Required for AIS (Automatic Identification System) because of the high volume of data.
This transparency is a distinct advantage of NMEA 0183 output. Unlike proprietary binary protocols, the human-readable ASCII format allows technicians and developers to troubleshoot issues using simple tools. If a GPS is transmitting incorrect coordinates, one can hook up a laptop to the output wire, view the stream in a terminal program, and immediately pinpoint whether the error lies in the hardware or the configuration. nmea 0183 output