Installation Instructions

NMEA 2000 / SimNet | NSS Installation Manual

NMEA 2000 / SimNet

Device connection

All models of NSS are equiped with an NMEA 2000 port, which allows the receiving and

sharing of a multitude of data from various sources.

Essential network information

• A NMEA 2000 network consists of a linear “backbone” from which “drop cables” connect to

NMEA 2000 devices

• NMEA 2000 cables used for Simrad products are of the ‘micro-c’ style, which is a cable/

connector speci cation approved for use in NMEA 2000 certi ed networks. Some Simrad

products use SimNet proprietary connectors, but are compatible via adaptor cables.

• A single drop cable has a maximum length of 6 m (20 ft). The total length of all drop cables

combined should not exceed 78m (256 ft)

• A NMEA 2000 network has a maximum cable length of 100 m (328 ft), between any two

points

• A NMEA 2000 network needs to have a terminator at each end of the backbone. A terminator

can be one of the following:

• a terminator blank plug

• a wind transducer (where the mast cable is one end of the backbone)

Planning and installing a network backbone

The NMEA 2000 backbone needs to run between the locations of all products you want to

install, typically in a bow to stern layout, and be no further than 6 m from a device to be con-

nected.

Choose from the following components to make up your NMEA 2000 backbone:

• Micro-C cables: 0.4 m (1.3 ft), 2 m (6,6 ft), 5 m (16.6 ft), and 9 m (29.5 ft) cables

• Micro-C power cables with or without termination

• T-connector. Use at locations where you want to connect a device by drop cable

 Note: When using a wind sensor, the mast cable should be connected as the  nal length of

cable in one end of the backbone, as the sensor is  tted with a termination resistor.

 Note: Most NMEA 2000 devices can be connected directly to a Simrad SimNet backbone and

SimNet devices can be connected to a NMEA 2000 network by using adapter cables. (“NMEA

2000 cables” on page 57)

 Note: The NSS has a Micro-C NMEA 2000 connector but is fully compatible to work in a Sim-

Net network by using an adapter cable.

 Note: IS40 displays have two connectors, and can either be connected inline with the back-

bone, or wired individually o a drop cable. Connecting from device to device is known as

‘daisy chaining’ This network topology is not o cially NMEA 2000 compliant.

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