Sea-Bird Electronics SBE 45 MicroTSG, User Manual, Page: 94 / 143

Appendix I: NMEA Data SBE 45 Interface Box
29
NMEA Simulation Program
Sea-Bird provides a NMEA message simulation program, NMEATest, as a
troubleshooting aid. NMEATest, part of the SEASOFT V2 package, simulates
a NMEA navigation device transmitting NMEA messages. If the system does
not work with the NMEA navigation device, but works with NMEATest, the
problem is with the interface cable from the NMEA navigation device to the
Interface Box or in the NMEA navigation device itself.
NMEATest is just a simulation, and does not provide an actual data stream
from an actual NMEA navigation device. The data transmission baud rate
(4800 or 9600) and time between messages are user-programmable. The
NMEA message format (RMA, RMC, GLL, or GGA) generated by the
program is also user-programmable. Alternatively, the user can specify an
existing raw NMEA data file to use for the simulation; see
NMEA Raw
Message Formats for the required raw data format.
To execute the simulation program, a
second computer (computer 2) is
needed to emulate the NMEA navigation device. A laptop computer is
adequate for this purpose. Install NMEATest on computer 2 (NMEATest is
part of the SBE Data Processing installation).
Use the NMEA Interface test cable (PN 801422 - supplied with the Interface
Box) to connect the Interface Box to the simulation computer. The simulation
test cable connections are:
MS-3106A12S-3S DB-9S Function
Pin A Pin 3 NMEA A (signal)
Pin B Pin 5 NMEA B (signal return)
Proceed as follows (instructions are written assuming you are using a second
computer to emulate the NMEA navigation device):
1.
On computer 1, double click on Seaterm.exe .
2.
Turn on power to the Interface Box. SEATERM displays:
SBE 45 Junction Box V 1.4
Data from the SBE 45 should begin scrolling on the screen.
3.
On computer 2, double click on nmeatest.exe (in same directory as SBE
Data Processing). The NMEATest screen appears.
4.
On the NMEATest screen, click on the Configure menu. The Configure
dialog box appears. Select:
•
NMEA message to be simulated (RMA, RMC, GLL, or GGA) or
select an existing NMEA data file on your computer by clicking Send
File and browsing to the desired file
•
Baud rate (4800 or 9600) for transmission of simulated NMEA data
to Interface Box –
must be less than baud rate between Interface
Box and computer 1
•
COMM port on computer 2 for transmission of NMEA data to
Interface Box
•
Message interval (time between simulated messages to be transmitted
to Interface Box)
Click OK.
Note:
The Interface Box must be
connected to the SBE 45 to test the
Box, because the Box only
transmits a scan of data when data
is received from the SBE 45.
Note:
You can also run the simulation
using only one computer, if the
computer has a spare COM port.
91