NMEA 2000 connection for victron?

[dougxn]

Hey friends, I want to connect the victron stuff to the boat NMEA network.

I have a 2015 R-27. It looks like the network is wired down the starboard side if the boat and ends at the garmin something box *which since I hate garmin I will replace when it is ready). Anyway, All of my cool victron, works was advertised stuff, is on the port side.

So it would seem to connect the entire planet, I can run a NMEA wire around to the victron GX unit and connect all the victron to that and I should wishfully/.hopefully see everything on the 7212 mapper screen someplace?

Anyone done it, think it is useful?

Thanks - dn

 

[Submariner]

Hey friends, I want to connect the victron stuff to the boat NMEA network.

I have a 2015 R-27. It looks like the network is wired down the starboard side if the boat and ends at the garmin something box *which since I hate garmin I will replace when it is ready). Anyway, All of my cool victron, works was advertised stuff, is on the port side.

So it would seem to connect the entire planet, I can run a NMEA wire around to the victron GX unit and connect all the victron to that and I should wishfully/.hopefully see everything on the 7212 mapper screen someplace?

Anyone done it, think it is useful?

Thanks - dn

If your chartplotter has WIFI like the 8612XSV does... and you have a CerboGX (you didn't mention which GX you have), you can connect the CerboGX via WIFI to the chartplotter and save yourself a cable run. A Victron app would pop up on your chartplotter and give you the instrumentation on your chartplotter.

It'll look like this.
https://www.letsgochannelsurfing.com/cerbo-gx?pgid=kwu1no4n-2578485b-d0f3-4941-84ab-956a072cd1e1

 

[Diatom]

Considered same thing, but my Garmin is an old 5212 and my NMEA is crammed. Figured NMEA adds no new info - can view on iPhone reasonably conveniently without disturbing GPS/radar display - finally decided to install a GX Touch 50 screen for instantaneity & control (you can kill the inverter from the panel). Works brilliantly, very simple install if your Cerbo GX is close to helm. Biggest hassle: uncertain how to slice thru fiberglass, bad experience with hole saws, so I resorted to the "needlepoint method" drilling a zillion 1/16" holes around my template till I could snap it off. Once the hole is punched through, mounts in seconds, connects instantly. Cool feature: upload your boat name as a jpg file, replaces mfg logo on screen.

/tmm

 

[fidalgoisland]

If your chartplotter has WIFI like the 8612XSV does... and you have a CerboGX (you didn't mention which GX you have), you can connect the CerboGX via WIFI to the chartplotter and save yourself a cable run. A Victron app would pop up on your chartplotter and give you the instrumentation on your chartplotter.

Martin, Would this require me to switch back and forth between the Garmin wireless (on the boat) and my Internet wireless (away from the boat)? At the boat show I saw the CerboGX running on a Garmin 8612 and the person in the booth said it would only work if hardwired (RJ45) between the CerboGX and the Garmin. Maybe he was referencing to avoid the switching back and forth between the wireless networks. The CerboGX running on the Garmin did look very nice and useful. Thanks.
Dennis

 

[dougxn]

I have the Cerbo GX and sadly a Garmin 7212....

One thing I noted, I installed the GX in the port fore lazerette and if I am sitting at the wheel, I cannot connect from my iPhone 14pro. So I assumed if I want to see some data, I need to run some cable or move the GX into the wheel house.

Perhaps I need to get the GX Touch 50 ..... One more thing to buy ;-)

Thanks Martin and everyone else.

 

[Submariner]

I have the Cerbo GX and sadly a Garmin 7212....

One thing I noted, I installed the GX in the port fore lazerette and if I am sitting at the wheel, I cannot connect from my iPhone 14pro. So I assumed if I want to see some data, I need to run some cable or move the GX into the wheel house.

Perhaps I need to get the GX Touch 50 ..... One more thing to buy ;-)

Thanks Martin and everyone else.

I have my CerboGX installed in the port lazarette and am able to access it easily from the helm. (iPhone 13).
The only devices I sometimes struggle with to connect to are the Victron Orion TR 30 amp 12 volt to 12 volt DC to DC chargers. I can connect to them from the helm, but not with my back turned. I need to rotate so my phone is facing aft on the boat for them to connect. But the MPPT controller, BMV battery monitor and CerboGX are all easily accessible for me.

CerboGX installed
https://www.letsgochannelsurfing.com/cerbo-gx?pgid=kwu1no4n-96ed3bf6-3204-40ab-aef6-bed35d7379d3

Connecting to the CerboGX via WIFI also opens up the Victron app within the ActiveCaptain app on my phone.
https://www.letsgochannelsurfing.com/cerbo-gx?pgid=kwu1no4n-b96a58bb-0212-4df9-84fa-7942cc1a526c

https://www.letsgochannelsurfing.com/cerbo-gx?pgid=kwu1no4n-82764762-45ab-4ba5-b0d3-1de7bec93d3e

 

[Submariner]

If your chartplotter has WIFI like the 8612XSV does... and you have a CerboGX (you didn't mention which GX you have), you can connect the CerboGX via WIFI to the chartplotter and save yourself a cable run. A Victron app would pop up on your chartplotter and give you the instrumentation on your chartplotter.

Martin, Would this require me to switch back and forth between the Garmin wireless (on the boat) and my Internet wireless (away from the boat)? At the boat show I saw the CerboGX running on a Garmin 8612 and the person in the booth said it would only work if hardwired (RJ45) between the CerboGX and the Garmin. Maybe he was referencing to avoid the switching back and forth between the wireless networks. The CerboGX running on the Garmin did look very nice and useful. Thanks.
Dennis

The CerboGX can connect to multiple WIFI access points, just not at the same time. I started out having it connect to the chartplotter and the Peplink router. Whichever one had a stronger signal is what the CerboGX would connect to. Since my WIFI antenna for the Peplink is installed outside the boat up on the mast and the Garmin 8612 chartplotter is inside the cabin, usually the better signal is from the Chartplotter. Yet, when I leave the boat, the chartplotter is always turned off making the Peplink have better signal.

You do not need a cable to connect the CerboGX to the Chartplotter to get the data. It will work on WIFI. All my screenshots are taken with only WIFI connectivity.

I've since unconfigured that functionality, however, as I find it more useful to always access the data the same way. With the Peplink always providing WIFI, and the CerboGX stays connected to the Peplink via WIFI all the time, my phone always connects to the Peplink via WIFI... means I always get easy access to the CerboGX via WIFI without doing anything.

Said differently... here's what I used to do....
Connect to the Chartplotter WIFI for ActiceCaptain updates. (SSID: ChannelSurfing_MFD)
Connect to the Vesper XB-8000 AIS WIFI if I wanted to see AIS targets in Navionics on my phone. (SSID: ChannelSurfing_AIS)
Connect to the CergboGX WIFI if I wanted to see a combined view of power usage and solar power. (SSID: vx837284k)
Connect to the Peplink WIFI if I wanted Internet access. (SSID: ChannelSurfing_WIFI).

I spent a lot of time jumping around between WIFI on my phone. I hated that.

Now the CerboGX and the Vesper XB-8000 AIS connect to the Peplink WIFI, as does my phone. (SSID: ChannelSurfing_WIFI)
The Garmin 8612 XSV is incapable of being a WIFI client. It can not connect to anything. But it can be a WIFI host. So I still must connect to it via WIFI to perform upgrades from my phone. Otherwise, I never connect WIFI to my chartplotter anymore. I went from 4 SSID's down to 2. I always access my CerboGX on my phone or via VRM in the cloud/Internet. The reliability of the CerboGX reporting to the cloud is improved also when it's 24x7 connected to the same WIFI SSID.

It's pretty cool to see the data on the chart plotter while I'm driving. But's that's a nice-to-have.

I thought about running an ethernet cable from the CerboGX to the Chartplotter. But my 8612XSV only has 2 ethernet ports on it (called marine ports). One goes to radar, the other goes to the GXM 54 weather antenna. So then I'd have to buy a Garmin marine network switch (to expand the number of network ports), and I quickly realized it wasn't that important to me (especially the cable run from port side aft to starboard side forward at the helm).

Sorry for the lengthy reply.

 

[bobmastors]

I stumbled into a similar setup as Martin.
Instead of a Peplink I have a Verizon Jetpack MiFi 8800L (4G).
Phone and/or tablet connect to the Jetpack wifi for internet and CerboGX access.
Phone and/or tablet connect to the Garmin MFD wifi for ActiveCaptain updates.
CerboGX wifi access point is disabled, once everything was set up.
So only two SSIDs.

I looked for a way to have the Garmin MFD co-exist with other boat network devices under a single SSID.
There are a number of problems, compounded by poor Garmin documentation.
Seems possible, but maybe not worth the effort.

An upcoming task is to connect the CerboGX to the NMEA 2000 network.
Then use the WilhelmSK app to read the NMEA 2000 data from the Signal K server running on the CerboGX.
My plan is to free up screen space on the Garmin MFD currently being used by boat stats (engine, depth, fuel)
by moving the stats to the ipad.

Originally I wanted a second Garmin MFD at the helm. No room of course on the R-27.
An ipad, instead of a second MFD, seems like it will be more useful.

 

[dougxn]

Well, I think the NMEA runs to the starboard lazerette. So, I am thinking of putting a t-connector there, and running the network around to the port and connect up the cerbo gx.

Then install the screen inside near the port desk. It would be nice to have up front, but yet again, Garmin falls short.

Garmin is like an automotive maker - they build and by the time it makes it to market we have moved on and want more. Garmin is definitely not innovators .

I like the idea of using my iPad though…..

I don have Wi-Fi full time on the boat yet- next project. Perhaps I will create a new post and see what everyone is doing - peplink/mifi/netgear /?

Thanks for the discussion!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Submariner]

I don have Wi-Fi full time on the boat yet- next project. Perhaps I will create a new post and see what everyone is doing - peplink/mifi/netgear /?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Installing Internet on a boat (video)
https://youtu.be/JGnX9-5VAsY

Internet for the boat (photo gallery)
https://www.letsgochannelsurfing.com/internet-for-the-boat

Internet for the boat (tech-talk)
https://www.letsgochannelsurfing.com/lte-wifi-tech-talk

Tugunts lengthy topic on "Internet for the boat"
http://www.tugnuts.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=20565&sid=548efc326c0dcd1c99e3f589dad5c0c9

 

[dougxn]

Martin, thanks, your website is a wealth of information.

I have been planning on doing pretty much what you did, but have been dragging my feet(knuckles) waiting to see if anything like a game changer is coming out soonish. I really like the peplink bk1 5g pro, but it would be nice to have everything on the same network if possible. I think there is a N2K -> eth by yacht device or something, but it isn’t clear that it gets me what I want….

I think I have been looking down the road and wondering if I can connect the iPad to the N2K and utilize the gps and ais and all the sensors on the tablet. I think having the tablet is infinitely more useful that the plotter in the dash.

I moved my cerboGx inside the cabin yesterday - into the desk area near the head. That seems to help on using the iphone to connect. I still may just buy the touch 50 so I don’t need the phone.

I too am going to remove the tv antenna and replace it with some 7/8-way antenna, again waiting.

Anyway, thanks for your advice and help.

 

[dougxn]

I don have Wi-Fi full time on the boat yet- next project. Perhaps I will create a new post and see what everyone is doing - peplink/mifi/netgear /?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Installing Internet on a boat (video)
https://youtu.be/JGnX9-5VAsY

Internet for the boat (photo gallery)
https://www.letsgochannelsurfing.com/internet-for-the-boat

Internet for the boat (tech-talk)
https://www.letsgochannelsurfing.com/lte-wifi-tech-talk

Tugunts lengthy topic on "Internet for the boat"
http://www.tugnuts.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=20565&sid=246fd86f7a64ae0d79bcbeeaae117035

Martin, did you run Ethernet back to your Carbon and possibly other Victron devices?

Thanks - dn

 

[Submariner]

Martin, did you run Ethernet back to your Carbon and possibly other Victron devices?

I have been planning on doing pretty much what you did, but have been dragging my feet(knuckles) waiting to see if anything like a game changer is coming out soonish. I really like the peplink bk1 5g pro, but it would be nice to have everything on the same network if possible.

Thanks - dn

I had to run a VE.Direct (Victron cable) from the Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/30 solar controller to the CerboGX.

I had to run another VE.Direct cable from the back of the Victron BMV712 gauge to the CerboGX.
Both cable runs for me were actually quite easy and only took me a few minutes for each.

I also had to make sure those VE.Direct cables were zip tied securely to the boat, else they fall out from the vibration, rocking and rolling.

I originally started out with a Mobility 22G antenna mounted inside the boat, and a Peplink MAX BR1 (category 6 LTE) router. That setup cost me $600 and was my experiment to find out whether it was worth it. Install in the boat took me a few minutes as I drilled no holes. It would max out at about 30mbs of throughput, but worked quite nicely. But I wanted something permanently mounted instead of my temporarily mounted solution that I had to bring out and put away when done. I was also running it off the inverter and I wanted it powered via 12volts DC.

What set me over the edge was when Peplink released their Mobility 42G antenna in mid-year 2021, and then Peplink released their MAX BR1 Pro 5G router in the fall of 2021. (I pre-ordered the Max BR1 Pro 5g router and waited 2 months for it to arrive). I completed my install in May of 2022.

Knowing these two devices were at the very beginning of their lifecycle and researching their spec's for future proofing, I figure I'll get many years of usage out of the router and antenna on the boat. This made it worthwhile to me to tear my boat apart, drill holes and wire it all in nice and neat.

I use Internet on the boat for VRM (Victron remote monitoring) of my house bank and solar power. I get remote temp of the cockpit also. Added a Blink security camera with motion sensors as well. When we're on the boat we watch YouTube on the TV via a Roku connected to the Internet. Also my phone gets better cell service via the Peplink than it's own LTE/5G connectivity. I am also adding Starlink to the Peplink for SE Alaska when I'll be out of LTE/5G range (and out of VHF range for the USCG). Starlink will connect to the Peplink and will be something I bring out when needed and put away when done using as its power requirements are too great to leave powered on all the time.

The Vesper XB8000, CerboGX, Blink camera, and Roku all connect directly to the Peplink via WIFI, as does my phone, tablet and laptop. It's so much nicer now to have all this on one wireless network, with access to the Internet.

 

[Submariner]

Martin, thanks, your website is a wealth of information.

Thank you!! I've been queuing up a bunch of stuff to add to the website here in the coming weeks. More to follow. 🙂

https://www.letsgochannelsurfing.com/upgrades