SmartMyBoat Navigator – Roku App for Narrowboat Owners
We were recently helping our user while refitting a narrow-boat just South-east from Birmingham, UK to install SMB Navigator on a Roku TV. This was our first time on the Grand Union Canal, the principal navigable waterway between London and the Midlands. This soon to be completed narrowboat is refitted for a day hire has a depth sensor, an EMU or a specialized marine device that converts traditional analogue engine data, such as from gauges and sensors, into NMEA 2000 digital data and sensors to measure fuel and water levels in the boat’s tanks.
NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) standards are used on narrowboats to connect and integrate various electronic systems, allowing them to share data. While historically unusual on smaller craft, modern narrowboats, especially those with advanced hybrid or electric systems, are increasingly incorporating NMEA 2000 networks. Boat is using LANLink to connect NMEA network to TCP/IP network and we were there to help them configure it properly since it is using a different NMEA gateway from those SMB Navigator is natively supporting including Actisense and Yacht Devices.
Common applications of NMEA on narrowboats
- Engine monitoring: For electric or hybrid narrowboats, NMEA can connect the engine to the central control system, providing real-time data on engine status and performance.
- Tank level sensing: NMEA-compatible sensors can be used to accurately monitor the levels of fuel, fresh water, and waste tanks, displaying the data on a central screen.
- Navigation and display: An NMEA network can relay data to chartplotters, iPads, or other display devices, showing information such as depth, speed, and GPS location.
NMEA 2000 vs. NMEA 0183 for narrowboats
| NMEA 2000 (N2K) | NMEA 0183 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wiring | Uses a “backbone” cable with simple plug-and-play T-connectors and drop cables for devices. This creates a neat, integrated system. | Requires multiple, point-to-point connections. Each “talker” device (e.g., GPS) needs to be wired separately to each “listener” device (e.g., chartplotter), which can create a tangle of wires. |
| Communication | Multi-talker, multi-listener network, meaning all compatible devices can send and receive data simultaneously and share it with any other device on the network. | One-way, single-talker network. Only one device can transmit data to multiple “listeners” at a time. A multiplexer is needed to combine data from multiple devices. |
| Data Speed | Much faster data transfer rate (250 kbps), allowing for a high volume of real-time data from many sensors. | Slower data rate (4,800 bps, or 38,400 for AIS), which can limit the amount of information that can be transmitted simultaneously. |
| Reliability | Built on Controller Area Network (CAN) bus technology, which is less susceptible to noise and interference. | Communication can be less reliable due to voltage differences and ground loop issues when connecting older and newer equipment. |
| Ease of Use | Modern, standardized, and plug-and-play. Connecting new equipment is straightforward, making it easy to expand your system over time. | Can be complex to set up due to non-standardized wiring color codes and differences between older and newer equipment. |
| Best for | Modernizing or creating a new system, integrating multiple devices seamlessly, or connecting to newer engine monitoring units. | Older boats with existing NMEA 0183 equipment. Can be a cheaper option for integrating a small number of devices. |
Remote monitoring narrowboat system
SmartMyBoat Navigator lets you keep an eye on your vessel from anywhere. To enable remote monitoring, you’ll need to set up port forwarding for your NMEA network gateway, allowing external access to your network.
NMEA vs. other standards
NMEA has two main standards for marine communication. NMEA 0183 is an older, serial data bus standard while NMEA 2000 is a modern, plug-and-play standard for connecting sensors and displays. It is considered the successor to NMEA 0183 and uses CAN bus technology.