Marine guide
What is Signal K and how does it connect your boat data?
An introduction to Signal K, instruments and onboard data exchange.
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Marine technology and navigation guides
Practical information to understand your instruments and plan onboard electronics.
Marine guide
Offline nautical charts: preparing for navigation without internet
How to manage local charts and make sure they are available on board.
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Boat AIS: what a receiver shows and its limitations
Understand AIS data, reception and its limitations when navigating.
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NMEA 0183 vs NMEA 2000: connecting marine instruments
What to check when integrating instruments of different generations.
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Boat anemometer and wind vane: what does each sensor measure?
Understand wind speed and direction and plan a compatible installation.
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Sailboat autopilot: components and checks
Understand the controller, sensors and actuator in an autopilot system.
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Raspberry Pi on a boat: a compact navigation computer
Considerations for installing a small computer on an onboard network.
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How to share boat instrument data over local Wi-Fi
The basics of viewing onboard instruments from tablets and laptops.
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Combine GPS, AIS and boat sensors on one screen
Plan navigation data integration without replacing every instrument.
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Open marine electronics: benefits and decisions before you start
What open technology means and how to plan an expandable installation.
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Chartplotter or tablet: choosing a navigation display
Compare visibility, power and chart support before choosing an onboard screen.
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How to connect a GPS to Signal K and verify its position
Identify a GPS source and check its data on your boat network.
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Powering a Raspberry Pi from a boat’s 12 V system
Electrical protection and stable power for an onboard navigation computer.
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Where to install an AIS antenna on a sailboat
Consider location, cable and compatibility for AIS reception.
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NMEA 2000 wind sensor: what to check before buying
Check protocol, installation and calibration of a wind vane or anemometer.
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Boat wind sensor reading incorrectly: troubleshooting
Separate mounting, power and data problems before replacing a sensor.
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Planning sailboat wind vane calibration
Checks needed before adjusting wind direction readings.
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What is MBTiles and how can it be used for nautical charts?
Understand tiled chart files and their limitations offline.
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S-57 vs S-63 charts: differences and Open Marine support
Understand unencrypted ENC data and protected commercial charts.
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How to organise offline nautical chart updates
Review chart sources, coverage and local copies before a voyage.
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AIS CPA and TCPA: interpreting a closest-approach alarm
Understand approach estimates and why they require supervision.
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AIS receiver with SDR: what you need to see nearby vessels
Components and limitations of software-defined radio AIS reception.
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How to integrate a depth sounder with Signal K
Check interfaces, units and depth references when sharing sounder data.
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Speed through water vs speed over ground on a boat
Interpret log and GPS speed when there is current or sensor error.
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Components of an NMEA 2000 boat network
Understand the backbone, drop cables, power and termination.
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How to bring NMEA 0183 data into Signal K
Integrate older marine instruments with a modern data network.
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What to consider if an autopilot loses its signal
Questions about monitoring, stopping and returning to manual steering.
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How to plan a sailboat delivery by sea
Information to gather when requesting a boat delivery quote.
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Preparing a boat for delivery by sea
An initial checklist for documents, equipment and technical condition.
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Marine electronics maintenance: a pre-season check
Check connections, software, power and onboard data before the season.
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