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Technology: Understanding NMEA 2000 and Displaying It on a Tablet
NMEA 2000 is not just an update to 0183: it greatly simplifies the installation of marine equipment and offers a much wider range of functionalities. Furthermore, it is possible to benefit from it directly on your tablet!
From NMEA 0183 to NMEA 2000
For several years, electronic equipment on recreational boats has used a communication standard called NMEA to transmit their data to a navigation center.
The first version, NMEA 0183, was designed to manage essential navigation instruments (depth sounder, wind vane, anemometer, log, GPS, etc.). Based on now-obsolete network technologies, particularly in terms of very limited data rate, this standard, although still in use, can no longer meet the needs of modern equipment, which is increasingly numerous and sophisticated.
To overcome the limitations of this first standard, an improved version was created: NMEA 2000. This offers two major advantages: a data rate fifty times higher and built-in self-configuration and multiplexing capabilities, allowing all devices to communicate with each other without the need for specific organization.
Furthermore, wiring is greatly simplified, as all devices can be connected in series or networked, thanks to standardized connectors.
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The NMEA 2000 makes it possible to connect new equipment at any point in the boat's network without complication. Each piece of data is "signed" by the transmitting device and recognized by the devices requiring that information, while others simply ignore it. The NMEA 2000 allows for the definition of a multitude of new parameters through these signatures (called PGNs).
Thus, unlike NMEA 0183, which was limited to managing electronic navigation parameters, NMEA 2000 also manages data related to engine performance (engine speed, consumption, oil pressure, temperature, etc.), levels (battery charge, tank levels, etc.), comfort (lighting, heating, air conditioning, etc.), and even entertainment (music). The only limit lies in the gradual integration of this standard by each piece of equipment on the boat.
Initially costly when it was launched over ten years ago, NMEA 2000 first conquered the market for large vessels before becoming more widespread. Nowadays, the majority of electronic navigation instruments are compatible, and more and more equipment (comfort, engine, etc.) is adopting this standard, especially those intended for motorboats.
Visualize NMEA 0183/2000 on Your Tablet
To display NMEA 0183 or 2000 data on a boat, it was necessary to use specialized terminals (navigation systems, chart plotters, or combined fish finders), often from a single brand to ensure compatibility. The emergence of next-generation wireless adapters has revolutionized access to data, allowing for direct use on a tablet.
The Miniplex-3wi-N2k from Shipmodul, a Dutch company, exemplifies this evolution. This device, comparable to a Swiss army knife for NMEA, displays information from various brands in NMEA0183 and NMEA2000, including Seatalk and Seatalk NG from Raymarine, by translating and combining them for use on a tablet or computer. Bidirectional, it can also transmit commands from the iPad to the boat's equipment, including setting a new course for the autopilot.
The iAISTX+ from Digital Yacht, a British company, also manages 2000 data to transmit it to a tablet. Less versatile than the Miniplex in terms of NMEA, it stands out for its main functionality as an integrated AIS and GPS transponder.
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With these devices or other wireless adapters available on the market, it is now possible to receive wired NMEA data on a tablet or smartphone. You just need to select an application capable of displaying this data on the screen.
You can check our application guide for more information. Note that the most common applications (like Navionics and TZ-iBoat) do not support this feature at the moment, so you will need to choose more advanced applications such as Weather4D Routing & Navigation, iNavX, or iSailor.
For compatible applications, it is generally possible to choose from several types of display: a dashboard with dials and numerical information, data overlayed on the nautical chart, or the "splitscreen" which divides the screen between the nautical chart and numerical information.
Long live portability!
The creators of NMEA2000 primarily aimed to accelerate and enrich the sharing of information between marine equipment. However, in the early 2000s, they did not anticipate the boom in wireless technologies, which is a notable oversight.
Fortunately, the introduction of Wi-Fi adapters has removed this barrier. By making NMEA accessible on a smartphone or tablet, they have unlocked a vast array of possibilities. It is now possible to continuously monitor crucial navigation information from anywhere on the boat on a quality mobile screen. This includes the ability to maintain an AIS watch from anywhere on board, thereby increasing safety.
Comfort is also enhanced: with a properly equipped NMEA2000 boat and a tablet, the possibilities are endless:
- As the boat approaches, a quick glance at the smartphone is enough to check the battery status, water tank levels, etc.
- Regarding the engine, it is possible to monitor oil pressure, engine temperature, fuel consumption, and ensure everything is functioning correctly and that the range is sufficient.
- At anchor, managing lighting and background music is simplified!
Happy sailing!
Learn more:
- our selection of NMEA-WiFi adapters
- our guide to iOS and Android applications
- official page of the NMEA organization (in English)