Actisense NGT-1 NMEA 2000 to PC Gateway

Important Notices

The NGT-1 device complies with Electromagnetic Compatibility requirements according to EN60945. For compliance, the unit must be used with appropriately approved, shielded cable and connectors as per NMEA 0400 standards. A declaration of conformity is available for download at www.actisense.com.

If installing the device within five metres of a compass, consult the 'Compass Safe Distance' section on the Actisense website for guidance.

Trademarks and Registered Trademarks

Actisense® and the Actisense logo are registered trademarks of Active Research Limited (Ltd). All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

The NMEA® name and NMEA logo are copyright held by the NMEA. Their use in this manual is by permission, with no claim made on the right to the NMEA name or logo.

Fair Use Statement

The contents of this manual may not be transferred or copied without the express written permission of Active Research Ltd.

Copyright © 2017 Active Research Ltd. All rights reserved.

Technical Accuracy

While efforts have been made to ensure the information in this document is correct at the time of production, Active Research Ltd cannot accept liability for any inaccuracies or omissions.

Products and specifications described herein are subject to change without prior notice. Active Research Ltd accepts no liability for differences between the product and this document. Please check actisense.com for updated information and specifications.

Active Research Ltd is not liable for infringement of copyright, industrial property rights, or other third-party rights resulting from the use of information or drawings in this manual.

Product Guarantee

This product is covered by a three-year 'return to base' guarantee. If you suspect a fault, please refer to the Troubleshooting Section of the User Manual before contacting support.

Guarantee requirements include adherence to the NMEA 0400 specification for all electronic equipment installations. Power supply connections must meet mandatory essential safety requirements imposed by local regulatory agencies.

Actisense products are intended for marine, below-deck use. Use in more severe environments may be considered misuse under the Active Research Ltd guarantee.

Product Registration

Please register your product via the online form at http://actisense.com/support/prodreg.html.

Your product package includes a unit serial number, a six-digit code found below the barcode on the label. Registration helps Actisense Support link your product to your details for future assistance.

Product Disposal

Please dispose of this product in accordance with the WEEE Directive. The product should be taken to a registered establishment for the disposal of electronic equipment.

Introduction & Features

The Actisense NGT-1 enables safe sending and receiving of NMEA 2000® data between a PC and an NMEA 2000® network. This allows for feature-rich software applications to replace or complement dedicated hardware like Multifunction Displays (MFDs) or Chart Plotters.

The freely available Actisense NMEA Reader diagnostic software uses the NGT-1 to display all active devices on the network and the data messages exchanged between them. The NMEA Reader's tools help users understand the network and diagnose potential issues.

Powering the NGT-1

ISO Variants

All ISO variants of the NGT-1 receive power from a correctly powered NMEA 2000 backbone. The backbone must be correctly terminated using NMEA 2000 approved, 120 Ohm termination resistors. Refer to the "Connecting to an NMEA 2000 Network" section for details.

USB Variants

All USB variants are powered via the PC/laptop USB connection once USB drivers are successfully installed. Actisense USB drivers may install automatically from Windows Update, or they can be found on the included CD or the NGT-1 'downloads' web page.

Connecting to a SeaTalkNG Network

Raymarine's SeaTalkNG network uses the same data as a standard NMEA 2000 network but has different physical connections. To connect any standard NMEA 2000 device, such as the NGT-1, to an STNG network, use an NMEA 2000 to STNG adapter cable (product code: STNG-A06045).

Connecting to a PC/laptop

For ISO variants, connection to a PC/laptop is typically made via a serial cable (DB9F connector). If the computer lacks a serial port, a USB-to-serial converter is required. The connection diagram shows the PC's serial port pins: TX (Transmit) connects to the NGT-1, RX (Receive) from the NGT-1, and GND (Ground). Other pins on the serial connector are marked 'Do not connect'. Arrows indicate the direction of data flow.

Connecting to an NMEA 2000 Network

An NMEA 2000 network requires a backbone cable, T-pieces to connect devices, a power source connection (Power T), and terminators at both ends of the backbone. Devices connect to the backbone via instrument drop cables. The diagram illustrates this setup, noting that the backbone cable between T-pieces is not always necessary and that device drop cables should not exceed 6 meters in length, as defined by the NMEA 2000 specification.

NMEA 2000 Pin Out

The diagram below illustrates the standard wiring colours used by all NMEA 2000 devices, including the NGT-1:

Configuring the NGT-1

The application software used with the NGT-1 is responsible for its configuration each session when it opens the COM port. End users typically do not need to perform manual configuration, as any manual changes could be lost. If the 'Tx PGN Enable List' within the NGT-1 is manually altered, it may be overwritten when the software starts up and configures the NGT-1. If the software does not send the enabled PGNs, no data will appear on the network. Software designed to transmit a PGN must configure the NGT-1's 'Tx PGN Enable List' accordingly.

LED Behaviour

The NGT-1 has two LEDs: one on the PC/laptop side and one on the NMEA 2000 network side. Upon startup, both LEDs flash alternately and rapidly for 2 seconds.

The primary function of the LEDs is to indicate the reception of NMEA 2000 PGN data and PC/Serial data. If no data is present, both LEDs flash once every 10 seconds (firmware v2.210) or 5 seconds (firmware v2.500+). This may indicate incorrect wiring or a lack of available data.

For any observed irregular behavior, consult the NGT-1 User Manual (available on CD or the NGT-1 'downloads' web page) or visit the Actisense Support Centre via the Actisense website.