Nexus (Silva) Wind Data Instrument- Is this NMEA Compatible?

[damoses1]

I just picked up a Raymarine C70 Multifunctional Display, and wanted to know if it were possible for me to connect my Nexus CLASSIC wind data instruments to my C70 display. I would like to see: depth, windspeed, wind direction, boat speed, and water temperature.

Does anyone know if the "nexus network" is compatible with NMEA-0183?

If so, I would love to see a schematic to know how to make the units share the data from the sensors.

Here is the installation manual, but it doesn't mention anything about NMEA 0183:

http://www.chicagomarineelectronics.com/Nexus Manuals pdf/Nexus Wind Data.pdf

Any input would be appreciated!

 

[rpwillia]

A few thoughts

Damoses1, I did a quick RTFM and my first guess would be use the black ground wire and the yellow wire connected to the back of the control head.

But there is a statement on page 33 "For most PC-applications, the full duplex interface (Art. No. 21248), will be a very useful tool for monitoring real time data, to edit and store Waypoints to PC-file or to Server and/or to the Nexus GPS. The interface 7: SPECIFICATIONS 34 is supplied with a cable for connection from PC to the Server or Nexus instruments and/or the Nexus GPS. A 9-pole D-sub connector is connected to the RS232 port on the PC."

Or you could get the cable they mention "21248 Nexus FD interface. PC interface with 1 m (3.3 ft) cable. Includes a 3½”disc. with software for waypoint editing and a data bus manager and NMEA interface."

 

[rpwillia]

Oops,

Actually, I spoke without thinking. The wires from the wind instrument are most likely a differential signal and not NMEA. But at this link http://www.nexusmarine.se/upload/marine/marine/manuals/21646-1.pdf
they refer to a Nexus Multi-Center that does interface to the GPS and autpopilot on page 9.

 

[damoses1]

Actually, I spoke without thinking. The wires from the wind instrument are most likely a differential signal and not NMEA.

Thanks for the input!

So if the nexus instruments talk in a different code than NMEA, there is no way to convert the code into NMEA so that my Raymarine C70 can read the data??

What about converting it into Seatalk 1 or Seatalk 2?

 

[Bob Poff]

Re: Nexus (Silva) Wind Data Instrument- Is this NMEA Compati

I don't think you're going to talk to that instrument directly.

I don't know much about Nexus classic, but the instruments and server on the NX2 network communicate (via RS-422 if memory serves me) using their own protocol. And in that network the wind instrument doesn't ouput NEMA directly. The "server" and the GPS Navigator will communicate using NEMA though.

They claim the FDX network protocol is public, but I haven't seen it anywhere as yet.

But to communicate with any "foreign" device you'd need to build a translator to read the NX network, send NEMA, or whatever protocol you would need.

Development time considered, it would be cheaper in the long run to upgrade to an NX2 system. Then in addition to your C70 you could also run the NX Race software.