Instrument data everywhere

NMEA WiFi Multiplexer

Instrument data – anywhere on board, directly on your smartphone or tablet.

Ever wished you could view navigation data without being right in front of the plotter or instrument panel?
For instance, while cooking below deck, relaxing in a hammock, using the boat’s toilet, or resting during your off-watch?

Simple Section – In a Nutshell

  • The Smartboatia Hub as a WiFi Multiplexer: The NMEA WiFi Multiplexer wirelessly transmits your onboard instrument data to your smartphone or tablet. This way, you always have your navigation in view – anywhere on board and with up to 5 devices simultaneously.

Sail Smarter
with NMEA WiFi Multiplexer

With the integrated NMEA WiFi Multiplexer of the Smartboatia Hub, you can:
  • View navigation data such as wind speed, heading, COG, etc.
  • Directly in your preferred navigation app
  • Connect up to 5 devices simultaneously – anywhere on board
Smartboatia App Screenshot – Smartboatia Hub functioning as an NMEA multiplexer to collect and broadcast boat instrument data

NMEA WiFi Multiplexe

What is an NMEA Multiplexer?

An NMEA multiplexer is a device that collects data from different NMEA sources on your boat and combines them into one single, clean data stream. Typical NMEA data sources are, e.g., wind, speed/log, depth, GPS, AIS and heading.

Normally, all of these instruments send their information separately and at different data rates or formats. That can make it difficult for apps or displays to read everything correctly.

A multiplexer solves this by merging all signals into one unified output.

What is an NMEA WiFi Multiplexer?

A WiFi NMEA multiplexer takes it a step further:
It receives data from your boat’s instruments (for example wind, GPS, speed, depth or AIS) through the boat’s wired NMEA network and then broadcasts this data wirelessly over a WiFi connection.

This allows smartphones, tablets, navigation apps and even external chartplotters to access real-time boat data without cables or complicated installations.

Do I have one on board?

This is not a standard feature on every yacht. The Smartboatia Hub itself acts as a full NMEA-to-WiFi gateway, collecting all boat data and broadcasting it wirelessly.

If you already have an external NMEA-to-WiFi gateway on board, you can still use it as an additional data source for the Smartboatia Hub – however:

We recommend a direct cable connection to the Hub for better performance and redundancy.

WiFi Router / Hub’s WiFi

How it works

The Smartboatia Hub transmits wired instrument data over the onboard WiFi to your mobile devices. It uses the NMEA0183 standard, which is already supported by many popular navigation apps.

Simply connect your device to the Hub’s WiFi (“Smartboatia“) and configure your app according to its instructions. The Hub sends the data via:

  • IP address: 10.10.10.1

  • TCP port: 2021

  • Network name: sb.hub

The Smartboatia App includes its own interface to display key NMEA instrument data – or you can choose your preferred navigation app for a custom setup.

⚠️ Only data provided by the boat’s instruments via NMEA can be transmitted. For example, to see water temperature, you’ll need a corresponding sensor in the system. 

NMEA2000 & NMEA0183

Which Data Are Supported?

The Smartboatia Hub supports both NMEA2000 and NMEA0183 data – and can send and receive on both standards.

NMEA2000 (via cable)

The Hub connects to your onboard NMEA2000 backbone and reads all available sensor data such as:

  • GPS position
  • Speed
  • Wind
  • Depth
  • Heading
  • Engine data
  • Battery & power data
  • Environmental and sensor data

(depending on what your boat provides via NMEA2000)

NMEA0183 (via WiFi)

  • Convert NMEA2000 → NMEA0183 and broadcast the data via WiFi

  • Convert NMEA0183 → NMEA2000 when needed, allowing older instruments to feed data into a modern NMEA2000 network

Currently supported NMEA0183 sentences:

  • DBS – Depth Below Surface

  • VHW – Water Speed and Heading

  • GGA – GPS Fix Data

  • GLL – Geographic Position

  • RMC – Minimum GNSS Data

  • HDG – Heading, Deviation & Variation

  • MTW – Water Temperature

  • VTG – Course & Speed Over Ground

  • MWV – Wind Speed and Angle

  • VWR – Relative Wind Speed and Angle

Need additional NMEA0183 sentences?

If your setup requires more sentence types, just let us know. We add new sentences based on user requests!

Get in touch via our Support Portal

Support

Why it matters on board!

Because navigation shouldn’t be confined to a fixed screen,

With the NMEA WiFi Multiplexer, your boat becomes more flexible. You can view your navigation data anywhere, no matter where you are on board – during maneuvers, while cooking, in your bunk, or out in the cockpit.

This enhances safety, comfort, and situational awareness – not just for you, but for the entire crew.