In the process of connecting my Yamaha Command Link to a Raymarine e97. According to Raymarine tech support they state a gateway and NMEA2000 network is mandatory. Here’s my thing. I bought two adapter cables. Command Link to NMEA2000 adapter cable and NMEA2000 to Seatalk NG cable. Attached those two. Went directly from Command Link hub to MFD. I turned unit on and turned my key to on. Data is being received. Even though I was told by tech support this will never work. Am I missing something here? Is there some kind of underlying issue that may arise making this simple connection? Now I’m paranoid about it. In my minds eye, the command Link gauges are nothing more then a display itself right? I can’t change anything with the motor with them. Just what information I see. So why would I be told this will never work when it does (seemingly)?
05 F250TXRD to Raymarine e97
Cant tell you why something does work when it shouldn’t, can only tell you YAMAHA doesn’t want you connecting anything to the Yamaha network without NMEA gateway. Better question would be, Why not do it the way both manufacturers are suggesting. It would really suck to find out that when your motor is running, and the raymarine is on, that it causes some kind of feed back in the Yamaha computer system, causing an issue with the computer. all to save a couple hundred dollars.
First. Raymarine had mentioned that certain engines had gateways built in (no list provided)(true or not? Idk) Is my motor on that list? TBD
Second, from what I understand, the gateway served a few functions. The important being controlling power interference between motor power and NMEA2K network power. I dont have a NMEA network. So no cross contamination seams likely there and capabilities of multiple ECU’s to communicate without extensive direct wiring. Single engine so no need for multiple ECU communication.
Third. e97 does not have the capability of calibrating or aligning anything. So data ■■■■■■■■ to corrupt ECU is void.
BOE Marine blog states the gateway is only necessary to use the gateway on C/L Plus, which I dont have. Also, NMEA2K port built into engine.
Based on the popularity of modern equipment and CAN BUS, Im inclined to believe tech support is reading off a piece of paper these days. Its cheaper (for them) to throw identical configurations at everything then to individualize all or most applications.
Not trying to come across as arguing. Just trying to learn. When I was a kid and got into some trouble, my father would ask me why I did that? I almost always responded with, " because my friends were doing it." His reply was “if your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?”
Lastly, and with all due respect, but how much faith can I have in a suggestion made by someone who swore to God it wouldnt even work at all?
Pursuit 2470 CC w/ Yam F250TXR
“Follow The Leader”
I don’t put much faith in the tech guys from the electronic suppliers.
I hate to tell you, but yes, you have a NMEA network. not a large one, but your raymarine speaks NMEA2k, and its connected to your Yamaha. that’s a network, like it or not.
Yamaha on the other hand has earned my respect.
Yamaha says use the gateway.
We use the gateway.
just because your display cant make changes doesn’t mean electronic signals can not be corrupted.
that data port is a straight shot to the Yamaha ECU.
a lot of sensors use a simple 0-5 volt reference signal to monitor engine.
It may work fine, but I can tell you this, Charleston Marine wont be finding out.
I was referring to a parallel NMEA network with its own power source. It would appear the the Yamaha network is in fact a NMEA network already. Otherwise, how could could the MFD understand the info being received without a gateway? Essentially I just added a patch cable.
Am I looking at this incorrectly?
In addition every tech bulletin and installation instruction assumes there is an existing NMEA network already. Which could have 2-way transmission from different data sources such as radar, transducers, vhf, etc. So insisting a gateway is necessary could be a preventive measure based on a network that may or may not have these components at the time of installation, and added at a future date. A blanket statement by them if you will.
So, to save a couple hundred bucks? Yes. “Because they said so”, shouldn’t be an acceptable answer by anyone IMO.
Just to set the record straight. I have (not installed) a NMEA network and gateway. Im just on a quest for the information “they” dont want you to know.
I appreciate your stand point. Being in your position I wouldnt want to take a chance with somebody else’s stuff either.
Pursuit 2470 CC w/ Yam F250TXR
“Follow The Leader”
I am getting ready to install the NMEA 2000 network on my boat so I can hook up my F150 Yamaha to my Garmin. I think the only time the Yamaha will have the 2000 network is when they use the electronic monitoring installed with the engine. I am hooking to my Garmin because it is way cheaper than using the Yamaha system.
quote:Originally posted by Ari-angler
I was referring to a parallel NMEA network with its own power source. It would appear the the Yamaha network is in fact a NMEA network already. Otherwise, how could could the MFD understand the info being received without a gateway? Essentially I just added a patch cable.
Am I looking at this incorrectly?
In addition every tech bulletin and installation instruction assumes there is an existing NMEA network already. Which could have 2-way transmission from different data sources such as radar, transducers, vhf, etc. So insisting a gateway is necessary could be a preventive measure based on a network that may or may not have these components at the time of installation, and added at a future date. A blanket statement by them if you will.
So, to save a couple hundred bucks? Yes. “Because they said so”, shouldn’t be an acceptable answer by anyone IMO.
Just to set the record straight. I have (not installed) a NMEA network and gateway. Im just on a quest for the information “they” dont want you to know.
I appreciate your stand point. Being in your position I wouldnt want to take a chance with somebody else’s stuff either.
Pursuit 2470 CC w/ Yam F250TXR
“Follow The Leader”
You can buy a starter network kit on Amazon for $60. Why not just run it? I guess to me, the amount of my time it takes to disprove it and ask questions is worth more than that to me…
If i remember right, any motor 150+HP from 2011+ they say you have to use the gateway, but it is really unnecessary. I have a Garmin 1040 hooked up to a NEMA2K setup that has a wire made by Lowrance to a Yamaha 225 from 2012, I think it was $90.00, and it works perfectly. if you search this topic on the hull truth there is a bunch of different flavors of MFDs using the same cable without the gateway setup.
I read those. Half the reason I was questioning Raymarine and there need for there $400 ECI-100 (gateway). I mean let’s face it, the command link gauges are are “directly connected” to the ecu and no body seems to be worrying about dropping in a gateway on those.
Pursuit 2470 CC w/ Yam F250TXR
“Follow The Leader”
A question for anyone who has installed the nmea 2000 backbone. I’m installing this soon to hook my motor to my new plotter. They say you need to wire the power for the backbone through a switch to avoid draining the battery. Can I wire this through my ignition switch so when I’m running this will be in use? There is nothing else but the motor I’m wiring to
Thanks
I don’t currently have your same setup as I have Garmin 7610xsv MFD’s, however I would assume this would be very similar. I have the round command link gauges and used the parts below to connect my Command Link Data into my NMEA2K backbone to receive all engine data to my MFD’s. I reached out to BOEMarine and SimYamaha to verify these parts and the method before ordering any of it. The below message is one that I received back from Andy over at SimYamaha.
If you have the 2 round CL gauges that don’t use that hub, the harness that runs to both gauges will be reused. It will plug into one of the device ports. There cable will plug into another device port. Where you disconnect the 2 gauge wire harness, that other harness will plug into the “buss” port on the 3 port hub. That’s all you need to do.
Thanks
Andy"
The above method worked great for me and this was the easiest install I have ever done. When I first started with this I purchased the Lowrance Yamaha to NMEA2K cable and figured out that I lost the data on my gauges when using this cable as you had to disconnect the OEM cable to attach the Lowrance cable. Was not happy with that and the cable was a waste of money so I went in search of the “right” way and found the above method to work great for me. I sourced the OEM Yamaha parts locally from Essenbay Marine in Summerville and the BOE part direct from them.
This is a much more comprehensive response than mine. I do remember that with the circle gauges it is a different set up so I would definitely refer to this if thats what your CL is setup with. Either way, no need for the extra $400 gateway.
quote:Originally posted by chas_native
I don’t currently have your same setup as I have Garmin 7610xsv MFD’s, however I would assume this would be very similar. I have the round command link gauges and used the parts below to connect my Command Link Data into my NMEA2K backbone to receive all engine data to my MFD’s. I reached out to BOEMarine and SimYamaha to verify these parts and the method before ordering any of it. The below message is one that I received back from Andy over at SimYamaha.
If you have the 2 round CL gauges that don’t use that hub, the harness that runs to both gauges will be reused. It will plug into one of the device ports. There cable will plug into another device port. Where you disconnect the 2 gauge wire harness, that other harness will plug into the “buss” port on the 3 port hub. That’s all you need to do.
Thanks
Andy"
The above method worked great for me and this was the easiest install I have ever done. When I first started with this I purchased the Lowrance Yamaha to NMEA2K cable and figured out that I lost the data on my gauges
I just did this on my boat. I have a 2014 200 HP Yamaha inline 4 and a Garmin. All you need is the Lowrance engine interface cable and a NMEA network. You connect it directly to your Garmin, Raymarine, Simrad, Lowrance GPS that is NMEA 2000 compliant. Works great. You get all the engine data for $150 instead of $500 in Yamaha parts. I did not need power cable. You need the power cable if you have a device in the NMEA network that does not have it’s own power. I have just two T connectors, the engine cable and a cable to my Garmin. Yamaha engines after 2006 put the data out in NMEA 2000. Any brand GPS that’s NMEA 2000 compliant will work. I was also able to add my Fusion radio to this network. I can control the radio and get radio data on my Garmin (including song/artist) info. I think Yamaha wants to sell all the gateway equipment (imo).
