the options of buying a colour fishfinder and an nmea compliant gps to connect to the vhf-dsc, the sensible option seems to be to shell out a bit extra for the 451s and get a chart-plotter fully loaded with uk and ireland charts thrown in for about £100 more.
this particular bit of wizardry comes with both n183 and n2k connectivity to the vhf.
my query is whether there would be any significant benefit in buying the more expensive n2k radio?

Unless it is to be part of a more extensive NMEA2000 network, no.

NMEA 0183 is not a networking system: it allows a "talker" to transmit information to one or more "listeners", but if you want to exchange information back the other way, you need an entirely separate connection for each "talker". It's a bit slow, by modern standards, but absolutely fine for a plotter and radio to talk to each other.

NMEA 2000 is completely different: it's a genuine "network" in which any instrument connected to it can supply data to the entire system, and can take any data from the system. It's a huge step forward, but it's of negligible benefit unless you are going to install it as a network.

 

[viago]

Unless it is to be part of a more extensive NMEA2000 network, no.

NMEA 0183 is not a networking system: it allows a "talker" to transmit information to one or more "listeners", but if you want to exchange information back the other way, you need an entirely separate connection for each "talker".

great, thats the answer i wanted.
however, the conversation between the radio and chartplotter would be two way i think. gps data would travel to the radio and dsc info travel from the radio. that is, unless i have completely got hold of the wrong end of the stick.
i read that its possible to track up to three boat positions via dsc and display them on a chart-plotter. maybe this is only via n2k.
thanks tim.

 

[lustyd]

great, thats the answer i wanted.
however, the conversation between the radio and chartplotter would be two way i think. gps data would travel to the radio and dsc info travel from the radio. that is, unless i have completely got hold of the wrong end of the stick.
i read that its possible to track up to three boat positions via dsc and display them on a chart-plotter. maybe this is only via n2k.
thanks tim.

The three wires from VHF to plotter handle 2 way traffic on old NMEA. Each has a transmit, receive and ground.
Edited to add that the Garmin may not have a ground as they use the ground for the power line so you'd have to connect the ground of the VHF to that.

 

[viago]

The three wires from VHF to plotter handle 2 way traffic on old NMEA. Each has a transmit, receive and ground.
Edited to add that the Garmin may not have a ground as they use the ground for the power line so you'd have to connect the ground of the VHF to that.

thanks lusty, so a 0183 should be fine for now. thats great far more choice.