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© 2013 Active Research Limited
Technical features
High-speed 32-bit ARM processor
capable of up to 40
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.
On-chip memory store
allows buffering of short term
NMEA data, allowing the unit to smooth short-term peaks
in the NMEA data flow.
Fully configurable
via the serial or over the NMEA 2000
network allowing optimization of the PC interface to better
suit the system it is a part of.
NMEA 2000 interface,
opto-isolated to 2500 volts,
protecting the system even during the most extreme
fault conditions and fully compliant with the NMEA 2000
standard for interfacing with the NMEA 2000 network.
NMEA 2000 network powered
to offer easy installation
with no need for a direct connection to the vessels main
battery supply. The NGT-1-ISO takes all its power from
the NMEA 2000 network connection and contain a clever
built-in power isolator to supply its serial port circuitry
without the need of an extra battery source. This creates
total isolation between the serial and NMEA 2000 circuitry
to completely eliminate the risk of ground loop faults
occurring and the resulting damage.
Software updates
The NGT-1-ISO’s built-in firmware is held in “flash”
memory, allowing quick and easy upgrades using either
the latest
NGT-1-ISO ActiPatch
, or alternatively the
NMEA 2000 Gateway Configuration Tool
running on a
PC connected to the NGT-1-ISO.
It is our policy to provide these updates free on the
Actisense website (www.actisense.com)
, so that the
NMEA 2000 PC Interface (NGT-1-ISO) can become
more sophisticated with time, and should there be any
bugs reported in the firmware, they can be promptly fixed
without the unit requiring to come out of commission.
Connecting devices together
The NMEA 2000 standard
The NMEA 2000 system is a low-cost data network
operating at 250 kbits/sec utilizing the Controller Area
Network (CAN). Multiple devices can be connected
together on a single trunk cable to simply and easily share
information between themselves.
NMEA 2000 uses a shielded cable and a ”differential”
signalling scheme, whereby two wires are used to transmit
the NMEA data named CAN High and CAN Low. These
connections will be labelled as “NET HI” and “NET LO”
respectively. Power is also supplied through the NMEA
2000 cable named NET Supply and NET Common. These
connections will be labelled “NET SUP” and “NET COM”
respectively on the PCB.
Please refer to the
section for an example of these connection
methods.
