Description
The AIRMAR DST820 is an advanced NMEA 2000® thru-hull multisensor combining depth, speed through water, water temperature and vessel attitude measurements in one compact unit.
Featuring AIRMAR’s Gen2 paddlewheel, the DST820 delivers responsive speed data from as low as 0.3 knots and maintains smooth, accurate readings up to 45 knots. It is particularly suitable for sailing, performance cruising and racing applications where accurate speed-through-water data is essential.
Key Features
- Depth, speed and water temperature from one transducer
- Integrated heel and trim attitude sensor
- Fast 5 Hz speed-through-water output
- Speed measurement range from 0.3 to 45 knots
- Depth measurement from 0.5 to 100 metres
- Bluetooth® connectivity for configuration and calibration
- Compatible with the free AIRMAR CAST™ app
- Standard NMEA 2000 data output
- Plastic thru-hull housing
- Self-closing valve helps reduce water entry when the insert is removed
- Suitable for hull deadrise angles up to 22°
Vakaros Compatibility
The DST820 can provide depth, speed-through-water and water-temperature data to a Vakaros Atlas 2 when used with a compatible NMEA 2000-to-Bluetooth interface.
Required Equipment
- Garmin AIRMAR DST820
- Powered and correctly terminated NMEA 2000 network
- Digital Yacht NAVLink Blue – Vakaros Edition
- Vakaros Atlas 2 with compatible firmware
The DST820 connects to the boat’s NMEA 2000 network. NAVLink Blue receives the supported NMEA 2000 data and transmits it wirelessly to the Atlas 2.
Important: The DST820 does not connect directly to the Vakaros Atlas 2 through its built-in Bluetooth connection. The DST820 Bluetooth function is designed for the AIRMAR CAST app and sensor calibration.
Data Available to Vakaros
Subject to the display configuration and firmware version, the Atlas 2 can receive:
- Speed through water
- Water depth
- Water temperature
The DST820 also transmits attitude, distance-log and diagnostic data. Availability of these additional fields depends on whether the receiving instrument supports the relevant NMEA 2000 PGNs.
Compatible Marine Electronics
Because the DST820 uses standard NMEA 2000 messages, it can be used with compatible:
- Garmin chartplotters and marine instruments
- B&G chartplotters and instrument displays
- Simrad multifunction displays
- Lowrance multifunction displays
- Raymarine chartplotters and i70/i70s instruments
- Furuno NMEA 2000-compatible displays
- Digital Yacht NMEA 2000 interfaces
- Other displays capable of reading the supported NMEA 2000 PGNs
Compatibility depends on the receiving display supporting the required PGNs. Connector adapters may be required for systems using proprietary cabling, including Raymarine SeaTalkng or older SimNet installations.
NMEA 2000 Data Output
The DST820 transmits the following principal standard NMEA 2000 PGNs:
| PGN | Data |
|---|---|
| 127257 | Vessel attitude – heel and trim |
| 128259 | Speed, water referenced |
| 128267 | Water depth |
| 128275 | Distance log |
| 130310 | Environmental parameters |
| 130311 | Environmental parameters |
| 130312 | Water temperature |
| 130316 | Extended-range temperature |
The sensor also transmits product, configuration and proprietary calibration or diagnostic PGNs.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Installation | Retractable thru-hull |
| Housing material | Plastic |
| Functions | Depth, speed, water temperature, heel and trim |
| Depth frequency | 235 kHz |
| Minimum depth | 0.5 m / 1.6 ft |
| Maximum depth | Up to 100 m / 330 ft |
| Depth update rate | 1 Hz |
| Speed range | 0.3–45 knots |
| Speed update rate | 5 Hz |
| Attitude update rate | 10 Hz |
| Attitude accuracy | ±1° nominal after calibration |
| Temperature range | -10°C to 40°C |
| Temperature accuracy | ±0.5°C |
| Maximum hull deadrise | 22° |
| Supply voltage | 9–16 V DC through NMEA 2000 |
| Supply current | Less than 200 mA |
| NMEA 2000 LEN | 2 |
| Wireless protocol | Bluetooth Low Energy |
| Bluetooth range | Up to approximately 9 m, installation dependent |
| Standard cable | 6 m DeviceNet/NMEA 2000 |
| Plastic-model weight | Approximately 0.9 kg |
| Compliance | CE, IEC 60945 and UK PSTI |
| Part number | 010-11051-30 |
AIRMAR CAST App
The free AIRMAR CAST app provides wireless access to the DST820 for:
- Basic speed calibration
- Advanced multi-point speed calibration
- Heel-compensated speed calibration
- Depth and temperature offsets
- Attitude calibration
- Sensor data display
- Output and filter configuration
Calibrations are stored within the DST820 and the corrected data is then supplied to all compatible displays connected to the NMEA 2000 network.
Installation Notes
The DST820 requires a powered and correctly terminated NMEA 2000 network. It is not designed to connect directly to a traditional analogue transducer socket.
Adapters may be required when connecting to:
- Raymarine SeaTalkng networks
- Older Simrad or B&G SimNet networks
- Proprietary manufacturer network cabling
Always confirm hull material, available mounting depth and hull deadrise before installation.





