Since its inception 20 years ago, Active Research Limited (Actisense) has earned a reputation as a manufacturer of quality NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 products. Thanks to a steady introduction of gateways, buffers and connectors that address different issues of connectivity and communications, Actisense has established itself as an innovator making the lives of dealers, installers and boating enthusiasts easier. In turn, this has led to continuous growth, helping Actisense to expand its facilities, hire more talented engineers, earn the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accreditations from the International Organization for Standardization and just last year, win the Exporter of the Year and Business of the Year awards at the 2016 Blackmore Vale in the U.K.
As an example, take the humble Gender Changer. These Male-to-Male or Female-to-Female connectors at the end of a 25cm UL-certified NMEA 2000 cable help installers resolve one of the most vexing issues on a boat – connecting two devices or cables which have the same connector on an NMEA 2000 backbone. For less than $30 USD the problem is easily solved!
Now consider the more complex issue of millions of vessel engines in good working conditions outputting analogue engine data that boaters would want to see on their modern Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) or PC screens. The Actisense Engine Monitoring Unit (EMU-1) gateway is an ingenious, cost-effective, and easy-to-install solution that allows boaters to display and monitor up to six analogue parameters or gauges at once. For only $449, the EMU-1 can configure and convert almost any gauge input from 0 to 35 Volts, any alarm input from 0 to 37V and any tacho input in the + 60V range to an NMEA 2000 string legible on recently manufactured MFDs.
“The EMU-1 has been designed so engine information is easily shared on the NMEA 2000 bus, removing the need and the substantial expense associated with changing an existing engine,” said Phil Whitehurst, managing director of Active Research Limited. “The EMU-1 changes the way analogue to NMEA data conversions are done”.
Another impressive product in Actisense’s line of problem solving devices is the Quick Network Block (QNB-1). This unit greatly reduces the cost and space needed for an NMEA 2000 installation in high device concentration areas.
The QNB-1 is two products in one, compatible with both NMEA 0183 buses and NMEA 2000 networks; when used on an NMEA 0183 bus, the QNB-1 provides an easy junction box to connect multiple NMEA 0183 devices together. An NMEA talker device is connected to one of the network connection points, while each NMEA listener device is connected to the remaining points.
When used on an NMEA 2000 backbone network, the QNB-1 is a multi-drop connection block, allowing for 2 backbone connections (in & out) and up to 6 drop connections and a power entry point.
The fuse-protected power entry connection provides current protection to each half of the NMEA 2000 network backbone, with helpful diagnostic LEDs for Power, Fuse Blown, Polarity Reversal Warning and Data Detected. The two QNB models are listed at $135 or $150.
Another ground breaking product is the bi-directional Actisense NGW-1 NMEA 0183 to NMEA 2000 gateway, which links a boat’s old and new data networks. The Raymarine variant, NGW-1-STNG, converts NMEA 0183 data to the Raymarine proprietary SeaTalk NG and vice-versa, combining a standard NGW-1-ISO with a Raymarine SeaTalk NG adaptor cable providing seamless integration with Raymarine MFDs and other products on board.
The NGW-1 is equipped with galvanic Opto-isolation on NMEA 0183 input and NMEA 2000 CAN bus connection, as well as galvanic isolation on the NMEA 0183/ISO-Drive. There are 4 preconfigured models to choose from ranging in price from $165 to $195.
Actisense has recently launched a ‘PRO’ range of products and the Professional NMEA 0183 Buffer (PRO-BUF-1) is the debutant in this line. PRO-BUF-1 is a robust device with two Opto-isolated NMEA 0183 inputs and twelve ISO-Drive isolated NMEA 0183 outputs making ground loops a thing of the past and keeping vessel electronics safe from damage.
The PRO-BUF-1 with a bi-directional serial port and an Ethernet port is designed to suit most NMEA 0183 systems and ready-to-employ by hard-wiring the two mode inputs. The manually configurable basic modes of operation include variations of buffer, auto-switch, and combine modes. With the User Configuration mode, the web-based configuration tool allows full customization of PRO-BUF-1.
To make installation quick and simple the PRO-BUF-1 features 2-part pluggable connectors with screw or screwless terminals, a professional DIN rail mounting mechanism (included) and diagnostic LEDs indicating power, data in, data out and the alarm status. The $799 PRO-BUF-1 also supports a direct Ethernet connection to a PC without the need for a specialized Ethernet crossover cable.
These and many other innovative NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 solutions are available through Fugawi, based in Toronto, and Fugawi dealer network.
Photos of the Actisense products are available here .Feel free to contact Jon Taguilaso at JonJovi.Taguilaso@johnsonoutdoors.com for other imagery and material.