ShipModul released firmware V3.40.0 for MiniPlex-3

ShipModul B.V., a Dutch marine electronics manufacturer, announced that new firmware V.3.40.0 was released for the MiniPlex-3 Series including various changes, new features and bug fixes as follows:

Changes / New Features

  • NMEA 2000 Bearing to Waypoint Reference

Implemented an option (NMEA 2000 Option 20) to choose for a magnetic Bearing to Waypoint in NMEA 2000 navigation data (PGN 129284) generated from NMEA 0183 or SeaTalk data. In many cases this solves the “No Data” message on older Raymarine autopilots (SPX) when being controlled from an NMEA 0183 connected plotter or navigation application.

  • Wind Units Conversion

Conversion of wind speed units added for MWV sentences. Command PSMDCNV,C,32,x sets the speed units, where ‘x’ can have the following values:

0: Conversion is disabled

1: Speed in knots (N)

2: Speed in m/s (M)

3: Speed in km/h (K)

4: Speed in stature mile/h (S)

If an MWV sentence is received as NMEA 0183 sentence, a new sentence is generated with the set units from virtual input ‘C’, which can be routed individually.

If an MWV sentence is generated from NMEA 2000 or SeaTalk data, the set unit is used to generate this sentence.

  • Decoding of Heave, Roll, Pitch and Yaw from XDR Sentences

New conversion ID’s added to the PSMDXDR command to decode Heave, Roll, Pitch and Yaw from XDR sentences.

Command PSMDXDR,C,x,<transducer ID> sets the XDR Transducer ID to be decoded from an XDR sentence, where ‘x’ can have the following values:

0: Mast angle to PGN 65330

1: Sailing performance to PGN 127488, field 2 (Engine Speed)

2: Air temperature to PGN 130316

3: Sea temperature to PGN 130316

4: Atmospheric/barometric pressure to PGN 130314

5: Relative outside humidity to PGN 130313

6: Heave to PGN 127252

7: Yaw to PGN 127257

8: Pitch to PGN 127257

9: Roll to PGN 127257

Transmission of PGN 127252 (Heave) is implemented.

  • Transmission of AGRSA Sentence

Transmission of the $AGRSA sentence now occurs at 1 Hz instead of 10 Hz when the rudder angle is received from SeaTalk. A rudder angle received from an NMEA 2000 source is still transmitted at 10 Hz.

  • PSMDCFQ

The output of the PSMDCFQ command now includes Sentence Rebuild definitions in PSMDSR,R,… sentences. A later version of MPXConfig3 will show these definitions on a configuration page.

  • SeaTalk Datagram 84 to SeaTalkng

SeaTalk datagram 84 is now transmitted in Raymarine’s proprietary PGN 126720 if In1 is set to SeaTalk-STNG mode. This allows Raymarine NMEA 2000 connected autopilots to detect a SeaTalk-connected autopilot and its operating mode.

Bug Fixes

  • Bearing to Waypoint in NMEA 0183

The NMEA 0183 sentences APB, BWx and RMB generated from NMEA 0183 or SeaTalk data now always have the correct bearing reference, whether the source is true or magnetic.

Configuration Tool

The latest MPXConfig3 V3.21.0 (released on 25/7/2026) can be used with this latest MiniPlex-3 firmware and includes the following new features:

  • MiniPlex-3E Network Configuration

To aid in solving network problems with a MiniPlex-3E(-N2K), a command-line option -n is added. When starting MPXConfig3 from the command line by using mpxconfig3 -n, an extra menu option Show Networks is added to the Tools menu. This option shows a window listing all available networks that are available on that computer.

  • NMEA 2000 Bearing to Waypoint Reference

A new control is added to the NMEA 2000 tab to choose for a magnetic Bearing to Waypoint in NMEA 2000 navigation data (PGN 129284) generated from NMEA 0183 or SeaTalk data. In many cases this solves the “No Data” message on older Raymarine autopilots (SPX) when being controlled from an NMEA 0183 connected plotter or navigation application.

Furthermore, it should be noted that this latest MPXConfig3 version is only available for Windows and not yet for macOS. To use a MiniPlex-3 on a Mac, firmware V2.3.18 must be loaded using MPXConfig3 V2.4.1 for MacOS. The V2.3.18 firmware, however, can only be loaded in multiplexers with serial number ranges 3x00xxxx and 3x02xxxx. This firmware is not compatible with serial number range 3x01xxxx! For these multiplexers, you must use MPXConfig3 for Windows, which can be run in a virtual machine on your Mac.

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