Connecting to TCP/IP

In addition to processing NMEA data to/from standard serial NMEA instruments, NMEA data can be received over TCP/IP or UDP/IP connections (client) and NMEA data received in the GPS, AIS/Radar, or Instruments panels can be sent to TCP/IP (server).

TCP/IP devices that expose all of your boat systems are readily available and compatible with MacENC. (See connections overview section).

The TCP/IP window is accessed via TCP/IP on the GPS menu.

As a TCP/IP client all NMEA data received over a host (IP address or name) and port is routed into the GPS panel. Once a valid host and port is entered selecting the Enable button will allow processing of NMEA data. The Client status indicator will turn yellow as the connection is made, and green once the connection is established. If it is desired to have the NMEA data processed in the AIS/Radar and/or Instruments panels then select Use GPS Port in the respective panel Settings drawer. If a Repeat To port is selected in the GPS panel Settings drawer, the received NMEA data will be repeated to that port (assuming Autopilot Only is not selected). In the GPS panel Settings drawer, the Type of IP Only can be selected indicating that NMEA data will only be received via IP and no connection will be made to a serial port.

As a TCP/IP server all NMEA data received in the GPS, Instrument and AIS/Radar panels is transmitted to a specific port on the displayed host when GPS, Instruments or AIS is selected. Selecting Enable button creates the server. The Server status indicator will turn yellow in color until client(s) connect to the server at which point the status indicator will turn green and the number of clients connected will be displayed. Processed will restrict the NMEA data transmitted to only NMEA data that MacENC processes in its respective panels. Output of the TCP/IP server can quickly be verified by issuing the following Terminal command on the Mac running MacENC server: ‘telnet localhost 2114’ where ‘2114’ is the port the server is connected to. If the macOS Firewall is used be sure to add the server port in the System Preferences, Security pane, Firewall tab.

This server feature was created when general networking directly from boat connected systems were rare and the Mac was used as a bridge and broadcast device. This feature is rarely necessary today and will be deprecated in a future release.

Note: TCP/IP client and server operations do not impede normal serial port NMEA data processing in any of the panels.

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