This is what users of Brookhouse NMEA Multiplexers say:

April 2008

Dear Brookhouse,

In August last year I purchased your AIS-capable/USB multiplexer, which has been languishing in a box ever since (shame on me!).  However, this week everything came together and imagine my delight when the whole system worked straight out of the box – no modification required.

The system is shown below, and everything appears to be working and talking to each other correctly:

§         the Seatalk network uses the NMEA data from the plotter to repeat the depth and log data on the Tridata repeater, as well as GPS data;

§         the chartplotter is able to display the heading info from the Autohelm’s fluxgate compass;

§         the AIS is working flawlessly and receives targets 25NM away (at Port Botany) even when anchored in the Pittwater, surrounded by high ground 150 meters high.  The VHF and AIS share the masthead antenna through a Smart Radio VHF Antenna Splitter and this appears to work flawlessly; and

§         NavBus equipment (DSC7200 VHF and Repeat 3100) all share info seamlessly.

 At the moment the Mux is merging the Seatalk and AIS data streams and the output is fed back to the chartplotter. 

 Thanks for a great product!

Gerhard Malan

Newport Beach, NSW, Australia

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Februari 2008

Re: Multiplexer model AISC

December 2007

Hi,
This is a short note to thank you for your product, help and support in getting it to work.  
I completed the trip from Mallorca to Portugal without major event and the multiplexor made things so easy to fit and operate the electronics.  The AIS interface in particular was a huge help going through the Gibraltar Straits.
I have already got a number of my fellows in the yacht club interested in the product.

David Christy
UK

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May 2007
Kentucky, USA

This is an extremely cool product at a very comfortable price. Your documentation is superb and your support is second to none. I have had prompt, thoughtful and extremely helpful replies to every inquiry.

Mike Philipps
M/V "Sweetwine"
1983 DeFever 49 RPH
Port of Rabbit Hash, Ky.

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April 2007
Cobham, Surrey, UK

I own a Beneteau First 31.7 with B&G Network instruments.  B&G no longer make Network equipment and getting hold of additional units is very hard work.  When we wanted to fit a repeater at the mast, we found that the NMEA sentences used by the Network system were older versions which are no longer compatible with the more modern repeaters on the market.  The solution was a Brookhouse Mux with which we were able to take the B&G signal, amend the sentences and send them on to Navman 3100 repeaters.  Brookhouse were extremely helpful with the programming required and the solution worked straight from install.  Very happy!

Tony Dickin

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March 2007
SV Sarah from the USA, currently in Lagos, Portugal.

I recently completed an upgrade of my NMEA network replacing the original Brookhouse Mux, installed 3 years ago, with the Brookhouse AIS-C Mux.  The original Mux had served me well.  I used it originally to integrate my Raymarine instruments, autopilot and C120 Multi-Fuction Display (MFD) with my navigation PC, DSC radios and backup GPS units.  I described the installation of this Mux and my trials and tribulations of integrating the various onboard electronics on my website at http://www.svsarah.com/Sarah/Upgrades/SarahElectronicsFrame.htm

This network configuration served me well for over two years, including an Atlantic crossing from Florida to Portugal in 2005.  However, in early 2006 I installed a NASA AIS Engine onboard and attempted to integrate it with my existing NMEA network.  Here I hit a major compatibility issue because of the Baud rate of the AIS Engine, 38400 Baud for the engine vrs. 4800 Baud for the rest of the network.

I Could have reconfigured the Brookhouse Mux for 38400 Baud and connected the AIS Engine to an available port on the Mux.  However that would have required my entire network to run at 38400 Baud.  That would not be a problem some devices (e.g., the PC, C120 MFD), but other devices (DSC radios, NAVTEX, backup GPS, etc.) could not communicate at that Baud rate.

So my solution for the moment was to configure two NMEA networks.  One network ran at 4800 Baud and was centered around the Brookhouse Mux with multiple talking and listening devices.  The other ran at 38400 Baud with a single talker (the AIS Engine) and only two listeners (the PC and the C120MFD).

While this configuration worked and I was able to navigate a summer cruise in the Western Mediterranean with AIS targets displayed on both my PC and the C120 MFD, it was not the ideal configuration.  This configuration required two NMEA inputs to my PC so I could receive both instrument data (GPS, wind, speed, depth, etc.) and the AIS target data.  Also the C120

MFD received NMEA data only from the AIS Engine and the C120 NMEA output had to be disconnected (unless I added a second Mux).

In early 2007 I was notified by Brookhouse of the availability of the AIS-C Mux, which provides both 4800 Baud and 38400 Baud inputs and outputs.

I have now replaced the original Brookhouse Mux with the AIS-C.  All of the NMEA data, including the AIS data, is now delivered to the PC via a single USB port and the C120 MFD now sends and receives NMEA data via the AIS-C.  The AIS-C provides a single 4800 Baud output port, which I use to drive my DSC radios and NAVTEX.  The AIS-C also has two 4800 Baud inputs (I have the SeaTalk interface on my AIS-C, which replaces what would have been the third 4800 Baud) , which I use for a backup GPS connection and NMEA data from the autopilot.

I have published another web page on how I have configured the AIS-C Mux at http://www.svsarah.com/Sarah/Upgrades/NMEAmux.htm.

Initially I configured both Muxes in my network as I thought it would provide greater resiliency and flexibility to the network.  I subsequently rejected that approach as it added too much complexity to the network with little benefit.  So I now run my entire network through the AIS-C.

I am a great fan of the Brookhouse products as they have served me well for the last three years and I expect for a number of years in the future.  Equally important to me is the level of support Brookhouse provides to their customers.  I have rarely had to wait more than 24 hours to get a response to a technical inquiry, and Brookhouse Support has always been willing to work with me on any issue, even when the issue was a problem with one of the connected devices and not the Mux.  I highly recommend this company's products and service.

John Stevenson

www.svsarah.com

Currently lying Lagos, PT preparing for another trans-Atlantic voyage.

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Guisborough, Cleveland, UK    28 January 2007

As expected, the installation went with ease due to the superb instructions that came with the mux. The AIS-C is certainly a brilliant piece of kit which is also very reasonably priced and complements my Raymarine C120 with the Nasa AIS, Lowrance globalnav, and Simrad DSC Radio all working happily together.
Thanks again for the excellent support which you have taken the time to give me. I will have no hesitation in recommending this product and your company to anyone.
 
Kind Regards
  
Paul Thatcher

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The Netherlands, August 2006

We are using the multiplexer with our autohelm SeaTalk network, everything
worked instantly. Using Stentec's WinGPS 4 Pro planning routes
is fantastic! We just plug in the USB cable and the laptop is constantly fed
with fresh NMEA data. Really a must have for every skipper!

Met vriendelijke groet,

Pieter Roos
TBWS Web Solutions

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July 2006

Mount Vernon, NY, USA

I have had my boat for 20 years and it has seen a few generations of navigation equipment. The back bone is my B&G Hornet which is not NMEA based.  But along the way I picked up a B&G Navaid GPS repeater which would fit nicely with the cockpit instruments and supply GPS data.  I then added a KVH sailcomp which is NMEA and acts as a repeater as well as providing heading information.

I made the next move which was to use a Raymarine C80 MFD with radar, GPS and now AIS which I am still sorting out.  But when I connected the NMEA out to the old B&G Navaid... disaster... some data was missing completely and other data had the wrong number of decimal places.  Then I realized how handy having that data in the cockpit was... and so my search for how to get these NMEA instruments to have a nice conversation and one that I could "listen in on".

One of Brookhouse's customers, John of sv Sarah sent me in a cyber way to the MUX.  Since I am laptop challenged on board and in general not swift with any code... I conveyed my issues to Brookhouse and a few weeks later the MUX appeared with some custom programming.

Install was a no brainer and lo and behold everything is now working nicely.  Brookhouse... thank you very much.  Along the way I learned the the B&G is programmable and with some hunting I was able to get all the sentences (data) displayed and my trips up and down are now a thing of the distant past.  In the background the MUX is dealing with all these squaky NMEA talkers and outputting a nice clean stream of data!  And it all happens in the background!

I still have 2 NMEA ports to add more talkers to the conversation on the MUX... DO I dare connect a back up GPS?  Sounds tempting and I know the MUX is up to it.

When you do jump in, you will find the tech support without a question top notch. The Brookhouse people know how to get these instruments to have the conversations that make your life a whole lot more pleasant.

Go for it!

Jeffrey Orling
sv Shiva
Contest 36s

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The Netherlands, April 2006

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March 2006
Paris, France

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October 11th, 2004

From Brent Woodward, Seattle, USA:

Gentlemen,

Very well done on your multiplexer.  I had installed a ######### (see note) multiplexer, and it was choking on data from three different Simrad talkers  (autopilot, IS15 Instruments and CR40 radar/chartplotter). The ######### could handle the data from the IS15s and the AP, but would choke and garble all the data when I turned on the CR40.  I thought your filtering
capability would alleviate the problem, but your multiplexer handled it even without the need  to filter the data.  Nice.

Best regards and thanks for a great product.  You have become my multiplexer of choice (I am a marine electronics installer in Seattle).

 Brent

note: product name removed by Brookhouse

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UK, September 2005

I am now the very satisfied owner of an integrated navigation control system which perfectly suits my needs.  The advice and service which I have received from Brookhouse I regard as second-to-none.  The performance of the combination which I have fitted exceeds my original expectations.  

My advice to anybody wanting to interface any combination of marine electronics is, at the very least, include Brookhouse on your list of potential suppliers.  Don’t let the distance you might be from New Zealand put you off.  I found Brookhouse very much easier to contact and more helpful than the suppliers of my wind system, whose headquarters is just 25 miles down the road! 

 Paul Gladden

London, UK

Sept. 2005

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Rockville, MD, USA
August 2005

I used your *A command to subtract the 2 ft offset.  Now Nobeltec Visual Series is showing correct depth at the boat and the ST50 is also showing correct value.

I must say your Mux is really impressive for its performance and flexibility – a great product that I will tell people about.

Thanks again for your help.  I’m happy…smile.

John Poindexter,
Rockville , MD  

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San Francisco,  April 20, 2005

Gary Hasenstab                                                                        

From The Netherlands, April 24, 2005:

Translation:

We are ship wreck divers and we have a variety of equipment on board for safety and recovery. It was therefore useful to feed all NMEA data into our navigation program. The selection of the Brookhouse Combiner/Multiplexer for its quality and price was not difficult. The combination of selective use of the equipment and the central availability of all data, made possible by the multiplexer, is ideal.

Our website: http://www.wdsr.nl

Regards,

Harold Schilperoort 

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8-3-2005

(From Gmunden, Austria)

20-12-2004

(From Figueres, Spain)

I purchased my first Brookhouse multiplexer some time ago and installed it on the sailboat the Last Dance. Last Dance has sailed from Vancouver to Ireland and back to Vancouver again. I tied all of the navigational equipment Furuno Loran, Garmin GPS, MARPA Raytheon radar up to it and took it's output to both the boat's laptop and the input for the Nexus autohelm. The system performed flawlessly during the entire trip. The computer/autohelm combination never kicked out due to data errors which was a constant source of problems before using the Multiplexer.

I have installed another unit in the sailboat "Rare Mettle" a 55 foot Brandlemeyer that I sailed down to Columbia from Vancouver, again it had several navigation "talkers" and I needed to keep the data channel error free. This turned out to be more of a problem with the NEXUS autohelm more than anything else but the mux solved the problem and once again the system worked without problems.

My last unit is tied into my raceboat, the American Eagle. The Eagle is building a reputation of a boat not to be second guessed, races the Pacific Northwest area races around Vancouver. She is heavily armed with all of the latest and greatest electronics and my crew calls the navigation station the Spaceship console. My Furuno radar did not accept any wind direction and speed information from the network so I fired off an email to Brookhouse and asked them to make a custom modification in their software to change the sea-talk message type. This was done in record time for no additional charge to me. Service like this is rare in this industry and I want to commend the folks down there at Brookhouse. As part of the modification, I also upgraded to the remote display model, in keeping with the Spaceship console theme.

I cannot express my pleasure with dealing with the folks from New Zealand, they are A+ in my books and will continue to use their multiplexers in all of my marine installations.

Thanks again

Dennis Breckenridge
President
Nebulus Networks Ltd.
Vancouver, B.C., Canada

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I'll write testimonial after the Sydney-Gold Coast race which starts this Saturday. In the meantime just a few personal comments:

Works like a dream. Helped to fix a couple of problems we have been having with firmware versions between Hydra, Plotter, GPS and Pilot - our local supplier has been driving us nuts, the MUX got us out of a few holes.

The display is great for quick diagnostics, although Im almost fluent in reading NMEA sentences on the fly, being able to "see" what is going on without needing a PC wired in etc is really great. It is much easier to use than an FFD to flick through the sentences for diagnosis .......................

.......... The boat will be going from Southport to Hamilton Island for Race Week and then back to Sydney. That should be a good sea trial! We will have a couple of nav packages running ( MaxSea and Deckman) we will try USB on one machine and RS-232 on the other. Long term I expect we will go USB as the laptop doesnt have native serial ports............

JD

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I bought my first Brookhouse NMEA Multiplexer/Combiner about a year
ago.  I had the need to input data from my Aquascan AX2000
magnetometer and a Garmin Sounder and a Magellan GPS into my laptop
while doing Mag Surveys.  I use some software called Pnav which can
accept NMEA sentences from 1 to 4 serial ports.  It can parse out
whatever data is needed from the appropriate NMEA sentences.
Unfortunately, my laptop only has only one serial port.

The Brookhouse NMEA Combiner was the perfect solution!  It allowed me
to connect my Magnetometer, GPS, and Sounder to the Combiner, and
then the output of the Combiner goes to my laptop serial port.  I
configured the Brookhouse Combiner and the Pnav software to operate
at 9600 baud so the single serial port could handle the traffic
generated by the three devices.

It all worked perfectly and I've been very happy with the solution.

I accidentally made a wiring hookup mistake a few weeks ago and blew
some fuses and other parts on several pieces of equipment.  My
Combiner was one of the casualties, but I contacted Brookhouse via
email and had an almost instant response with suggestions on how to
go about a field repair.  I followed their instructions and was back
up and running in no time.

I have now ordered one of their new models without the LED's and with
external connectors as a second unit/spare.

This is a great device which fills my needs perfectly.  Nice people
to deal with, and they give very good support service.

Bill Seliger
E.O. Industries, LLC
Florida, USA

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Hello Folks,
       You are more than welcome to post my comments on your website. I am extremely pleased with the Mux. I recently purchased a B&G Network system with dual Autopilots as well as Data repeater for the Nav station in our 51' Endeavour sailboat, as we prepare for the 2004 Newport-Bermuda race. A computer built into the process added a difficult wrinkle, and running Deckman for Windows software required integration of all the data we could give it. The Brookhouse multiplexer provided a seamless and effortless solution, instantly providing the program with at least 10 NMEA sentences simultaneously, and with a price and shipping time that clearly trumped all others, will be the only recommendation that our friends in the sailing/racing world will hear from us. Thank you again!
                                                  Sean Saslo/Janet Riesman
                                                       "Intrepid"
                                                       US 51785

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Excellent product, easy to install and working exactly as expected.

Running  a Toshiba 430CDT (Pentium 120) with RS232 input.  Collecting data with a freeware program called Seaclear.

Instructions for the mux were good.  It was the manufacturers instructions on which wires to connect that were difficult to interpret.  

Excellent feedback and communication from Brookhouse prior to product purchase  

Looked at a number of other products but baulked at paying around $500 for alternative units.  It is used recreationally not commercially so cost was a big factor.

Hudson Moody

Wellington, New Zealand  

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......price is very competive, size is smaller ......

Martin Buechler

Switzerland

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We are a production /development company making GPS embedded navigation and attitude systems for military use mainly but thinking in adapting the device into the system test equipment as a quick readout tool. We use the device as a ad on to a test bed in our production lab

Connected instruments: various nav systems and simulators………… 

SkyDec BV, Netherlands

N.J. Spaans (technical director)

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I bought your NMEA mux with separate display. I’m very pleased with it. I use a Toshiba laptop for navigation on my Catalina sailboat. The mux is connected to the laptop with  a RS232-USB adapter. The main reason for buying the Brookhouse product is that I wanted my RayMarine ST60 wind data plus GPS NMEA together in laptop.  Your mux does it all in one affordable unit, plus it gives me all other main Seatalk readouts. I really only needed the mux, but I’m glad I bought the model with display. I leave it on all the time, also when the laptop is turned off, to monitor wind angle when I'm in the cabin. My charttable is not very big, but the small display unit fits neatly above, next to the GPS. I can easily read it from across the cabin.

Thanks,

Bud Simich

San Francisco  

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