Meindert Sprang wrote:
"Larry" wrote in message
...
Wifi Ethernet transceivers are so cheap there's 4 of them coming out built
right into tiny telephone handsets to hook Skype-in-EEPROM directly to the
router, eliminating running Skype on desktop or laptop completely. I bet
a
fully Ethernet-compliant chipset and radio transceiver now costs OEMs less
than $20, maybe even less than $10. Amazing what Asians can do with slave
labor.

The only problem is that Wifi is only cheap if you buy 100k chipsets or
more. Most, if not all Wifi chip vendors won't talk to you or send you a
datasheet if you don't sign a contract first for at least 100k units. So for
low volume applications, Wifi is very expensive. The Wifi modules I use cost
around $100 each, even in 100's.

Meindert



Meindert,

I assume you use these modules in your non-marine products right?

To me having a WiFi multiplexer doesn't make sense, as there is no
"serial profile" defined on top of Ethernet, by my understanding. Even
if there were in my opinion it would more sense to have an (wired)
Ethernet version of your multiplexer instead? A lot of people
considering this type installation might already have a PC/access point
installed, and it would mean higher reliability for users willing to run
wires. People that really want wireless you can sell a $50 access point
to... Ethernet modules are surely a lot less expensive?

The new integrated systems (Furuno, Raymarine, Garmin) also use wired
ethernet, so the infrastructure is getting installed already.

What we need now is a standard for transmitting NMEA and NMEA-2000
(like) data over Ethernet/UDP. Guess that won't happen for a while...

--
Kees