NMEA 2000 Connection on a 2020 AR210

[rrmadore]

I'm thinking of purchasing a Garmin 742xs chartplotter with a Garmin VHF 215 radio for my AR210 I bought a few weeks ago. I spoke to Garmin customer support today (GREAT service by the way!) and they told me the AR210 is equipped with NMEA 2000 and both the 742sx and the VHF 210 would integrate into it, all I would have to do was plug both into the NMEA "backbone" which would also supply power. I've looked all over the boat for the backbone and there's not one currently installed.

After doing some research, it looks like I would have to install a backbone myself but I have no idea where to begin. Also, I think one of the plugs in the pics below (taken from behind the helm) is a NMEA 2000 connection?

Is it possible to set up an NMEA 2000 backbone on the AR210 and if so, does anyone have any pics/info/advice on a typical set up? Debating if I should just pay my dealer to do this, but I'd like to complete the project myself.

 

[rrmadore]

So I just read that the "diags" and "diagp" connectors are diagnostic connections for the starboard and port engines? Guessing the "diag" connector is for NMEA 2000?

There's nothing in the owners manual on the connectors or NMEA 2000, frustrating.

 

[biffdotorg]

What sort of info are you looking at connecting up to? Even though Yamaha waverunner engines use NMEA 2000 for transfer, the protocols are proprietary and your Garmin will not show anything. This is unlike what the Yamaha outboards do, as they will work just fine.

Do a quick search and I think you will find out what others have already figured out and save you some money and trouble.

If all you want to do is connect the VHF to the plotter, go for it, that may be worth it for sending coordinates through the VHF in emergency purposes.

 

[Julian]

What @biffdotorg said....

I'm going to assume the Garmin guys were talking about Yamaha outboards. Yamaha jet boats are not NMEA compatible....which is a shame. My guess is there must be some sort of licensing they are saving by not doing this....or just the cost of the backbone itself is what they are avoiding.

 

[rrmadore]

I've read that jetboat engine info is proprietary and will not be transmitted through a NMEA network, which sucks. The purpose of connecting the VHF and Chartplotter to an existing NMEA 2000 backbone is mainly for power supply and ease of installation. I also plan to install a transducer at some point and it would be nice to plug that in to the backbone as well. To have all three powered and communicating through the backbone is the objective.

 

[the MfM]

What @biffdotorg said....

I'm going to assume the Garmin guys were talking about Yamaha outboards. Yamaha jet boats are not NMEA compatible....which is a shame. My guess is there must be some sort of licensing they are saving by not doing this....or just the cost of the backbone itself is what they are avoiding.

The jetboat engineers are still struggling with how to wire a stereo or bilge pump. Probably best they don’t try to implement NMEA2k.

 

[Tjw961]

I`ve got NMEA 2K on mine, addedit myself...easy. Linked Garmin to Fusion to 2way radio...works great. No reason not to put in your own. Have heard others linking into Yamaha`s NMEA 2K network and getting depth and temp from linking the two together...maybe others can comment on that. I am planning on attempting. Going to block power between the two setups and just extend the two together soon. Will see.

 

[rrmadore]

I`ve got NMEA 2K on mine, addedit myself...easy. Linked Garmin to Fusion to 2way radio...works great. No reason not to put in your own. Have heard others linking into Yamaha`s NMEA 2K network and getting depth and temp from linking the two together...maybe others can comment on that. I am planning on attempting. Going to block power between the two setups and just extend the two together soon. Will see.

Where/how did you connect the NMEA power cord? Do you have pics?

 

[Julian]

I`ve got NMEA 2K on mine, addedit myself...easy. Linked Garmin to Fusion to 2way radio...works great. No reason not to put in your own. Have heard others linking into Yamaha`s NMEA 2K network and getting depth and temp from linking the two together...maybe others can comment on that. I am planning on attempting. Going to block power between the two setups and just extend the two together soon. Will see.

You can connect NMEA 2K devices together....sure. But you cant connect to the Yamaha engines....they dont talk NMEA.

 

[Tjw961]

I had ran a fuse bank up to the helm area using 4awg marine grade wiring (tinned wiring). I did this because I didn't want to try and splice everything I wanted to power into existing wiring. Stereo, plotter, 2way radio, nmea 2k, powered antenna, etc. Kept things neat and organized as well as centralized. There are some who have cross connected into Yamaha nmea 2k by joining the nmea 2k network they add to the Yamaha one that I've read about. From what I understand the only thing you can read on the Yamaha nmea 2k network is the depth/temp sensor. At least on my year of 242 - which is 2010. The way nmea 2k works you can only have one terminator at each end of the backbone cable, like the older 10base-t IT networks many years ago. So to cross connect the two you get your nmea2k network working, then get a power isolator and connect the two together using the end of the Yamaha nmea 2k network connector that is behind the dash. You will have to make the cable yourself since Yamaha didn't use standard nmea 2k connectors. I've got all the parts except the cable to modify to finish mine as I have read about others doing. I'm doing so I dont have to add my own depth sensor to my plotter. May not be for everyone.

 

[Tjw961]

Let me add this though, adding your own nmea 2k network on your boat is IMO the way to go even if you aren't going to do what I am. It links the newer stereos, pliotters, stereo remotes (Fusion), 2way radios, etc together very easily and if you want to add more like fuel sensors, gps, etc you can easily do so on one backbone network.

 

[jryan]

So question on the nmea network. I have a nmea compatible garmin 742 and a fusion head unit nmea compatible. I want to connect the two of them. Do I need a starter kit or can I just buy a single nmea cable and connect the two of them?

 

[biffdotorg]

So question on the nmea network. I have a nmea compatible garmin 742 and a fusion head unit nmea compatible. I want to connect the two of them. Do I need a starter kit or can I just buy a single nmea cable and connect the two of them?

NMEA is a bus. And they do need terminators. That being said, some devices can terminate and some provide their own power.

so your devices mayor may not work without T connectors and terminators. You could try just assuming there is a chance you may need to add them.
I used them on mine between the fusion and NMEA remote so that I could easily add in my Simrad. It’s not overly expensive and you can use the real generic stuff off Amazon

I may add the Simrad now that I know it will push info to the fusion remote on the swimdeck. I didn’t know how much I may use that.

good luck