Interfacing SeaTalk devices to a third party NMEA 2000 network

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Interfacing SeaTalk devices to a third party NMEA 2000 network

While the SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter has not been submitted for NMEA 2000 Certification, it is quite commonly used as a SeaTalk to 2000 Data Bridge.

SeaTalk instruments, autopilot components, GPS sensors, and chartplotters featuring a 1st generation SeaTalk interface which do not additionally feature a SeaTalkng interface (ex. ST40/60 Instrument Displays, ST6001, S2G, Wireless AP Controller, Raystar 125 GPS Sensor, etc.) should be interfaced to one another, in any order, using standard SeaTalk Cables. SeaTalk Cables can be joined using D244 SeaTalk Junction Blocks, splices, marine grade terminal strips, or R55006 SeaTalk Auxiliary Junction Boxes. SeaTalk Cable is available in 15", 1m, 3m, 5m, and 9m lengths. This method of interfacing is referred to as a SeaTalk bus.

NOTE: Autpilot Course Computer products introduced prior to the Type 150/150G, 400/400G, ST4000+, ST5000+, instrument products introduced prior to the ST50+, as well as chartplotting, fishfinding, and radar products introduced prior to these autopilots and instruments utilize an older version of the SeaTalk communications protocol than did the products which followed them. The SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter has neither been designed nor tested for use with such products. Correspondingly, it is recommended that any such devices within your present system be disconnected from the SeaTalk bus and that they instead be interfaced to the newly created system via NMEA 0183 communications protocol.

Each SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter will support a SeaTalk bus of up to five SeaTalk devices. Should your present SeaTalk bus consist of more than five SeaTalk devices, then it will need to be divided into smaller busses including no more than five SeaTalk devices. Each bus will in turn be connected to the yellow SeaTalk port of a SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter. The SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converters may be interfaced to one another via appropriate length of SeaTalkng Backbone Cable. The SeaTalk bus will need to be branched or extended and connected to the yellow (SeaTalk) port of an E22158 SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter Kit which has been upgraded with latest available SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter software update.

Each SeaTalk bus will need to be disconnected from its present source of power, as each SeaTalk bus will instead be powered by the SeaTalkng/NMEA 2000 backbone via the SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter(s).

The SeaTalk to SeaTalkng Converter is designed to be installed as a backbone component. As such, it may be necessary to join a SeaTalkng backbone Cable to a third party NMEA 2000 backbone cable. Please click here to view a FAQ addressing how to join a SeaTalkng backbone Cable to a third party NMEA 2000 backbone cable.

RAYFAQ#