The older marine data standard, with plain-text sentences sent over a serial line, such as $GPRMC for position or $IIMWV for wind.
NMEA 0183 is a standard of the National Marine Electronics Association for connecting marine electronics: GPS, wind instruments, depth sounders, autopilots and plotters. Data travels as short lines of plain text, called sentences, over a serial connection, classically at 4,800 baud, with one device talking and one or more listening.
Structure of a sentence
$IIMWV,045.0,R,12.4,N,A*0B
$starts the sentence.IIis the talker ID: who's sending (GP = GPS, II = integrated instrumentation).MWVis the sentence type, here wind speed and angle.- The comma-separated fields follow: 45° wind angle,
R= relative (apparent), 12.4,N= knots,A= valid. *0Bis a checksum that lets the receiver spot transmission errors.
Common sentences include RMC (position, SOG, COG, date), DBT and DPT (depth), VHW (speed through the water and heading) and HDG (heading).
Today
On new boats, NMEA 2000 has largely replaced it, but 0183 is everywhere: in older instruments, in AIS receivers (at 38,400 baud) and as the format many plotters and gateways send over WiFi, via TCP or UDP. Manta reads NMEA 0183 over WiFi directly. More in the guide NMEA 0183 vs NMEA 2000.
Manta does this for you
Plotter data on your iPhone over WiFi
Connect your plotter or a WiFi gateway, and Manta shows your instruments live and records wind, depth and speed through the water on every trip.
