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Summary of Contents for ShipModul MiniPlex-2Wi
- Page 1 ShipModul Marine Electronics MiniPlex-2Wi NMEA 0183 multiplexer Manual MiniPlex-2Wi, V1.0 Firmware V3.17.x Art.no.: 1125 Man. rev. A © CustomWare, 2012...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Introduction ........................3 Talkers and Listeners ....................... 3 The Multiplexer ........................ 3 The MiniPlex-2Wi ......................4 Connections ........................5 NMEA Signals ........................5 NMEA Listener Ports/Inputs ....................5 NMEA Talker Ports/Outputs ....................5 ... -
Page 3: Introduction
Introduction The MiniPlex-2Wi is an NMEA multiplexer that enables the connection of multiple NMEA 0183 instruments to each other and a computer and/or wireless devices. It is developed to solve a fundamental problem with the NMEA 0183 standard. The NMEA 0183 standard defines a communication protocol that enables navigation instruments to exchange data with each other. -
Page 4: The Miniplex-2Wi
The picture also shows a computer in light grey that is connected to the USB port on the multiplexer. The MiniPlex-2Wi also has a USB port with the same function as the WiFi interface. This allows you to connect a second (fixed) computer while having the freedom of moving around with your laptop, PDA, tablet or smartphone having access to the same navigation data as the fixed computer. -
Page 5: Connections
Connections NMEA Signals Although the NMEA 0183 standard very clearly specifies the signal names, voltage levels and connection methods, the reality is far from this ideal world. The most important property of an NMEA port is that the connections or wires are labelled ‘A’ and ‘B’... -
Page 6: Combining Ports
Some instruments have single ended listener ports, with only one data terminal. Connect this terminal to the A terminal on the multiplexer, and leave the B terminal on the multiplexer unconnected. Connect the ground of the instrument to the Com terminal on the multiplexer. The instrument’s data ground is often combined with its power supply ground. -
Page 7: Seatalk
SeaTalk ® ® SeaTalk is a proprietary protocol developed by Raymarine . This protocol is used for communication between Raymarine navigation instruments like the ST40, ST50 and ST60 series. To be able to use these instruments with commonly available navigation programs or to feed their data into other non-Raymarine instruments, the SeaTalk data needs to be translated into NMEA. -
Page 8: Wifi Interface
This uniquely identifies a MiniPlex-2Wi from similar devices. A wireless device that connects to the MiniPlex-2Wi will get an IP address from the built-in DHCP server. It is not necessary to set a fixed IP address in your device. -
Page 9: Driver Installation
Driver Installation To use the MiniPlex-2Wi with your computer using the USB interface, a device driver needs to be installed. This driver creates a virtual COM port, which can be opened with any navigation software just like any other COM port. Drivers are supplied for Microsoft Windows (Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7) and Apple’s Mac OS X. - Page 10 Choose ‘Browse my computer for driver software’. In the following window, choose the location of the driver (the ‘\USB Driver\Windows’ subfolder on the MiniPlex Driver & Utility CD) and press ‘Next’.
- Page 11 When Windows has successfully installed the driver, the following window appears: You can close this window. The Device Manager will now list an USB Serial Port under Other Devices:...
- Page 12 Right-click on the USB Serial Port entry and choose ‘Update Driver Software...’ from the menu that appears. This will open the following Window: Choose ‘Browse my computer for driver software’. In the following window, choose the location of the driver (the same location as last time will be shown again) and press ‘Next’.
- Page 13 When Windows has successfully installed the driver, the following window appears: You can close this window. The Device Manager will now list a ShipModul MiniPlex NMEA Multiplexer under Universal Serial Bus controllers and a MiniPlex Serial Port (COMx) under Ports (COM & LPT).
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Page 14: Windows 2000/Vista/Xp Installation
Windows 2000/Vista/XP Installation When the multiplexer is connected to a USB port for the first time, Windows will detect new hardware and prompts you for a driver. Insert the supplied CD into the drive and follow the instructions on your screen. If you have an Internet connection, you can let Windows search the Internet for updated drivers. -
Page 15: Data Throughput
Data Throughput Depending on the configuration of the multiplexer, NMEA sentences are sent to one or more outputs with different communication speeds. A situation could arise where more data is received than can be transmitted because of the different speed settings of the inputs and outputs. Such a situation leads to an overflow of the input queues of the multiplexer. - Page 16 A quite different situation may arise with some fluxgates or gyrocompasses. These devices may send their heading sentences with a speed up to 40 sentences per second! Instead of queuing a burst of sentences every one or two seconds, the multiplexer must queue a constant stream of sentences, possibly utilizing the maximum bandwidth of the multiplexer.
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Page 17: Configuration
Configuration The multiplexer can be configured with a configuration program called MPX-Config. This program can be found on the accompanying CD. There is no installation procedure for this program, just start it from the CD or copy it to a suitable folder on the hard disk of your computer and start it from there. -
Page 18: Menu
Menu The menu contains two sub-menus: File and Tools. The File menu contains the following options to choose from: Start Log… Start writing NMEA data to a log file. A log file is a plain text file and can later be opened by any text editor to examine the data. A log file can be a useful tool for diagnostic purposes and is often requested by us for support. -
Page 19: Controls
If you connect to the multiplexer using TCP, enter the IP address of the multiplexer in the Host field as shown. The IP address of the MiniPlex-2Wi is 10.0.0.1. Once you have set the desired settings, click on the Connect button to start the connection to the multiplexer. -
Page 20: Read Configuration
Read Configuration Clicking this button will retrieve the current configuration settings from the multiplexer. MPX-Config will do this automatically when you click on the Connect button but it can be useful to re-read the configuration at a later stage. When the wrong port is selected, MPX-Config will show a ‘Multiplexer does not respond’ - message and all controls will be disabled (greyed). - Page 21 and the background colour will return to white again. It is possible to change all Talker ID’s first and press Enter after changing the last one. Starting at the Talker ID field of input 1, pressing the Tab key will jump to the Talker ID of the next input. Clicking the Read Configuration button will read the Talker ID settings from the multiplexer.
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Page 22: Options
When the tablet is connected, it will receive all information from the instruments and the navigation software calculates the course to steer and drives the autopilot accordingly. Because the tablet is sending NMEA data, the multiplexer routes this data exclusively to Out 1. The autopilot will therefore receive information from the tablet only. -
Page 23: Nmea Conversions
back to the second GPS. When Check GPS status is enabled, the multiplexer checks the Status field of GPS sentences. When the Status field indicates ‘Invalid data’, the multiplexer will block these sentences, allowing the priority system to time out and pass sentences from the second GPS. Sentences of which the Status flag is checked are APB, GGA, GLL, RMA, RMB, RMC, VTG and XTE. - Page 24 GPS Speed to Log Speed (VTG -> VHW) If this option is enabled, the multiplexer will generate a VHW sentence (water speed and heading) when a VTG sentence (course over ground and ground speed) is received. The VTG sentence is generated by a GPS and the VHW sentence by a log.
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Page 25: Sentence Filtering & Routing
Sentence Filtering & Routing The Sentence Filtering & Routing feature is the most powerful feature of the MiniPlex. It allows you to filter and route NMEA sentences based on the Address Field of an NMEA sentence (the ‘GPRMC’ part) and optionally reduce the rate of the sentence. Sentences can be passed or blocked, specified by input (filtering) and they can be forwarded to specific outputs (routing). - Page 26 When changes are made, press Enter to confirm them or press Escape to discard any changes and exit Edit mode. The Technical Reference section lists all commonly used Talker IDs and Sentence Formatters. This list can be a useful aid while setting up the sentence filter. The following buttons are available to edit the list: Store List Stores the list from MPX-Config into the multiplexer.
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Page 27: Resetting The Multiplexer
Example The example below shows a small set of filter rules: These rules have the following effect: the GPRMC sentence is passed when it is received on In 1 while the other inputs are blocked. The sentence is routed to Out1 and to the PC (USB port). The HCHDT sentence is passed from In 2 and routed to the PC. -
Page 28: Firmware Update
Firmware from the File menu. In order to perform an update, download a firmware image file from our website www.shipmodul.com and store it on your computer. Connect your computer to the USB port of the MiniPlex. You can only update the MiniPlex-2Wi using the USB port! The update process resets the multiplexer, which results in a lost WiFi connection. -
Page 29: Technical Reference
Technical Reference NMEA Glossary This glossary lists the most common Talker ID’s and Sentence Formatters in alphabetical order. Talker ID’s Autopilot (general) Autopilot (magnetic) Automatic Identification System Communications: Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Data receiver Satellite Radio telephone (MF/HF) Radio telephone (VHF) Scanning receiver Decca navigator Direction finder... - Page 30 Frequency set information GNSS Satellite fault detection Global positioning system fix data Geographic position, LORAN-C Geographic position, latitude/longitude GNSS fix data GNSS range residuals GNSS DOP and active satellites GNSS pseudo range error statistics GNSS satellites in view Heading, deviation and variation Heading, true Heading monitor –...
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Page 31: Translated Seatalk Datagrams
Translated SeaTalk datagrams When the SeaTalk translation is enabled, the following datagrams are translated into NMEA sentences: SeaTalk NMEA Description Depth below transducer Wind angle, (10 and 11 combined) Wind speed, (10 and 11 combined) Speed through water, includes heading when present Trip mileage (21 and 22 combined) Total mileage (21 and 22 combined) -
Page 32: Firmware Update Error Messages
Firmware Update Error messages During a firmware update, the following warnings or error messages may be displayed: The firmware update failed This message appears when the overall update process failed without any other error message. It is shown when the updated multiplexer firmware does not report a version message after start-up. -
Page 33: Mpx-Config Ini File Format
The configuration file format of MPX-Config resembles the standard Windows INI file format and is readable text. Below is an example of the configuration file. This example corresponds with the settings shown on the various MPX-Config screenshots throughout this manual. [Information] MPX-Config=MiniPlex Configuration Tool V3.9.0 Device=MiniPlex-2Wi Firmware Version=3.17.1 Serial Number=25002391 [Configuration] Baud In1=3... -
Page 34: Proprietary Nmea Sentences
All host interfaces operate equally and have equal priority. All MiniPlex proprietary sentences have the following format: $PSMDxx[,a,b,…][*hh]<CR><LF> Start of a proprietary command as dictated by the NMEA standard SMD: ShipModul manufacturer mnemonic Two- or three-character sentence formatter a,b,…: Optional fields Optional checksum <CR><LF>: Carriage Return and Line Feed characters that terminate the sentence... -
Page 35: Cfq - Request Current Configuration
Heading translation: 0 = off 1 = on Velocity translation: 0 = off 1 = on Priority Timeout (in seconds): 0 = 1 1 = 2 2 = 3 3 = 5 4 = 10 5 = 30 Filter mode: 0 = Pass sentences that are not present in the filter list 1 = Block sentences that are not present in the filter list Reverse heading. -
Page 36: Drq - Request Default Route
yyyyy: Input field for NMEA Out2. Each ‘y’ represents an input, numbered from 1 to 4 from left to right. Input 5 is not a real input but the source of NMEA sentences generated from conversions. When ‘1’, the input is routed to output 2. When ‘0’, the input is not routed to output 2. -
Page 37: Flq - Request Filter List
FLQ – Request Filter List This sentence requests the filter list from the multiplexer. The multiplexer responds by sending FL sentences, one for each list entry. An empty FL sentence marks the end of the list. Format: $PSMDFLQ[*hh]<CR><LF> Example response: $PSMDFL,GPRMC,100110,0,1111*4A<CR><LF>... -
Page 38: Reset - Reset The Multiplexer
RESET – Reset the multiplexer This sentence resets the multiplexer and starts the bootloader. When a ‘1’ is given as parameter, the factory settings of the multiplexer are restored. Format: $PSMDRESET,x[*hh]<CR><LF> Optional parameter to indicate an action while resetting 1: restore the multiplexer to its factory settings After a reset, the multiplexer outputs a LDR sentence and a VER sentence on the host interface. -
Page 39: Ver - Get Version
This speed setting is temporary: after a power cycle the speed is reset to its normal operational value, determined by the firmware of the multiplexer. Configure the WiFi module with the multiplexer default access point settings: SSID: MiniPlex-2Wi:xx:yy Channel: IP address: 10.0.0.1 Network mask: 255.255.255.0... - Page 40 Set the network parameters of the WiFi connection: $PSMDWI,N,ip,mask,gw[*hh]<CR><LF> IP address, 0 for automatic assignment by a DHCP server mask: network mask optional gateway address $PSMDWI,N,0 sets the multiplexer to DCHP in order to obtain all settings automatically. The gateway address is only needed to obtain firmware updates of the WiFi module. When the ip field contains a ‘0’, the IP settings will be obtained from a DHCP server and all other fields will be ignored.
- Page 41 If no expected response is specified, the multiplexer returns $PSMDWC,message where message is the response from the module. The module-specific commands are not listed here because they fall outside the scope of this specification. Note that the multiplexer responds with a $PSMDWC sentence when it is in command mode. In normal mode, a $PSMDWI response is given.
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Page 42: Technical Specifications
Technical Specifications Supply voltage: 8 – 35 V , protected against reversed polarity. Current consumption: 70 mA (130 mA max. with fully loaded talker ports). Host interface: WiFi (802.11b/g, +18dBm) USB, galvanically isolated. NMEA Inputs: 4 x NMEA 0183/RS-422, galvanically isolated. Input 4 can be set to SeaTalk mode. -
Page 43: Declaration Of Conformity
9403 TS Assen The Netherlands Tel.: +31 592 375700 Fax: +31 592 375550 Declare under our sole responsibility that the product ShipModul MiniPlex-2Wi to which this declaration relates is in conformity with the following specifications: EN/IEC61000-6-1:1997 and EN/IEC61000-6-3:1996 EN/IEC61162-1:2000 EN/IEC300328:2006... - Page 44 ShipModul / CustomWare Borgstee 27b 9403 TS Assen The Netherlands web: www.shipmodul.com e-mail: support@shipmodul.com...
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