ShipModul, a Dutch marine electronics manufacturer, announced that a new firmware, V3.18.2 was released for the MiniPlex-3 Series. This would be used together with a matching MPXConfig3 V3.13.0. It should be noted that this latest MPXConfig3 is only available for Windows and not yet for macOS (a firmware downgrade is required for this). The new firmware update provides some bug fixes on the previous V3.18.1 while the 3.18.x versions allow for the following changes/new features and bug fixes:
Changes/New Features:
Host Navigation Override
A new NMEA 2000 option (18) implemented to enable priority of navigation/waypoint data received from a host interface. Normally, an NMEA 2000 source has priority over any NMEA 0183 input.
With this option enabled, NMEA 0183 navigation/waypoint data contained in APB, BWC/BWR, RMB and XTE sentences received on a host interface (USB, Ethernet, WiFi) has priority over the same data received on NMEA 2000.
This option is enabled with command PSMDNO,C,18,1
Bug Fixes:
AIS target coordinates with a western longitude or southern latitude were not converted from NMEA 0183 to NMEA 2000.
Receiving XDR sentences with an unknown Transducer ID would lead to a reset of a MiniPlex with a new MCU.
Enabling the NMEA V1.5 option on output 2 could lead to transmission of unterminated sentences. These sentences would have no checksum added and no CR/LF termination.
On a MiniPlex with a new MCU, no Modbus data could not be received due to a misconfiguration of the NMEA Out2/RS485 port.
When PGN 126464 was requested by another device on the NMEA 2000 network, the MiniPlex would reboot.
The Reverse Heading function did not copy the second character of the Talker ID of the originating sentence. Thus, $HEHDT would be converted to $HHDT.
Note:
These new features and conversions lead to many changes “under the hood”. Although both platforms were tested extensively, the occasional bug may surface. So please contact us if you feel the MiniPlex-3 is not performing as it should; so we can fix this immediately.
ShipModul provides advanced solutions for the reliable communication of NMEA data between multiple talkers and listeners. They are offering several interfacing options (NMEA0183, N2K, USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi …) a rich set of features and configurations while eliminating ground loops. This makes the outputs compatible with all sorts of inputs, whether they are isolated or not, differential (RS-422) or grounded (RS-232). Any combination of networks using NMEA 0183, N2K or SeaTalk data integrates seamlessly via the latest MiniPlex-3 Series NMEA multiplexers. They offer the ultimate solution to connect old and new worlds and the perfect gateway to computers and tablets onboard.
For further information you may contact the Official Distributor and Support Center for Greece:
Aegean Electronics SA
4 Zosimadon Str, Piraeus 185 31, Greece
Tel: +30 210 4123000
E-mail: info@aegeanel.com