User manual

NMEA Data Multiplexer - NDC-4-A & NDC-4-A -USB

This includes data received (from the NDC hardware)

and data sent (to the NDC hardware), and the bytes-per-

second transfer rate / buffer loading rate for both directions

of the communications port.

The Channel selection list

allows the user to choose

which channel’s NMEA data

is displayed in the Received

NMEA Data window.

This enables each NDC

input to be analysed and the

NMEA data checked. For

example, this is very useful in allowing the user to view

an NMEA channel’s data and prove that the NMEA device

connected to that NDC input is functioning correctly.

This window should be the rst port-of-call when trying to

diagnose a problem with the NMEA system connected to

the NDC-4. Contact a qualied marine electronic installer

if you require hands-on help with understanding the NMEA

0183 data seen in this window. In addition, there is a very

good source of NMEA information contained within the

NMEA 0183 information sheet document available on

the Actisense website.

The current USB / RS232

Baud rate being used for

communication between the Control Centre and NDC

hardware is displayed here for the user’s information.

The Received NMEA Data window is valuable in

monitoring the performance of the NDC hardware, and as

a diagnostic tool for pinpointing:

A port overload condition - this is when the maximum •

data transfer rate of a port is exceeded, and data is

being dropped/deleted randomly as a result.

A data corruption condition - this is either when the •

signal level of NMEA 0183 data being received is

marginal and/or suffering from interference, or when

interference is occurring between the NDC-4 and the

computer running Control Centre.

When all data is being processed as required.•

Control Centre Port Status window

The Control Centre status window displays all information relating to the communications port open between the Control

Centre and the NDC-4 hardware.

Figure 16 – Control Centre Port Status window