Specifications

The NMEA 0183 Information sheet - Issue 3

Connecting NMEA talkers to NMEA Listeners

Care needs to be taken when connecting different types of NMEA talkers together, particularly where a

mixture of NMEA versions is encountered. These pages show common connections for each type of talker

and listener, and how to connect between new type differential devices and old type single-ended devices.

On page 10 and 11, details are given for connecting an on board PC system to an NMEA 0183 marine electronic bus.

Differential NMEA talker

These are the recommended methods of connection for a

differential, NMEA version 2.0 talker.

Case (1): Standard differential NMEA 0183

v2.0+ Listener

This device is a differential device conforming in full to

the NMEA 0183 v2.0 (or higher) standard, and connects

directly to the pins on the differential device.

Case (2): Single-ended NMEA Listener

To connect the device to the differential output, connect

‘NMEA +/A’ to the device’s ‘NMEA’ input and ‘Ground’ to

the ‘Ground’ on the single ended device. It should be able

to receive the NMEA data correctly.

Never connect the ‘NMEA -/B’ to the ground of a single

ended receiving instrument. The resulting extra load will

at best increase the current consumption of the driver, at

worst it could cause serious damage to it.

NMEA

Listener

Shield

NMEA 0183 Talker

(Differential)

NMEA 0183 version 2 ‘Differential’ Talker connected