Recreational Marine Navigation
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Apr

8

Cool Maretron N2K Analyzer; Fragile WSO100

Filed Under NMEA2000, devices, navigation

I’m working on a NMEA2000 network. Because this system is highly customized, it is set up on a bench for software development and system debugging. In the following picture you can see that an Agilent E3610A DC power supply is providing 11.75 volts DC to the bus, via a yellow cable that ends in a T junction. On one side is a Maretron M000002 NMEA 2000/ USB Gateway, and on the other side is a Maretron WSO1000 weather receiver.

NMEA 2000 Test Setup (without terminators)

Missing are two terminators and T junctions to hold them. The terminators are on order but haven’t shown up yet. Unfortunately, without the terminators no data will flow :(

Maretron NMEA 2000 Male Terminator NMEA 2000 networks should be terminated at both ends, as shown here. Terminators are 120 ohms. In order to terminate one can either use an in-line terminator, or a T junction and a separate terminator.

Maretron’s NMEA 2000 connectors are identical with many other manufacturers (but some manufacturers are non-standard.) Compatible manufacturer product lines include Garmin, LowranceNet and Furuno NavNet 3D. Garmin’s product line seems to be the most readily available.

Garmin T junction p/n 010-110780-00 (WM #9505173; Defender #256993)

Garmin male terminator p/n 010-11081-00 (WM #9505199; Defender #256995)

The Maretron NMEA 2000 Gateway is cool. Using Maretron’s free N2K Analyzer software allows you to browse the NMEA 2000 devices on the network, and update their software.

N2K Analyzer NMEA 2000 Update
The WSO100 includes a software emulation of a Maretron DSM250 color display. Unfortunately, the WSO100 is made of thin plastic and is extremely delicate. Below is a picture of another unit that was dropped onto a linoleum floor from three feet (by someone else!) This $600+ unit is now garbage. Maretron told me that the three orange-red rubber inserts that face inwards are very sensitive to pressure, and will fail if squeezed.

Broken WSO1000

After the terminators arrived I discovered that both WSO100s worked, however the broken unit reported that the temperature was 1.5 degrees warmer than the temperature reported by the other unit. Wonder what the tolerance on these units is?
Broken WSO100
Second WSO100

Comments

One Response to “Cool Maretron N2K Analyzer; Fragile WSO100”

  1. MichaelD on February 26th, 2009 8:46 am

    Interesting article… Thank you. My wife and I are researching instruments for our sailboat. We have already decided that NMEA 2000 is the way to go. I was quite excited about the Maretron WSO1000, but its fragility is now a concern. Do you have any further information on this?

    Michael

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