What are the basic configurable parameters for a J2K100 and how do I configure them using a DSM250?

What are the basic configuration items of a J2K100 and how do I perform them using a DSM250?

The J2K100 is a bridge between two different digital networks. One side of the bridge is connected to a J1939 network and the other side of the bridge is connected to an NMEA 2000® network. This video assumes you have a working knowledge of the two networks. If you don’t have a basic understanding of the networks, you might want to read the application note found at the end of the J2K100 user manual before attempting to configure the J2K100.

The J2K100 ships from the factory preconfigured to look for engine information coming from an engine with a J1939 address of zero. This engine information is in turn broadcast over the NMEA 2000 network using instance zero. Therefore, if there is a single engine on the vessel using J1939 address zero and the NMEA 2000 displays are looking to receive information from instance zero, then no configuration of the J2K100 is necessary. However, you still might want setup a corresponding label for the J2K100 like “Starboard Engine” so that the engine data is easily identifiable when you go to setup your screens.

Let’s take a look at doing basic configuration of the J2K100 using the DSM250, begin by pressing the enter key, which takes us to the main menu.

Scroll to configuration and press the enter key.

Scroll to Device configuration and press the enter key.

Scroll to the particular J2k100 you wish to configure and press the enter key.

First is the Advanced Configuration menu item, which isn’t normally used except by advanced users that completely understand the J2K100 after reading the manual. The items under the advanced configuration menu are covered in another video.

The next menu entry is Engine Instance. NMEA 2000 displays use instance numbers to distinguish which engine data to display. The NMEA 2000 convention is to use instance 0 for a single engine or the port engine of a multiple engine vessel. Instance 1 is used for the starboard engine in two engine vessels. To change the instance number that you want broadcasted by this J2K100, press the enter key and use the up and down arrows to select the appropriate instance. Here we will select instance 1 so the J2K100 that we are configuring will transmit engine information over the NMEA 2000 network using instance 1. NMEA 2000 displays looking to show starboard engine information will lock onto this J2K100.

Next, let’s configure the Device Label. The Device Label allows you to create text, like “Starboard Engine” that is associated with instance number configured in the prior step. Later when you go to setup screens on Maretron’s DSM250 display or within the N2KView, you can easily identify the “Starboard Engine” as opposed to “engine instance 1”. To configure the Label simply, press the enter key with Device Label highlighted, this will bring you to the text menu. Using the available categories create your desired text. When done scroll to save and exit and press the enter key.

Next, let’s configure the J1939 Source Address. First, notice along the bottom of the screen a list of addresses that the J2K100 is able to identify with active devices on the connected J1939 network. If you don’t see any addresses then the J2K100 isn’t communicating with any devices on the J1939 network. Make sure you have made all the necessary connections and the ignitions are turned on. Now we are ready to tell the J2K100 which J1939 address to gather information in preparation for re-broadcasting the information over the NMEA 2000 network. For example, we will configure the J2K100 to look for information coming from a device using address 1 on the J1939 network.

Given this configuration, engine instance 1 and J1939 source address 1, the J2K100 picks up information from the J1939 device using address 1 and converts the information to an NMEA 2000 format and broadcast it over the NMEA 2000 network using instance 1. All displays expecting to show data for the starboard engine pick up NMEA 2000 data corresponding to instance 1. Please note that it isn’t necessarily a one-to-one correspondence between the J1930 source address and the NMEA 2000 engine instance. Although NMEA 2000 is always looking for a single or port engine to be instance 0 and the starboard engine to be instance 1, some J1939 engine manufacturers use different source addresses that are generally programmed by the engine manufacturers. Please remember to use the bottom of the configuration screen to identify what source addresses the engine manufacturers are using.

The next menu item is Refresh J1939 source address list. Whenever you first enter the J2K100 configuration screen, the address list along the bottom of the screen is updated. If you don’t want to back out of the configuration screen and come back in, then you can press the enter key to refresh the address list. Pau=1000

The last menu item is transmission instance. Like engine instance you can tell the J2K100 which transmission instance you would like the J2K100 to use when broadcasting over the NMEA 2000 network. Like engines, the NMEA 2000 practice is to use instance 0 for the port transmission and instance 1 for the starboard instance. Of course this configuration parameter assumes you are trying to translate information from a J1939 transmission as opposed to an engine.

Now you have completed your configuration of the Maretron J2K100 - NMEA 2000®  J1939 Bridge.  Press the Back button four times to return to the Favorite screens mode.