Marine equipment needs to be interconnected to transfer data between systems. Manufacturers, dealers and other parties are members of the organisation, all committed to implementing common standards across inter-connected marine electronic equipment. The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) is the organisation that has developed the standards and pushed for its implementation. You can think of them as the network that transfers data between equipment. NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 are different standards that are used to inter-connect marine electronic equipment on vessels. What are NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 used for? NMEA 0183 requires a new network for each data source because each bus can only have a single “talker”. NMEA 2000 allows all your marine electronic equipment to be connected to a single backbone, with data flowing in every direction.
It has taken me a long time to research the differences, so I thought I would write this article to help out fellow navigators who are also struggling. The pack also includes an NMEA starter kit to easily interconnect all equipment.Electonic engineers are very familiar with the details and differences between NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000, but I am a navigator, not an electronics specialist.
Supplied with an external GPS (10m cable) & VHF antenna (20m cable).AIT2500 is a Class B+ 5W AIS Transponder (transmit more frequently).AIS Transponder with NMEA 2000 to WiFi server.Furthermore, the waterproof connectors throughout ensure maximum reliability and it makes for an easy plug ‘n play installation.
This requires terminators at each end of the cabling where each device can be spurred off using a drop cable. NMEA2000 uses a simple backbone (or sometimes called “trunk”) structure. The NavLink2 and AIS have an NMEA 2000 interface so the installation is very easy with our NMEA 2000 starter kit included in the pack.
The tablet and PC/Mac become a full function navigation display.
All the navigation data on the NMEA 2000 network will be displayed on detailed electronic charting through compatible software & apps including NavLink, TimeZero, iAIS, iSailor, Seapilot and hundreds more. Once installed, it creates a local WiFi network for devices to connect. The NavLink2 is an easy to fit NMEA 2000 to WiFi server, with a design to allow NMEA 2000 navigation data available for apps on smartphones, tablets, iPads and PCs. The AIT2000 or AIT2500 can also be fitted with a silence switch to mute transmissions. There is also a 2nd NMEA output to provide a GPS feed for a DSC VHF radio. They have both NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 interfaces as well as a USB PC/MAC connection. The VHF antenna is a 15cm VHF heliflex antenna, this is specifically tuned to AIS (162MHz) frequencies for optimal performance. The AIT2000 and AIT2500 are complete with GPS (10m cable) and VHF antenna (20m cable). Just like a commercial Class A transponder, SOTDMA technology also guarantees a transmission slot in areas of high AIS traffic.
Both of them have the same functionality but the AIT2500 uses our latest Class B+ SOTDMA technology – this offers 2.5x transmit power of regular Class B plus a more frequent position update based on the speed of the vessel. In this pack, you have the option to choose between the Class B AIS Transponder AIT2000 or the Class B+ 5W AIS Transponder AIT2500. The perfect pack to receive AIS and to transmit your position as well as streaming wirelessly all your navigation data on navigation apps & software.