Smartboatia Hub Setup – with, without, or alongside NMEA 2000

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Team Smartboatia

Your Smartboatia Hub can be installed on almost any boat. Here’s a quick guide to the most common setups and what you need to get connected.

NMEA 2000 – the standard network

If your boat already has an NMEA 2000 network, setup is super easy:

  • Connect the Hub to your NMEA 2000 backbone using a Micro-C drop cable with a female connector on the Hub side.
  • The Hub automatically detects the network and starts sharing data.

💡 Tip: You’ll recognize NMEA 2000 by round 5-pin plugs, T-connectors, and a main backbone cable.

💡 The Smartboatia Hub NMEA2000 connector type

  • The Hub’s NMEA 2000 port is a male Micro-C connector.
  • Therefore, you’ll need a cable or adapter with a female Micro-C connector on the side that plugs into the Hub.

SimNet – the yellow Navico network

SimNet (used by Simrad, B&G, Lowrance) is technically identical to NMEA 2000 but uses different plugs.

  • Simply use a SimNet-to-NMEA 2000 adapter cable (female on Hub side).
  • Everything then works just like a standard NMEA 2000 connection.

SeaTalk NG – Raymarine

SeaTalk NG is Raymarine’s version of NMEA 2000.

  • Use a Raymarine adapter cable (A06045 / A06046).
  • No converter needed – same protocol.

SeaTalk 1 – legacy Raymarine system

Older SeaTalk 1 networks are not directly compatible with NMEA 2000.

  • Use the Raymarine SeaTalk1-to-SeaTalkNG converter (E22158).
  • Then connect it to your NMEA 2000 backbone.

💡 Some very old functions may not transfer.

NMEA 0183 – legacy protocol

NMEA 0183 is the predecessor of NMEA 2000.

  • Requires an active gateway, e.g. Actisense NGW-1 or Yacht Devices YDNG-03.
  • Converts GPS, wind, depth, or AIS data to NMEA 2000.

No onboard network

No worries – the Hub also works partly in stand-alone mode:

  • Connect the black power cable to 12 V (+) and (–).
  • The Hub will send its own sensor data via Wi-Fi / LTE.

💡 Perfect for refits

Function / SensorSourceAvailable
GPS Position & Movementinternal GPS✅ Yes
Motion / Tilt / Vibration6-axis motion sensor✅ Yes
Battery Voltagepower input (12 V)✅ Yes
Barometric Pressureinternal sensor✅ Yes
Backup TrackingGPS + backup battery✅ Yes
Wi-Fi / LTE Connectioninternal modules✅ Yes (if signal available)
Anchor Alarm / Motion AlertGPS + motion data✅ Yes
Data SourceReason
Wind, depth, boat speedneeds NMEA 2000 sensors
AIS / chartplotter datarequires NMEA 2000 network

Quick summary – with exact cables and adapter names

SetupYou needTypical product / search term
NMEA 2000Standard Micro-C Drop Cable (female) to connect Hub (male port) to backboneSearch: “NMEA 2000 Micro-C Drop Cable female to male” (e.g. Garmin 010-11076-00, Navico 000-10071-001)
SimNet (Simrad / B&G / Lowrance)SimNet-to-NMEA 2000 Adapter Cable (female on Hub side)Search: “SimNet to NMEA 2000 Micro-C adapter cable” (e.g. Navico 24006199, Simrad 000-0127-57)
SeaTalk NG (Raymarine)DeviceNet (Micro-C) to SeaTalkNG Spur CableSearch: “Raymarine A06045 (male DeviceNet to SeaTalkNG)” or “A06046 (female DeviceNet to SeaTalkNG)”
SeaTalk 1 (Raymarine, old)SeaTalk1 to SeaTalkNG Converter KitSearch: “Raymarine E22158 SeaTalk1 to SeaTalkNG Converter Kit”
NMEA 0183 (legacy)NMEA 0183 to NMEA 2000 Converter (active gateway)Search: “Actisense NGW-1-ISO or NGW-1-USB” or “Yacht Devices NMEA 0183 to NMEA 2000 Gateway YDNG-03”

Whether you’re sailing a modern yacht or a timeless classic – the Smartboatia Hub connects to nearly any setup.
With the right adapter, your boat becomes smart, safe, and seamlessly connected.