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NMEA Data Multiplexer
Multiple talker interface for use with the NMEA 0183 standard. Serial data
networking of marine electronic devices / instruments.
RS232 & USB 1.1, 2.0 & 3.0 PC interfaces to the NMEA 0183 standard.
Actisense ISO-Drive technology for a fully isolated serial data system.
Intelligent NMEA filtering on all inputs allows smart removal of NMEA data.
Re-configurable to work as an NDC-4-ASW Autoswitch to allow the automatic
switching between up to 4 NMEA inputs.
NDC-4
For all variants:
NDC-4, NDC-4-USB, NDC-4-ASW
NDC-4-AIS, NDC-4-AIS-USB
Full User Manual
Issue 1.09
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Table of Contents
Related Manuals for Actisense NDC-4
Summary of Contents for Actisense NDC-4
- Page 1 Multiple talker interface for use with the NMEA 0183 standard. Serial data networking of marine electronic devices / instruments. RS232 & USB 1.1, 2.0 & 3.0 PC interfaces to the NMEA 0183 standard. Actisense ISO-Drive technology for a fully isolated serial data system. Intelligent NMEA filtering on all inputs allows smart removal of NMEA data. Re-configurable to work as an NDC-4-ASW Autoswitch to allow the automatic ...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
NMEA Data Multiplexer - NDC-4 Contents Important Notices Notices Foreword Introduction General Features Technical Features Software Updates Connecting devices together The Basics The NMEA Signals The Different NMEA Standards Connections Connecting to NMEA Devices OPTO Inputs ISO-Drive Outputs Other Connections... - Page 4 Hardware Connection Status Window Hardware Information Window Configuration of AIS Setting up the Hardware for AIS The NDC-4-ASW Autoswitch Setting the NDC-4 as an Autoswitch Using the NDC-4 ActiPatch Pull-down menus Buttons, LED’s and Displays The Reprogramming Operation Troubleshooting Guide...
- Page 5 NMEA Data Multiplexer - NDC-4 © 2015 Active Research Limited Page 5...
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Page 6: Important Notices
(e.g. GPS’s or depth sounders) the system solution could be to use the NDC-4 as an NMEA Autoswitch The NDC-4 does not validate the NMEA data it receives in to select the highest priority source. any way. Neither the NMEA sentence checksum, nor the data contained within the NMEA sentence is validated. -
Page 7: General Features
10 year Data Retention provides carefree by an NMEA 0183 Listener that expects a checksum. This user configuration. feature makes the NDC-4 essential even when interfacing a single v.1.5 NMEA 0183 Talker to a v.2.0 (and above) On-chip memory store allows buffering of short-term NMEA 0183 Listener. -
Page 8: Software Updates
OPTO IN ‘+/A’ input of the NDC- depending on the instrument and manufacturer. 4. Connect the ground line of the single-ended output device to the OPTO IN ‘-/B’ input of the NDC-4. This When connecting between different manufacturers, there provides the data signal return current path. If the NMEA can be some confusion, but it is simple and easy to ‘-/B’ input is left floating, then data corruption / errors may... -
Page 9: Connections
Actisense low current drain circuitry (2mA @ PC’s USB port. Once the USB cable is powered and 2.0v) to conform in full with the NMEA 0183 marine plugged into the NDC-4, Port 0 switches to an output only electronic device network communication standard, and mode - this allows the USB port to take over bidirectional are flexible enough to interface to most fully and partially control of the NDC-4. -
Page 10: Connecting To Nmea Devices
Please determine (from device manufacturer’s information) of NMEA 0183 devices and a Personal Computer (PC) if the device(s) required to be connected to the NDC-4 communication port. However, if you wish to maintain conforms in full to the NMEA 0183 network communication isolation between all devices, then only one listening standard. If it does not, the flexible NDC-4 inputs should... -
Page 11: Other Connections
Connecting to the Battery Supply The NDC-4 can be powered either by the USB connection 3. The TX of the NDC-4 should be connected to the RX of or through an external power source. If both power sources the computer (standard D-type, pin 2) and the NDC-4 RX are available, the precautions in the USB warning section should be connected to the TX of the computer (pin 3). above must be adhered to. The GND of both IN 0 and OUT 0 on the NDC-4 should be connected to the PC’s serial port ground (pin 5). See If the NDC-4 is powered from an external power source, “Figure 26 - DB9 Connection”... -
Page 12: Usb Driver Installation
1. Open ‘Device Manager’ (from the start menu type Kit from your dealer. ‘device manager’ in the search box, open it from the list). The USB cable is not vital to the configuring or updating of an NDC-4; Port 0 (OPTO IN 0 and ISO OUT 0) connected to an RS232 port can perform exactly the same operations if a USB cable is not available see “Other Connections” on page... -
Page 13: Windows Xp And Windows Nt/2000
NMEA Data Multiplexer - NDC-4 Windows XP and Windows NT/2000 4. Click the ‘Browse’ button and locate the folder that the ftdibus.inf” ). Once USB driver is saved (containing “ The following instructions are for Windows XP. Although the folder is selected click ‘Next’. not the same, Windows NT/2000 users will be able to use this information as well. -
Page 14: Usb Configuration
‘Next’. Locate and Change the Port Number 1. Connect the NDC-4 USB cable to a USB port on the In Windows 7 and Vista; from the start menu type ‘Device Manager’ in the search box, open it from the list. In Windows XP; from ‘Control Panel’, select ‘System’, on the ‘Hardware’ tab click ‘Device Manager’. - Page 15 4. Click on the ‘Advanced’ button and choose a different COM Port number if required (to make it compatible with the software requiring the NDC-4 NMEA data). Figure 4 - COM Port Numbers List Windows remembers all previously connected USB ports and lists all these as ‘in use’ even when they are not connected.
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Page 16: Actisense Pc Software Suites
Actisense PC Software suites The Actisense NMEA Data Combiner hardware can be configured, monitored and tested using its own dedicated software suite, ‘NDC Control Centre’. The NDC-4 can be updated / upgraded using the latest ActiPatch software suite. This section provides a complete users guide to installing and uninstalling these two software suites. These programs are currently only available for Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista/7, however, it has been proven possible to use Control Centre and ActiPatch on a Mac running ‘VMware Fusion’ Windows emulation software. -
Page 17: Uninstalling Actisense Pc Software
Control Centre” , or “ActiPatch” . 1. To uninstall the program, from the ‘Start Menu’ navigate to the ‘Actisense’ directory and double click on the ‘Uninstall’ icon (refer to “Figure 7 - ‘Start Menu’ Short- Figure 9 –... -
Page 18: Using Ndc Control Centre
Using NDC Control Centre The Actisense NMEA Data Combiner hardware can be configured and monitored using its own dedicated Control Centre suite. This section provides a complete users guide to all of the NDC Control Centre’s features. This program is currently only available for Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista/7, however, it has been proven possible to use Control Centre on a Mac running ‘VMware Fusion’ Windows emulation software. -
Page 19: Connecting To Control Centre
Control Centre’s appearance and all other settings are “ControlCentre.ini” which is stored in the file If using an NDC-4 without the USB kit: connect battery automatically loaded at start-up and saved on exit. power (10 - 35v) and switch on the battery. Connect port 0 (ISO OUT 0 and OPTO IN 0) to the PC. Refer to “ControlCentre.ini”... -
Page 20: Pull-Down Menus
Comms → Comm Port 1-8: Opens the PC communications port in the range of port 1 The main window has five standard pull-down menus. to 8. Select the port the NDC-4 hardware is attached to. Comms → Comm Port x (change): For ports outside the 1-8 range, select this option. A dialogue will open to enter the port number required. Once... -
Page 21: Port Configuration Tab
NMEA Data Multiplexer - NDC-4 Port Configuration Tab The Port configuration tab of the main window allows the user to select the priority and Baud rates of the NMEA and USB / RS232 input ports of the NDC-4 hardware, plus other useful features. Figure 13 – Port Configuration Tab Port Configuration Tab Features 4. The NMEA 0183 standard determines the Baud rate of 4800. -
Page 22: Changing Baud Rates For Each Port
P-codes, then these P-codes can be disabled to aid Notes: compatibility. 1. The NDC-4 receives and buffers all the NMEA 0183 Default setting: Disabled. Click the button to toggle. sentences from all 5 inputs (4 NMEA 0183, and 1 USB / RS232), and then as a totally independent operation, it re-... -
Page 23: Port Priorities List
OUT 1). Default setting: Disabled. Click the button to toggle. Notes: 1. The NDC-4 stores sentences in a buffer so that short periods of high load just causes a delay rather than dropped sentences. When the buffer becomes full some Delete duplicates sentences will have to be dropped. If the rate drops below... -
Page 24: Inclusion List Configuration Tab
Default Inclusion List Set-up Of those that do, the procedure can often be tricky and The NDC-4 ‘Inclusion List’ default is to allow all sentences time consuming. through. The inclusion list will show no ticks and a red label stating ‘Pass all data’. -
Page 25: Editing The Inclusion List
List Set-up” on page ticked, that NMEA sentence will be blocked and not appear on the combined output. Note: This only changes the Control Centre settings, click ‘Send to Hardware’ to apply these settings to the NDC-4. Set/Clear All Sentences To completely disable the Inclusion Send to Hardware List for a particular channel, click Finalises the Inclusion List editing on the Clear all sentences button. -
Page 26: Flash Hardware Window
(by pressing the Send to Hardware control button on the appropriate tab). Advanced Features The following windows and/or tabs will only be of interest to the advanced user, as they are not vital for the configuration of the NDC-4 hardware. They do however, explain the useful diagnostic and monitoring features available. These advanced windows are hidden by default, and all novice users should advance past this section to “Using the NDC-4 ActiPatch” on page © 2015 Active Research Limited Page 26... -
Page 27: Control Centre Port Status Window
Comms menu on the main window. Remember to re-select sentences to help Control Centre and can be ignored. the correct Comm port to continue with configuring and/or monitoring the NDC-4. As the NDC-4 NMEA filtering is normally only applied to ‘OUT 1’ and the source of the displayed data is ‘OUT 0’, The current baud rate being all data received by the NDC-4 will be shown. However, it used by Control Centre to talk is sometimes useful to view the results of the filtering setup to the NDC-4 hardware is displayed here. -
Page 28: Hardware Port Status Window
NDC-4. ‘Bytes per second’ shows the used bandwidth (as a percentage) for each input and output port on the NDC-4, plus the combined (Uni) input bandwidth being used of all its ports. Rx 0 and Tx 0 represent the RS232 / USB port. -
Page 29: Hardware Information Window
‘Autoswitch’. Confirms how the NDC-4 is currently Version numbers of the bootloader and Main application software programs. If the Main program’s version number processing any received NMEA data. is older (less than) that of the currently available NDC-4 ActiPatch, the latest NDC-4 ActiPatch should be 8. Flash Program Counters downloaded from the Actisense website and the NDC-4 Not used for NDC’s and will remain blank. -
Page 30: Configuration Of Ais
The remaining ports can be re-configured by the user as From the menu select ‘File → Load Configuration File’ “Using NDC needed using Control Centre. Refer to “NDC-4 config for AIS.ini” file from the and select Control Centre” on page 18 for full detailed information on install directory. Read the pop up and click ‘OK’. -
Page 31: The Ndc-4-Asw Autoswitch
If this creates a ‘jumping’ position fix, vessel safety is seriously affected. The NDC-4 Autoswitch mode is the perfect solution to this problem - automatically selecting a single device from the multiple ‘same data type’ devices available. In the ‘Port Configure’ tab click on the button labelled “Change To Autoswitch” to change the NDC’s operation Autoswitch mode will automatically select the highest mode to Autoswitch. -
Page 32: Using The Ndc-4 Actipatch
Using the NDC-4 ActiPatch The NDC-4 firmware can be easily and quickly updated using the NDC-4 ActiPatch. The program has a simple appearance, as the flash update process has been completely automated for a trouble-free operation. Figure 24 – NDC-4 ActiPatch Window (searching for NDC) Pull-down menus This program is currently only available for Windows... -
Page 33: Buttons, Led's And Displays
For most users this information can be ignored, and will only be useful if there are problems in re-flashing the attached NDC-4. Serial ID (unique identification number) Displays the Serial ID of the NDC-4 that is attached and Comms → Offline successfully connected to. Every Actisense product has If ticked then no port is open. Selecting this closes the its own unique serial identification number. -
Page 34: The Reprogramming Operation
Version) will now be identical - proving that the new firmware is now safely inside the NDC-4. The USB cable is not vital to the configuring or updating of an NDC-4; Port 0 (OPTO IN 0 and ISO OUT 0) connected to an RS232 port can perform exactly the same operations if a USB cable is not available. © 2015 Active Research Limited... -
Page 35: Troubleshooting Guide
Diagnostic LED The NDC-4 hardware supports a tricolour diagnostic LED that indicates the current operating mode of the hardware, or if an error has been detected during the self-test initiation process. ‘Table 1’ details what each LED colour represents and if any user interaction is required. LED Colour /... -
Page 36: Control Centre Error Status Window
Control Centre Error Status Window Control Centre will display any error information received from the NDC-4 hardware in a window like that in “Figure 25 – Control Centre Error Status Window”. If this window is displayed, follow the message instructions carefully and then if the fault persists, contact Actisense (refer to “Company Information”... -
Page 37: Diagnosing The Ndc Control Centre Connection
NMEA Data Multiplexer - NDC-4 Diagnosing the NDC Control Centre Connection To diagnose an installation with an NDC-4 is best done with NDC Control Centre. The first stage of this is to have Control Centre connect with the NDC-4. If this connection is not being made follow this flow chart starting at the blue box (top left) and answer the questions to reach the recommended solution. -
Page 38: Diagnosing Data Flow Using Ndc Control Centre
2. Check the wiring is correct and secure. Each of the Refer to “Hardware Port Status Window” on page NDC-4’s inputs require 2 wires, a ‘Data’, ‘A’ or ’+’ wire and a ‘Ground’, ‘B’ or ‘-’ wire. Only use ground if there is no ‘B’ or ‘-’ wire. -
Page 39: Problem: Missing Data From Input
NMEA Data Multiplexer - NDC-4 Problem: Missing data from input 2. If it is not possible to increase the baud rate, deleting sentences that give the same information can help, see Using the Hardware Port Status window will help work out “Delete duplicates”... -
Page 40: Specifications
Year Gland clamping range Cable diameters accommodated IP Rating IP66 Table 2 – NDC-4 Specifications All specifications are taken with reference to an ambient temperature (TA) of +25°C. Notes: 1. Current consumption measured under no-load conditions. 2. Short circuit may be applied indefinitely. The ISO-Drive output may be short-circuited directly to a 30 volt battery supply without damage. A maximum current of 50mA will flow due to “polyfuse” auto-resetting fuse technology being... -
Page 41: System Block Diagrams
ISO Out 0 ISO Out 0 active USB Input Port (PC) Circuitry Controller Circuitry Figure 30 – NDC-4 in ‘Combiner’ Mode Signal Flow Block Diagram NMEA Opto NMEA Input Filter Port 1 Port 1 NMEA Opto NMEA Input Filter... -
Page 42: Save Your Ndc-4 Configuration Options Here
Save your NDC-4 configuration options here OPTO IN (1-4) - NMEA Devices Connected Baud Rate USB / RS232 (bi-directional port) or OPTO IN 0 - Device Connected Baud Rate ISO OUT 0 - NMEA Devices Connected Baud Rate ISO OUT 1 - NMEA Devices Connected Baud Rate ©... - Page 43 NMEA Data Multiplexer - NDC-4 © 2015 Active Research Limited Page 43...
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Page 44: Order Codes
NDC-4 base unit pre-configured as an Autoswitch Returns Procedure Actisense prides itself on having a very low product return rate. In the unlikely event that you need to return a unit for repair, it is important to follow these steps.
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