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sailorguard vs Signalk

A lightweight SignalK-style gateway

SailorGuard is not a replacement for the official SignalK server — it is a streamlined, hardware-based implementation of the same data model and structure, built for simplicity and reliability. It delivers the core functionality of SignalK in a compact, plug-and-play gateway that boots instantly and requires no configuration.

While a full SignalK server provides rich dashboards, plugins, chart integrations, data logging, and advanced customization, SailorGuard focuses on the essentials: clean data acquisition, fast processing, and stable NMEA/SignalK output directly from dedicated marine hardware.

Together, they form a complementary system: SailorGuard handles the real-time sensor data at hardware level, while the official SignalK server expands the ecosystem with advanced tools, visualizations, and extensibility when needed.

plug and play hardware

Hardware-First Reliability

SignalK logic running on a compact, plug-and-play device.

Instead of relying on SD cards, operating systems, or complex installations, SailorGuard runs its lightweight SignalK-style engine directly on embedded hardware. This eliminates crashes, long boot times, and maintenance. The system powers up instantly, recovers cleanly after power loss, and works flawlessly in harsh marine conditions. It’s SignalK intelligence, engineered for real-world onboard reliability.

signalk

Start Simple, Expand Anytime

A clean starting point for beginners, with room to grow for experts.

Many boaters want a reliable gateway without the complexity of running a full server. SailorGuard offers the perfect starting point: plug it in, power it on, and get real-time NMEA/SignalK output immediately. For those who later need full dashboards or plugin-driven features, a full SignalK server can be added effortlessly, SailorGuard already speaks the same data language, making expansion seamless.

Embedded Processing Instead of OS-Level Complexity

Bare-metal performance with deterministic timing and no filesystem risk.

Unlike a full SignalK server running on Linux or Raspberry Pi, SailorGuard executes its entire data pipeline on microcontroller firmware (ESP32-class hardware). There is no SD card, no bootloader dependency, no journaling file system, and no background services to fail. Sensor polling, CAN/I2C acquisition, NMEA decoding, and SignalK delta generation are all handled with real-time constraints in mind, providing consistent timing and instant recovery after power loss.

SailorGuard Gateway

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