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Daria Blackwell - 26 Mar 2021

I have just recently come across mention of Signal K being transformational for the yachting industry and looked it up. Someone described it as NMEA on steroids.  I must say, it's way beyond my paygrade but, if I understand it correctly, it's a portal to the Internet of Things (IoT) for mariners? What I was looking at it for was how it would affect development of apps, like the one OCC has just introduced. Am I correct in thinking that it could open up automated connectivity between apps and devices? 

"NMEA on steroids" might be a fair representation. After a few years working with and programming devices to support SignalK, I think SignalK was developed for a few reasons:
1. Frustration by developers, particularly smaller companies and hobbyist programmers, that NMEA2000 is closed and requires a license fee and the signing of an NDA.
2. The need for something that better supported more readily available technology, such as WiFi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, etc. both at the physical level (connectors, etc.) and the network level (TCP and UDP, primarily). Yes, I know that there are wireless adaptations of NMEA200 and NMEA0183, but neither of those technologies were originally designed for wireless.
3. The lack of marine technologies that easily support higher level network communications technologies that allow interfacing with open source applications, database technologies, etc.

A good real-world illustration of this is OpenCPN. While many would argue that it is a robust, offshore-ready piece of software, albeit free , it has never and *will* never support NMEA2000 due to point 1 above. It does, however, support SignalK.

While support and embracing of Internet-of-things technologies is certainly a big part of SignalK, it's probably more a case of a number of technologies coming together at the same time. Small, relatively easy to program devices like ESP32 micro-controllers are available for under $10 USD, and provide a great platform for SignalK sensors, displays, and that sort of thing. Put them in a marinized waterproof case with appropriate electrical protection and you have a device that does the same thing as a commercial sensor that costs many times the price.  Bring the data into a $45 Raspberry Pi (similarly marinized), and you have a high function system for monitoring just about anything on your boat.

I see SignalK as a means for the smaller guys like Quark-Elec (although they don't have any SignalK equipment yet), Digital Yacht, etc. to get into the game. Already some of the larger guys like Victron Energy are providing SIgnalK support.

I have just recently come across mention of Signal K being transformational for the yachting industry and looked it up. Someone described it as NMEA on steroids.  I must say, it's way beyond my paygrade but, if I understand it correctly, it's a portal to the Internet of Things (IoT) for mariners? What I was looking at it for was how it would affect development of apps, like the one OCC has just introduced. Am I correct in thinking that it could open up automated connectivity between apps and devices? 

Vice Commodore, OCC 

Hi David,
Acknowledge your self-confessed rant.  Suffice to say that most who know me, my attitude to safety and my attitude to technology tell me I am extremely safety conscious.  As far as being "ready to go to sea again" that was a statement after four years gradually refitting Zen Again to continue blue water cruising.  Our blog details that work.
Mike.

Mike - thanks for sharing your approach to navigation electronics on your boat. It's a great topic for the forum, and I'm glad to see it.

I have two concerns about marine electronics today, one general and one specific. In general, I see more and more people spending more and more time focused on their gauges and screens, and less time looking at the real world around them. There is an insidious tendency to forget that these tools are all AIDS to navigation, rather than navigation itself. Being able to use a chartplotter in any form doesn't automatically make one a navigator, and slavish reliance on it - as so many seem to have - is absolutely dangerous. Likewise with other electronic instruments - they should supplement and not replace our five senses and other analog instruments, with the additional risk that over-relying on electronics seems to drown out the critical sixth sense, an instinct for what is going on.

The result of this general concern is that I witness a dramatic lack of basic pilotage skills among many sailors, especially along the more well-trod routes.

My specific concern in regard to the rise of home brewed navigation electronics using office equipment is that this hardware is absolutely not designed or built to marine standards. There seems to be a lot of emphasis on ducking the high costs of marinized equipment; the pushback is that office equipment is cheap and thus it's possible to afford multiple laptops, tablets, phones, etc. Please recall your infrastructure gear may not be marinized either, so there's a common point of failure there. And, corrosion in a salt water atmosphere is partly a function of elapsed time - there is a very real risk of all these bits of kit failing in quick succession at some point. 

Putting these two concerns together - I see some people shortcutting truly learning to navigate and also hoping to save money on electronics with office equipment potentially putting themselves out on a limb which the challenging environment onboard could saw off from under them.  It was the statement that all these electronics made you ready to go sea again that really triggered this rant - in my mind electronics have very little to do with going to sea. I think if you're not ready to go to sea without that kit, then I'd say you're not ready to go to sea with it either. This is absolutely not a personal attack - it's a point of view from somebody who first sailed and navigated long distances with the basics - clock, compass, log & sextant - before the age of GPS. I'm not saying all people should be restricted to such basics, I'll use all the tools - I love my chartplotter. But if it all goes dark I'm not missing a beat - which I think is an important though increasingly rare skill set.

Thanks Dick , absolutely agree .Your writing is invaluable and greatly appreciated . The only place it should be additionally posted is in a book !

Moving Back to signal K if anyone needs a flow diagram for a system I am using happy to share . I find it particularly useful for guest crew who can log in with a phone and stream position and wind data etc. Totally not needed but fun for the techie orientated . On a practical note with some simple systems as Mike said you can easily replace expensive marine MFD with tablets albeit not outside in the sun.

Nigel

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Simon Currin - 10/2/2020

Dick
Please be reassured that there is no proposal to move Forum contents onto Facebook. As Nigel says the quality of discussion on the Forum is infinitely better than that on Facebook even if there are more participants. Please keep up the good work.
Simon

Hi Simon, Understood and that was not really my worry. A few years ago I learned that writings I had done for the Forum were copied and posted on FB. I made a general announcement and since then I have been asked a couple of time to C&P writings and, since they are available in the Forum, I refused. My best, Dick 

Dick
Please be reassured that there is no proposal to move Forum contents onto Facebook. As Nigel says the quality of discussion on the Forum is infinitely better than that on Facebook even if there are more participants. Please keep up the good work.
Simon

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Nigel Studdart - 10/2/2020

Hi Mike I use a signal K converter from digital yacht and pimp it through a ikconnect modem out to iPads and phones etc.It works very well and is a great addition. Like you I have an aged chart plotter and can’t justify big money for a new one which is so limited .Using a tablet with better processing power makes far more sense .Excellent thanks .On the topic of Facebook vs the Forum . I am almost ready to cease use of Facebook for OCC news ,due to the very poor quality of the debate and crass or unseemly nature of some of the comments . Sadly as a venue it seems to bring out the worse in some people . The quantity of contribution doesn’t not make up for the quality .So please can I encourage you to use the forum where your post is valued and it’s author will be treated with respect.

Hi Nigel,
Thanks for the field report, always the best information that the marine field generates. And it sounds like your experience has some time-used behind it which is also valuable.
I am sorry to hear that Facebook has been so dis-agreeable for you, especially as it applies to OCC members. As one who has never darkened the doors of FB, it is interesting to hear your take. And I particularly have a problem with posts of significant contributions, such as Mike’s and yours, not being archived for later review and study and appreciation.
BTW, I have made the request in the past of Forum readers, but perhaps it is time to reiterate, that my wish is that nothing I write on these pages be copied and put on FB. I would hope all readers/OCC members would respect this wish. There are multiple reasons, but most important is that I would not have a chance to respond. I do invite any reader to read my writing on the Forum and respond in a way where we can have a discussion.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

Hi Mike

I use a signal K converter from digital yacht and pimp it through a ikconnect modem out to iPads and phones etc.
It works very well and is a great addition. Like you I have an aged chart plotter and can’t justify big money for a new one which is so limited .
Using a tablet with better processing power makes far more sense .
Excellent thanks .
On the topic of Facebook vs the Forum . I am almost ready to cease use of Facebook for OCC news ,due to the very poor quality of the debate and crass or unseemly nature of some of the comments . Sadly as a venue it seems to bring out the worse in some people . The quantity of contribution doesn’t not make up for the quality .
So please can I encourage you to use the forum where your post is valued and it’s author will be treated with respect.

Fascinating Mike. Thank you very much and I am sure that links such as this would be appreciated within the FB Member’s Group just as they are here in the Forum. Please make sure that this Forum is kept in the loop as here they are archived and searchable.

Simon