Ok, class, let's turn our March 2006 Cruising World to page 44, a new
article on NMEA 2000, the do-all CANbus solution to NMEA0183's
deficiencies.

For class, tomorrow, look through the whole article and count the number of
times you see the P-word, PROPRIETARY, in the article.

But wait! I thought NMEA 2000 was gonna make it so everyone's stuff would
talk to everyone else's stuff, solving the old P-word problem that's
plagued boat electronic crap since the invention of the DIN connector?
Whatzwidat?

Interesting information on:
http://www.interfacebus.com/NMEA-2000_Standard.html

"CAN Bus uses a Drive Voltage: High; 2.75v to 4.5volts, Low; 0.5 to
2.25volts, Differential 1.5v to 3.0volts"

and...once again....we're stuck with an interface bus whos lack of good +
and - voltage levels dooms us to slowdowns from cable length, system
noises, intersecting fields....just like an old unbalanced mic.

Let the interfacing begin!....

Raymarine webpage:
"Interface cable for connecting E-Series displays to Raymarine SeaTalk 2 or
3rd party NMEA 2000 Devices.
Product Number: E55053
Suggested Retail Price: $50.00"
(keyword CABLE....it's just a cable with 2 connectors for $50)

Panbo's connector expose:
http://www.panbo.com/yae/archives/001137.html
Lowrance...not compatible connectors....(sigh)
http://www.panbo.com/yae/archives/001247.html

Someone emailed me to ask what I thought this would do for his HF noise
problem, where his NMEA0183 system trashes his M802/AT130 across the HF
spectrum, rendering it useless unless you shut down the whole NMEA network
if you want to use HF or NAVTEX or WEFAX or Sailmail or ham radio.

CANbus is used in every new car, which is where NMEA ripped the idea in the
first place. I'd like to invite you all to beg, borrow or steal a portable
shortwave receiver (HF) and go for a ride in a 2000+ car/truck or SUV up
the interstate. Listen up and down the HF spectrum to see what CANbus
sounds like coming from the car's network system. HF ham radio is damned
near useless in a new car or truck. It's just awful..... Will boats be
different? Looking at Lowrances cheap plastic connectors, you just know
the system will be all balanced and all just sealed up tight with
shielding, included shielded instruments, right? Yeah, right.....

Time will tell......another serial bus bites the dust....

Maybe they'll pick USB next time!....to proprietize....