Introduction
When connecting GPS devices to your computer, PDA or telephone, the data is transfered over the serial port using the NMEA0183 protocol.
Below you can find the specification of the NMEA0183 sentences which are supported by the Eye4Software GPS Toolkit.
For more information about the Eye4Software GPS Toolkit, please visit the product page.
List of supported sentences
| Messagetype |
Description |
| GGA |
Global Positioning System Fix Data, Time and Position |
| GLL |
Geographic Position - Latitude and Longitude |
| GSA |
GPS DOP and Active Satellites |
| GSV |
Satellites in view |
| RMC |
Recommended Minimum Navigation Information |
| RME |
Garmin Estimated Position Error |
| RMM |
Garmin Horizontal Datum |
| RMZ |
Garmin Altitude Information |
| VTG |
Track Made Good and Ground Speed |
List of other NMEA0183 sentences
| Messagetype |
Description |
| AAM |
Waypoint Arrival Alarm |
| ALM |
GPS Almanac Data |
| APA |
Autopilot Sentence "A" |
| APB |
Autopilot Sentence "B" |
| BEC |
Bearing and distance to waypoint - dead reckoning |
| BOD |
Bearing - Waypoint to Waypoint |
| BWW |
Bearing - Waypoint to Waypoint |
| DBK |
Depth Below Keel |
| DBS |
Depth Below Surface |
| DBT |
Depth Below Transducer |
| DPT |
Depth |
| FSI |
Frequency Set Information |
| HDG |
Heading - Deviation and Variation |
| HDM |
Heading - Magnetic |
| HDT |
Heading - True |
| MSK |
MSK DGPS Receiver Information |
| MTW |
Water Temperature |
| MWV |
Wind Speed and Angle |
| VHW |
Water Speed and Heading |
AAM
Waypoint Arival Alarm
Category:
GPS
Example:
$GPAAM,A,A,0.50,N,WPT0001*43
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
A |
Status, arrival circle entered, A = True, V = False |
| 2 |
A |
Status, perpendicular passes at waypoint, A = True, V = False |
| 3 |
0.5 |
Arrival circle radius |
| 4 |
N |
Units: N = Nautical Miles |
| 5 |
WPT0001 |
Waypoint Name |
| 6 |
43 |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
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ALM
Almanac Data
Category:
GPS
Example:
$GPAAM,A,A,0.50,N,WPT0001*43
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
A |
Status, arrival circle entered, A = True, V = False |
| 2 |
A |
Status, perpendicular passes at waypoint, A = True, V = False |
| 3 |
0.5 |
Arrival circle radius |
| 4 |
N |
Units: N = Nautical Miles |
| 5 |
WPT0001 |
Waypoint Name |
| 6 |
43 |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
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APA
Autopilot - Autopilot Sentence "A"
Category:
Autopilot
Example:
$GPAPA,A,A,0.10,R,N,V,V,011,M,DEST*82
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
A |
Status, V = GPS signal warning, A = general warning flag |
| 2 |
A |
Status, V = GPS signal warning, A = general warning flag |
| 3 |
0.10 |
Cross track error magnitude |
| 4 |
R |
Direction to steer (L)eft or (R)ight |
| 5 |
N |
Cross track units, nautical miles (N) or kilometres (K) |
| 6 |
V |
Status: A = arrival circle entered |
| 7 |
V |
Status: A = perpendicular passed at waypoint |
| 8 |
011 |
Bearing origin to destination |
| 9 |
M |
Bearing, (T)rue or (M)agnetic |
| 10 |
DEST |
Destination waypoint name |
| |
|
|
APB
Autopilot - Autopilot Sentence "B"
Category:
Autopilot
Example:
$GPAPB,A,A,0.10,R,N,V,V,011,M,DEST,011,M,011,M*82
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
A |
Status, V = GPS signal warning, A = general warning flag |
| 2 |
A |
Status, V = GPS signal warning, A = general warning flag |
| 3 |
0.10 |
Cross track error magnitude |
| 4 |
R |
Direction to steer (L)eft or (R)ight |
| 5 |
N |
Cross track units, nautical miles (N) or kilometres (K) |
| 6 |
V |
Status: A = arrival circle entered |
| 7 |
V |
Status: A = perpendicular passed at waypoint |
| 8 |
011 |
Bearing origin to destination |
| 9 |
M |
Bearing, (T)rue or (M)agnetic |
| 10 |
DEST |
Destination waypoint name |
| 11 |
011 |
Bearing present position to destination |
| 12 |
M |
Bearing, (T)rue or (M)agnetic |
| 13 |
011 |
Heading to steer to destination waypoint |
| 14 |
M |
Bearing, (T)rue or (M)agnetic |
| |
|
|
BEC
Autopilot - Bearing and distance to waypoint - dead reckoning
Category:
Autopilot
Example:
GPBEC,220516,5130.02,N,00046.34,W,213.8,T,218.0,M,0004.6,N,EGLM*11
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
220516 |
UTC Time, HHMMSS format |
| 2 |
5130.02 |
Latitude of waypoint |
| 3 |
N |
(N)orth or (S)outh hemisphere |
| 4 |
00046.34 |
Longitude of waypoint |
| 5 |
W |
(E)ast or (W)est from central meridian |
| 6 |
213.8 |
True bearing in degrees |
| 7 |
T |
True bearing indicator |
| 8 |
218.0 |
Magnetic bearing in degrees |
| 9 |
M |
Magnetic bearing indicator |
| 10 |
0004.6 |
Distance to waypoint in nautical miles |
| 11 |
N |
(N)autical miles indicator |
| 12 |
EGLM |
Waypoint name |
| |
|
|
BOD
Bearing - Waypoint to Waypoint
Category:
GPS
Example:
$GPBOD,164.3,T,164.5,M,De Volmer,De Volmer*41
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
164.3 |
Bearing in degrees |
| 2 |
T |
T = True Bearing, M = Magnetic Bearing |
| 3 |
164.5 |
Bearing in degrees |
| 4 |
M |
T = True Bearing, M = Magnetic Bearing |
| 5 |
De Volmer |
TO Waypoint |
| 6 |
De Volmer |
FROM Waypoint |
| 7 |
41 |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
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BWW
Bearing - Waypoint to Waypoint
Category:
GPS
Example:
$GPBWW,164.3,T,164.5,M,De Volmer,De Volmer*41
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
164.3 |
Bearing in degrees |
| 2 |
T |
T = True Bearing, M = Magnetic Bearing |
| 3 |
164.5 |
Bearing in degrees |
| 4 |
M |
T = True Bearing, M = Magnetic Bearing |
| 5 |
De Volmer |
TO Waypoint |
| 6 |
De Volmer |
FROM Waypoint |
| 7 |
41 |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
|
DBK
Depth Below Keel
Category:
Echo Sounder
Example:
$SDDBK,1330.5,f,0405.5,M,0221.6,F*2E
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
1330.5 |
Depth |
| 2 |
f |
Units: f = feet |
| 3 |
0405.5 |
Depth |
| 4 |
M |
Units: M = meters |
| 5 |
0221.6 |
depth |
| 6 |
F |
Units: F = Fathoms |
| 7 |
2E |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
|
DBS
Depth Below Surface
Category:
Echo Sounder
Example:
$SDDBS,1330.5,f,0405.5,M,0221.6,F*2E
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
1330.5 |
Depth |
| 2 |
f |
Units: f = feet |
| 3 |
0405.5 |
Depth |
| 4 |
M |
Units: M = meters |
| 5 |
0221.6 |
depth |
| 6 |
F |
Units: F = Fathoms |
| 7 |
2E |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
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DBT
Depth Below Transducer
Category:
Echo Sounder
Example:
$SDDBT,1330.5,f,0405.5,M,0221.6,F*2E
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
1330.5 |
Depth |
| 2 |
f |
Units: f = feet |
| 3 |
0405.5 |
Depth |
| 4 |
M |
Units: M = meters |
| 5 |
0221.6 |
depth |
| 6 |
F |
Units: F = Fathoms |
| 7 |
2E |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
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DPT
Depth
Category:
Echo Sounder
Example:
$SDDPT,3.6,0.0*52
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
3.6 |
Depth in meters |
| 2 |
0.0 |
Offset from transducer: Positive - distance from transducer to water line, or Negative - distance from transducer to keel |
| 3 |
52 |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
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FSI
Frequency Set Information
Category:
Communications
Example:
$CTFSI,020230,026140,m,5*11
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
020230 |
Transmitting frequency (20.230 MHz) |
| 1 |
026140 |
Receiving frequency (26.140 MHz) |
| 3 |
m |
Communications mode |
| 4 |
5 |
Power level (Watt) |
| |
|
|
HDG
Heading - Deviation and Variation
Category:
Heading
Example:
$HCHDG,98.3,0.0,E,12.6,W*57
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
98.3 |
Heading in degrees |
| 2 |
0.0 |
Magnetic deviation in degrees |
| 3 |
E |
Magnetic deviation direction, (E)ast or (W)est |
| 4 |
12.6 |
Magnetic variation in degrees |
| 5 |
W |
Magnetic variation direction, (E)ast or (W)est |
| |
|
|
HDM
Heading - Magnetic
Category:
Heading
Example:
$HCHDM,093.8,M*2B
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
93.8 |
Heading in degrees |
| 2 |
M |
(M)agnetic |
| |
|
|
HDT
Heading - True
Category:
Heading
Example:
$HCHDT,245.1,T
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
93.8 |
Heading in degrees |
| 2 |
M |
(T)rue |
| |
|
|
GGA
Global Positioning Fix Data
Category:
GPS
Example:
$GPGGA,181703,5209.6815,N,00643.0724,E,1,08,01,+0025,M,+0047,M,00,0425*6D
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
181703 |
Current time in U.T.C. |
| 2 |
5209.6815 |
Latitude |
| 3 |
N |
North (N) or South (S) |
| 4 |
00643.0724 |
Longitude |
| 5 |
E |
East (E) or West (W) |
| 6 |
1 |
Fix Quality, see table below for values |
| 7 |
08 |
Number of satellites used for fix |
| 8 |
01 |
HDOP (Horizontal Dilution of Precision) |
| 9 |
+0025 |
MSL Altitude (Mean Sea Level) |
| 10 |
M |
Altitude units, Meters (M) or Feet (F) |
| 11 |
+0047 |
Geoidal separation, the difference between the WGS-84 earth ellipsoid and mean-sea-level |
| 12 |
M |
Geoidal separation units, Meters (M) or Feet (F) |
| 13 |
00 |
Age of differential data (DGPS) |
| 14 |
0425 |
DGPS Beacon station ID |
| 15 |
6E |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
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GPS Quality Indicator
| Value |
Description |
| 0 |
No Fix |
| 1 |
GPS fix |
| 2 |
DGPS fix (Differential GPS) |
| 3 |
PPS fix |
| 4 |
RTK fix (Real Time Kinematic) |
| 5 |
Float RTK |
| 6 |
Dead Reckoning (estimated) |
| 7 |
Manual input mode |
| 8 |
Simulation mode |
| |
|
GLL
Geographic Position - Latitude / Longitude
Category:
GPS
Example:
$GPGLL,5209.6815,N,00643.0724,E,181703.00,A*08
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
5209.6815 |
Latitude |
| 2 |
N |
North (N) or South (S) |
| 4 |
00643.0724 |
Longitude |
| 5 |
E |
East (E) or West (W) |
| 6 |
181703.00 |
Current time in U.T.C. |
| 7 |
A |
Status, data valid (A) or data invalid (V) |
| 8 |
08 |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
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MSK
MSK DGPS Receiver Information
Catagoty:
DGPS
Example:
$GPMSK,298.5,A,100,A,2*45
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
298.5 |
Frequence in kHz |
| 2 |
A |
Frequency selection: A = Automatic, M = Manual |
| 3 |
100 |
MSK bitrate in bps |
| 4 |
A |
Bitrate selection: A = Automatic, M = Manual |
| 5 |
2 |
Duration of output signal |
| 6 |
45 |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
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MTW
Water Temperature
Catagoty:
Echo Sounder
Example:
$SDMTW,26.8,C*45
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
26.8 |
Temperature |
| 2 |
C |
Units: C = Celcius |
| 6 |
45 |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
|
MWV
Wind Speed and Angle
Catagoty:
Weather Instruments
Example:
$WIMWV,214.8,R,0.1,K,A*28
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
214.8 |
Wind Angle |
| 2 |
R |
Reference: R = Relative, T = True |
| 3 |
0.1 |
Wind Speed |
| 4 |
K |
Units: M = Meter per second, N = Knots, K = Kilometers per hour |
| |
|
|
RMC
Recommended Minimum Navigation Information
Category:
GPS
Example:
$GPRMC,181704,A,5209.6815,N,00643.0724,E,000.1,187.0,310109,,*24
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
181704 |
Current time in U.T.C. |
| 2 |
A |
Status, data valid (A) or data invalid (V) |
| 3 |
5209.6815 |
Latitude |
| 4 |
N |
North (N) or South (S) |
| 5 |
00643.0724 |
Longitude |
| 6 |
E |
East (E) or West (W) |
| 7 |
000.1 |
SOG (Speed Over Ground) in knots |
| 8 |
187.0 |
COG (Course Over Ground) in degrees |
| 9 |
310109 |
Date (DDMMYY) |
| 10 |
|
Magnetic Variation (Not used when RMC is used by GPS) |
| 11 |
24 |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
|
VTG
Track made good and Ground speed
Category:
GPS / Compass
Example:
$GPVTG,37.38,T,,M,0.08,N,0.1,K*56
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
37.38 |
Course in degrees |
| 2 |
T |
Reference, True (T) or Magnetic (M) |
| 3 |
|
Course (Field is empty, because it is only used by compasses) |
| 4 |
M |
Reference, True (T) or Magnetic (M) |
| 5 |
0.08 |
Speed |
| 6 |
N |
Speed units, Knots (N) or Kilometer per hour (K) |
| 7 |
0.1 |
Speed |
| 8 |
K |
Speed units, Knots (N) or Kilometer per hour (K) |
| 9 |
56 |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
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GSV
Satellites in View
Category:
GPS
Example:
$GPGSV,3,1,11,09,76,148,32,05,55,242,29,17,33,054,30,14,27,314,24*71
$GPGSV,3,2,11,30,16,246,32,22,14,279,24,24,13,077,,26,09,172,23*7E
$GPGSV,3,3,11,04,07,102,30,29,02,170,09,18,02,243,*42
GSA
DOP and Active Satellites
Category:
GPS
Example:
$GPGSA,A,3,05,17,22,09,14,04,30,,,,,,1.8,1.2,1.3*32
RME
Garmin Estimated Position Error
Category:
GPS
Example:
$PGRME,5.2,M,9.0,M,10.4,M*15
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
5.2 |
Estimated horizontal position error |
| 2 |
M |
Units: meters |
| 3 |
9.0 |
Estimated vertical position error |
| 4 |
5.2 |
Units: meters |
| 5 |
10.4 |
Overall spherical equivalent position error |
| 6 |
M |
Units: meters |
| 7 |
15 |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
|
RMM
Garmin Map Datum
Example:
$PGRMM,WGS 84*06
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
WGS 84 |
Horizontal datum used in NMEA output |
| 2 |
06 |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
|
RMZ
Garmin Altitude Information
Category:
GPS
Example:
$PGRMZ,97,f,*16
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
97 |
Altitude |
| 2 |
f |
Units: feet |
| 3 |
16 |
CRC Checksum of NMEA data |
| |
|
|
VHW
Water Speed and Heading
Category:
Other
Example:
$IIVHW,245.1,T,245.1,M,000.01,N,000.01,K
| Field# |
Example |
Description |
| 1 |
245.1 |
True heading in degrees |
| 2 |
T |
(T)rue indicator |
| 3 |
245.1 |
Magnetic heading in degrees |
| 4 |
M |
(M)agnetic indicator |
| 5 |
000.01 |
Speed of vessel relative to the water (Knots) |
| 6 |
N |
N = Knots |
| 7 |
000.01 |
Speed of vessel relative to the water (Kmh) |
| 8 |
N |
K = kilometres per hour |
| |
|
|
