Marine Nav Track Documentation

⚡ MARINE NAV TRACKER — DOCUMENTATION

Complete setup guide · Signal K connection · Hardware options · Feature reference
AlienAlerts.com · Open Marine Nav Tracker

1. WHAT IS THE MARINE NAV TRACKER?

The AlienAlerts Marine Nav Tracker is a browser-based marine navigation station built into AlienAlerts.com. It provides real-time nautical charting, live vessel instrument displays, weather, AIS vessel traffic, sky surveillance, and a complete UAP/USO sighting report system — all in one interface.

When connected to a Signal K server aboard your vessel, every instrument reading flows live into the tracker and is automatically captured in every report you file: bearing, range, elevation angle, calculated altitude, wind, depth, engine data, tank levels, battery state, autopilot mode, and more.

Without Signal K, the tracker works in standalone mode using your browser's GPS, NOAA/NWS weather APIs, and manual position entry. You can still file complete reports — Signal K just adds the rich onboard instrument layer.

2. CONNECTING SIGNAL K — OVERVIEW

Signal K (signalk.org) is the open marine data standard. It runs as a server — either on a dedicated device aboard your vessel or on a laptop — and converts your NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 instrument data into a modern web-friendly format accessible over Wi-Fi.

The Marine Nav Tracker connects to your Signal K server via its REST API and WebSocket stream. Once configured, the ⚡ SK button in the header glows green and all instrument data flows live into the tracker and into every filed report.

HOW TO CONFIGURE THE CONNECTION

Get your Signal K server running (see hardware options below)
Note the server's IP address on your boat's network (e.g. 192.168.1.100) and port (default: 3000)
Go to Admin → Configuration → Services → Marine Nav Tracker on your AlienAlerts site
Enter the Signal K host and port — save
Open the Marine Nav Tracker — the ⚡ SK button will pulse amber while connecting, then go solid green when live

Note: The Signal K server must be on the same network as the device running the Marine Nav Tracker (your helm tablet, laptop, or phone). Most installs use the boat's onboard Wi-Fi network for this.

3. WHAT DATA SIGNAL K PROVIDES

When connected, the following data flows into the tracker live and is captured in every report. Any path not reporting on your vessel simply shows -- — there are no errors, just graceful blanks.

GROUP	DATA PROVIDED
Navigation	Heading (magnetic + true), SOG, boat speed (BSP), COG, rate of turn, magnetic variation, total log, trip log, navigation state, GPS quality (satellites, HDOP, type), cross-track error
Attitude	Heel/roll, pitch, rudder angle
Wind	True wind speed/direction/angle (through water and over ground), apparent wind speed/angle
Depth	Depth below keel, below transducer, below surface, transducer offset
Outside Environment	Air temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, dew point, wind chill, ambient light
Water	Water temperature, salinity
Current & Tide	Current drift speed and set direction, live tide height (high/low/now)
Interior Zones	Engine room temperature, cabin temperature, refrigerator (if sensors connected)
Autopilot	AP state (auto/wind/route/standby), target heading, target wind angle
Engines (up to 6)	RPM, engine temp, oil pressure, oil temp, coolant temp, alternator voltage, engine hours, gear (fwd/neutral/rev), load %, fuel burn rate (gal/hr), fuel used since reset
Tanks	Level % with visual bar, volume (gallons), total capacity — diesel, gasoline, fresh water, black water, grey water
Electrical	Battery state of charge % with visual bar, voltage, current (amps), battery health %, hours remaining at current draw, battery temperature — all banks

4. HARDWARE OPTIONS — CONNECTING YOUR INSTRUMENTS

Every boat setup is different. Here are the main hardware paths from simplest to most capable, with honest notes on what each handles.

NMEA 0183 vs NMEA 2000: NMEA 0183 is the older wired serial standard — most instruments built before 2005 use it. NMEA 2000 (N2K) is the modern CANbus network used on most boats built since 2010. Some vessels have both. Your gateway choice depends on which you have.

TIER 1 — WIRED USB ADAPTER (NMEA 0183 only)

~$65

Digital Yacht ZDIGUSBNMEA — USB to NMEA 0183 Adapter

A simple cable that converts one NMEA 0183 instrument output into a USB virtual COM port on a laptop or Raspberry Pi. Bidirectional. Supports 4800, 9600, 38400, and 115200 baud — covering both standard instruments and AIS (38400 baud). Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux/Raspberry Pi. LED indicators show data flow. Plug in multiple adapters if you have multiple NMEA 0183 sources.

Best for: Boats with NMEA 0183 instruments (older chart plotter, GPS, VHF) and a laptop already running Signal K
Needs: A laptop or Raspberry Pi running Signal K Server — this cable alone is not a gateway
Does not handle: NMEA 2000 or Wi-Fi — wired USB only
Buy: Anchor Express · Defender Marine · Digital Yacht

TIER 2 — WIRED USB ADAPTER (NMEA 0183 + NMEA 2000 bridge)

~$130

Actisense NGW-1-ISO — NMEA 2000 to NMEA 0183 + USB Gateway

Bridges NMEA 2000 to NMEA 0183 and outputs via USB to a laptop or Raspberry Pi. Useful for vessels with N2K networks who want to feed data into Signal K via a computer. Galvanically isolated for safety.

Best for: Boats with NMEA 2000 who have a computer aboard running Signal K
Needs: Laptop or Pi running Signal K Server

TIER 3 — PLUG-AND-PLAY WI-FI GATEWAY (NMEA 2000, no Linux required)

~$249

Yacht Devices YDWG-02 — NMEA 2000 Wi-Fi Gateway

The most popular plug-and-play solution. Clips directly onto the NMEA 2000 backbone via Micro-C or SeaTalkNG connector and powers itself from the bus. Creates its own Wi-Fi access point (up to 3 simultaneous connections in AP mode, unlimited in Client mode). Streams all NMEA 2000 data via TCP/UDP. Built-in web gauges visible directly from any browser — no app needed. Compatible with Signal K, OpenCPN, Navionics, WilhelmSK.

Best for: Boats with NMEA 2000 who want the simplest possible setup — no Linux, no computer required
Install time: ~15 minutes. Clip onto N2K backbone, connect device to its Wi-Fi, enter IP in Marine Nav Tracker admin settings
Does not handle: NMEA 0183 directly (though it can bridge via the N2K-to-0183 built-in converter)
Two connector variants: YDWG-02N (Micro-C, standard N2K) and YDWG-02R (SeaTalkNG, for Raymarine systems)
Buy: Yacht Devices US ($249, ships from US)

TIER 4 — DEDICATED SIGNAL K GATEWAY (NMEA 0183 + NMEA 2000, Wi-Fi, no Linux)

~$299

Digital Yacht iKommunicate — NMEA 0183/2000 to Signal K Gateway

The purpose-built Signal K gateway. Accepts 3× opto-isolated NMEA 0183 inputs plus NMEA 2000, runs Signal K Server internally on a 120MHz processor, and outputs Signal K JSON via Wi-Fi (multiple WebSocket connections) and wired Ethernet. No Raspberry Pi, no Linux setup — it's a complete black-box solution. Also outputs standard NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000, so it works with conventional chart plotters too. Comes pre-loaded with Signal K web apps (iKompass, Instrument Panel).

Best for: Boats with both NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 who want a turnkey Signal K gateway with zero Linux configuration
Includes: Built-in NMEA 2000 drop cable, RJ45 Ethernet port, internal 8GB microSD
Buy: Amazon · Digital Yacht

TIER 5 — RASPBERRY PI + PICAN-M HAT (Full vessel computer, best value)

~$190–$225 total

Raspberry Pi 4 + PiCAN-M HAT + OpenPlotter

A Raspberry Pi 4 with the PiCAN-M HAT (CopperHill Technologies, ~$99) becomes a full marine vessel computer. The PiCAN-M provides NMEA 2000 via Micro-C connector and NMEA 0183 via screw terminals, plus an I²C port for additional sensors (barometer, temperature, etc.). Can power both itself and the Pi directly from the 12V NMEA 2000 bus — no separate power supply needed. Run OpenPlotter (free, includes Signal K Server, OpenCPN chart plotter, Node-RED automation, and Grafana dashboards pre-configured) or bare Signal K Server on Raspbian.

Best for: Technically comfortable boaters who want a full vessel computer with charts, instrument logging, anchor alerts, Node-RED automation, and unlimited expandability
Raspberry Pi 4: ~$90 (4GB recommended)
PiCAN-M HAT: ~$99 from CopperHill Technologies — available with optional pre-loaded OpenPlotter microSD card
Optional: Micro-C T-connector and drop cable to tap into existing N2K backbone (~$20)
Total cost: Pi + PiCAN-M + SD card + T-connector = ~$225 for a complete vessel computer
OpenPlotter documentation: openplotter.readthedocs.io

Pro tip from the SeaBits community: Don't run OpenCPN charts and Signal K on the same Pi if you have heavy N2K traffic — use a dedicated Pi for Signal K and a separate device for chart display. Reliability improves significantly.

TIER 6 — VICTRON CERBO GX (Free if already installed)

Already aboard = Free

Victron Energy Cerbo GX — Signal K Built-in

If your vessel already has a Victron Energy system (Multi/Quattro inverter-charger, MPPT solar controller, Lynx battery monitor), the Cerbo GX runs Venus OS which includes Signal K Server built in since firmware 2.80. Your complete Victron electrical data — battery state of charge, voltage, current per bank, solar production, shore power, AC loads — flows into Signal K automatically. Connect an NMEA 2000 cable to the Cerbo's VE.Can port and you also get the full instrument suite from your N2K network.

Best for: Vessels with existing Victron installations — enables Signal K at zero additional cost
Enable Signal K: Cerbo GX menu → Settings → Services → Signal K → Enable. Note the IP address shown and enter it in Marine Nav Tracker admin settings with port 3000
Cerbo GX: ~$350 if purchasing new — but if you have Victron electrical, you likely already have one

5. WHICH CONNECTOR IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

YOUR SITUATION	RECOMMENDED PATH	APPROX COST
Older boat, NMEA 0183 only, laptop always aboard	Digital Yacht ZDIGUSBNMEA + Signal K Server on laptop	$65 + free
Modern boat, NMEA 2000 backbone, want plug-and-play	Yacht Devices YDWG-02	$249
Both NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000, want turnkey Signal K, no Linux	Digital Yacht iKommunicate	$299
Want a full vessel computer, charts, logging, automation	Raspberry Pi 4 + PiCAN-M + OpenPlotter	~$225
Already have Victron electrical system with Cerbo GX	Enable Signal K in Cerbo GX settings	Free
No instruments at all, just want to use the tracker	Standalone mode — no Signal K required. Use browser GPS + manual position entry	Free

6. SIGNAL K SERVER — SOFTWARE INSTALLATION

If you're using the ZDIGUSBNMEA cable or PiCAN-M HAT, you need Signal K Server running on a computer. The easiest path:

OPTION A — OPENPLOTTER (RECOMMENDED FOR RASPBERRY PI)

Download the OpenPlotter image from openplotter.readthedocs.io
Flash to a microSD card using Raspberry Pi Imager
Boot the Pi — Signal K Server is pre-installed and pre-configured
Connect your NMEA interface and configure the Signal K data connections via the Signal K web interface at http://[pi-ip]:3000

OPTION B — BARE SIGNAL K SERVER (LINUX/MAC/WINDOWS)

Install Node.js (v18 or later) from nodejs.org
Run: npm install -g @signalk/server
Start: signalk-server --sample-n2k-data (test) or signalk-server (live)
Access the Signal K admin interface at http://localhost:3000
Add your NMEA connection (serial port, TCP, UDP) in Signal K → Server → Connections

Signal K Server documentation: demo.signalk.org/documentation

7. MARINE NAV TRACKER — FEATURE REFERENCE

TOOLBAR BUTTONS

BUTTON	OPENS	DESCRIPTION
⚓ OBS	Left panel	Set observer/vessel position. Enter coordinates, use GPS, or click the map. Select vessel type (changes icon and is recorded in reports).
🛸 OBJECT	Left panel	Pin any object on the chart. Choose object type (UAP types + real-world: ship, boat, plane, helicopter, lighthouse, rock, building). Click map to place. Opens Angle Finder automatically.
📐 ANGLE	Bottom drawer	Bearing, range, clock position, elevation angle, calculated altitude. Drag the SVG arc or use ▲▼ to set elevation. Data feeds directly into reports.
🗺 ROUTE	Left panel	Click waypoints to build a route. Distance, bearing per leg, ETA at current SOG. GPX export. Rhumb line or great circle toggle.
⚓ ANCHOR	Left panel	Set anchor watch radius. Alerts if vessel moves outside set distance. Works best with live Signal K GPS.
🧭 NAV	Bottom drawer	Full navigation display — compass, SOG, BSP, VMG, COG, heading.
💨 WIND	Bottom drawer	Wind display — TWS, TWD, TWA, AWS, AWA with wind rose.
🚢 HELM	Bottom drawer	Helm display — autopilot mode, target heading, rudder angle, course change buttons.
📊 DEPTH	Bottom drawer	Depth gauge in feet, metres, or fathoms (configured in admin settings).
📡 INST	Right panel	Full instrument panel — compass, speed, wind rose, depth, AIS vessel list.
🌊 WX	Right panel	Weather — Marine forecast (NWS), buoys (NDBC), alerts, tides (NOAA), wave forecast (Open-Meteo), land forecast.
🛰 SKY	Right panel	Sky position plot — aircraft, satellites, balloons, planets, stars at actual azimuth/elevation. Misidentification risk flags.
🗺 CHARTS	Map layer	Blinks amber on load. Tap to load NOAA nautical charts. Options: NOAA ENC, Paper, ECDIS, Satellite, Ocean, OSM.
🛸 UAP RPT	Modal	File a Marine UAP Sighting Report. Requires Free Observer Account. Generates composite sighting image.
📍 POS RPT	Modal	File a Marine Position Report saved to your My Marine profile. Requires Premium Membership.

OBJECT PIN TYPES

CATEGORY	TYPES
UAP/USO	Saucer, Triangle, Orb, Tic-Tac, Boomerang, Rectangle, Mothership, Galactic Cruiser
Real World	Ship, Boat, Plane, Helicopter, Lighthouse, Rock/Shoal, Building

REPORT TYPES

Both report types automatically capture a complete environmental snapshot at the time of filing:

Vessel instruments — all Signal K data (nav, wind, depth, engines, tanks, electrical, autopilot)
Marine weather — NWS marine forecast, NDBC buoy observations, active alerts, NOAA tide predictions, wave forecast, current conditions
Sky data — aircraft (OpenSky), satellites (CelesTrak), weather balloons (SondeHub), planets (VSOP87), bright stars (Hipparcos) — all with misidentification risk flags
Space weather — Kp index, solar wind speed/density, IMF Bz, X-ray flux, GOES proton flux, NOAA SWPC active alerts
UECI score — UAP Environmental Correlation Index (0–100), based on Zeller & Dreschhoff (2000) geophysical correlation methodology
Composite sighting image — SVG with radar scope, object card, angle geometry, GOES satellite image, full-width sky position plot

8. SIMULATION MODE

SV ALIEN ALERTS departs Harbor Island Marina, San Diego and sails approximately 100nm offshore to the USS Nimitz Tic-Tac UAP encounter coordinates (2004). Press ▶ SIM in the header to launch. All instruments update live during the simulation. Use it to explore tracker features and test report filing from any position along the route without being aboard a vessel.

9. ADMIN CONFIGURATION

All tracker settings are at Admin → Configuration → Services → Marine Nav Tracker on your AlienAlerts site.

SETTING	DESCRIPTION
Signal K Host	IP address of your Signal K server (e.g. `192.168.1.100`). Leave blank for standalone mode.
Signal K Port	Signal K server port. Default: `3000`
AIS Provider	MarineTraffic, AISHub, or VesselFinder — requires API key for vessel overlay on chart
Default Position	Latitude, longitude, and label for initial map center on load
Default Layer	Which chart layer loads by default (OSM recommended for speed)
Depth Units	Feet, metres, or fathoms for depth display
Speed Units	Knots, MPH, or KPH
Scan Radius	Default AIS/aircraft scan radius in nautical miles (5–500nm)

10. RESOURCES & SUPPORT

Signal K Project: signalk.org
Signal K Documentation: demo.signalk.org/documentation
OpenPlotter: openplotter.readthedocs.io
PiCAN-M HAT: copperhilltech.com
Yacht Devices YDWG-02: yachtdevicesus.com
Digital Yacht ZDIGUSBNMEA: digitalyacht.co.uk
Digital Yacht iKommunicate: ikommunicate.com
SeaBits (Signal K + Pi tutorials): seabits.com
AlienAlerts Marine Nav Tracker: alienalerts.com/usa/marine-navigation-uso-tracker

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