Using The Explorer Ap380 System With Other Instruments - NorthStar EXPLORER AP380 Installation And Operation Manual

1-2 Using the Explorer AP380 system with other instruments

1-2-1 Using other instruments
The Explorer AP380 system can use data from
these instruments:
GPS: A GPS or chartplotter, such as a Northstar
Explorer 500 series chartplotter must be
connected to the Explorer AP380 system for the
AP380 to operate in GPS mode (see the Explorer
AP380 Operation Section).
Note: GPS must be via NMEA input.
WIND: A wind instrument, such as a
Northstar WIND series, must be connected
to the Explorer AP380 system for the AP380
to operate in WIND mode (see the Explorer
AP380 Operation Section).
SPEED: A speed instrument, such as:
Northstar's SPEED with a paddlewheel
speed sensor
or a GPS or chartplotter, such as
Northstar's Explorer 500 or Explorer 660
series can be connected to the Explorer
AP380 system to increase steering
accuracy.
Note: The speed from a paddlewheel sensor is
the speed that the boat is moving through the
water. The speed from a GPS is the speed over
the ground. If there is a water current then these
two speeds will be different. If the Explorer AP380
system is connected to an instrument with a
paddlewheel sensor and to a GPS, then the
Explorer AP380 system will automatically use the
speed from the paddlewheel sensor instrument.
1-2-2 NavBus
NavBus is a Northstar proprietary system that
allows systems of multiple instruments to be
built using a single set of transducers. When
instruments are connected by NavBus:
If you change the units, alarms or calibration
in one instrument, then the values will
automatically change in all other instruments
of the same type.
Each instrument can be assigned to a group
of instruments, called a NavBus group (see
NavBus group in the Setup > Comms menu, in
the Explorer AP380 Operation Section).
Northstar Explorer AP380 System Installation and Operation Manual
If you change the backlight in an instrument
in group 1, 2, 3 or 4 then the backlight
will automatically change in the other
instruments in the same group. If you change
the backlight in an instrument in group 0
then no other instruments are affected.
If an alarm sounds, mute it on any instrument
which can display that alarm.
For more information, refer to the NavBus
Installation and Operation Manual.
Note: GPS must be via NMEA input.
NavBus and the Explorer AP380 system
The Explorer AP380 system will automatically
work with additional Explorer AP380 displays.
The Explorer AP380 system can receive wind
data from Northstar's WIND over NavBus.
The Explorer AP380 system can receive speed
data from Northstar's SPEED over NavBus.
1-2-3 NMEA
NMEA is an industry standard, but is not as
flexible as NavBus as it requires dedicated
connections between instruments. The Explorer
AP380 system has one NMEA input port and one
port that can be configured to be an input or an
output (See Explorer AP380 Operation Section).
Explorer AP380 system NMEA inputs
GPS: The Explorer AP380 system can receive
NMEA GPS data from a compatible GPS or
chartplotter, such as Northstar's Explorer 500
series chartplotter:
XTE (from APA, APB or XTE sentences) is
required for the Explorer AP380 system to use
GPS mode
BRG (from APA sentences) and BOD (from APA
or APB sentences) are optional and improve
performance
COG (from VTG sentences) is optional and can
be displayed.
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