Brookhouse emux, the NMEA 0183 Ethernet TCP/IP server Installation instructions

Transcription

1 Brookhouse emux, the NMEA 0183 Ethernet TCP/IP server Installation instructions General The Brookhouse emux standard model combines the NMEA 0183 data from 3 NMEA talkers transmitting at 4800 baud and one transmitting at baud to a single data stream which can be read by up to 4 TCP/IP clients via a LAN. The baud input is typically used for an AIS receiver or transponder, but any kind of NMEA data sentences are accepted, so e.g. the baud output of a chart plotter or computer can be connected to this port instead. The emux connects to the Ethernet LAN via a standard RJ45 port. In addition, the data stream is also available from the emux RS232 output port at baud rate for input by a computer or chartplotter via a RS232 serial connection. If USB is required, a standard RS232-USB converter can be used. The emux-st also converts Raymarine Seatalk data to NMEA If Seatalk is enabled (by default for the emux-st), NMEA input 1 has to stay empty. Seatalk can be disabled in setupmode. If Seatalk is disabled, NMEA input port 1 can be used for connection of an NMEA talker. The emux is intended for connection to a wireless router RJ45 port, to provide access to the vessel's NMEA data for multiple ipad's, iphones and/or computers via wifi. One or more computers can also connect via cable if the router has more than one RJ45 ports. 3G routers allow multiple clients to share the emux NMEA 0183 server data stream and internet access through the same access point. A direct connection of the emux to a computer with an RJ45 ethernet cable is also possible. If a computer or chart plotter is wired to the emux RS232 port, its input port has to be set to bps to be able to receive the combined data stream. As the baudrate of a computer port applies to both the transmit and receive direction, computer output such as auto pilot NMEA control sentences or waypoints are also sent at This baudrate is too high to feed an auto pilot or other standard NMEA 0183 listener directly. The emux therefore converts the baudrate from to 4800 bps to overcome this problem. The multiplexer s RS422 port (NMEA OUT) outputs the data (received via RS232 or USB at bps) at 4800 bps. The Brookhouse emux is supplied pre-configured, i.e. it is not necessary to execute the setup procedure, unless one or more of the extra features are required, such as GPS backup switching, filtering, conversion of NMEA sentences or if you wish to use a baudrate conversion option other than the default. Detailed information about the setup procedure, making filter scripts etc. is available from Brookhouse. TCP/IP The emux needs to have an IP address for unique identification in the local network. The IP address can be preset upon customer request if the local network address is known when the product is ordered. The emux IP address has to be fixed because apps for i-devices and computers require a fixed IP server (host) address. The default preset emux IP address is , netmask The local network address is used as the default by a number of different makes of routers. If the router's LAN address is different, it can usually be changed easily. Most routers can be configured by accessing an internal configuration webpage using a browser on a computer or i-device. If the LAN address is changed, the DHCP IP address assignment has to be changed accordingly. Set the first address to If changing the LAN address in the router, if necessary, presents a problem, the emux TCP setup can be changed. The setup program and instructions can be downloaded from: 1

2 After an i-device or computer has connected to the router via wifi, all that's required for the app (e.g. inavx or NMEA Remote) to start receiving data is the emux host IP address and the port number (10110). The emux supports 4 simultaneous TCP/IP sessions, i.e. a total of 4 ipads, other i-devices or computers can simultaneously receive the NMEA 0183 data stream. Do not try to connect more than 4, this may result in a contention situation. If more than 4 is required, this is probably on a larger vessel and a navigation computer is likely to be running full-time. As one of the clients, the computer receives the NMEA data stream from the emux NMEA server. An extra NMEA (software) server can be set up, running in the background, to relay the data stream received from the emux to a large number of NMEA 0183 users, without installing extra hardware. These extra users can access the computer-based server via the same router or switch. If the requirement for more than 4 NMEA 0183 clients exists, Brookhouse can assist in setting up the computer-based server. Connections Make sure that the wires are inserted in the correct screw terminals that correspond with the descriptions on the front label of the multiplexer. A mistake can easily be made if looking at the connector and label from an angle. Count the terminal screws and corresponding descriptions from the end of the connector if in doubt. The terminals are of the so-called "rising clamp" type. First the clamp has to be put in a low position by turning the screw counter-clockwise. The wire should then be inserted above the clamp. When the screw is turned clockwise the clamp rises and the wire is secured between the clamp and the top of the terminal. If the clamp is not in the lowest position, the wire may be accidently inserted under the clamp which causes a bad electrical connection. Power supply: 9-35V. For practical reasons, power may be obtained from the Raymarine Seatalk connector. If the Seatalk option has not been installed in the mux, do not connect the Seatalk signal wire, just power (red +, black -). Also see Seatalk below. AIS receiver or transponder: NMEA OUT + (38400 baud) NMEA CH4 IN A NMEA OUT - NMEA CH4 IN B Brookhouse NMEA 0183 multiplexers can be used with a large range of AIS receivers and transponders. Unfortunately the output signal characteristics of the various devices differ significantly and some do not comply with NMEA (RS422) or RS232 standards. The multiplexer s NMEA input port for AIS is, like the other NMEA inputs, opto-isolated. The optoisolated port with the high baud rate requires signal characteristics, that fall in a narrower acceptable range, than non-opto isolated ports. Therefore a given model AIS receiver or transponder may work with a certain chart plotter or a computer port if directly connected, but may not work if connected via the multiplexer. However, if the following simple instructions for conditioning the output signal of certain receivers or transponders are followed, any compatibility problems can be resolved. Under the large green main multiplexer connector an insulated white wire (pig tail) can be found. This wire is external, the mux enclosure does not need to be opened! The white pig tail can be used to adapt the input impedance of the AIS input port for certain AIS receivers and transponders. If this applies, remove the heatshrink insulation and combine the bare end with the AIS output signal wire in NMEA ch4 IN A of the multiplexer. 2

3 Connect the following devices directly to the multiplexer s AIS port (NMEA ch4 IN), without the white adaptation wire: Nauticast class A transponders. Furuno class A transponders. Standard Horizon GX2100 VHF with built-in AIS Smart Radio AIS receivers. Use the white adaptation wire as described above for the following: All class B AIS transponders based on the SRT board (Comar CSB200, True Heading AIS-Ctrx, Westmarine re-branded class B transponder, Simrad, etc.) We also supply a separate 1K5 resistor, which should be used for some AIS receivers/transponders in the following ways: For the Nasa AIS engine. Connect the 1k5 resistor as a pull-up resistor between NMEA ch4 IN A and the +12V connection to the multiplexer. The receiver and the multiplexer should share the same 12V power supply. Pin 2 of the AIS engine output port should also be connected to NMEA ch4 IN A, i.e. the resistor and the signal wire are combined in this terminal. Connect signal ground (pin 5 of the 9-pin connector) to NMEA ch4 IN B. Do not use the white adaptation wire. Other incompatible AIS output signals Sometimes it is necessary to connect the 1K5 resistor in-line with the white adaptation wire, i.e. do not combine the white adaptation wire with the AIS output signal wire directly, but connect the resistor to the end of the white wire and combine the other side of the resistor with the AIS signal wire in NMEA ch4 IN A. This is sometimes necessary for connecting an RS232 port, including a PC port (for AIS emulation). There are also a few known cases where the resistor had to be used in this way for connecting a SR161 AIS receiver. Other NMEA Talkers (4800 baud): NMEA Output A + Multiplexer NMEA CH1 CH3 IN A NMEA Output B - Multiplexer NMEA CH1 CH3 IN B Note: If the Seatalk option has been installed and activated, CH1 is not available for NMEA input. Leave open. (see Seatalk below). Note 2: Standard NMEA talkers with baud rate 4800 can only be connected to NMEA IN 1, 2 and 3. NMEA IN 4 accepts baud rate for connection of an AIS receiver. NMEA Listeners (4800 baud): Note that the 4800 bps multiplexer output is the baudrate conversion output and by default not the combined output of the connected NMEA talkers. Also refer to Baudrate Conversion options below. NMEA Input A + Multiplexer RS422 - NMEA OUT A NMEA Input B - Multiplexer RS422 NMEA OUT B A maximum of 4 NMEA listeners can be connected in parallel to this output, provided that they comply with the NMEA standard. The output is a differential signal (RS422, NMEA standard). 3

4 RS232 output (TxD) The output of the multiplexer can be connected to a computer COM port, to a RS232-USB adapter or an input port of a chart plotter. Assuming a 9-pin D-sub connector, mux terminal TxD should be connected to pin 2 of the computer connector and Gnd to pin 5. RS232 input (RxD) This is the multiplexer s baudrate conversion input port. Return data from the computer (pin 3) or chart plotter, entered via this port at bps is output at the mux NMEA OUT port at 4800bps. Connect signal ground to Gnd. The emux RS232 RxD port is pre-wired to receive wifi return data, e.g. to control an autopilot by an ipad with inavx. If the output of a computer or multiplexer has to be wired to this port instead, first remove the short yellow wifi-return wire. Seatalk If the Seatalk option has been installed in mux model AIS, a direct connection to the Raymarine Seatalk bus can be made. The multiplexer will translate Seatalk GPS and instrument data received from the ST-bus to NMEA sentences and include these in the multiplexer output data stream. Connections: Seatalk signal wire (yellow) ST Yellow Signal Seatalk shield (-12V) ST Shld Seatalk +12V (red) ST Red + Note: If the Seatalk option has been ordered, it has been enabled in our workshop. This means that CH1 NMEA IN cannot be used for a NMEA talker connection. To disable Seatalk and free up CH1 for NMEA, the setup procedure has to be executed. RJ45 Use the supplied ethernet cable to connect the emux to a free RJ45 port of a router, a network switch or a computer. The emux has a fixed IP address, i.e. it does not use the DHCP server of the router. The network portion of the emux IP address has to be the same as the router's local network address. Setup Setup is necessary if any of the special multiplexer functions are required and for uploading filter/edit script files. Note that the baudrate of the emux is preset The baudrate of the terminal program used to communicate with the multiplexer for setup therefore has to be set to bps as well. Suitable terminal programs are Hyperterminal,Teraterm (free), Coolterm (free). A step-by-step setup guide can be found here: Baudrate Conversion options Instead of only converting the baudrate of data received back from the computer from to 4800 bps (default), it is also possible to convert the multiplexer s own combined NMEA output data stream from to 4800 baud. This situation may occur if the multiplexer is required to feed standard NMEA listeners at 4800 bps when the computer is switched off. If the complete data-stream including AIS data would be converted from to 4800 bps, not enough bandwidth would be available to transmit all data during periods of increased AIS traffic. For this reason, AIS data occurring in the speed conversion input data stream is always automatically filtered out. Baudrate conversion options can be selected from the multiplexer s setup menu. Option 5 (baudrate conversion option 1) 4

5 This is the default. Only data received on the baudrate conversion input port is converted to 4800 bps. Option 6 (baudrate conversion option 2) Only data received from the baudrate conversion input port is converted to 4800 bps, the same as for option 5 (baudrate conversion option 1). However, if no data is received for 10 seconds, the multiplexer transmits the combined data stream at 4800 bps instead, with AIS data automatically filtered out. This option is very useful in the following situation: If an auto pilot is connected to the 4800bps mux output it receives data from the computer when navigation software is running on the computer. If the computer is switched off, instrument and GPS data from the combined data stream is sent to the auto pilot instead. This ensures that the auto pilot receives speed (SOG), course (COG) and wind-data, also with the computer switched off. Option 7 (baudrate conversion option 3) 1. The return data entered via the baudrate conversion input port plus data from the combined output data stream but AIS data filtered out is always tranmitted at 4800 bps. 2. In addition, NMEA data received via the baudrate conversion input port is also included in the combined output data stream. For options 6 and 7, a channel block mask can be specified. This allows exclusion of input channels 1 and/or 2 and/or 3 from the baudrate conversion output data stream. Also, for option 7, baudrate conversion input data can be blocked from inclusion in the combined data stream. Channel block mask values: 0 - No channels are blocked. Options 6 and 7 work as described above. 1 - NMEA Input channel 1 is blocked. 2 - NMEA Input channel 2 is blocked. 3 - NMEA Input channel 1 and 2 are blocked. 4 - NMEA Input channel 3 is blocked. 5 - NMEA Input channels 1 and 3 are blocked. 6 - NMEA Input channels 2 and 3 are blocked. 7 - NMEA Input channels 1, 2 and 3 are blocked. 8 - Baudrate conversion input data is blocked from combined data stream. 9-8 and 1 above A - 8 and 2 above B - 8 and 3 above Etc. A separate document describing the baudrate conversion options in more detail is available from Brookhouse. Important: In spite of the filtering out of the AIS data, the bandwidth of the 4800 output may potentially still be insufficient to transmit all data from the output data stream. Reducing the baudrate from to 4800 means effectively a reduction in bandwidth by a factor 1/8. Normal combined traffic from slow NMEA talkers only will hardly ever cause this situation to occur, but if the bandwidth is exceeded, use the channel block mask or the Brookhouse filter feature to selectively filter out redundant NMEA sentences. Filtering / Conversion of NMEA sentences A separate description is available from Brookhouse and on the website. The format of NMEA sentences can be altered to suit NMEA listeners that require a different version of NMEA or entire sentences can be filtered out to remove redundant data. 5

6 The emux has two separate data streams: 1. The combined data stream of AIS plus other NMEA talkers connected to NMEA IN CH1 CH3 and 2. The speed conversion data stream (NMEA output from the baud converted to 4800 bps and available at RS422 out terminal). Filtering / editing can be performed on either of the 2 data streams, but not on both at the same time. The channel number in the first directive of the filtering/editing script, uploaded to the multiplexer, determines to which data stream the entire script applies. If the channel number is 5, the script applies to the speed conversion data stream. All other directives in the script have to apply to channel 5 as well. If not, they will be ignored. If the first channel number is not 5, the script applies to channels 1-4. The channel number in each directive specifies to which channel the directive applies or channel number 9 means that the directive applies to all channels (ch1 ch 4). If you need a script for a particular purpose, ask Brookhouse support. There are a number of scripts available that can be made available at no charge. 6

7 Establishing communication between an ipad with inavx and the emux via wifi of a router. Step 1 In ipad Settings-wifi, select the SSID of the access point, i.e. the router to which the emux is connected. Enter the password if required. Tap on > behind the SSID. 7

8 Step 2 Nothing needs to be entered here. Just note the IP address assigned by the DHCP server of the router. The first 3 numbers represent the local network address. 8

9 Step 3 In inavx > Instruments > Settings > TCP/IP, enter the emux IP address and port number The emux IP address is fixed. The local network portion must be the same as the local network in step 2. Tap Link ON and NMEA data should start streaming in the TCP/IP NMEA client window. Tap Save to exit this window. Follow the same procedure for other apps that receive data via wifi. 9

10 Other applications The Brookhouse emux product can be used with many other apps. Very popular ones are NMEARemote and iregatta. We cannot give screenshots for each application. However, the general procedure is always the same: 1. In the i-device settings>wifi, connect to the router or switch. 2. In the app, set the host address to and local port to Windows software The emux can be connected to any computer using a cable connection to a RS232 port, an RS232-USB adapter, via ethernet or via wifi. Navigation software running on windows computers can sometimes receive NMEA 0183 data directly from TCP/IP, but more often a COM-port has to be specified for NMEA input. There are various 3rd party software products available that link the TCP/IP interface to a (virtual) COM-port number, to allow the nav software to receive NMEA data via wifi. One such product is VSPE from Interlogic. The 32-bit version of this very effective software is free. The following screenshot shows how VSPE can be configured. The splitter device definition allows multiple applications to access the wifi data stream via COM port 6. Mac software The popular MACENC navigation software can read the emux NMEA data stream directly via TCP/IP. Please refer to MACENC documentation or contact the developer. 10

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