NMEA Reader EBL Reader (v1.090) - Actisense - Home ... Reader (v3.031) & EBL Reader (v1.090) Full User Manual Issue 1.00 Receives and interprets NMEA 2000 messages via an NGT-1 Receives

NMEA Reader (v3.031)&

EBL Reader (v1.090)

Full User Manual

Issue 1.00

Receives and interprets NMEA 2000 messages via an NGT-1

Receives and interprets NMEA 0183 sentences on any PC com port or a USB port (ideally via an isolated connection such as the USG-1)

ConfigurationoptionsfortheNGT-1andtheNGW-1

NMEA Reader and EBL Reader

Page 3© 2010 Active Research Limited

ContentsImportant Notices 5Notices 5Foreword 5Introduction 5Features 5

NMEA Reader 5EBL Reader 5

Software Updates 5Software Installation 5Figure 1 - NMEA Reader - Main Window 6NMEA Reader Main Window 7

Menus 7Toolbar Icons 7Connection Window Controls 8Connection Window Indicators 8Status Bar Information 8

Connection Windows 8Received Data Window 8Data Breakdown Window 9NMEA 2000 9NMEA 0183 9

Hardware Config Window 10Rx and Tx PGN List Tabs 10Rx PGN List Window 10Figure 2 - Rx PGN List Tab 10Figure 3 - Tx PGN List Tab 10PGN List Layout 10Baud Rate Tab 11Figure 4 - Baud Rate Tab 11

Figure 5 - EBL Reader - Main Window 12EBL Reader Main Window 13

Menus 13Toolbar Icons 13Received Data Window 13Data 13Colour Coding 13Data Breakdown Window 13NMEA 2000 13NMEA 0183 14Actisense BEM 14

Product Order Codes 16Company Information 16


NMEA Reader and EBL Reader


Important NoticesActisense and the Actisense logo are registered trademarks of Active Research Limited. All rights arereserved. The contents of this manual may not betransferred or copied without the express writtenpermission of Active Research Limited. All othertrademarksarethepropertyoftheirrespectiveowners.

NoticesWhenusingthisdocument,pleasenotethefollowing:

The products described in this manual and thespecificationsthereofmaybechangedwithoutpriornotice.To obtain up-to-date information and/or specifications,contact Active Research Limited or visit the Actisense website (www.actisense.com).

ActiveResearchLimitedwillnotbeliableforinfringementofcopyright, industrialproperty right,orother rightsofathirdpartycausedby theuseof informationordrawingsdescribedinthismanual.

ActiveResearchLimitedwill notbeheld responsible foranydamagetotheuserthatmayresultfromanaccidentduringoperationofthissoftwarewhenusedinaccordancewiththisdocument.

ForewordAtActiveResearchLimited,werecognisethatinstructionsareoftenskipped,sowehaveaimedtowritethisdocumentinaninformativeanddirectmannerthatwillaidtheuser.We have covered all the points a typical user needs toknow.

IntroductionThismanual covers the use of bothNMEAReader andEBL Reader and includes the configuration optionsavailablefortheNGT-1 and NGW-1.

This manual is structured based on where a feature isaccessed. Any additional information about the use ofeachfeaturesisexplainedatthesametime.

Compatible with all Actisense products that can beconnected to a PC and provide NMEA 0183 sentences or NMEA 2000 messages.

FullinformationonthecompleteActisense product range andalistofallActisense‘NGTCertifiedSoftware’productscanbefoundontheActisense website (www.actisense.com).

FeaturesNMEA Reader• Receives and displays NMEA 2000 messages via an

NGT-1thatisconnectedtoanactiveNMEA2000bus.• ReceivesanddisplaysNMEA0183sentencesfromany

serial or virtual serial port connection.• Providesdetailedinformationonthecurrentlyselectedmessage(fieldbreakdownanddescription).

• Viewmultipleconnectionssimultaneously.• RecordlogfilesofreceiveddataasEBLfilesforviewingwithEBLReaderatalaterdate.

• Access configuration options for both theNGT-1 and NGW-1 devices.

EBL Reader• Displays log files saved by NMEA Reader of time-

stamped NMEA 0183 sentences or NMEA 2000 messages.

• Provides detailed information on currently selectedmessagedisplayed(fieldbreakdown).

• DisplaystextfilesofNMEA0183sentences.

Software UpdatesThe configuration options are directly linked to theFirmwarewithin theNGT-1 and the NGW-1. Both these devices are capable of being updated to include newfeaturesthatmayeffectthewayNMEAReaderneedstooperate. It is strongly recommended that the very latest versionofboththeFirmwareandNMEAReaderisused.

It is our policy to provide these updates free on theActisense website (www.actisense.com), so that theActisense software and devices can become moresophisticated with time, and should there be any bugsreported,theycanbepromptlyfixed.

Software InstallationDownloadandruntheexecutablefilefromtheActisense website (www.actisense.com).Awizardwillopenandguideyouthroughtheinstallationprocess.Once installed you have the option to run the program directfromtheinstallwizard.Alternatively simply run from either the Windows ‘AllPrograms’menushortcutorthedesktopicon.

http://www.actisense.com








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NMEA Reader Main WindowThe main window has a standard Windows pull-downmenuat the top.Below this isaToolbar thathasactionicons,portconnectioncontrolsandloadindicators.ThereisamaindisplayareabelowtheToolbarandatthebottomofthewindowthereisaStatusBar.

ThemainareaofthewindowiswheredatafromconnectedNMEA sources can be displayed. Multiple connectionscanbeviewedsimultaneouslyandappearaswindowsinthis area.

MenusFile → New ConnectionOpens a new connection window to display messagesfromaselectedNMEAsource.Multiplewindowscanbeopenedtoallowmessagesfrommorethanoneporttobeviewedatatime.

File → ExitCloses NMEA Reader.

Edit → PreferencesTransfer: Receive AllOnlyavailablewhenconnectedusinganNGT-1.AllowsallmessagestobetransferredfromtheNMEA2000bustothePCfordisplayingintheconnectionwindow.

Note: The NGT-1 will remain in ‘Transfer Receive All’modeuntil theuserselects ‘TransferNormal’or theunithasapower reset.Thisallows theNGT-1 tobeused in‘TransferReceiveAll’modeafterNMEAReaderisclosed.

Transfer: NormalOnly available when connected using an NGT-1. OnlymessagesintheNGT-1’sRxPGNlisttowillbetransferredfromtheNMEA2000bustothePCfordisplaying in theconnectionwindow.

Choose Log DirectoryChangethelocationthatalllogfilesaresavedtofromthedefault locationof ‘MyDocuments’.AstandardWindowsdirectory browserwill open to allow the selection of thenewsavelocation.

Auto Save ChangesWhen ticked:User settingswill be remembered for thenexttimeNMEAReaderisopened.When not ticked:DefaultsettingswillbeusedeachtimeNMEA Reader is run.Settings Remembered are:• Viewsettings(columnwidthsetc.)• Openconnectionsettings(portnumberandBaudrate)• Logfilesavedirectory• Transfermode(forNGT-1connectionsonly)

Hardware ConfigOpens the configuration options dialogue window. See“Hardware Config Window” on page 10.

View → ToolbarShoworhidethetoolbaroficons.

View → Status BarShow or hide the status bar at the bottom of the mainwindow.

Window → CascadeAll open connection windows will be arranged in acascade.Thecurrentlyselected(infocus)windowwillbedisplayedatthefront.

Window → Tile HorizontallyAll open connection windows will be tiled in full widthwindows.Thecurrentlyselected(infocus)windowwillbedisplayed at the top.

Window → Tile VerticallyAll open connection windows will be tiled in full heightwindows.Thecurrentlyselected(infocus)windowwillbedisplayedontheleft.

Window → (‘Active Connections’)Listed beneath the separation bar are all the openconnectionwindows.Selectingaconnectionwillmake itactiveandcometothefrontifhidden.

Help → About NMEA ReaderShows the ‘about’ dialogue box, which includes thesoftwareversionnumber.

Toolbar IconsAbout

Click this icon todisplay the ‘About’dialoguebox,whichincludesthesoftwareversionnumber.

RefreshClickingthisiconclearsanymessages/sentencespresentintheactiveconnectionwindow.

Save Log FileClickingthisiconwilltogglethelogging,onandoff,fortheactiveconnection.Logfilesaresavedto‘MyDocuments’unless the log directory has been changed via the editpreferences menu. Log files can be viewed using EBLReader and contain additional information not shown inNMEAReader,includingunknownandsystemmessages.Logs allow the viewing of messages/sentences inchronological order.


Connection Window ControlsPort Selection MenuSelect the COM port to open for the active connectionfromthedropdownmenu.Allavailablecomportswillbedisplayed.

Baud Rate Selection MenuSelect the required Baud rate for the active connectionfromthedropdownmenu.

NGT-1 Connection Indicator LEDThis LED showswhether anNGT-1 is operating on theactiveconnection.Thisisusefulwhenthereisnodatatodisplayed.

Connection Window IndicatorsPC Receive Load IndicatorTherighthandindicatorshowsthePCreceiveloadingofthe active connection. Shown as a percentage of usedbandwidth for theBaud rate selected in the ‘BaudRateSelectionMenu’.

NMEA 2000 Bus Load IndicatorThe left hand indicator shows the loadingon theNMEA2000 bus. This indicator is only visible when the activeconnectionisanNGT-1in‘TransferAll’mode.

Status Bar InformationCom Port NumberShowstheCOMportnumberoftheactiveconnection.

Baud Rate ValueShowstheBaudrateoftheactiveconnection.

Com Port StatusShows the status of the active connections COM port.Open or Closed.

Transfer Mode StateShowswhichmodethedeviceisin.• NGT-1:‘TransferNormal’or‘TransferReceiveAll’.• NGW-1:‘TranslateNormal’.• OtherDevices:Thissectionwillbeblank.

Autosave Mode IndicatorWhenin‘Autosave’modethisisshowninthestatusbar.

Connection WindowsEach connection window consists of two parts. The lefthandwindowshowsthemessagesastheyarriveontheportandtherighthandwindowshowsabreakdownofthehighlighted message.

Received Data WindowLineTherownumberofthedisplayedmessage/sentence.

PGNSeenwithNMEA2000messagesonly.ThePGNnumberofthereceivedmessage.

SRCSeen with NMEA 2000 messages only. The sourceaddressthemessagewassentfrom.

DSTSeen with NMEA 2000messages only. The destinationaddress themessagewas sent to.When amessage issent to all devices the message will contain the globaladdressvalueof255.TheNGT-1willreceiveallmessageson the NMEA 2000 bus, regardless of the destinationaddress,fordisplayingwithNMEAReader.

NameSeen with NMEA 2000 messages only. The descriptivenameofthemessagereceived.

TalkerSeenwithNMEA 0183 sentences only.The identifier ofthe source device.

FormatterSeenwithNMEA 0183 sentences only.The identifier ofthe sentence received.

TimeThetimethelastmessage/sentencewasreceived.

Interval / Freq (Hz)When set to ‘Interval’ the average length of time, inseconds, betweenmessages is displayed.When set to‘Freq.(Hz)’thefrequencyofthemessagesisdisplayedinHertz. To switch between the two display options, rightclickanywhereintheinterval/frequencycolumnandselecttheoptionrequiredfromthepop-uplist.

DataShows the actual data contained within the message/sentence.

NMEA Reader


Data Breakdown WindowWhenamessage isselected/highlighted in the receiveddatawindowthedatabreakdownwindowwillprovidein-depthinformationaboutthemessage.

NMEA 2000Heading LineThe first line confirms themessage is NMEA 2000 andshowsthevalueofthePGNindecimalandhexadecimal.The‘+’symbolallowsthe informationtobeexpandedorcollapsed.

NameThenameofthemessagereceived.

Source & DestinationThesourceaddressthemessagewassentfromfollowedby the destination address the message was sent to.Whenamessageissenttoalldevicesthemessagewillcontain theglobaladdressvalueof255.TheNGT-1willreceiveallmessagesontheNMEA2000bus,regardlessof the destination address, for displaying with NMEAReader.

Priority and LengthThe priority themessage was assigned, from 1 to 9, 1beingthehighestpriority.Thisisfollowedbythelengthofthe data contained in the message.

Number Of FieldsThe number of separate fields contained in the datasectionofthemessage.

FieldsEachfieldisdisplayedseparatelywithitsfieldnumber,thetypeofdataandthevalueofthedatainthatfield.

NMEA 0183Heading LineThefirstlineconfirmsthedataisNMEA0183andshowstheTalkerIDandFormatterIDalongwiththenameofthesentence. The ‘+’ symbol allows the information to beexpandedorcollapsed.

Number of FieldsThe number of separate fields contained in the datasectionofthesentence.

Original LengthThe number of characters contained in the sentence,includes the start character and the checksum value.

DescriptionAdescriptionofwhatinformationthesentencecontains.

FieldsEach field is typically displayed separately with its fieldnumber,thetypeofdataandthevalueofthedatainthatfield. Some fields are merged for example, with MWD,field0shows thedirectionvalueand includes the ‘units’fromfield1whichis‘True’.Combiningthevalueandunitfieldsmakesiteasiertounderstand.


Hardware Config WindowThe‘HardwareConfig’windowcomprisesofseveraltabseach with a configuration option (if available) for theconnected device. All tabs will use the same standardactionbuttonsseenatthebottomofthewindow.

OKWhen clicked allmodified settings, including those frominactive tabs, will be downloaded to the device. Oncompletionthewindowwillclose.

CancelWhen clicked the window will close, discarding anymodifiedsettings.

ApplyWhen clicked allmodified settings, including those frominactive tabs, will be downloaded to the device. Thewindowwillremainopenforfurtherediting.

Note:Clicking‘OK’or‘Apply’downloadsthenewsettingsto the device. These settings will be used for all futurecommunicationsoruntilnewsettingsaredownloaded.

Rx and Tx PGN List TabsThe NGT-1 and NGW-1 store lists of PGN’s that areallowed tobe received fromor transmitted to theNMEA2000bus.

Rx PGN List Window

Figure 2 - Rx PGN List Tab

TheRxlistreferstothePGN’sthatarereceivedfromtheNMEA2000bus.

Note:When in ‘Transfer:ReceiveAll’modeyouwill stillsee all the messages in the main connection window.Switchto‘Transfer:Normal’modetoseethelistworking.

Tx PGN List Window

Figure 3 - Tx PGN List Tab

TheTxlistreferstothePGN’sthataretobetransmittedontotheNMEA2000bus.

PGN List LayoutEach list comprises of three sortable columns, click theheading to sort.

En.TickboxesthatshowifthePGNisenabledordisabled.

PGNThePGNthatcanbeenabledordisabled.

NameThenameof thePGNmessage that canbeenabledordisabled.

Apply Defaults to HardwareClicking this button will update the settings inside thedevice to the factory defaults.The displayed list is thenupdated to match upon completion.

Update from HardwareRetrieves and displays the list stored in the connected device.

NMEA Reader


Enabled PGN StatusShowsthenumberofPGN’sthatareenabled in the list,including thenumber thatareallowed tobeadded.AnyPGN that is not enabled will be prevented from beingreceivedfromortransmittedtotheNMEA2000bus.

Enabled Virtual PGN StatusThiswillonlybeseenontheRxlistandisonlyapplicabletotheNGT-1(althoughthestatuswillstillbedisplayedforNGW-1’s).

TherearesevenPGN’s thatare requiredby theNGT-1/NGW-1 in order to operate correctly on the bus. ThesePGN’s cannot be disabled from being received. Theenable/disable option determines if the PGN is copiedbacktothePCornot.Enabling/disablingthesePGN’swilleffectwhethertheyaretransferredtothePCornot.

Baud Rate Tab

Figure 4 - Baud Rate Tab

Select therequiredBaudrate fromthedropdownmenuandclickOKorApply.ThebaudrateofthedevicewillbechangedandtheconnectionwiththePCwillbere-openedatthenewrate.


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EBL Reader Main Window MenusFile → NewThisoptioniscurrentlydisabled.

File → Open...Open a log file to view, A standard windows directorybrowserwillopentoallowtheselectionofthefiletoopen.

File → SaveThisoptioniscurrentlydisabled.

File → Save As...Thisoptioniscurrentlydisabled.

File→ Recent Files ListAlistofrecentlyopenedfileswillbedisplayed.Clickonetoopen it.

File → ExitCloses EBL Reader.

EditAlleditoptionsarecurrentlydisabled.

View → ToolbarShoworhidethetoolbaroficons.

View → Status BarShow or hide the status bar at the bottom of the mainwindow.

Help → About EBL ReaderShows the ‘about’ dialogue box, which includes thesoftwareversionnumber.

Toolbar IconsNew, Save, Cut, Copy, Paste and PrintTheseoptionsarecurrentlydisabled.

OpenOpen a log file to view. A standard windows directorybrowserwillopentoallowtheselectionofthefiletoopen.

AboutClickthisicontodisplaythe‘about’dialoguebox.

Received Data WindowLineThe row number of the displayedmessage. This is theorderinwhichthemessagesarrived.

TimeThetimethemessagewasreceived.ThisisthetimelocaltothePCthatcreatedthelogfile.

TypeShows if the data isNMEA0183,NMEA2000,BEMorUnknown.BEMmessagesarecommandmessagesusedbyActisense for controlling theNGT-1 andNGW-1 andareseparatefromanyNMEAdata.

DataShowstheactualdatareceivedinitsmessageformat.

Colour CodingPurpleisforNMEA0183sentences.BlueisforNMEA2000messages.GreenisforActisenseBEMsystemmessages.Redisforunknowndata.

Data Breakdown WindowThe‘+’symbolallowsthe informationtobeexpandedorcollapsedwithinthiswindow.

NMEA 2000Heading LineThe first line confirms themessage is NMEA 2000 andshowsthevalueofthePGNindecimalandhexadecimal.

NameThenameofthemessagereceived.

Source & DestinationThesourceaddressthemessagewassentfromfollowedby the destination address the message was sent to.Whenamessageissenttoalldevicesthemessagewillcontain theglobaladdressvalueof255.TheNGT-1willreceiveallmessagesontheNMEA2000bus,regardlessof the destination address, for displaying with NMEAReader.

Priority and LengthThe priority themessage was assigned, from 1 to 9, 1beingthehighestpriority.Thisisfollowedbythelengthofthe data contained in the message.

Number Of FieldsThe number of separate fields contained in the datasectionofthemessage.


FieldsEachfieldisdisplayedseparatelywithitsfieldnumber,thetypeofdataandthevalueofthedatainthatfield.

NMEA 0183Heading LineThefirstlineconfirmsthedataisNMEA0183andshowstheTalkerIDandFormatterIDalongwiththenameofthesentence.

Number of FieldsThe number of separate fields contained in the datasectionofthesentence.

Original LengthThe number of characters contained in the sentence,includes the start character and the checksum value.

DescriptionAdescriptionofwhatinformationthesentencecontains.

FieldsEach field is typically displayed separately with its fieldnumber,thetypeofdataandthevalueofthedatainthatfield. Some fields are merged for example, with MWD,field0shows thedirectionvalueand includes the ‘units’fromfield1whichis‘True’.Combiningthevalueandunitfieldsmakesiteasiertounderstand.

Actisense BEMThese messages are used by Actisense products forconfiguration and communication between deviceshardware.This information isonly reallyuseful toActiveResearch Ltd and is included for use when contactingcustomersupportasadebuggingaid.

EBL Reader



Company Information Active Research Limited5,WessexTradeCentreRingwoodRoadPoole,DorsetUK,BH123PF

Telephone: 01202746682(International:+441202746682)

ActisenseontheWeb:Foradvice,supportandproductdetails

E-mail: [email protected]: www.actisense.com

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“Actisense” is a registered trademark of Active Research Limited.

Product Order CodesAllproductslistedareconfigurablewithNMEAReader.OtherActisenseproductsandNMEA0183deviceswithPCconnectivityareallcompatiblefordisplayingdata.

NGT-1-ISO NMEA 2000 ↔ Serial PC Interface with ISO-DriveNGT-1-USB NMEA 2000 ↔ USB PC InterfaceNGW-1-ISO NMEA 2000 ↔ Serial NMEA 0183 Interface with ISO-DriveNGW-1-USB NMEA 2000 ↔ USB NMEA 0183 Interface

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