OK, you’ve bought a new NMEA 2000 bit of kit
– now what ?
The good news is that you don’t have to upgrade your current equipment…
But simply use a bi-directional converter to link your new NMEA 2000 item of equipment to your current NMEA 0183 ones..
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The ‘How to guide’
To an NMEA 2000 converter…
A bi-directional converter is quick to install & easy to set up.
The ‘how to Bridge NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 guide’ will show you step by step how to combine a new NMEA 2000 device to your existing equipment.
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Step 1 – Understand the difference between NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183
If you have NMEA 0183 type of equipment on your boat then you will be used to the way it sends data from one device to another ‘person to person’ in one direction (one device talking, one device listening).
The key difference with the new NMEA 2000 is that you can not only send information in both directions at once, but you can connect a larger number and variety of devices – so that your AIS receiver, chart plotter, depth gauge, etc. can all talk to each other at once.
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Step 2 – You need to get a Backbone
Even if you only have 1 item of NMEA 2000 equipment then you will still need to get a backbone.
A backbone is simply a power cable that connects your NMEA 2000 items of equipment.
NMEA 2000 devices connect to the backbone using a simple T piece connector.
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Step 3 – Connect your AIS receiver & Chartplotter buddies
It’s important to realise that it’s often a lot easier if your AIS receiver & Chartplotter (if you have one) are of the same type
i.e. both NMEA 0183 or both NMEA 2000
The reason is that there is an enormous variation in the type & quality of AIS messages that will be transferred using a bi-directional converter.
Before you install a bi-directional converter it is very important that you check which of the NMEA signals it will convert. That is why it can be easier if your AIS receiver & chartplotter are of the same NMEA type.
So if you use an AIS receiver & chartplotter of the same NMEA type then installing them with your bi-directional receiver will depend if they are NMEA 2000 or NMEA 0183
If your
- AIS receiver and chartplotter are NMEA 2000 – connect them to the backbone (simply using a simple plug)
- AIS receiver and chartplotter are NMEA 0183 – connect them together and then one to the bi-directional receiver. (slightly more complicated as you will need to connect the individual wires, using a wire diagram)
Do you view the data on your laptop or phone ?
If you don’t have a chartplotter. And you view your data on a laptop or phone (using wifi) then your AIS receiver needs to be NMEA 0183.
Please note – our next article will focus on AIS receivers and bi-directional receivers
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Step 4 – Install your Bi-Directional Converter
The good news is that your bi-directional converter will be powered by your backbone – so it can be located near your new NMEA 2000 devices.
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Step 5 – Your Depth Gauge, Wind Vane, etc..
So that when you buy one or more new NMEA 2000 devices (i.e. depth gauge, wind vane, etc).
All you do is simply connect them to your backbone. And then connect the backbone to your bi-directional receiver.
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Step 6 – Switch on your Bi-directional converter
When you switch it on there are 2 options available.
If you are using WiFi then a bi-directional converter (like our QK-A032) will be pre-loaded with a driver. After you switch it on all you do is scan your connections and then connect to your bi-directional converter.
If you are using a USB connection – then simply connect it to your laptop and use the configuration screen to configure the bi-directional converter. (We would usually do it at the end, when everything is installed, but you can always do it at home before installing it on your boat)
For more details on how and when to configure, read our step by step guide in the QK-A032 manual.
More information
