Instrument Data via WiFi

[the_alpine]

Lots of info here. Lots of people suggesting taking the data to a pc.

I'm not a fan of that option, just because of the added system. I like just turning the system on and everything is up and running.

However, maybe you could tell us what your intended useage is? Just cruising around your local sailing area, or more far flung adventures?

[afriis]

You might want to take a look at Home - Madman Marine Electronics . They have an adapter that does what you want. You can even remote steer your Raymarine autopilot with it.

I looked at this but since I have B&G autopilot, the NMEA commands are not the same ...

[knockabout]

we use open cpn / recently watched a man in a dinghy check wind strength on a smartphone by logging on to his raymarine built in instrument wi-fi he was checking the working distance of Wi-Fi and looking for any blank areas/ it looked about 30-40' all around his vessel/ looks like raymarine make the equipment you are looking for / if your boat is 70' and you want to read depths from your smartphone while forward with your foot on the anchor button you may need to amplify your Wi-Fi signal/ same with sitting on the top spreader of a 100'+ mast

[PPLepew]

Check out iKommunicate gateway, a brand new box developed just for that using new SignalK protocol. Talks NMEA 183 & 2000.
Check it out at Description | iKommunicate
I received mine last week.
Looking how to connect my networks right now.

[cll2]

I've had great luck with a Brookhouse iMux multiplexer connected to a similar Raymarine suite of equipment. I now get all instrument data, including AIS information, on my iPad Pro anywhere on the boat. I also got excellent customer support from Brookhouse while figuring out the best approach for setting things up. I connected to Apple products but it says it's compatible with Android as well.

iMux - The Brookhouse NMEA 0183 Wifi multiplexer

[conachair]

A Raspberry Pi running openplotter is worth mentioning as well, as a nmea multiplexer broadcast over wifi including signalk and as a wifi hotspot with an added hi gain wifi antenna.

[fallingeggs]

If you say you already want AIS, it is hard not to beat the Vesper XB-8000. They really nailed it.

OpenCPN world work, but it is really a different approach to your whole navigation system. Some say better, some say worse. Probably a bit of both and a whole different discussion.

[barnakiel]

Doh.

So we have listed like maybe 10 viable alternatives for every budget from USD 1 to USD 1k.

BTW I am surprised Ray solution comment on short range only. I am not sure how to undersatnd this. Is it something in the settings? I ask as my home-built wifi boat nmea transmitter can be easily read two docks away. I actually tested methods of lowering the range, with moderate success only though!

b.

[Harry Brown]

Thanks for all the advice.

I contact Vesper to ask about connecting the XB-8000 to my equipment and this is the response I received.

"If you want to pass on the AIS & GPS data to your chartplotter, then the wiring would be as below
GRAY from XB-8000 to WHITE (NMEA IN +) of C70
YELLOW from XB-8000 to GREEN (NMEA IN -) of C70
Make sure the baud rate is 38400.

If your chartplotter is already receiving the sensor data (eg: heading, wind, depth etc.,) and if you want to pass on that data to XB-8000 to receive it over WiFi connection, then the wiring would be as below
GREEN from XB-8000 to YELLOW (NMEA OUT +) of C70
WHITE from XB-8000 to BROWN (NMEA OUT -) of C70"

I would like to do the second option, so how can I tell if the chartplotter is receiving sensor data? (I haven't noticed anything to confirm this) and do I just splice into the existing NMEA in/out cable?

Thanks

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Harry Brown

(...)

how can I tell if the chartplotter is receiving sensor data? (I haven't noticed anything to confirm this) and do I just splice into the existing NMEA in/out cable?

Thanks

If your plotter is receiving the data, your plotter can display the data.

If your Ray cable is already using the nmea data wires for any data, then you cannot just 'splice in' - nmea data in must be multiplexed before entry.

What the Vesper guys thought probably is that your Ray plotter is getting the sensor data over Ray wires, not nmea wires. (e.g SeaTalk)

BTW you can split out outgoing data, if one day you have to (e.g. one gps source can feed more than one plotting device or a device and say a DSC radio, etc.).

b.

[Harry Brown]

Thanks for all the info, but I'm still a bit confused!
So, I do not need a multiplexer if I connect straight to the XB-8000, right?
If so, how do I physically connect it?
I believe the XB-8000 comes with a 10 pin power / data cable, but what instrument do I connect this too or am I using completely different cable?

[jamhass]

Th xb8000 is a multiplexer. Whether you use it to mux and wirelessly xmit data or "just" xmit data depends on your existing setup and preferences. In any event, with it you have the possibility to add new NMEA streams in the future

[Harry Brown]

Ahh OK thanks, didn't know that!
Now if I can just work out how I'm going to wire this in, I can buy the thing! Lol

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Harry Brown

Ahh OK thanks, didn't know that!
Now if I can just work out how I'm going to wire this in, I can buy the thing! Lol

Standard 422 wiring. (4 wires: 2 for signal in + two for signal out)

If your nmea stream comes on a 3 cable interface (232 wiring - GND for in and out are a common wire), you need a 232 to 422 serial adapter.

Cheers,
b.

[Ndavies]

I hope this helps and does not confuse the issue. My instruments are Seatalk and I have a Raymarine RL70C Chartplotter. The Chartplotter is not compatible with AIS. I added the Vesper Watchmate Vision and an iPad running iNavX. The iNavX app will display everything - Navionics charts, AIS overlay, and all of my NMEA or Seatalk instrument data. I made the connections to Seatalk and NMEA using a Raymarine E85001 interface box. I think I could have used the NMEA out from the chartplotter but I had the box and that also gives me the option of using a laptop via the serial connection. If more info on my set-up would help, feel free to drop me a PM and I will sketch it out for you.

Neil