NorthStar Navigation 978/897-6600 Choosing the output rate, Choosing the checksum setting

SECTION SIX: Interfacing the 958 system

Choosing the output rate

The default rate for standard NMEA 0183 output is two seconds. The 958 lets you use a one-second update interval, a rate of 1 Hz, under limited circumstances, for NMEA and diagnostic data output. Using the 1-Hz output option requires some thought when specifying either NMEA 0183 (NMEA version 2.0) or Raytheon (RAY 0183). Because there isn’t enough time to transmit all available sentences within one second, you must select for output only those that are needed. If you select more sentences than can be output in one second, the 958 displays the following error message:

SORRY, CAN’T DO THAT. TOO MANY SENTENCES FOR 1 SEC INTERVAL

In this case, you must select fewer sentences.

There are some applications that need a longer update period. In that case, you can increase the span to 999 seconds.

Choosing the waypoint identification (ID)

Many marine devices can display waypoint names if they’re output by the 958. At the PORT 1 SETUP or PORT 2 SETUP screen, highlight the NMEA 0183 WAYPT ID AS option, then press the EDIT menu key. Change the option from NUMBER to NAME, and press the ENTER key when done. If capable, the listening device will now display six-character waypoint names.

NOTE:

Be sure to see if the listening device can do this before you change the NMEA WAYPT ID AS option. Many older devices won’t

understand this identifier, and using it may cause problems with displaying waypoint information or when following routes.

There is no standard for identifying how numbers should be assigned when converting waypoints from names to numbers. When you export waypoint information as numbers to a peripheral device, be aware that numbers aren’t sequentially defined and may be re-used on a random basis.

Choosing the checksum setting

Some older devices may not accept sentences containing the NMEA 0183 checksum that’s output by the 958. In such cases, the device may not work properly or at all. If you have problems interfacing to older equipment, the 958 lets you turn off the NMEA 0183 checksum: At the PORT 1 SETUP or PORT 2 SETUP screen, press the CURSOR PAD to highlight the NMEA 0183 CHECKSUMS option, then press EDIT. Press the CURSOR PAD to change the setting from ON to OFF, then press ENTER.

Selecting an independent NMEA output-port datum

You can adjust the geodetic datum for NMEA 0183 ports 1 and 2, separately from the datum you choose for position display. At the PORT SETUP 1 or PORT SETUP 2 screen, highlight the OUTPUT DATUM option, then press EDIT. Scroll through the choices to make your selection. To apply this chosen datum to the lat/lon coordinates in the NMEA 0183 output sentences, press the ENTER key.

Page 28 958 Installation Manual, Rev. A1