Installation manual

System architecture | 17
System architecture
This section explains how the NSO connects to other devices as part of a system. The
NSO has a highly scalable system architecture. A system can consist of a basic stand
alone chart plotter, or expand to a networked, multi-display system connected to a wide
range of accessories.
The system architecture is modular with a wide range of peripherals and accessories that
can be connected to SimNet or NMEA2000 devices such as instrument systems, AIS, GPS
and heading sensor to Ethernet devices such as Radar and Echosounder. A NSO Marine
Processor can connect to other devices in the system by Ethernet, SimNet / NMEA2000
or NMEA0183.
An NSO system can have:
• between one and four processors. This can be any mix of NSO Marine Processor’s and
NSE8 and NSE12 displays.
• two HD Pulse radars or two or BR24 Broadband radars (note: a combination of
HD Radar and BR24 can be installed at the same time but we do not recommend
transmitting at the same time.
• multiple echosounder modules.
Networking, Data Interfacing
The NSO system can use three data networks. SimNet (NMEA2000), Ethernet and
NMEA0183.
SimNet / NMEA 2000
• SimNet is Simrad’s proprietary CAN bus network for transfer of navigation data such
as wind, position, AIS, etc between all SimNet or NMEA2000 devices on a SimNet/
NMEA2000 network.
• SimNet is lower bandwidth than the Ethernet network, but is 50 times faster than
NMEA0183
Ethernet: (NETWORK ports)
• NSO uses an Ethernet network for the transfer of high bandwidth data between
other marine processors and from network modules such as Radar, Echosounder and
Weather module. Chart information on an SD card is transferred via Ethernet to other
NSO or NSE marine processors.
• Each NSO Marine processor has one Ethernet network port. A RJ45 to yellow 5
pin ethernet adaptor cable is included to connect to other devices using one of the
standard Navico 5 pin yellow Ethernet cables.
• Ethernet does not transfer navigation data such as position, heading etc. This is
handled either by SimNet and or NMEA 0183. However waypoints, routes, tracks and
display settings are synchronized over Ethernet with other marine processors
NMEA0183
• NMEA0183 is a point to point connection. Each NSO display has one NMEA0183 port
using RS232 protocol. Each Marine processor can output to one NMEA0183 “Listener”
and receive from one NMEA0183 “Talker”.