Specifications
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Proprietary NMEA Sentences
The MiniPlex multiplexers are configured with proprietary NMEA sentences that can be sent to the
multiplexer through the host interface.
The multiplexer can also output proprietary NMEA sentences on a host interface to output status
information or a response to a received proprietary NMEA sentence.
The host interface is the port that connects to a computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet by means
of RS-232, USB, Bluetooth, WiFi or Ethernet. A MiniPlex can have more than one host interface.
When the multiplexer outputs something on a host interface, it is sent to all host interfaces
simultaneously. All host interfaces operate equally and have equal priority.
All MiniPlex proprietary sentences have the following format:
$PSMDxx[,a,b,…][*hh]<CR><LF>
$P: Start of a proprietary command as dictated by the NMEA standard
SMD: ShipModul manufacturer mnemonic
xx: Two- or three-character sentence formatter
a,b,…: Optional fields
hh: Optional checksum
<CR><LF>: Carriage Return and Line Feed characters that terminate the sentence
By default, fields are optional and may be skipped when no change is required. For instance, a
$PSMDCF,,,,1 sentence only enables Channel Numbers. The preceding fields are skipped (,,,,) and
the trailing fields are omitted.
For ease of manual configuration, these sentences do not require a checksum. If the sentence has
a checksum however, it is checked and the sentence is rejected when a checksum failure occurs.
Sentences output by the multiplexer always contain a checksum unless the checksum check is
switched off. Checksums are denoted with *hh in the descriptions below.
CF – Configuration
This sentence sets the configuration of the multiplexer. The same sentence is sent by the
multiplexer in response to a CFQ sentence.
Format: $PSMDCF,b,s,p,n,rrrrr,h,v,t,f,r[*hh]<CR><LF>
b: Baud rate selector for the RS-232 interface:
1)
0 = 4800 Baud
1 = 9600 Baud
2 = 19200 Baud
3 = 38400 Baud
4 = 57600 Baud
5 = 115200 Baud
9 = toggle checksum checking
2)
s: SeaTalk translation:
0 = off
1 = on
2 = dump all unknown SeaTalk datagrams ($PSMDST,xx,xx,…)
3 = dump all SeaTalk datagrams
4 = toggle generated wind sentence between VWR and MWV
p: Channel priority:
0 = off
1 = on, standard priority order
3 = on, SeaTalk has highest priority
5 = on, standard priority order, GPS status checked
7 = on, SeaTalk has highest priority, GPS status checked
n: Channel numbers:
0 = off
1 = send as NMEA sentence
2 = send a TAG block
rrrrr: Real-time mode:
0 = off
1 = on
Five digits, one digit per input, 1 to 5 from left to right. Input 5 is the source of internally
generated sentences from NMEA conversions.