Interfaces
Marine Electronics Interfaces & Protocol Converters
Professional interfaces and converters for integrating different marine electronics systems and protocols. Our collection features products from Actisense, the world leader in marine networking solutions:
- NMEA 2000 to NMEA 0183 Gateways - Convert between modern and legacy protocols
- PC/Tablet Interfaces - Connect computers to NMEA networks
- WiFi Gateways - Wireless NMEA data access
- Engine Gateways - Monitor engine data on chartplotters
- USB Interfaces - Connect navigation software to NMEA networks
Essential for integrating different brands and protocols in complex marine electronics installations.
System Integration: Part of our Networking collection. Connect Simrad, Raymarine, Garmin, Furuno systems. Bridge NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183. Integrate Victron Energy and Mastervolt power systems.
Bridging NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000
Most integration problems between older and newer marine electronics come down to protocol rather than brand: NMEA 0183 runs at a fixed baud rate over a simple serial connection, while NMEA 2000 is a shared network carrying many devices on one backbone. A gateway sits between the two, translating sentences on one side into PGNs on the other, and choosing the right direction, or a bidirectional unit, depends on which device is the data source and which is the display.
Baud rate mismatches are a common cause of a connected but no data fault, particularly with older AIS or GPS units that may run at 4800 or 38400 baud rather than the higher rate some newer devices expect. Multiplexers are worth considering where several 0183 sources need combining onto a single output before conversion. If you are trying to get an existing instrument or radio talking to a new chartplotter, tell us both device types and we can suggest the right interface.
