Orca supports connecting to a wide range of Garmin equipment including sensors and autopilots.
Which type of Garmin equipment is supported?
Garmin devices connect via NMEA 2000 for newer devices, and NMEA 0183 for devices made before 2007. Orca supports connecting to all Garmin that use NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183.
NMEA 2000
How do I verify that I have an NMEA 2000 network?
The easiest way to identify which boat network you have is by looking at the connectors behind your chartplotter, sensor, or instrument. If your network consists of T-shaped connectors, like in the image below, you have NMEA 2000.
Example of NMEA 2000 network connectors used to identify an NMEA 2000 boat network.
How do I connect to NMEA 2000 networks?
Orca connects directly to NMEA 2000 networks. You do not need any adapters or additional cables than those provided when you order an Orca Core.
Power will be supplied to the Orca Core via the NMEA 2000 network, making it a "plug-and-play" installation.
NMEA 0183
How do I verify that I have an NMEA 0183 network?
If you have 2-5 thin cables with different colours which are in a box like the one below, you have NMEA 0183.
Example of an NMEA 0183 multiplexer with a terminal block used to connect NMEA 0183 equipment.
How do I connect to NMEA 0183 networks?
You’ll need an NMEA 0183 to NMEA 2000 converter along with an NMEA 2000 backbone. We recommend Actisense and YachtDevices converters and Garmin's backbone.
Do you have examples of specific Garmin devices that Orca supports?
The list below contains only examples of devices supported by Orca as a reference. Orca supports all NMEA 2000 and SimNet devices made by Navico.
Autopilots: Full control of GPH and Reactor series. See the autopilot article for details
Wind: GND-10, GNX-series
Depth, temperature, and speed through water: GST, GNX, Smart Transducer, Intelliducer
Radar: Not yet supported
Reach out to hello@getorca.com if you have questions.