Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

Anyone know of a device that does this? I am looking for a winter
project and putting together a NMEA / Seatalk multiplexer to TCP/IP
converter sounds like fun.

1 - It would make the connections to a laptop a breeze - no RS232, no
USB converters just a network cable.
2 - With an RF interface I could hook into the data with a WiFi PDA.
3 - If web enabled then no special software on the Laptop or PDA to
display and control the seatalk, just use the regular browser.

Ian

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

On 15 Jan 2006 13:21:06 -0800, "nimbusgb"
wrote:

Anyone know of a device that does this? I am looking for a winter
project and putting together a NMEA / Seatalk multiplexer to TCP/IP
converter sounds like fun.

1 - It would make the connections to a laptop a breeze - no RS232, no
USB converters just a network cable.
2 - With an RF interface I could hook into the data with a WiFi PDA.
3 - If web enabled then no special software on the Laptop or PDA to
display and control the seatalk, just use the regular browser.

Ian

No real need to multiplex. A single RS-422 to ethernet converter per
NMEA device would work wouldn't it? B&B sells ethernet serial servers
that should work well. Not sure about Seatalk.

__________________________________________________ __________
Glen "Wiley" Wilson usenet1 SPAMNIX at world wide wiley dot com
To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.

Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

In article . com,
"nimbusgb" wrote:

Anyone know of a device that does this? I am looking for a winter
project and putting together a NMEA / Seatalk multiplexer to TCP/IP
converter sounds like fun.

1 - It would make the connections to a laptop a breeze - no RS232, no
USB converters just a network cable.
2 - With an RF interface I could hook into the data with a WiFi PDA.
3 - If web enabled then no special software on the Laptop or PDA to
display and control the seatalk, just use the regular browser.

Ian


One of the Rabbit Micro's that has an Ethernet Interface and comes
with a license free IP Stack, would be a good place to start. Then all
you need to do is add a bunch of RS-422 Ports, and some custom
programing, and your done..... Jameco sells that stuff...


Bruce in alaska
--
add a 2 before @

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

:) Thats where I have started. Already have the Seatalk stuff working.
HTML by the weekend!

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

"nimbusgb" wrote in news:1137448005.526917.226780
@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

:) Thats where I have started. Already have the Seatalk stuff working.
HTML by the weekend!


Aboard S/V "Lionheart", it's all wireless to the computer.

Seatalk Equipment
RL70CRC color display/chart plotter with 2KW Radar at 25'
Raymarine GPS with Seatalk output
Raymarine Gyro sensor/compass
This all connects to the RL70CRC which handles Seatalk to NMEA0183
conversion and outputs NMEA to a Roland NMEA multiplexer.

NMEA suite
B&G sailing instruments (Wind, Speed, Data repeater at Nav station,
Depth)
B&G Pilot electro-hydraulic autopilot directly connected to rudder post
bellcrank
All B&G units are "Network", not the latest and greatest and proprietary.
"Network" instruments use NMEA0183 data through each so just pull in/out
to the multiplexer, without extra boxes.

Garmin 185 GPS/Chart plotter (backup GPS/plotter at helm) also does
backup depth duty. Output is switched from Seatalk network on
emergencies. Normally only listener for waypoint data.

Yeoman paper chart electronic plotter on nav table top.

Computer network....
Serial port output of NMEA multiplexer fed directly to RS-232 to
Ethernet-TCP/IP converter with DHCP-enabled network port. Network port
of converter feeds Netgear wireless router LAN port 1 hardwired.
Wireless network talks to Dell Latitude notebook's 802.11g transceiver,
also DHCP enabled for automatic configuration. Dell runs The Cap'n nav
software which expects to be connected to a serial port, so a "virtual
serial port" (VSP) background dll handles data from the network to its
imaginary COM3 serial port The Cap'n connects to, seamlessly. The VSP
software came with the converter we bought, called a WebFoot. The VSP is
configured to attach through the LAN to the Webfoot's IP to swap data in
and out of the NMEA multiplexer, just as if the computer were hard
connected to it. The multiplexer, Webfoot and Netgear are in the cabinet
over the galley that houses Amel's steering gear and helm connections,
all running off my independently switched "electronic suite" 12V power
supply. (One push-pull switch with big red light shuts down all the
electronics in the boat except for the emergency VHF Icom M59 which is
independently wired to the starting battery for house failures.)

The Cap'n doesn't know about the LAN as it has nothing to do with it.
Humans have nothing to do except boot up and it's all ready to go. You
can lay in a beanbag, leaned up against the mainmast under the genoa and
navigate the boat while enjoying your libation. Haven't seen one
neater...(c;

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"nimbusgb" wrote in news:1137448005.526917.226780
@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

:) Thats where I have started. Already have the Seatalk stuff working.
HTML by the weekend!


Aboard S/V "Lionheart", it's all wireless to the computer.

In a while I'll have a MiniPlex-42Wi, which does all these tricks out of one
box: NMEA, Seatalk and Wifi...

Meindert

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
:

In a while I'll have a MiniPlex-42Wi, which does all these tricks out
of one box: NMEA, Seatalk and Wifi...

Meindert



Cool. What's its price point?

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
:

In a while I'll have a MiniPlex-42Wi, which does all these tricks out
of one box: NMEA, Seatalk and Wifi...

Meindert



Cool. What's its price point?

Around 630 euro's. And before anyone shouts that it is too expensive: it's
is not mass market stuff. While you can buy an accesspoint for $50, I have
to pay appr. $130 for the very tiny embedded serial-wifi module. Add the
markups etc. and there you go.... ;-)
But you save on installation costs.....

Meindert

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
:

Around 630 euro's.

OUCH! That's about $US1000 minidollarettes, now.

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
:

Around 630 euro's.

OUCH! That's about $US1000 minidollarettes, now.

Nah, only $760....

Meindert

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

Will this have any advantages over the 42BT or just a matter of network
preference?


"Meindert Sprang" wrote in message
...
"Larry" wrote in message
...
"nimbusgb" wrote in news:1137448005.526917.226780
@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

:) Thats where I have started. Already have the Seatalk stuff working.
HTML by the weekend!


Aboard S/V "Lionheart", it's all wireless to the computer.

In a while I'll have a MiniPlex-42Wi, which does all these tricks out of
one
box: NMEA, Seatalk and Wifi...

Meindert

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

"johnhh" wrote in message
...
Will this have any advantages over the 42BT or just a matter of network
preference?

It is network preference mainly. Although it might be easier to distribute
the data to more clients (PC's) than with bluetooth. Currently the BT only
supports one connection while it is much easier to modify the Wifi module to
broadcast the data to anyone that is interested.

Meindert

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

Range on WiFi is also better than on BT.

You'll be able to see the instrumentation whilst ashore in the
clubhouse :)

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

"nimbusgb" wrote in message
ups.com...
Range on WiFi is also better than on BT.

Not necessarily. BT class 1 has a range of 100 meters. The only problem is
that most computers/handhelds are class 2 (10 meters) for obvious reasons.
Wifi really drains the batteries on PDA's, as would a class 1 BT unit.

You'll be able to see the instrumentation whilst ashore in the
clubhouse :)

Yep! Or control/sail the boat from there. Right, Larry? :^)

Meindert

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

I just ordered a tablet PC with sunlight readable display. I'll be spending
a very long summer cruising. Trying to get everything connected to it
wirelessly will give me something to do during those long northern evenings.
I think I prefer BT for power drain reasons. It should do everything I need
to do. I have Simrad IS15 instruments and a AP16 autopilot. My first goal
will simply be to get the GPS signal through BT to the tablet. Then add in
the rest of the IS15 instruments, then navigate from Visual Nav Suite. If
I'm really having fun I may add in the engine and electrical instruments as
well.

Do you see any reason I would need the 42 series or would the 41 suffice?

John


"Meindert Sprang" wrote in message
...
"nimbusgb" wrote in message
ups.com...
Range on WiFi is also better than on BT.

Not necessarily. BT class 1 has a range of 100 meters. The only problem is
that most computers/handhelds are class 2 (10 meters) for obvious reasons.
Wifi really drains the batteries on PDA's, as would a class 1 BT unit.

You'll be able to see the instrumentation whilst ashore in the
clubhouse :)

Yep! Or control/sail the boat from there. Right, Larry? :^)

Meindert

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

"johnhh" wrote in message
...
I just ordered a tablet PC with sunlight readable display. I'll be
spending
a very long summer cruising. Trying to get everything connected to it
wirelessly will give me something to do during those long northern
evenings.
I think I prefer BT for power drain reasons. It should do everything I
need
to do. I have Simrad IS15 instruments and a AP16 autopilot. My first
goal
will simply be to get the GPS signal through BT to the tablet. Then add
in
the rest of the IS15 instruments, then navigate from Visual Nav Suite. If
I'm really having fun I may add in the engine and electrical instruments
as
well.

Do you see any reason I would need the 42 series or would the 41 suffice?

If you receive all the data via the mux to the tablet and let the tablet
drive the autopilot (mux in server mode), a -41BT will do. If for some
reason the instrument data needs to go to the autopilot too (mux in hub
mode), you might get too much data on the 4800 baud output and you might
need to use a -42BT with it's sentence filtering capability, to get rid of
unwanted data into the pilot.

Meindert

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

Meindert Sprang wrote:

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
:

Around 630 euro's.

OUCH! That's about $US1000 minidollarettes, now.

Nah, only $760....

Meindert

Hi,

will the SeaTalk Port be able to read and write SeaTalk Data ( Collision
detection etc. ) or is it just for reading SeaTalk ?

Regards
Frank

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

"Frank Wallenwein" wrote in message
...
Meindert Sprang wrote:

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
:

Around 630 euro's.

OUCH! That's about $US1000 minidollarettes, now.

Nah, only $760....

Meindert

Hi,

will the SeaTalk Port be able to read and write SeaTalk Data ( Collision
detection etc. ) or is it just for reading SeaTalk ?

For now, it will only read Seatalk.

Meindert

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
:

For now, it will only read Seatalk.



For $US760 I'd want it to talk Seatalk, too....(c;

For $299 it could only read...

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
:

For now, it will only read Seatalk.



For $US760 I'd want it to talk Seatalk, too....(c;

For $299 it could only read...

I can see your point :-)
The "problem" is that when I decided to implement Seatalk, I realised I
could do reading without any hardware modification. And it is also a fact
that Raymarine has less problems with it when I only receive (being one of
their suppliers). The moment I talk to the Seatalk bus, they are not the
sole talker on the bus anymore which can have legal implecations in case of
problems that cause accidents.

Meindert

Nmea and seatalk to TCP / IP
 

"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
:

The moment I talk to the Seatalk bus, they are not the
sole talker on the bus anymore which can have legal implecations in
case of problems that cause accidents.



Just do what American companies do....disavow any responsibility,
whatsoever, in your warranty. Our companies aren't even responsible if it
doesn't light the pilot light over here...(c;

Notice the screen that always comes on an American chartplotter that tells
you not to use this instrument for navigation? That's why....

They tell the judge, "We told 'em so."

Case dismissed.

It was the captain's fault he untied the boat from the dock, anyways. He's
always the scapegoat...

I still say we either go USB or Ethernet....all the way....no exceptions.
Stupid NMEA and their proprietary bull**** going off in a hundred
directions trying to stifle competition.

Bill Gates didn't become the world's richest person by making his computers
so it would only run his personal software. NMEA hasn't seen how....