Playtime
Well-Known Member
Has anyone used the Actisense NGW-1-USB to receive NMEA2000 network info on a PC?
I can't get it to work!
I can't get it to work!
Actisense NGW-1-USB
- Thread starter Playtime
- Start date
Brightwork
Well-Known Member
Yes, I installed our about a month ago and (finally) got it working - I'm no expert but if you describe the problem I'll do my best.
Playtime
Well-Known Member
Ah - that's encouraging.
OK - here goes from memory.
When plugged into the N2K network alone there is no LED visible. Once the laptop is running the N2K LED flashes frequently, showing data being received by the unit (I think). The USB LED does not flash, but then I have not tried sending NMEA 0183 data yet.
Trying various programmes that receive NMEA 0183 data (OpenCPN, NavMonPC etc. I receive nothing.
Trying with the Actisense Reader programme I get a green indicator when the COM port is selected and a %PC reading in the right hand indicator, but again no data.
When trying to reset the default configuration I get some timeout messages
I may have upset the configuration in the unit when I was trying out the Reader software prior to connecting to the network.
I have loaded the latest 2.199 firmware in the unit.
Not a very good description but, if that doesn't help, I will try some more test on Thursday.
Maybe if you describe your set-up and what tools you used it may point me in the right direction.
TIA
OK - here goes from memory.
When plugged into the N2K network alone there is no LED visible. Once the laptop is running the N2K LED flashes frequently, showing data being received by the unit (I think). The USB LED does not flash, but then I have not tried sending NMEA 0183 data yet.
Trying various programmes that receive NMEA 0183 data (OpenCPN, NavMonPC etc. I receive nothing.
Trying with the Actisense Reader programme I get a green indicator when the COM port is selected and a %PC reading in the right hand indicator, but again no data.
When trying to reset the default configuration I get some timeout messages
I may have upset the configuration in the unit when I was trying out the Reader software prior to connecting to the network.
I have loaded the latest 2.199 firmware in the unit.
Not a very good description but, if that doesn't help, I will try some more test on Thursday.
Maybe if you describe your set-up and what tools you used it may point me in the right direction.
TIA
Brightwork
Well-Known Member
I set it up to connect to PC Plotter on a pc with an NMEA2000 input via a Simnet backbone.
Similar dications to you but no actual inputs - eventually tracked it down to the 'configuration' settings in PCP whereby I set the NMEA 2000 to the correct port but did not de-select the NMEA 0183 ports to read input as 'NONE' - so basically it was trying to read all inputs but achieved none of them
My settings were eventually;
NMEA1 = None
NMEA2 = None
NMEA2000 = Com 4 (or whatever).
Hope that helps, but of course you may a different issue - works very well when eventually set up though.
Similar dications to you but no actual inputs - eventually tracked it down to the 'configuration' settings in PCP whereby I set the NMEA 2000 to the correct port but did not de-select the NMEA 0183 ports to read input as 'NONE' - so basically it was trying to read all inputs but achieved none of them
My settings were eventually;
NMEA1 = None
NMEA2 = None
NMEA2000 = Com 4 (or whatever).
Hope that helps, but of course you may a different issue - works very well when eventually set up though.
davidwf
Well-Known Member
I use one it worked fine first time both with antisense reader and airman program. Antisense are great at support best bet is to contact them directly and they will help you.
Playtime
Well-Known Member
I think my set-up is different. I am trying to receive NMEA 0183 after translation from the N2K network by the Actisense unit.
It sounds like you are using a different unit - maybe the NGT?
Playtime
Well-Known Member
Are you using the NGW (i.e. receiving NMEA0183) or just interfacing NMEA2000 (using the NGT or similar))?
If it's the NGW then I am very interested in your settings and what you see using Reader.
I will try Actisense Support when I have gathered a coherent set of test results. I thought I would try the Forum first, on the off-chance someone has already cracked it.
Thanks for your response.
davidwf
Well-Known Member
I am using the NGT-1 so it's presenting NMEA 2000 data to the pc. I actually bought it to debug an issue with a dst800 sensor, which I upgraded to the latest version of software using the Airmar weather caster software. So only used the antisense software and the weather caster.
Brightwork
Well-Known Member
Playtime
Well-Known Member
Ah yes, NGT-1 (it was a late evening post) - sorry.
OK - thanks.
Looks like I will have to collect more test results and give Actisense a call.
knuterikt
Well-Known Member
Have you configured the NGW-1-USB
From the manual
"Check that the NGW-1-USB is connected to the NMEA 2000 network, that the NMEA 2000 network is operational, and that the required PGN messages are selected for transfer by using the NGW Configuration Tool."
From the manual
"Check that the NGW-1-USB is connected to the NMEA 2000 network, that the NMEA 2000 network is operational, and that the required PGN messages are selected for transfer by using the NGW Configuration Tool."
Playtime
Well-Known Member
There is no programme available from Actisense called the NGW Configuration Tool. There is a one page 'brochure' that is of little use.
How do you 'configure' the unit?
Playtime
Well-Known Member
To complete the story (if anyone's still interested) I have been in dialogue with the Chief Engineer at Actisense today and am delighted to report that the unit is now working as intended.
The solution was, in fact, simple. There is a default baud rate of 4800 - the only speed (just about) that I didn't try
Set the receiving programme to that and away it went. It would obviously have helped if the Manual actually stated this. However . . .
Now receiving GPS, speed, depth, wind and AIS on the laptop - great.
The solution was, in fact, simple. There is a default baud rate of 4800 - the only speed (just about) that I didn't try
Set the receiving programme to that and away it went. It would obviously have helped if the Manual actually stated this. However . . .
Now receiving GPS, speed, depth, wind and AIS on the laptop - great.
lateral
New Member
Same problem! How do you get to the configuration tool, or am I just stupid??
Tried different baud rates to no avail.
Nothing showing on EBL reader.
Weather caster works fine. Upgrade the pb200 firmware without a hitch, but cant read the n2k bus.
I need to see what is coming from the N2k bus, primarily the AC42, as it won't show on the tritons. " No pilot computer" error.
OK !problem solved. In too much of a hurry that I didn't notice that the EBL reader supplied didn't include Nmea reader.
Pays to read the instructions.
I only had !/2 of the program.
:ambivalence:
Last edited:
Playtime
Well-Known Member
That's good as I can't remember now how I did it - well, it was 2 years ago.
BTW - there was a new version of the NGW firmware released in May 2014 (see here - http://www.actisense.com/products/nmea-2000/ngw1/firmware-ngw-1.html ) that cleared up a fault I had with the depth reading on the laptop when the plotter was on (see this thread - http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?353889-Actisense-SimNet&highlight=actisense ). If you are not using this latest firmware it might be worth updating. Loading the firmware was straightforward, using the laptop.
lateral
New Member
I have trouble remembering what I did last week, let alone last year.
Thanks for the tip.
Pays to keep on top of the firmware, especially with the tritons as they weren't bug free on release, by any stretch of the imagination.
I will cease this hijack as I was talking about the NGT-1.
Thanks for the tip.
Pays to keep on top of the firmware, especially with the tritons as they weren't bug free on release, by any stretch of the imagination.
I will cease this hijack as I was talking about the NGT-1.
