In many systems I’ve installed, the whole system is based around a single display, which really cleans up a nav station. While NMEA 2000 is wonderful, and NMEA 2000 networks are very stable once installed, they imply interdependence among devices. His chartplotter has both interfaces on the back, so he plugs his AIS into the NMEA 0183 plug and the rest of the network into the NMEA 2000 plug, essentially running two “networks” without an adapter. Another acquaintance of mine has an NMEA 2000 network throughout his boat, but also has a black box AIS transceiver that only speaks NMEA 0183. In some cases a device that has interfaces for both NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 can act as an adapter of sorts. Buying an adapter was an obvious solution and a small price to pay to keep from replacing a reliable autopilot. One sailor I know replaced all his old malfunctioning electronics with new NMEA 2000 Certified stuff, but had a $4,000 autopilot that only spoke NMEA 0183 and still worked flawlessly. Whether or not this seems expensive depends on circumstances. These adapters, produced by manufacturers like Simrad, Actisense and Maretron, translate NMEA 0183 data into NMEA 2000 data so the two networks can talk to each other. If you’ve got a mix of equipment on your boat, you can purchase what are variously called adapters, bridges or gateways to connect NMEA 2000 devices to NMEA 0183 devices. The question then becomes how to connect various devices together if they don’t speak the same language. All these devices are still useful and still have a place aboard our boats. But if you’re like me, you’re not about to toss out all your electronics just because they aren’t cutting edge. Still, what new technology didn’t have some complaints and issues to resolve? Progress is progress, and NMEA 2000 will undoubtedly be the marine data network we use for the next few decades.

With NMEA 0183 you can set up a whole data network for a couple bucks in wire.”

That’s probably close to a hundred bucks just in cabling. Just to connect a GPS to an antenna you’d need two of each, plus the drop cables and backbone. “Here’s a T-fitting for $14 and an end fitting for $7.50. He went on to show me drawer after drawer of NMEA 2000 parts and complained that what was supposed to be so simple really involves lots of bits and bobs-bits and bobs that vary slightly from one manufacturer to another.

Nmea 2000 network power