NMEA2000 Backbone - Which Mfg?

Windjammer

Well-Known Member
Nov 10, 2007
724
Acworth, GA
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2006
Engines
8.1 Mercruiser V-Drives
Thinking about installing a NMEA2000 Backbone in anticipation of some electronics upgrades next year. It looks like "everyone and his brother" makes a "starter kit".. Garmin, Anchor, Navico, Lowrence, Simrad, Furuno, Maretron...etc, etc.
So, is there any difference between these or are they interchangeable, i.e. Garmin backbone can be used with Raymarine, Simrad, etc...Or should I just wait until I decide who I want to go with for upgrades?
 
The Maretron is the most "industrial". Anchor and Garmin are both good products.
One thing however, pick one; they all clock their tee's and fittings differently consequently mixing Garmin with Maretron (for example) will point their tee's at differing angles.
Raymarine is the bastard child - they use what they call SeatalkNG in which the connections and cable ends are different from the DeviceNet standard all others use. Raymarine makes a conversion cable.
 
The Maretron is the most "industrial". Anchor and Garmin are both good products.
One thing however, pick one; they all clock their tee's and fittings differently consequently mixing Garmin with Maretron (for example) will point their tee's at differing angles.
Raymarine is the bastard child - they use what they call SeatalkNG in which the connections and cable ends are different from the DeviceNet standard all others use. Raymarine makes a conversion cable.

On my Raymarine Axiom I was able to plug directly into a pre-existing Garmin backbone using their connectors without a convertor. I think they finally standardized with the newer products.

-Kevin
 
On my Raymarine Axiom I was able to plug directly into a pre-existing Garmin backbone using their connectors without a convertor. I think they finally standardized with the newer products.

-Kevin
Well, shut the door..... Raymarine is actually listening to their customers.....
 
I use 2 Garmin part numbers when I build the backbone for Fusion stereo installs for what its worth. With that said, IIRC, Garmin and Fusion are under the same umbrella. I have also up fitted Fusion into existing N2K systems with no issues.
 
St me add a twist. The N2k will transfer th data, but some features need a hub. For example if I wanted to upgrade all my Garmin at once I would need there hub inline or else I have to do one unit at a time.
 
St me add a twist. The N2k will transfer th data, but some features need a hub. For example if I wanted to upgrade all my Garmin at once I would need there hub inline or else I have to do one unit at a time.
N2K transfers some of the data frim devices like GPS receivers. Other data will be high speed network (Ethernet) data. On that network you will share data such as maps and access high bandwidth devices like radars and transducers from their equipment.

In the case of the Axiom's you must have one MFD capable of reading transducer data but any connected MFD on the network can display that data.

-Kevin
 
NMEA 2000 wiring is a CAN bus architecture plus power distribution wiring. There are no "hubs", routers, or switches on the NMEA 2000 network which is a basis of a CAN bus network.
Ethernet on the other hand is a high data speed network of much different protocol and relies on routers, switches, or other specific devices to distribute and share data between the end items.
There are other data standards our boats use such as NMEA 0183, Smartcraft, Seatalk, and J1939.
When installing your backbone plan for growth - run the backbone throughout the boat and put tee's in strategic locations so devices can be added and you don't have to remove the backbone.
My boat, for example, uses most of these networks; I believe there are seven separate data systems on it. Here are a couple of the drawings for my boat showing the NMEA 2000, Ethernet, Smartcraft, and J1939 networks:
Detwork Diagram 17 Nov 2019 page 1.jpg
Detwork Diagram 17 Nov 2019 page 2.jpg
Detwork Diagram 17 Nov 2019 page 7.jpg
 
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