NMEA 2000® is a low cost serial data network for marine applications developed by the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA). NMEA 2000® is a multi-device bus that operates at 256K bits-per-second; In contrast, it is 64 times faster than NMEA 0183, the single-talker, multi-listener communication standard widely in use. To ensure interoperable communication between all connected devices, the NMEA 2000® standard encompases a whole spectrum of requirements including physical connections, media access, messaging protocols, and application level data protocols.
An overview of NMEA 2000® and its general characteristics is provided in NMEA 2000® A Digital Interface for the 21st Century, which was originally presented at the Institute of Navigation's 2002 National Technical Meeting in San Diego, CA.
For more information about NMEA, or to purchase a copy of the standard, please visit the NMEA Website.