NDC comm Network Card NDC 3 User Manual

NMEA Data Combiner  
NDC-3-B  
User Manual  
Issue 1.31  
Multiple talker interface for use with the NMEA 0183 standard.  
Serial-data networking of marine electronic devices / instruments  
Personal computer (RS232) interface to NMEA 0183 standards  
 
Actisense™  
Important Notices  
Foreword  
The Actisense™ NMEA Data Combiner (NDC-3) is Actisense™ recognises that instructions are often  
intended for use in a marine environment, primarily for skipped, so we have aimed to write this document in an  
below deck use. If the unit is to be used in a more severe informative, yet direct manner that will aid the user. We  
environment, such use may be considered misuse under have tried to cover all the points a typical user may need to  
the seller’s warranty.  
know. Please read all sections before installing and using  
the Actisense™ NMEA Data Combiner product and any  
The Actisense™ NMEA Data Combiner (NDC-3) has been related software programs.  
certified to comply with the European directive for Electro-  
Magnetic Compatibility (EN60945), and is appropriately CE  
marked. Operation of the unit should be in conjunction with  
appropriate CE approved shielded connectors and cabling  
Introduction  
The Actisense™ NMEA Data Combiner (NDC-3) product  
used in accordance with the CE directive EN60945. Any  
EMC related issues should be reported to Active Research  
immediately to allow the company to rectify or resolve  
EMC related problems in accordance with its obligations  
under EN60945.  
developed out of the requirement to solve two fundamental  
problems with the existing marine industry NMEA 0183  
communications standard.  
In theory, the NMEA 0183 standard allows any suitably  
designed marine electronic device to share its gathered  
informationwithanyotherdeviceonavessel.Unfortunately,  
there is one very large drawback with this standard - only  
one device on a connected network can actually send  
data (a single talker), with multiple devices (determined by  
the current limit of the sending unit) listening to that data  
(multiple listeners).  
If the unit is connected such that compliance failure occurs  
beyond the company’s control, the company shall not be  
held responsible for compliance failure until suitable EMC  
guidelines for connection are seen to have been taken.  
Notices  
When using this document, keep the following in mind:  
If the vessel owner has an instrument that ideally requires  
the data output of two or more devices, for example a chart  
Theproductsdescribedinthismanualandthespecifications plotter, then the owner has no alternative but to settle on  
thereof may be changed without prior notice. To obtain up- connecting only the most important device (that which  
to-date information and/or specifications, contact Active supplies the most used information), normally that is the  
Research Limited or visit the Actisense™ website (www. GPS unit. All other devices cannot be used.  
What happens if the owner prefers the vessels gyro  
compass heading output to that of the GPS, or requires  
that the current depth be displayed on the plotted chart to  
help avoid the possible case of running the vessel aground  
on a shifting sand bank? The NMEA 0183 standard cannot  
supply an answer to those questions as it can handle only  
one transmitting device.  
Active Research Limited will not be liable for infringement  
of copyright, industrial property right, or other rights of a  
third party caused by the use of information or drawings  
described in this manual.  
All rights are reserved: The contents of this manual may  
not be transferred or copied without the expressed written  
permission of Active Research Limited.  
These two elementary problems can be solved simply and  
easily with the Actisense™ NMEA Data Combiner’s very  
flexible design approach.  
Active Research Limited will not be held responsible for  
any damage to the user that may result from accidents  
or any other reasons during operation of the user’s unit  
according to this document.  
Alternately, if the vessel has two or more identical NMEA  
devices (e.g. GPS’s or depth sounders) the system solution  
could be to use the Actisense™ NMEA Autoswitch.  
The NDC-3 does not validate the NMEA data it receives  
in any way. Neither the NMEA sentence checksum, nor  
the data contained within the NMEA sentence is validated.  
Therefore, the electronic device(s) supplying the NDC-3  
with NMEA data retain(s) the sole responsibility for the  
NMEA data’s validity.  
Full information on the complete Actisense™ product  
range can be found on the Actisense™ website.  
© 2005 Active Research Limited  
Page 4  
 
 
NMEA Data Combiner - NDC-3-B  
Full specification RS232 interface ensures that any  
marine electronic device (or PC) that has an RS-232 port  
receives all the input NMEA data, and can add its own  
NMEA data to the combined output. This connection also  
allows the unit to be updated via the free flash upgrade  
software that will be made available on the Actisense™  
website if the NDC-3 software has been enhanced.  
General features  
4 NMEA 0183 data input ports  
Each NMEA0183 input port has a priority level. This is fixed  
to the logical order that matches the port numbers, i.e. port  
1 has the highest priority and port 4 has the lowest.  
An NMEA 0183 data combined output port  
Wide battery input voltage range to offer maximum  
compatibility, the NMEA 0183 NDC-3 can operate from a  
battery supply anywhere between 8 and 35 volts.  
This output combines the input data into one standard  
NMEA output. The NMEA inputs and output have the same  
baud rate. This means that the output can only carry as  
much data as one of the inputs - therefore the combined  
data from all four NMEA input channels could exceed the  
data carrying capacity of the NMEA output channel. The  
combiner contains special software to ensure that when  
the output channel is overloaded, new data of the same  
type as older data, still in the buffer, will overwrite the older  
sentence. This will only happen when the output load  
becomes too high, and ensures that the combiner cannot  
build up excess old data in the case where the output  
stream is fully loaded or overloaded.  
Low Power Consumption that is typically 26-30mA at 12  
volts and 16-18mA at 24 volts.  
A diagnostic LED indicates the operation mode of the  
NDC-3, if any faults have been detected, or the peak load  
currently on any one of the NMEA inputs.  
Very tough Polycarbonate case is certified to IP66  
(classified as “totally protected against dust and protection  
against low pressure jets of water from all directions”).  
Being Polycarbonate, it is also incredibly strong, offering  
a wide temperature range and superior protection to the  
electronics inside. The IP66 rating of the case is only  
limited by the sealing gasket strip, which can be enhanced  
by applying a suitable non-acid based marine sealant to  
the gasket after wiring and testing. This will allow use of  
the unit in areas where salt spray could enter, accidental  
immersion may occur, or in environments where maximum  
long-term reliability is paramount.  
A PC compatible RS-232 bi-directional port  
A PC can use the RS-232 port to read all the NMEA data  
traversing through the NDC. This allows for the possibility  
of a “virtual cockpit” of instruments displaying all available  
data in any manner the user requires (available from a  
number of manufacturers).  
Technical features  
Robust Nylon grommets are certified to IP68 (classified  
as immersible for long periods without water ingress). Note  
that to achieve this level of water integrity all grommets  
must be occupied by round-section cables.  
High-speed micro-controller capable of 10 million  
instructions per second.  
Flash ROM technology that supports automatic  
programming for quick and easy updates, 10,000+ erase  
cycles and a 10-year Data Retention provides carefree  
user configuration.  
Large range of possible cable diameters of between  
4.5 mm and 10 mm, single or multi-pair wire types can be  
easily accepted.  
On-chip memory store allows buffering of short term  
NMEA data, allowing the unit to smooth short-term peaks  
in the NMEA data flow.  
Software updates  
The NDC-3’s built-in firmware is held in “flash” memory,  
allowing quick and easy upgrades using a simple Microsoft  
Windows (95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP) user interface program  
(Flash Centre) running on a connected PC.  
NMEA 0183 inputs are opto-isolated differential inputs to  
fully comply with the NMEA 0183 standard specification.  
This allows the inputs to work correctly with long cable runs  
and in a noisy environment. Typical operating voltage is  
2.0v to 15.0v. The unit can withstand +/- 35v continuously,  
and +/- 40v transients. The Opto-isolator can protect any  
upstream equipment (chart plotter, laptop PC, radar etc.)  
from up to 2000v of common mode voltage difference.  
It is our policy to provide these updates free on our website,  
www.actisense.com, so that your combiner can become  
more sophisticated with time, and should there be any  
bugs reported in the software, they can be promptly fixed  
without the unit coming out of commission. This upgrade  
can be performed with the unit completely in-situ, via a PC  
connected to the RS232 port.  
NMEA 0183 full-differential output driver. This can drive  
up to 15 fully compliant NMEA 0183 device loads, with a  
30mA (maximum) drive capability. The full-differential  
output ensures better quality communications and lower  
noise emissions on unshielded twisted pair cabling.  
© 2005 Active Research Limited  
Page 5  
 
 
Actisense™  
Connecting devices together  
The basics  
The different NMEA standards  
The NMEA 0183 specification has slowly evolved over the  
years, so connecting one device to another is not always a  
straightforward matter. The earlier versions of NMEA 0183  
(before v2.0, as detailed above), used slightly different  
connection methods and signal levels: the instruments  
had just one “NMEA” data line (‘Tx’ or ‘Out’), and used  
the ground as the other line - similar to the way a computer  
serial port works. This connection method is referred to as  
“single ended” instead of the “differential” method used by  
NMEA 0183 v2.0 devices.  
NMEA data is transmitted from an information source such  
as GPS, depth sounder, gyro compass etc. These data  
sending devices are called “Talkers”.  
Equipment receiving this information such as a chart-  
plotter, radar or NMEA display is called a “Listener”.  
Unfortunately, only one Talker can be connected on to a  
single NMEA 0183 system at any one time. Two or more  
Talkers are simply not possible because they are not  
synchronised to each other, and will attempt to ‘talk’ at  
the same time (over each other), resulting in corruption of  
the NMEA data, and potentially in disaster if valuable data  
such as navigation information is lost or corrupted so that  
it is incorrect and/or misleading.  
The data format is largely the same between both  
systems, with v2.0 adding some extra sentence strings,  
and removing older (redundant) sentence strings from the  
specification. The situation is further complicated, as many  
manufacturers still use the old (“single ended”) method of  
connection because it is cheaper to implement.  
Actisense™ produces a full range of products to solve all  
NMEA interfacing requirements.  
So how can an older type NMEA device be connected to a  
newer type device?  
Please visit the Actisense™ website for full details on  
these and other Actisense™ interfacing, Depth sounding  
and Sonar products.  
Care is needed – it is possible to damage or overload  
the output of a newer differential device if it is incorrectly  
connected to an older device. This is because the older  
devices used ground as the return, whereas the newer  
devices actually drive the NMEA “-/B” line between 5v and  
0v. Thus, connecting this output to ground will result in high  
currents being drawn by the driver instrument, resulting in  
potential overheating and damage to the driver circuits.  
The NMEA signals  
The NMEA 0183 system v2.0 and later uses a ”differential”  
signalling scheme, whereby two wires are used to transmit  
the NMEA data. These connections will be labelled as  
either NMEA “A” and “B“ or NMEA “+” and “-“ respectively,  
depending on the instrument and manufacturer.  
To connect a new type differential device to an old type  
single-ended system, connect the NMEA “+/A” output from  
the differential driver to the single-ended NMEARx” or “In”  
input of the device. Leave the NMEA “-/B” output floating.  
Connect the ground line of the differential output device to  
the ground of the single-ended device. This provides the  
required data signal return current path.  
When connecting between different manufacturers, there  
can be some confusion, but it is simple and easy to  
remember: NMEA “A” connects to NMEA “+” and NMEA  
B“ connects to NMEA “-“.  
To connect an old type single-ended device to a new type  
differential device, connect the NMEA ”Tx” or “Out” output  
from the single-ended driver to the differential NMEA  
+/A” input of the device. Connect the ground line of the  
single-ended output device to the NMEA “-/B” input of the  
differential device. This provides the data signal return  
current path. If the NMEA “-/B” input is left floating, then  
data corruption / errors may occur.  
Please refer to the Output Connections section for  
example of these connection methods.  
© 2005 Active Research Limited  
Page 6  
 
 
NMEA Data Combiner - NDC-3-B  
Connections  
Figure 1 – All external connections  
The NMEA Data Combiner (NDC-3) has screw-terminal “Phoenix” type external connections for: -  
1. Four NMEA 0183 inputs.  
Note:  
All NMEA 0183 inputs are of the differential opto-  
isolated type and use the unique Actisense™ low  
current drain circuitry (2mA @ 2.0v) to conform in full  
with the NMEA0183 marine electronic device network  
communication standard, and are flexible enough  
to interface to most fully and partially compliant  
devices.  
1. To complete the NMEA 0183 standard all device  
interconnection NMEA cables used should meet the  
two-conductor, shielded, twisted pair configuration  
specification. The shield connection of these wires  
should be connected at the instrument end only to  
prevent ground loops.  
2. Refer to the Specifications section for the full details  
2. An NMEA (data combined) 0183 output.  
The NMEA 0183 output comprises of three  
connections: ‘+’, ‘-‘ and ‘Ground’ and conforms in full  
to the NMEA 0183 standard. This allows the NDC to  
interface to various different devices that require any  
combination of these outputs.  
on input/output specifications.  
3. If the laptop / PC to be used with the NDC does not  
have an RS-232 serial port available, the Actisense™  
USB to RS-232 adapter cable has been tried and  
tested to provide a compatible communications port.  
Please visit the Actisense™ website for full details  
on this, and other Actisense™ products.  
3. An RS-232 input/output.  
The bi-directional RS-232 port is designed for direct  
connection to a Personal Computer (PC) or other  
marine device capable of interfacing to a standard  
RS-232 port.  
4. Battery supply input.  
© 2005 Active Research Limited  
Page 7  
 
 
Actisense™  
Connecting to NMEA devices  
 
 
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Figure 2 – NMEA 0183 connections  
NMEA 0183 Inputs  
NMEA 0183 Output  
The NMEA 0183 differential opto-isolated inputs are The NMEA 0183 buffered output is capable of driving up  
designed to handle a variety of NMEA 0183 device to 15 NMEA 0183 fully compliant listening devices, or a  
output specifications. Please determine (from device mixture of NMEA 0183 devices and a Personal Computer  
manufacturer’s information) if the device(s) required to (PC) communication port.  
be connected to the Actisense™ NDC-3 conforms in full  
to the NMEA 0183 network communication standard. If it  
does not, the flexible Actisense™ NDC-3 inputs should  
still be capable of interfacing with the device, though this  
is not guaranteed.  
NMEA Listener device’s B and C: These devices  
conform in full to the NMEA 0183 standard and their  
connection ID’s match that of the NDC.  
PersonalComputer:WhilsttheRS-232portisdesigned  
for connection to a PC, the NMEA 0183 output is also  
capable of being read by most PC’s. Simply connect ‘+’  
to ‘Rx’ and ’G’ to ‘Gnd’ on a standard D-type (probably  
male) connector.  
The diagram above shows a typical installation with both  
fully compliant NMEA devices with differential inputs/  
outputs, and non-differential output devices that output  
NMEA using the ground line as the “NMEA -” line.  
NMEA Talker devices 1, 2 and 4: These devices  
conform in full to the NMEA 0183 standard. Devices  
1 and 4 share the same connection ID’s as the  
Actisense™ NDC, so connection is a simple matter of  
matching the ID’s (refer to figure 2). Device 2 uses the  
RS485 convention connection ID’s. Simply connect ‘A‘  
to ‘+/A‘ and ‘B’ to ‘ -/B’ (refer to figure 2).  
NMEA Listener device A: This device does not  
conform in full to the NMEA 0183 standard. However,  
by connecting ‘-‘ to ‘-/B‘ and ‘G/Ground’ to ‘Gnd’  
the device should be able to receive the NMEA data  
correctly, though this is not guaranteed.  
Note:  
1. Wire colours are for guidance only.  
NMEA Talker device 3: This device does not conform  
completely to the NMEA 0183 standard. However, by  
connecting ‘+‘ to ‘+/A‘ and its ‘G/Ground’ to the NDC  
-/B” the NDC should be able to receive the NMEA data  
correctly.  
© 2005 Active Research Limited  
Page 8  
 
 
NMEA Data Combiner - NDC-3-B  
Other Connections  
NMEA DATA COMBINER  
99999  
NDC-3-B  
 
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Figure 3 – RS-232 and Battery connections  
Connecting to a Personal Computer  
Connecting to the battery supply  
TheRS-232portcanbeconnectedtoaPCcommunications  
port using  
a
cable conforming to the following  
The Actisense™ NDC-3 should be wired to the vessel’s  
battery supply in the most direct manner possible, to  
minimize interference from other electronic devices. The  
cable used should be of sufficient gauge to handle the  
power requirements of the Actisense™ NDC-3 (refer to  
the Specifications sections).  
specification:  
1. A D-type female (socket) connector for the PC end of  
the cable  
2. A minimum of 3 cores are required in a shielded  
cable. Higher quality cable will naturally yield higher  
performance / higher Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR).  
Most typical cables have two twisted pairs inside. In  
this case, use one pair for the TX line and one for the  
RX line. Use the spare wire in each pair as ground,  
and connect the cable shield to ground only at the  
computer end.  
Note:  
1. Wire colours are for guidance only.  
3. The TX of the NDC-3 should be connected to the  
RX of the computer (standard D-type, pin 2) and  
the NDC-3 RX should be connected to the TX of the  
computer (pin 3). The GND of the NDC-3 should be  
connected to the PC’s serial port ground (pin 5).  
© 2005 Active Research Limited  
Page 9  
 
 
Actisense™  
Troubleshooting guide  
This guide will concentrate on all relevant troubleshooting issues above simple cable connection faults. Therefore, the  
cables between the NDC-3 hardware and any other devices should be checked as a matter of course, before continuing  
with this guide.  
Diagnostic LED  
The NDC-3 hardware supports a tri-colour 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 /  
Flash Count  
Mode / Error condition  
Required user response  
The sequence below indicates a successful power-up of the  
NDC-3 and the commencement of data combining.  
Normal operation modes  
No response required. A normal operation mode that should  
last for no more than 1.5 seconds. Any longer indicates an  
error with the main program.  
Red,  
No flashing  
Start-up mode,  
No error  
No response required. LED will stay red for the duration of the  
flash update operation (using Flash Centre). Once operation  
complete, NDC hardware will be automatically reset.  
Red,  
No flashing  
Flash updating mode,  
No error  
No response required. A normal operation mode that follows  
after the Start-up mode and should last for approximately 1  
second.  
Amber,  
No flashing  
Initialise and self-test mode,  
No error  
No response required. A normal operation mode that follows  
the Initialise and self-test mode. Indicates that no error was  
detected during the self-test operation.  
Green,  
No flashing  
Normal and no data mode,  
No error  
Also indicates that no data is currently being received by the  
NDC-3 hardware.  
Green,  
Flashing  
(1-10 per second)  
No response required. A normal operation mode that indicates  
that data is currently being received (on at least one channel)  
by the NDC-3 hardware. Flash rate proportional to Rx rate.  
Normal and data Rx mode,  
No error  
If the error persists the NDC-3 unit should be returned to  
Actisense™ (refer to the Contact Information section).  
Error conditions  
Amber,  
Flashing  
An error with the EEPROM memory has been detected during  
the self-test mode.  
Error trap mode,  
(Once every 4  
seconds)  
EEPROM memory error  
Reset the NDC-3 hardware.  
Table 1 – Diagnostic LED colours  
© 2005 Active Research Limited  
Page 10  
 
 
NMEA Data Combiner - NDC-3-B  
Specifications  
Parameter  
Supply  
Conditions  
Min.  
Max.  
Unit  
Supply voltage  
8
35  
30  
18  
V
Supply voltage = 12v  
Supply voltage = 24v  
26  
16  
mA  
mA  
Supply current (see note 1)  
NMEA  
Logical ‘1’/stop bit  
Logical ‘0’/start bit  
-15.0  
4.0  
0.5  
V
V
Input voltage between +/-  
15.0  
Maximum is under +35v overload  
condition  
Required level for NMEA to be  
detected  
Input current  
2.0  
1.8  
30  
mA  
V
Differential input voltage  
2.0  
Logical ‘1’/stop bit  
0.0  
4.8  
0.5  
5.2  
V
V
Output voltage between +/- and ground  
(see note 2)  
At maximum load, drive voltage  
reduces to 2v  
Output current (see note 2)  
-
32  
mA  
Output short circuit current.  
Baud rate - fixed (see note 3)  
Data propagation delay  
RS-232  
50  
55  
4.8  
100  
mA  
kbit/sec  
ms  
1.0  
Input voltage range  
-15  
0.8  
1.7  
±5  
+15  
1.2  
2.8  
±9  
V
V
LOW  
Input voltage threshold  
HIGH  
V
Output voltage swing  
Output resistance  
Loaded with 3κΩ to Ground  
(RS232 Vout = ±2v)  
V
300  
Ohms  
Output short circuit current  
(Infinite duration)  
±18  
mA  
Baud rate (see note 4)  
Data propagation delay  
38.4  
100  
kbit/sec  
ms  
1.0  
-20  
General  
Ambient temperature  
+70  
°C  
Table 2 – NDC-3 specifications  
All specifications are taken with reference to an ambient temperature (TA) of +25°C.  
Note:  
1. Current consumption measured under no-load conditions  
2. NMEA output is RS-485 compatible.  
3. NMEA 0183 inputs and outputs on the NDC-3 are fixed to 4800 baud  
4. RS232 baud rate is fixed at 38400 baud on the NDC-3  
© 2005 Active Research Limited  
Page 11  
 
 
Actisense™  
Company Information  
Active Research Limited  
5, Wessex Trade Centre  
Ringwood Road  
Poole  
Dorset  
UK  
BH12 3PF  
Telephone:  
Fax:  
01202 746682 (International : +44 1202 746682)  
01202 746683 (International : +44 1202 746683)  
Actisense™ on the Web: For advice, support and product details  
E-mail:  
Website:  
Active Research on the Web: For specialist consultancy and customisation  
E-mail:  
Website:  
© 2005 Active Research Limited  
Page 12  
 
 

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