MiniPlex 41 Serial Multiplexer

The MiniPlex-41 is a four channel multiplexer, connecting up to four nautical instruments to each other and a PC.

Instruments with an NMEA interface can exchange data with other instruments, such as a GPS delivering position information to an autopilot. An instrument that delivers data is called a talker, while an instrument that receives data is called a listener. The current NMEA specification provides the possibility to connect one talker to up to four listeners. There is no provision however, to connect more than one talker to one or more listeners. It is thus impossible to connect both a log and a GPS to an autopilot or PC.

The MiniPlex-41 circumvents this limitation by offering four listener ports, one RS-232 port and two talker ports. Now a system can be built with up to four talkers and up to eight listeners. The PC can also act as a talker/listener, without sacrificing the number of allowed talkers. Incoming data is buffered and retransmitted as complete NMEA sentences to the connected instruments and PC. From the PC, NMEA data can also be sent to the instruments.

Specifications:

Supply voltage:	8-20VDC, secured against reversed polarity
Current consumption:	40mA (70mA max. with fully loaded talker ports)
Inputs:	4 x NMEA-183/RS-422, galvanically isolated
Outputs:	1 x RS-232, 2 x NMEA-183/RS-422
Buffers:	5 buffers of 1500 characters (4 x NMEA, 1 x RS-232)
Speed NMEA in:	4800 Baud
Speed NMEA/RS-232 out:	4800, 9600, 19200, 38400 of 57600 Baud
Dimensions:	138 x 62 x 30mm

A productsheet and a manual are available for download as an Acrobat PDF document.