Signal K Server as a NMEA0183 Data Server

Introduction

This document details how to setup Signal K Server to read AIS and navigation data from a NMEA2000 (or any other) network and make it available on a WiFi network for use with popular phone / tablet apps like:

  • Navionics
  • iSailor
  • iNavX
  • Aqua Map
  • WilhelmSK.

The Signal K Server does this by passing the data received from the configured Data Connections, through two plugins which transform it to NMEA0183 sentences, which are then transmitted on the WiFi network.

Prerequisites

A Signal K Server:

  • Installed on a suitable device (e.g. Victron GX, RaspberryPi, etc). See Installation for details.
  • Connected to a NMEA2000, etc network and Data Connections configured.
  • Connected to a WiFi network. (Beyond the scope of this document.)

Server Setup and Configuration

All configuration is done from within the Signal K Server Admin UI. Open the Admin UI in your browser and complete the following steps.

Step 1. Enter Vessel Base Data:

  • Select Server -> Setup from the menu.

  • The Vessel Base Data section, enter values for Length, GPS Distance from Bow and GPS Distance from Center.

Step 2. Install and Configure Plugins:

The following plugins are required to process and transform the received data to NMEA0183:

Note: Starting with Signal K Server version 2.2.0 these plugins are pre-installed. It is recommended that these plugins be updated to the current version.

To install the plugins:

  • In the Admin UI, select Appstore -> Available-> All from the menu
  • Locate the signalk-to-nmea0183plugin and click the install icon
  • Locate the signalk-n2kais-to-nmea0183 plugin and click the install icon
  • Restart the Signal K Server.

Note: If the Restart button is not displayed in the upper right of screen, refer to Enabling Security for details.

To configure the plugins:

  • In the Admin UI, select Server -> Plugin Config from the menu.

  • Locate signalk-to-nmea0183 plugin.

    1. Ensure it is enabled
    2. Check ALL the boxes to transmit all NMEA0183 sentence types
    3. Leave the transmission interval (throttle) at 0
    4. Click the Submit button to save your choices.

  • Locate signalk-n2kais-to-nmea0183 plugin. This plugin transmits all the AIS targets.

    1. Ensure it is enabled
    2. Enter nmea0183out in the NMEA 0183 Out Events field.
    3. Click the Submit button to save the configuration.

Step 3. Enable NMEA0183 on the WiFi network:

  • In the Admin UI, select Server -> Settings

  • Locate the Server Settings section

  • Ensure that NMEA 0183 over TCP (10110) is set to On

  • Click Save and Restart the Signal K Server.

Once restarted the Signal K Server will transmit NMEA0183 sentences containing all your navigation and available AIS target data on the WiFi network on TCP port 10110.

Note: It is recommended that Signal K over TCP (8375) is set to On if you are using an app (e.g. Aqua Map) which supports the “Signal K over TCP” protocol as it is more feature rich.

Configuring Apps

Device apps can now be configured to connect to the NMEA0183 data stream from the Signal K Server.

Following is an example of how to connect the Navionics boating app.

  • Open the menu

  • Select Paired devices and add a new paired device

  • Enter a name for the device e.g. MySignalK Server

  • In Host enter the IP address of the Signal K Server you configured in the steps above

  • In Port enter 10110

  • Select TCP

  • Click Save