Quark-Elec Seatalk QK-A033, Manual

Page 1: ...and Autopilot WiFi Ad hoc mode allows up to 4 devices to connect to the internal WiFi module simultaneously WiFi Station mode allows for the connection of the A033 to your router access point for greater number of wireless users and WiFi range SeaTalk to NMEA 0183 protocol converter Wide range of power supply voltage tolerance DC 9 35 Volts Compatible with Windows Mac Linux Compatible with Android...

Page 2: ...0 5 3 Checking the USB connection Windows 10 6 Status LED s 11 7 Configuration 12 7 1 Configuring Baud Rates 13 7 2 WiFi Station mode 14 7 3 WiFi Standby 14 7 4 Configuring Routing and Filtering 15 7 4 1 Filtering Black list setup 15 7 4 2 Routing data away from chosen outputs 15 7 5 USB Configuration Monitoring and Sending NMEA Messages 16 7 6 USB communication with Autopilots 16 8 Upgrading firm...

Page 3: ...l routing feature allows the NMEA SeaTalk and WiFi input data to be routed from any input to specific outputs Filtering options Each input also has a flexible filter that can be configured to pass or block specific sentences This frees up bandwidth significantly reducing the possibility of data overflow and resulting loss of data Bi directional WiFi 2 way WiFi and USB connectivity the A033 allows ...

Page 4: ...that the A033 case is waterproof the terminals are open and seawater can cause a short circuit The A033 should be mounted in a dry place such as behind the instrument panel on a flat surface A033 comes with an extruded aluminium enclosure with external dimensions of 114 5 x 110 x 32 mm Ensure there is enough space around the multiplexer to connect the wirings Figure 2 Front drawing ...

Page 5: ...nnection The A033 multiplexer has the following options for connection to inputs outputs and host devices 3x NMEA 0183 inputs 1x SeaTalk1 input 2x NMEA 0813 outputs Bi directional WiFi interface Bi directional USB Momentary push buttons are used on the terminals no screw driver is needed for connection ...

Page 6: ...lexer to listen on the SeaTalk bus Only one SeaTalk input is needed since the SeaTalk bus is a single cable system that connects all the instruments together through one cable The SeaTalk to NMEA converter in the A033 works in one direction only No NMEA sentences are converted into SeaTalk Supported SeaTalk Datagrams SeaTalk NMEA Description 00 STDBT Depth below transducer 10 STMWV Wind angle 10 a...

Page 7: ...hree NMEA inputs called IN1 to IN3 Each input should be connected to one output device only These inputs are galvanically isolated from the A033 multiplexer as specified by the NMEA 0183 standard Each input has an internal filter which can be configured to pass or block specific sentences from the input devices See the Configuration section A033 combines these filtered NMEA 0183 inputs with the NM...

Page 8: ...Quark elec Manual https www quark elec com 8 of 21 2019 V1 0 Routing of input data to specific outputs instead of sending all data to all outputs ...

Page 9: ...y into the router by wire but instead using wireless technology In this way the mobile devices receive both your marine data and other AP connections such as Internet See Configuration section WiFi can also be dissabled in Standby mode This helps to reduce the power consumption or may be used when connecting 2 WiFi enabled devices See Configuration section The A033 is set to Ad hoc mode as a defau...

Page 10: ...mber Nothing further needs to be done if it is listed Linux No driver required When plugged into the computer A033 will show up as a USB CDC device on dev ttyACM0 5 2 Bi directional USB The USB connector provides data output as standard multiplexed information from all input instruments will be sent to this connection Like WiFi connection this USB port is bi directional so the chart software can s...

Page 11: ...ivity and system status Figure 7 LED indications SeaTalk and NMEA OUT LEDs will flash blue for each valid message received OUT 1 2 LED will flash in blue for each valid NMEA message sent to that respective output Overflow1 2 LED will flash in blue when excess messages were sent and messages were overflowed Some messages will have been lost during overflow If you regularly notice the overflow LED f...

Page 12: ...es and WiFi settings for the A033 It can also be used to monitor and send NMEA sentences through the USB port The configuration tool must be used on a windows PC or a Mac using BootCamp or other Windows simulating software while the A033 is connected via USB cable The sofware cannot access the A033 via WiFi The configuration tool must not be opened while another program is using the A033 Please cl...

Page 13: ...N 1 4800bps NMEA IN 2 4800bps NMEA IN 3 38400bps NMEA OUT 1 4800bps NMEA OUT 2 38400bps These can be adjusted as required Figure 9 Setup the baun rate When A033 is connected to a computer Windows system and powered up A033 connected will be shown at the centre of the bottom and the software version shows at the bottom right Press Config once you have set the Baud rates for the inputs and outputs t...

Page 14: ...r router 7 Enter your router s IP address in the Gateway section This can usually be found under the router Leave the other settings as they are 8 Click Config in the bottom right hand corner and wait 60 seconds After 60 seconds Click Disconnect 9 Repower the A033 and it will now attempt to connect to the router 10 In your chart software set the protocol as TCP Insert the IP address you assigned t...

Page 15: ...able bandwidth of an NMEA 0183 port at 4800bps By filtering out any unnecessary data bandwidth is saved for other devices data It also solves the conflict in the case where two similar NMEA devices provide the same types of sentences Operators may chose to enable this data on one input only filtering and or to route each input to a specific output routing 7 4 1 Filtering Black list setup Each inpu...

Page 16: ... then click Send Figure 11 Monitor via USB 7 6 USB communication with Autopilots The communication speed of the USB interface is up to 100 times faster than a standard NMEA 0183 output With a waypoint activated a navigation application can send many sentences at a time to the multiplexer to control an autopilot This will cause the host buffer in the multiplexer to fill very rapidly Eventually sent...

Page 17: ... bottom of the Configuration software window To upgrade the firmware 1 Run the Configuration software 2 Ensure it is connected to the A033 and then click Ctrl F7 3 A new Window will pop up with a drive named STM32 or similar Copy the firmware into this drive and wait around 10 seconds to make sure the full file has been copied 4 Disconnect from the Configuration software 5 Restart the A033 then th...

Page 18: ...CPN example USB setup 1 When you first open the software you will be greeted with a page similar to the one below This is the main view of openCPN software You now need to add data to openCPN via your Quark elec instruments Click on the Options tab at the top The settings tab looks like a spanner as seen below in the highlighted image 2 In the options at the top of the menu will be a tab button th...

Page 19: ...l TCP IP address 192 168 1 100 This is the IP address for Ad hoc WiFi In Station mode simply replace with the relevant IP See Station mode Data Port 2000 To control the autopilot through OpenCPN tick Output on this port as autopilot or NMEA repeater OpenCPN will output the control senstences via USB WiFi 9 3 Maps The OpenCPN interface comes with a basic map view You can easily download more detail...

Page 20: ...A NMEA data format ITU NMEA 0183 format NMEA input data rate 4 8k to 38 4kbps RS 422 galvanically isolated NMEA output data rate 4 8k to 38 4kbps RS 422 galvanically isolated Seatalk1 data rate Default 4 8kbps can be set up to 38 4kbps WiFi mode Ad hoc Station mode on 802 11 b g n Security WPA WPA2 Operating temperature 25 C to 80 C Storage temperature 25 C to 85 C ...

Page 21: ...ept responsibility or liability either to the products user or their estate for any accident loss injury or damage whatsoever arising out of the use or of liability to use this product Quark products may be upgraded from time to time and future versions may therefore not correspond exactly with this manual The manufacturer of this product disclaims any liability for consequences arising from omiss...