This is sort of a continuation of another thread of mine. I have a Raymarine i50/i60 system with an EV-100 AP w/core sensor, older Raymarine GPS, an ES7 chart plotter (not currently installed), Air mar depth/temp sensor and some kind of analog speed sensor. I'm interested in learning more about it, what network protocols are compatible with one another, how to see messages and devices on the network with a computer or app (I have a wifi adapter for the network). Can anyone recommend some software or reading material?
Instrument/Nav network primer
- Thread starter Project_Mayhem
- Start date
Hi.
I’m not an expert but I do have some experience. Anything that uses NMEA2000 networking is compatable. For example, on my boat I have a B&G Zeus plotter, 2 B&G Triton displays, B&G Wind instruments, garmin sonar transducer, a Raymarine below deck autopilot, B&G H5000 computer, Standard Horizon VHF, Vesper Watchmate AIS, and various phones and tablets.
All instruments and devices share data. The Vesper unit takes the data and makes it available on the WIFI. I have the verser app on my phone and tablets so I can see all of the NMEA data in realtime. It’s pretty cool for diagnostics.
Barry
I’m not an expert but I do have some experience. Anything that uses NMEA2000 networking is compatable. For example, on my boat I have a B&G Zeus plotter, 2 B&G Triton displays, B&G Wind instruments, garmin sonar transducer, a Raymarine below deck autopilot, B&G H5000 computer, Standard Horizon VHF, Vesper Watchmate AIS, and various phones and tablets.
All instruments and devices share data. The Vesper unit takes the data and makes it available on the WIFI. I have the verser app on my phone and tablets so I can see all of the NMEA data in realtime. It’s pretty cool for diagnostics.
Barry
Older equipment is NMEA 0183 with Raymarine SeaTalk plugs and sockets. The EV 100, I50, I60 and more modern chartplotters are NMEA 2000 also called N2K, but Raymarine calls it SeaTalk NG. It uses a slightly different plug than other manufacturers and there are SeaTalkNG to N2K adapter cables available.
NMEA 0183 can be wired into a NMEA2000 backbone with an adapter (Raymarine E22158 Converter - but DO NOT run power into the converter despite the fact it comes with a power cable. It is a Raymarine thing and will fry the converter board). N2K is not backward compatible with NMEA 0183.
SIgnalK, Openplotter, Victron Venus software on the Cerbo or running on a Raspberry Pi can see and utilize all the data sources and is good for getting a sense of what is where and how it all might work together.
Rob at Smart Boat Innovations has a series of YouTube videos about using the various data with Home Assistant as the display/brains of the operation. Highly recommended if you want to geek out a bit.
The ES 7 is retired and no longer updates to the latest Lighthouse software but it should see all the N2K instruments if properly wired to an NMEA2000 backbone.
NMEA 0183 can be wired into a NMEA2000 backbone with an adapter (Raymarine E22158 Converter - but DO NOT run power into the converter despite the fact it comes with a power cable. It is a Raymarine thing and will fry the converter board). N2K is not backward compatible with NMEA 0183.
SIgnalK, Openplotter, Victron Venus software on the Cerbo or running on a Raspberry Pi can see and utilize all the data sources and is good for getting a sense of what is where and how it all might work together.
Rob at Smart Boat Innovations has a series of YouTube videos about using the various data with Home Assistant as the display/brains of the operation. Highly recommended if you want to geek out a bit.
The ES 7 is retired and no longer updates to the latest Lighthouse software but it should see all the N2K instruments if properly wired to an NMEA2000 backbone.
Hey Dave,
Not sure if this anywhere on target for what you are looking for, but I wanted to use a Raspberry Pi (RPI) as a below deck computer, and to display the boat system info at the nav station on the RPI.
One of the first steps was to find some software that would do what I wanted. i ended up using Open Plotter, which is a collection of open source resources bundled for the RPI. It includes OpenCPN (chart plotter) and a myriad of resources to build dashboards and monitor various systems.
OpenPlotter | OpenMarine
The second step was to find a way to get boat systems info into the RPI. Since I do have N2K in my network, I thought that was the easiest. I found a “hat” for my RPI that has an N2K port so it can be added to the boats network.
copperhilltech.com
Greg
Not sure if this anywhere on target for what you are looking for, but I wanted to use a Raspberry Pi (RPI) as a below deck computer, and to display the boat system info at the nav station on the RPI.
One of the first steps was to find some software that would do what I wanted. i ended up using Open Plotter, which is a collection of open source resources bundled for the RPI. It includes OpenCPN (chart plotter) and a myriad of resources to build dashboards and monitor various systems.
OpenPlotter | OpenMarine
The second step was to find a way to get boat systems info into the RPI. Since I do have N2K in my network, I thought that was the easiest. I found a “hat” for my RPI that has an N2K port so it can be added to the boats network.
PICAN-M - NMEA 0183 & NMEA 2000 HAT For Raspberry Pi
The PICAN-M (M = Marine) is a Raspberry Pi HAT with NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 connection. The NMEA 2000 port is accessible via a Micro-C connector.
copperhilltech.com
Greg
Thank you everyone! This is an excellent start that really provides enough to get started. @brazenarticle thank you for the detailed info, especially on the warning about injecting power.
I'll have to plug the chart plotter into the network sometime to see what data is available. I played around with it at home when I first got it and used it to help with our heading on a 5.5 hour journey to my slip a few weeks ago. Connecting it with the autopilot would've been a bit pointless because we made a total of two right turns and one long, straight line.
It'd be nice to see battery voltages. I was able to setup a low voltage alarm but it complains every time the engine is started. Is it possible to do voltage measurements with a RPi and put that data on the network? Would it interfere with whatever instrument is already reading battery voltage or do I need to see if that data is actually on the network?
I'll have to plug the chart plotter into the network sometime to see what data is available. I played around with it at home when I first got it and used it to help with our heading on a 5.5 hour journey to my slip a few weeks ago. Connecting it with the autopilot would've been a bit pointless because we made a total of two right turns and one long, straight line.
It'd be nice to see battery voltages. I was able to setup a low voltage alarm but it complains every time the engine is started. Is it possible to do voltage measurements with a RPi and put that data on the network? Would it interfere with whatever instrument is already reading battery voltage or do I need to see if that data is actually on the network?
It’s very possible to do with a Pi. Voltage sensors are high impedance so they don’t interfere even with many in the same circuits. I’ve got a Pi measuring lots of things and putting it all on the NMEA network to display on our plotter. One option is to get the Pi and a USB to NMEA2000 adapter like at NMEA to usb: NMEA 2000 USB Gateway to put the data on a network. Then get an Analog to digital sensor so the Pi can read voltages, and run SignalK to translate those into NMEA data that the adapter can send. The slightly less DIY approach to the analog/digital circuitry is a Victron Smart Shunt that can read voltages and current draw, and send that to the Pi via USB. And the much less DIY solution is to plug the Smart Shunt into a Victron Cerbo GX, which is basically an off the shelf version of the Pi with all of the necessary pieces integrated.
If it helps, the setup I have with the Pi and SmartShunt is documented at GitHub - davidasailor/PiForBoat
Thank you for the info. I've seen your project in the past. It's really impressive!
Beware! What starts as a simple quest to "see messages and devices on the network with a computer or app" can become a deep dive into connecting your boat and everything in it in more ways than you imagine. It's a pursuit parallel to sailing that many of us enjoy.
If you eventually want to monitor batteries and maybe tanks the Victron Cerbo GX is almost a bargain. Cost is not much more than a Raspi with a hat, case, fan and connectors and everything is in one tidy Victron blue package.
Cerbo (like the Pi) can be viewed via wifi on phone, iPad, computer, etc. If your boat has starlink or a cellphone hotspot it can be viewed over the internet from any location.The Victron Venus software has a SignalK option built in (Node Red too).
The Cerbo can be integrated into Home Assistant which is solid open source software, lots of tutorials and threads with information about HA, just mind the dates of things you read - info from a year or two ago probably has changed.
This guy on YouTube does "smart" van stuff, lots of good information there. Rob at smartboatinnovations.com has similar content but specific to boat navigation, monitoring and life aboard convenience.
If you eventually want to monitor batteries and maybe tanks the Victron Cerbo GX is almost a bargain. Cost is not much more than a Raspi with a hat, case, fan and connectors and everything is in one tidy Victron blue package.
Cerbo (like the Pi) can be viewed via wifi on phone, iPad, computer, etc. If your boat has starlink or a cellphone hotspot it can be viewed over the internet from any location.The Victron Venus software has a SignalK option built in (Node Red too).
The Cerbo can be integrated into Home Assistant which is solid open source software, lots of tutorials and threads with information about HA, just mind the dates of things you read - info from a year or two ago probably has changed.
This guy on YouTube does "smart" van stuff, lots of good information there. Rob at smartboatinnovations.com has similar content but specific to boat navigation, monitoring and life aboard convenience.
Oh I'm very aware how a simple project can grow and consume entirely too much time. My cabin lighting project is now a 24v system with high powered LED strips in aluminum channels with custom mounts, wireless on/off switch, logarithmic dimming curves, etc. I got annoyed with my LED controller and am now building my own arduino based unit.
The price of the Cerbo is good. I'd estimate total installation costs around $600 when you add in a monitor and installation materials. It's nice that it has an HDMI out instead of a proprietary connector. It looks like a VERY versatile unit and is likely worth the time savings and reliability over a DIY solution. I will definitely look further into this unit.
The Shelly RGBW PM controller might save you some time, it runs 12 or 24 volts. All the channels can be used for color or each of the four can control separate white channels. Shelly 1 devices run off 12 or 24 volts, they are small relays that can be programmed, remotely controlled and work well with all the other gizmos on a "smart boat". Examples - I have one on the deck light circuit so I can illuminate the boat from shore when heading out to the mooring.
A small router like the GliNET Slate ties all the computer stuff into one networked system. The Cerbo doesn't need its own monitor, it can be viewed from phone, laptop, iPad or a fixed monitor. The router also distributes Starlink and/or a cellular hotspot.
A small router like the GliNET Slate ties all the computer stuff into one networked system. The Cerbo doesn't need its own monitor, it can be viewed from phone, laptop, iPad or a fixed monitor. The router also distributes Starlink and/or a cellular hotspot.