Vesselview smartcraft

J

jmauld

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2020
2,844
Carolina Beach
Boat Info
2010 Sundancer 390
2016 Sea Hunt Ultra 211
Engines
Twin 8.1l of gas guzzling iron
I have this vesselview on my Sundancer.
https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums...6d1360708031-mercury-vessel-view-img_2723.jpg

I recently swapped over to an axiom and trying to update all of the electronics.

I have a gateway that converts nmea0183 to n2k and back. I know this is working because I am getting a depth reading (nmea0183 transducer) on my axiom and my vesselview. However I can’t get gps to go to the vesselview. I know that the gps data is on the network because I can log into the yacht devices gateway and see it with my iPad.

Alternatively, I also just purchased a mercruiser can-p to nmea2000 gateway and it’s not sending any data across. It is indicating a green light on both LEDs but no data is transferred between my vesselview and the axiom.

at this point I probably should sell this mess and just get an updated vesselview but they are just soo expensive.
 
You need a gateway that specifically translates between SmartCraft and NMEA2000. Mercruiser makes one, as does Yacht Devices.
I use the one from Yacht Devices. You just need to make sure you get the correct adapter cable for SmartCraft.

If your new can-p gateway is a smartcraft gateway, that gateway must be powered from one (and only one) of your engines. In addition you may need to use a Techmate or similar scanner to train your engines to have the correct identity. This may already have been done given you already have a VesselView. That's just the hoops I had to jump through when I setup my system.
 
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bobeast said:
You need a gateway that specifically translates between SmartCraft and NMEA2000. Mercruiser makes one, as does Yacht Devices.
I use the one from Yacht Devices. You just need to make sure you get the correct adapter cable for SmartCraft. if your can-p gateway is a smartcraft gateway, that gateway must be powered from one (and only one) of your engines. In addition you may need to use a magic box to train your engines to have the correct identity.
Click to expand...
I have the Mercruiser 8M0165589 plugged into a 4-Port module under the dash. There are two of these four port modules.

 
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What GPS antenna do you have?
 
I have the rs150 and the internal axiom antenna.
 
And the RS150 is on the n2k network?
So you want to bring the RS150 to NMEA0183?
 
Yes, it’s a n2k device. I’m 99% sure the rs150 data is already on the nmea0183 network, based on the fact that I view the yacht device data via a wireless server that is setup as nmea0183. I just want the data on the Vesselview monitor to do the waypoint calculations. It doesn’t matter to me if it gets there via nmea2000 or nmea0183.
 
I don't have your version vesselview, but on the 2 different ones i have had experience with. There is a menu to select data sources. Can you see the rs150 as a source?
 
jmauld said:
I have the rs150 and the internal axiom antenna.
Click to expand...
If you have not already done it you will need to go into settings and tell the axiom which sensor to use.
 
Lost a lot of sleep reading as much as I could last night. I "think" the version of vesselview that I have is called the vesselview 1.5.

Is the Vesselview 403 a direct replacement for this model? Someone suggested that if I replaced the 1.5 with the 403 that my gauges would no longer work. I couldn't find any information about this on any other site. (I'm not the greatest web searcher though)

On a related note, I also "think" that I need to rerun the setup on the 1.5 in order for it to scan for and find the new GPS source. Again, I can't confirm this in any of the vesselview documentation that I have. It looks like I could really mess up the system settings if that setup wizard isn't configured properly. Especially the part with my fuel tanks and fuel usage.
 
https://www.sbmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/VesselViewManualSept2010.pdf

"IMPORTANT: The screens listed in the "Env/Nav" menu are determined by the vessel setup and other components connected to the VesselView unit. For example, VesselView will not display fuel to waypoint data if the GPS source attached to VesselView does not have chartplotter capabilities."

There should be a setup screen to select the GPS source. And from everything i see, i believe this vesselview is only NMEA 0183, not N2k.

Haven't seen the setup screen/info yet. Can you confirm the software version you are running?
 
I have a yachtdevices router that is throwing the GPS coordinates onto the NMEA0183 network. I know that part is working because it's how the VV is getting the depth information. Now that statement about the GPS source not coming from a chartplotter is interesting. It might ignore the data from the axiom because it doesn't recognize the axiom, or maybe because the yachtdevices router is modifying the data?

I will pull the s/w version next time I am at the boat.

I was trying to use the mercruiser smartcraft to n2k gateway to bypass the nmea0183 network completely. I think I need an additional cable in order to make that work. I sent an email to mercury last night so I'm waiting to hear back from them on that item.
 
VV403 does not support System Link gauges. You would need to add a VV Link module with the VV403.
To make sure I understand -
You are converting to and from NMEA 0183. Your VV 1.5 accepts NMEA 0183 and that is the intent to obtain the vessel's data right? If so the NMEA 0183 adapter harness has four wires two for Tx and two for RX; make sure they are connected to the system correctly. Remember also you can only have one talker but up to three listeners on the network or have a NMEA 0183 expander. Disconnect the NMEA 0183 Tx wires on the VV then go into setup and look for the GPS source selection.
 
ttmott said:
VV403 does not support System Link gauges. You would need to add a VV Link module with the VV403.
Click to expand...
How sure are you of this comment? I think you're right, but I've seen people state that the VV403 is a VV Link module with a screen. Which I think is only somewhat true.

You are converting to and from NMEA 0183. Your VV 1.5 accepts NMEA 0183 and that is the intent to obtain the vessel's data right? If so the NMEA 0183 adapter harness has four wires two for Tx and two for RX; make sure they are connected to the system correctly. Remember also you can only have one talker but up to three listeners on the network or have a NMEA 0183 expander. Disconnect the NMEA 0183 Tx wires on the VV then go into setup and look for the GPS source selection.
Click to expand...

Yes, I want the VV1.5 to see my depth and my GPS/waypoint information. It's getting the depth information, but ignoring the GPS info. Is there a hidden menu that shows the GPS source? I have been unable to find it.

I am using the following device for a N2k and NMEA0183 bridge:
https://www.yachtd.com/products/wifi_router.html

The vv 1.5 is connected (rx and tx) to channel 2, and my depth transducer is on channel 1. GPS is coming through n2k. That router has a wireless access point that is communicating with nmea0183, and it displays the GPS and depth information on my ipad.




I did have another thought last night. I have a simrad go7 sitting on my workbench. I haven't gone too far down this road yet, but I think that it should be able to easily integrate into the mercruiser smartcraft system. But I don't know if it can replace the vv 1.5 or supplemnt it? It looks like it would also need a $1100 vv link setup. At that point, might I be better off just getting the smartcraft connect for $1100 and connecting it to my axiom? Either way, this seems like a lot of cash just to get fuel usage to my next destination, so maybe I'll sit this one out if I can't get it working without spending more money.
 
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jmauld said:
How sure are you of this comment? I think you're right, but I've seen people state that the VV403 is a VV Link module with a screen. Which I think is only somewhat true.



Yes, I want the VV1.5 to see my depth and my GPS/waypoint information. It's getting the depth information, but ignoring the GPS info. Is there a hidden menu that shows the GPS source? I have been unable to find it.

I am using the following device for a N2k and NMEA0183 bridge:
https://www.yachtd.com/products/wifi_router.html

The vv 1.5 is connected (rx and tx) to channel 2, and my depth transducer is on channel 1. GPS is coming through n2k. That router has a wireless access point that is communicating with nmea0183, and it displays the GPS and depth information on my ipad.




I did have another thought last night. I have a simrad go7 sitting on my workbench. I haven't gone too far down this road yet, but I think that it should be able to easily integrate into the mercruiser smartcraft system. But I don't know if it can replace the vv 1.5 or supplemnt it? It looks like it would also need a $1100 vv link setup. At that point, might I be better off just getting the smartcraft connect for $1100 and connecting it to my axiom? Either way, this seems like a lot of cash just to get fuel usage to my next destination, so maybe I'll sit this one out if I can't get it working without spending more money.
Click to expand...
Yes I'm sure the VV403 does not support your gauges.
If you are going to throw money at it then get rid of the 0183 and move your boat to NMEA 2000.
Be done with the mixed bag which I'm sure will continue to cause you grief.
The VV Link, VV 7, and the 9 series all convert the boat's Smartcraft data to NMEA 2000 which you can base your nav and other systems on. They also support your System Link gauges.

But it seems you are close to getting what you have now working; keep trying to do the VV setup for the GPS source selection. Does your Axiom see the GPS antenna or just it's internal GPS?
 
Thanks for the info. There is a vv403 on tht forums for fairly cheap. I was considering but I’ll pass on that. The axiom does see the GPS receiver. You’re right I should eventually ditch the vv1.5 in favor of the link system. But for now I have more pressing places to spend that money.
 
Ughhh. I called mercruiser. Their solution was for me to call raymarine. This guy also claimed that the VV Link would not support my link gauges. I would need to keep the 1.5 in order to keep those gauges operable. He suggested hiding it under the dash.
 
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Shaps said:
I don't have your version vesselview, but on the 2 different ones i have had experience with. There is a menu to select data sources. Can you see the rs150 as a source?
Click to expand...

hardware build A
Hardware ver E
image.jpg
 
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