Actisense NDC-2b to I-command instruments

[Stwal]

I have a Garmin GPSMAP 178C and don’t want to buy one more or new triducer and GPS.

So I have bought an Actisense NDC-2B this should convert NMEA0183 to NMEA 2000.

http://www.actisense.com/HTML/...x.php

I have connected it to the both LowranceNET and I-Command CAN-bus and it’s not receiving or transmitting any data.
The Lowrance LMF-400 can not find the device if I scan for devices.

Have any one used this setup?

This device should save money and devices in the boat.

//Stefan



Modified by Stwal at 2:56 PM 4/16/2006

[SEAHORSE]

A quick look-see at the website shows no mention of NMMA 2000 on that product, just the older NMEA 0183 standard.

http://www.actisense.com/HTML/...s.htm

It looks like you have to make a long distance call to England to talk to the factory.

[Stwal]

Here is the manual.
There is short description about NMEA 2000

http://www.actisense.com/Downl...0.pdf

I will send an email.

[SEAHORSE]

You may be paying for a call across the pond. Good luck and let us know if you get it to work. How much was the adapter?


From the manual:

The method of connecting the Actisense™ NDC-2 to the vessel’s CAN bus network is with a standard NMEA 2000 drop / stub cable (approximately 1 metre length). The actual cable will depend on the type of NMEA 2000 cable used throughout the vessel - Device Net or the simpler tag system. Please note that the CAN Bus must be correctly terminated at each end of the bus.

As NMEA 2000 is a relatively new stardard, please refer to a qualified installation engineer if you are at all unsure about NMEA 2000 networks and its cabling specifications.

[Stwal]

I bought it from JG Technologies Ltd for £199

http://www.jgtech.com/Wireless.htm

Here the email i have send.


I have bought an Evinrude E-tec Outboard engine and instrumentation that use NMEA 2000 standard.

I have a Garmin GPSMAP 187C and don’t want to buy one more or new triducer and GPS.

There for I have bought an Actisense NDC-2B this should convert NMEA0183 to NMEA 2000.
I have connected it to the both LowranceNET and I-Command CAN-bus and it’s not receiving or transmitting any data.
The Lowrance LMF-400 can not find the device if I scan for devices.
There are no options in the Actisense NDC Control Centre program.
So have I made something wrong, the Lowrance NET system works fine?




Modified by Stwal at 5:55 AM 4/14/2006

[Stwal]

I found the answer in the Manual.

The NDC will be able to act as an NMEA 0183 to NMEA 2000 upgrade bridge, converting all NMEA 0183 data into standard NMEA 2000 packets that can be read by any suitably equipped device on the vessels NMEA 2000 CAN bus network. This ability will require a flash upgrade, as the NMEA 2000 standard has only recently been finalised; please contact Active Research Limited and/or monitor the Actisense™ website for further information.

The NMEA 2000 interface is not configured yet, so I will haft to wait.




Modified by Stwal at 2:57 PM 4/16/2006

[Stwal]

This is a part of the answer from Actisense.

The NDC-2-B software/firmware does not currently support NMEA 2000, and we do not yet have a release date for when we will release the updated NDC-2-B firmware that will support NMEA 2000.

Therefore, the quickest solution to complete your system would be to use the NMEA 2000 gateway product when it is released.

First of all, my apologies for the confusion over the NMEA 2000 feature in the NDC-2.

We have been developing NMEA 2000 software now for a couple of years, and the NDC-2 was supposed to have this feature installed.

However, it has proved difficult, as the NDC-2 already does so much that the NMEA 2k conversion is pushing the microprocessor too much to do everything that we want.

So we are making the NMEA 2000 gateway.