MiniPlex-41BT

The MiniPlex-41BT is the first Bluetooth® enabled NMEA multiplexer, offering 4 galvanically isolated NMEA inputs, 2 NMEA outputs, a Bluetooth and an RS-232 interface.

The MiniPlex-41BT communicates with a computer or a PDA through its' Bluetooth interface for computerized nagivation. No cables need to be attached. Just placing your laptop at the chart table, or just being on board for that matter, is enough to communicate with your navigation system.
Both NMEA outputs (talker ports) allow distribution of the NMEA data to up to eight instruments.

The RS-232 port can be used in the same way as the Bluetooth interface. Data from the instruments is available on both interfaces simultaneously. Data from connected computers is received on both interfaces, combined and sent to the NMEA Output.
This is very useful when a fixed computer is permanently connected to the RS-232 port, while a PDA with a Bluetooth interface is used as a portable system or a repeater. When the multiplexer is set to Hub mode, it will even pass information from the computer to the PDA and vice versa.

Operating modes

The MiniPlex-41 has three modes of operation, which affect the routing of NMEA data:
Server: Data received on the NMEA inputs is sent to the computer. Data received from the computer is sent to an NMEA ouput.
Hub: All received data (on the NMEA inputs and from the computer) is sent to an NMEA output.
Auto: Automatic selection between Server and Hub mode. This is a useful feature for people who have a GPS and an autopilot connected to the multiplexer, and sometimes wish to sail without taking their laptop on board. When the laptop is not connected, the multiplexer is in Hub mode and crosstrack- and waypoint information from the GPS is directly sent to the autopilot. When the laptop is connected and sending data, the multiplexer automatically switches to Server mode and the autopilot will receive crosstrack- and waypoint data from the laptop instead.
This mode also serves as an emergency backup: when the laptop or computer crashes, the multiplexer will fall back to Hub mode after a timeout of 10 seconds.

Seatalk® Conversion

When the Seatalk -> NMEA option is selected, NMEA In 4 becomes a SeaTalk® compatible input, offering conversion of the most common SeaTalk datagrams on a Raymarine® network into NMEA sentences.

Specifications:  
Supply voltage: 8-30VDC, secured against reversed polarity.
Current consumption: 100mA (150mA max. with fully loaded talker ports and active Bluetooth connection)
Inputs: 4 x NMEA-183/RS-422, galvanically isolated
Outputs: 1 x Bluetooth/RS-232, 2 x NMEA-183/RS-422
Bluetooth: Class 1 device, range up to 100m
Operating modes: Hub, Server and Auto
Buffers: 5 buffers of 1000 characters (4 x NMEA, 1 x Bluetooth/RS-232)
Speed NMEA in: 4800 Baud
Speed NMEA Out1/RS-232/Bluetooth: 38400 Baud (NMEA 0183-HS)
Speed NMEA Out2: 4800 Baud
Dimensions: 138 x 62 x 30mm

A manual can be downloaded.

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