NMEA 0183 vs NMEA 2000

[BandDad]

I was just comparing two Lowrance GPS/Sonar combos and noticed that one has NMEA 0183 capability while the other offers NMEA 2000. What are the practical differences/consequences between these two protocols/formats or whatever is the right descriptor?

[sblunden]

0183 is far more prevalent (since it was released in 1983) and almost everything on the market talks that protocol. It is extremely restrictived in how it can be installed and what can talk to what, however. Only one "talker" is supported. It uses a standard ASCII serial protocol at 4800bps so it's unsuited for moving large amounts of data.

2000 is based on "Controller area network" bus technology (like in your high end cars). The system carries power and signal on a single cable. It is the basis for all of the new "smart" instrument systems. If you're starting from scratch then I'd go 2000. If you can find Marine Electronics Journal (the publication of the NMEA) you could search last year's back issues and get more info.

However, I did go with Furuno NavNet last year which is based on ethernet and NMEA 0183 protocols. I did this solely for the reason that I wanted the Furuno radars and displays and they don't support NMEA 2000, so do what I say, not what I do!

[BandDad]

Thanks for the great explanation.

[BandDad]

After reading your response I checked the handheld GPS unit I have now...it is NMEA 0183 capable... though the wiring schematic idicates the cable does carry power as well as data....my question now though is this....can a unit that uses 0183 be interfaced with one that is 2000 or is strictly like talks to like? Also, if I were to install the elusive Lowrance NMEA backbone that is 2000 could an 0183 device be used on that network? To my untrained mind your explanation kinda makes it sound like that would be a no-go....is that correct?

[Cooper]

Here's more info: http://www.maretron.com/company/pubs...oat%20Show.pdf

[mikejsharp]

FYI the CAN bus is used in most cars today, not just the high end ones. It may have more things tied to it in a higher end car but almost all use it to some extent.

[sblunden]

BandDad - 1/29/2006 12:18 PM

After reading your response I checked the handheld GPS unit I have now...it is NMEA 0183 capable... though the wiring schematic idicates the cable does carry power as well as data....my question now though is this....can a unit that uses 0183 be interfaced with one that is 2000 or is strictly like talks to like? Also, if I were to install the elusive Lowrance NMEA backbone that is 2000 could an 0183 device be used on that network? To my untrained mind your explanation kinda makes it sound like that would be a no-go....is that correct?

Short, abrupt answer, no. Actually, there are interface boxes going on the market that will interface 0183 and 2000. Be careful of the terminology. The 2000 standard calls out a very specific, vendor independent connector scheme standard that will not be like anything that the current 0183 boxes use. It's an "either-or" situation.

Ready for more confusion? In this month's Marine Electronics Journal (MEJ) the NMEA announced the extension of life of the 0183 standard to include more sentences relating to AIS and the GMDSS standards in NMEA 0183 V3.01. It ain't dead yet!

However, if you like the idea of integrating everything everyplace by just plugging stuff in, go with the NMEA 2000 based systems, in my opinion. Notwithstanding that, I did go 0183 on the new boat last year

[sblunden]

mikejsharp - 1/29/2006 2:01 PM

FYI the CAN bus is used in most cars today, not just the high end ones. It may have more things tied to it in a higher end car but almost all use it to some extent.

You are quite correct, Mike. Sorry for any confusion. At one point a few years ago I heard that the "average" Ford had 32 independent CPU's all talking to one another. Uff Da! That has to be small change by now!

[BandDad]

Thanks for the feedback guys.


It seems pretty clear that I should probably just let the handheld GPS remain a stand alone device and not plan on interfacing it with any new sonar that I choose. Some of them do if fact still use the 0183 protocol and it may work out that they would talk to each other but I see greater value in the potential for building an onboard network via 2000 than just interfacing this single unit with the new sonar. Oh well, always good to have a backup gps unit huh?

[P12]

I don't know if this was clear or not; You can use 0183 and 2000 at the same time, they just don't talk to each other. For example, if you have a newer lowrance chartplotter, it can be used with the NMEA 2000 backbone and additionally has 0183 input(s)/output(s) for listening/talking to 0183 equipment such as vhf/radar/sonar that are not 2000 compatible.

...Let me add that i have never installed either and have minimal experience with any NMEA

[BandDad]

So if I understand correctly then, 2000 is "backwards compatible" but only in a unidriectional (receiving) sense? Eg NMEA 2000 equipment can receive information from an 0183 device, but a 0183 device cannot receive data from a 2000 protocol device....is that right?

[P12]

No, the standard is not backward compatible, rather, some of the NMEA 2000 equipment is also capable of communicating using 0183. I assume this is more of a salability/bonus feature in order to not outdate the 0183 equipment that is so prevalent/the current norm.

Go to Lowrance's web site and download the manual for one of there chart plotters, you'll get more info.

-P

P.S. I couldn't tell you about ray marine, I don't have that kind of monies.

[BandDad]

P12 - 1/30/2006 3:58 PM

some of the NMEA 2000 equipment is also capable of communicating using 0183.

Thanks, got it!