Xref: utzoo sci.electronics:15493 rec.boats:4967
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!execu!sequoia!gsm
From: gsm@sequoia.execu.com (Scott Mather)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,rec.boats
Subject: Re: NMEA-0183 Interface Specs
Keywords: NMEA-0183, LORAN, NAVIGATION, BOAT, INTERFACE
Message-ID: <27651@sequoia.execu.com>
Date: 8 Nov 90 14:33:20 GMT
References: <1990Nov7.201421.7722@agora.uucp>
Followup-To: sci.electronics
Organization: Execucom Systems Corp.
Lines: 28

In article <1990Nov7.201421.7722@agora.uucp> tron@agora.uucp (Ron Tsur) writes:
>
>I noticed that most LORAN receivers and some depth sounders, even the
>most basic (and low-cost) ones, are equipped with a NMEA-0183 Interface
>connector.
>
>I wonder if anyone out there has ever used this interface, has the specs,
>or knows where to get the hardware and software specs to allow use of
>this feature.
>
>Ron Tsur       N7FTZ 
>
You will find that although MANY manufacturers claim that they are NMEA-0183
compliant, they do not all implement the same levels of completeness of the
standard.  Therefore, you will find that a lot of equipment simply will not
interface, particularly if components are from different vendors.  You should
be very thorough in your research on components to ensure that they will
interface as you expect.  Also, you should be assured that you can return
equipment that does not interface as claimed.  Many boating supply store
personnel are ignorant of the actual details of the NMEA-0183 spec and will
inform you that their equipment will interface (unaware that it in actuality
may not).  Working with a retailer that has some experience in this area is
a good idea.  Beware of "solutions" by one vendor.  Those types of solutions
may properly integrate together, yet down the line you'll find that their
solution will not integrate with a product by another vendor.   
Summary:  be wary, very wary.

gsm