There are two sizes of cabling defined by the DeviceNet/NMEA 2000 standard. The DeviceNet standard defines levels of shielding, conductor size, weather resistance, and flexibility which are not necessarily met by other cabling solutions marketed as "NMEA 2000" compatible. Such cabling systems are permitted to be labeled "NMEA 2000 Approved".
The only cabling standard approved by the NMEA for use with NMEA 2000 networks is the DeviceNet cabling standard, which is controlled by the Open DeviceNet Vendors Association.
Typical NMEA 2000 Network Installation Cabling and Interconnect
Another improvement is that NMEA 2000 supports a disciplined multiple-talker, multiple-listener data network whereas NMEA 0183 requires a single-talker, multiple-listener ( simplex) serial communications protocol. It uses a compact binary message format as opposed to the ASCII serial communications protocol used by NMEA 0183. It has a significantly higher data rate (250k bits/second vs. NMEA 2000 ( IEC 61162-3) can be considered a successor to the NMEA 0183 (IEC 61162-1) serial data bus standard. NMEA 2000 devices and J1939 devices can be made to co-exist on the same physical network. NMEA 2000 is based on the SAE J1939 high-level protocol, but defines its own messages. NMEA 2000 connects devices using Controller Area Network (CAN) technology originally developed for the auto industry. It has been defined by, and is controlled by, the US based National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA). NMEA 2000 is a combined electrical and data specification for a marine data network for communication between marine electronic devices such as depth finders, nautical chart plotters, navigation instruments, engines, tank level sensors, and GPS receivers. Please help improve the article with a good introductory style. The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject.