The Tackr Hub is a marine WiFi gateway in development. It’s being designed to connect NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000 and Raymarine SeaTalk1 instruments to your crew’s devices over its own WiFi hotspot. No router, no cloud.
The Tackr Hub is dedicated marine gateway hardware, not a DIY kit. The prototype runs SeaTalk1 and GPS today; the rest is what the production Hub is being designed to include.
ST1SeaTalk1 input — running on the prototype Hub
0183Isolated NMEA 0183 inputs — planned
N2KNMEA 2000 network connection — planned
GPSBuilt-in GPS for position, SOG and COG
WiFiOwn hotspot — no router or internet needed
JSONLive data sent as JSON messages over WebSocket
Inputs
Three protocols. One box.
Whether your boat runs older NMEA 0183 instruments, a modern NMEA 2000 backbone, Raymarine SeaTalk1 or a mix, the Tackr Hub is being designed to bring them together.
NMEA 0183 · PLANNED
Isolated Serial Inputs
Optically isolated NMEA 0183 inputs to help prevent ground loops, with automatic baud-rate detection. Designed for GPS, wind, depth and other NMEA 0183 instruments.
NMEA 2000 · PLANNED
N2K Network Connection
A standard NMEA 2000 connection to read instrument data from a modern backbone, such as wind, depth, boat speed and heading.
SEATALK1 · PROTOTYPE
Raymarine SeaTalk Bus
Isolated input for the single-wire Raymarine bus. Currently decodes apparent wind, boat speed through water, depth and compass heading.
Data Keys
What the Hub broadcasts.
The Hub combines its inputs into one live stream of JSON messages over WebSocket. The prototype currently sends:
GPS Position (lat/lon)
Speed Over Ground (SOG)
Course Over Ground (COG)
Compass Heading (HDG)
Apparent Wind Speed (AWS)
Apparent Wind Angle (AWA)
Boat Speed Through Water (STW)
Depth
From these readings, the Tackr app calculates tidal set and drift. More data will be added as NMEA support arrives.
FAQ
NMEA gateway — common questions.
What’s the difference between NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000?
NMEA 0183 is the older standard: one instrument talks and others listen over a two-wire connection, usually at 4800 or 38400 baud. NMEA 2000 is a newer network where every device shares one backbone cable and exchanges data at 250 kbps. The Tackr Hub is being designed to support both, alongside Raymarine SeaTalk1.
Does the Hub create its own WiFi, or do I need a router on board?
The Hub creates its own WiFi hotspot, called Tackr-Hub. You don’t need an onboard router or an internet connection. Your phone, tablet or laptop connects straight to the Hub.
How many devices can connect at once?
The current prototype supports up to three devices at once, for example a phone at the helm, a tablet at the nav station and one more crew device. The limit for the production Hub will be confirmed during testing.
Can I connect the Hub to my existing boat WiFi instead?
Not yet. The prototype always creates its own hotspot. Joining an existing boat network is being considered for the production Hub.
Can other apps like Savvy Navvy or OpenCPN use the Hub?
The Hub is built first for the Tackr racing app and sends its data as JSON messages over WebSocket. We’re exploring compatibility with other navigation apps, but none is confirmed yet.
Get Started
Stream your NMEA instruments over WiFi.
Try the Tackr racing app demo now, and join the waitlist for Hub updates.