Network Bus Extender

Maretron NBE100-01 NMEA 2000 Network Bus Extender

A transparent network bridge that splits an oversized NMEA 2000 network into two electrically isolated segments — solving bus errors from too many nodes, too much trunk length, or too much cumulative drop length, while keeping all devices visible to each other as if they're still on a single network.

Why It's Worth It
NMEA 2000 networks have hard limits: 50 nodes, 656' (200m) of trunk, and 256' (78m) of cumulative drop cable. Large vessels regularly exceed at least one of these, which causes bus errors, dropped data, and unreliable instrument readings that are difficult to diagnose without knowing the underlying cause. The NBE100 solves all three limits in one device: insert it mid-trunk, add termination resistors and a second power source to the new segment, and both segments now operate independently at full capacity — up to 100 nodes total — while still appearing as a single logical network to every device on both sides.

The optical isolation between segments is a genuine reliability benefit beyond just extending capacity: a fault or wiring problem on one segment can't drag down the other, and signal integrity improves on both sides because each segment is now properly terminated and sized. Priority-based message routing ensures that higher-priority messages (like navigation data) always get through ahead of lower-priority traffic.

The optional PGN filter adds a more advanced use case: use the NBE100 to selectively pass only specific message types between two otherwise separate buses — letting a distributed power system receive GPS time updates from the navigation bus, for example, without merging the two networks entirely.

Use
Insert mid-trunk between the two network sections to be segmented. Each segment must have its own power source and two termination resistors — when splitting an existing network, add one additional powertap and two additional termination resistors. Power is drawn only from Port A (labeled N2K PORT A(PWR)); Port B draws no power from its connected network. Configure using Maretron's N2KAnalyzer software if PGN filtering is needed; no configuration required for standard use. Multiple NBE100s can be daisy-chained for exceptionally large networks.

In The Box:

NBE100-01 Network Bus Extender
4 Stainless Steel Mounting Screws
Documentation

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Qualifies for Ground and 2 Day

Product Support:

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Release Date:

Warranty: 2yr

* ALL WARRANTY IS THROUGH MANUFACTURE *