Here's how I understand (or guess) are the differences:
- The gateway provides just engine info for a NMEA 2000 network. No fault codes or ability to configure stuff like fuel tanks.
- VesselView Link converts all data including fault codes and converts it to NMEA 2000. Same data available to chart plotters as the gateway. But, only a VesselView (or Simrad) unit can show additional data such as fault codes and configure.
- Smartcraft Connect, although details are murky, provides the above, but, with software upgrades by either RayMarine or Garmin, the plotter will be able to display all info including faults and be able to configure. So, no more need for dedicated VesselView units. I am guessing here but the projected cost and the fact that the MFD providers are announcing software support leads me to believe this is how it's going to work out.

 

My understanding (misunderstanding?) Is that there aren't N2K PGNs for every SmartCraft fault code, so an MFD won't have them available to it if the source of data is purely N2K.

Have a look at this manual for the gateway from the Mercury website: https://samerwebapp01apncus01.azure...7/92/b792d09c-af9d-4e5e-b2fc-737dab9e098d/smartcraft_connect_gateway_manual.pdf.

This is what is indicated regarding alarm data:
"NMEA 2000 alarm data is limited and will only display "Check Engine" when an alarm is activated. Refer to the Mercury SmartCraft Gauges for descriptive fault text."

I am guessing the VV Link provides the full set of N2K data and adds proprietary SmartCraft data that MFDs that support the VV Link (Simrad, I assume) can display.

I don't know any of this for sure, however, there are other on here that do, I believe.

 

Baj, not sure how they do it, but, looking at the architecture of the VesselView Link, the inputs come from the Smartcraft harness but the only output is NMEA 2000. I suspect they have either crafted proprietary PGN's, or as Tom may be suggesting, sending J1939. NMEA 2000 is something of a descendant of J1939 anyway and the message structure is pretty much the same.
So, the current VesselViews (and Simrads) must have software that is able to use the data coming over NMEA 2000. Now, I think Raymarine and Garmin are going to update their software to do the same. It could also be that the new Smartcraft Connect will be doing further conversions that are being done in VesselViews now.
The net result would be (if I'm correct) that nothing would be needed to configure, operate and monitor Smartcraft engines other than the Connect and a capable chart plotter. I think I would go for that and recoup the dash real estate used by VesselView today.

 

Meant to say Simrad above, not Raymarine. Will edit...

 

I think you will find the engine data on the Smartcraft CAN P wires is actually SAE J1939 data (at least on the Cummins powered boats). Take a look at the Cummins wiring diagrams for example, The J1939 ECM output is the CAN P.
Mercury makes two gateways, one for Engine (CAN P) and one for other systems (CAN H); the most common is the Engine gateway and it only converts the CAN P (engine) data to NMEA 2000. Are engine messages transmittable to NMEA 2000? I believe so but need to look into it.
In my opinion the best solution is the Link with the correct harnesses as then both engines and other Smartcraft data (CAN H) can be placed on the NMEA 2000 network.

 

It certainly is a mess!

 

A mess for sure. I called Merc today and they said they have had no training on smartcraft connect but he didn’t think it passed thru alarms and faults. It also only supports sc1000 gauges.

He suggested I use the vv link module because it has a link connector for my sc gauges and passes all data to nmea 2k. But then I read that it’s only compatible with Simrad and Lowrance.

He also said Merc is not developing the vv app for Raymarine, so he couldn’t answer anything about that.

Raymarine website says the vv app stores engine alarms and shows fault codes. Also says you need the sc connect gateway. Wonder if it also works with the vv link module.

 

This helps a little. Not sure why the vv link doesn’t work with garmin

 

I'm sure VV Link "works" with Garmin today, but only to the extent that it transmits standard NMEA 2000 PGN's. I think what Mercury is referring to is the fuller integration with Smartcraft that the new SC Connect provides in conjunction with the software changes Garmin (and RayMarine) are going to provide.

 

There must be some custom PGNs that Merc supports in conjunction with Simrad (and Lowrance).

Aren't the new VesselView devices essentially Simrad MFDs?

 

Here's what the new Garmin display is going to look like:

 

From this announcement it appears Garmin is releasing software (in Q2 2021) to provide additional VV functionality when utilizing a SmartCraft connect gateway

https://www.businesswire.com/news/h...0210420005170/en/Garmin-announces-support-for-Mercury-Marine-SmartCraft-engines

 

That Smartcraft Connect looks promising. Functionality right now is limited to CAN P and it looks like CAN H is the future additions. So, it camps on the Smartcraft network and converts that data to NMEA 2000, WiFi, and Bluetooth. The WiFi and Bluetooth features do nothing for me in the way the boat is used; when I'm at the helm I want the info on the displays. When the boat is shut down and I'm away there is no data on the Smartcraft system to see remotely anyway.
I don't believe the SC Connect will drive the SC Link gauges so it you need those types of gauges to operate you will need the Link and/or a Vessel View.

 

You would think that if the vv link works with simrad then it would work with the new Raymarine vv app. That would allow me to also keep my sc gauges.

otherwise I need to go with the sc connect for my axiom, then look for that adapter to connect the sc gauges.

I guess I could do away with the gauges, but I would need 2 displays (1 for charts, 1 for eng data). But then what do you do with the dash panel that had the gauges?

 

You would think that if the vv link works with simrad then it would work with the new Raymarine vv app. That would allow me to also keep my sc gauges.

otherwise I need to go with the sc connect for my axiom, then look for that adapter to connect the sc gauges.

I guess I could do away with the gauges, but I would need 2 displays (1 for charts, 1 for eng data). But then what do you do with the dash panel that had the gauges?

Why won't the Link work with Raymarine or Garmin? The display may not look like a Vessel View format but the data will be organized and displayed.
As long as the Raymarine or Garmin or Maretron or any other device has a NMEA 2000 port and reads and displays NMEA 2000 PGN's it will work..

 

I’m guessing there are custom pgns that the current Raymarine software doesn’t support. Raymarine web site says you need sc connect, doesn’t mention vv link.

For those that already have vv link, they’re gonna be pretty pissed if it doesn’t work with the Raymarine vv app.

Obviously the standard pgns will work on the Nmea 2k mfds, so I’m guessing what you’re losing are vv features like fault codes, smart tow,etc.

Vv link and sc connect are both $1100 so you hate to be wrong

 

I happened on the installation manual for the Connect: https://samerwebapp01apncus01.azure...-4dae-466f-9c37-6c4adcb2ddfc/smartcraft_connect_gateway_installation_manual.pdf

My highlights:
- Single connections to Smartcraft J-Box (or engine harness) and NMEA 2000
- Wifi is only for connecting to an app (also already on App store) for configuration and firmware update. Bluetooth not mentioned but I assume it's an alternate way to connect to the app.
- CAN H is only for steer-by-wire systems (Zeus, etc.). DTS will operate over CAN P.
- WRT alarms, states: "NMEA 2000 alarm data is limited and will only display "Check Engine" when an alarm is activated. Refer to the Mercury SmartCraft Gauges for descriptive fault text." Not sure if this means no other manufacturers' connected product will be able to display faults or not.
- No substantial mention of integration with other NMEA 2000 devices other than a PGN list.

 

I happened on the installation manual for the Connect: https://samerwebapp01apncus01.azure...-4dae-466f-9c37-6c4adcb2ddfc/smartcraft_connect_gateway_installation_manual.pdf

My highlights:
- Single connections to Smartcraft J-Box (or engine harness) and NMEA 2000
- Wifi is only for connecting to an app (also already on App store) for configuration and firmware update. Bluetooth not mentioned but I assume it's an alternate way to connect to the app.
- CAN H is only for steer-by-wire systems (Zeus, etc.). DTS will operate over CAN H.
- WRT alarms, states: "NMEA 2000 alarm data is limited and will only display "Check Engine" when an alarm is activated. Refer to the Mercury SmartCraft Gauges for descriptive fault text." Not sure if this means no other manufacturers' connected product will be able to display faults or not.
- No substantial mention of integration with other NMEA 2000 devices other than a PGN list.

Do you agree with the CAN H description? I don't or something has changed over the last couple of years; I know for sure that (on the Cummins powered boats) the DTS is through the engine's ECM and out via J1939 which is CAN P......

 

New boat, new opportunities. Sorry to reopen an old thread but I am looking to capture data from 2011 Sundancer 496 MAG w/ Axious. Here is my understanding of the options:

* ($) Smartcraft Gateway - All basic PGN data collected from CAN-P bus converted to NMEA2K for consumption by any NMEA2K device.

* ($$) Smartcraft Connect - Everything the Smartcraft Gateway has plus enhanced data from CAN-H bus transmitted via NMEA2K but enhanced data is in proprietary PGNs consumable via RayMarine/Garmin with appropriate VesselView support (standard PGNs consumable by any NMEA2K device).

* ($$) VesselView Link - Everything the Smartcraft Gateway has plus enhanced data from CAN-H bus transmitted via NMEA2K but enhanced data is in proprietary PGNs consumable via Simrad/Lowrance with appropriate VesselView support (standard PGNs consumable by any NMEA2K device).

I have RayMarine MFD/Radar, so I can choose either the Smartcraft Gateway but will still need to rely on my VesselView 1.5 for enhanced information or I can go with the Smartcraft Connect and essentially render my VesselView 1.5 redundant (As long as I upgrade my C90W to Axiom MFD).