The Instruments

The Heading instrument

The Wind instrument simulates NMEA sentences for heading.

The value of many input fields can be changed with the up-down buttons located at the right side of the input boxes, or typed directly into the input boxes. Note that decimals are ignored when using up/down buttons.

Operation

After clicking the "Start" button the Wind instrument simulation will start, and NMEA sentences will be sent to the selected serial port of the PC, until the "Hold" or "Exit and Save" buttons are pressed. Note that only NMEA sentences will be send that are checked in the "NMEA sentences" panel.

When the "Open Log file" option from the main "File" menu was selected, the sentences will also be written to the user selected file.

To view the sentences being sent select the "View trace window" option from the main menu.

Clicking the "Hold" button will suspend operation, until "Cont." is clicked. "Exit and Save" will exit the instrument and save all current values in the windows registry, so that next time the instrument is used it can continue where it stopped.

A short description of each field will follow below.

Sensor heading
The heading of the instrument sensor, normally identical to the (true) heading of the vehicle.

Magnetic deviation
Also called the compass deviation. The difference between the true heading and the direction of the compass. Only valid for HDG sentence, but when non-zero taken into account for HDT sentence to correct true heading.

Magnetic variation
The difference between the true north and the magnetic north. Differs very much in different locations on earth. Only valid for HDG sentence, but when non-zero taken into account for HDT sentence to correct true heading.

NMEA sentences panel
Tick the sentences you want to send, select the interval (0-59) and if you want a checksum calculated and added to the sentences or not.