GPS / AIS Input to Maxsea V.10

[bewitched]

Can anyone solve this for me:

An NMEA GPS is connected to an AIS. The AIS in turn is connected RS232 to a laptop running Maxsea v10.

If I add the AIS as an "0183" device under the boat tab, I get GPS data, but no AIS data.

If I add the AIS as an "0183 AIS" device under the Radar tab, I get AIS data, but no GPS data.

Yes, I've messed around with baud rates etc. no joy

The one thing I think may be the problem is that the GPS data needs to be changed to RMC. While this is possible on the boat tab, it's not possible on the Radar tab once "0183 AIS" has been selected.

Is there a way round this - or has this problem been recognised and dealt with in subsequent versions of Maxsea?

[Albro359]

Just email MaxSea and ask them !

They'll tell you ! I've founf them VERY helpful

Provided you have a legal, valid MaxSea licence of course !!

[bewitched]

you know I never thought of that

perhaps I should read the manual too

[Talbot]

Why not just split the GPS feed and provide it separately. Of course this is one of the biggest problems with a USB feed. The serial one can easily be sent to both AIS and laptop (and VHF etc).

Not a great fan of displaying the AIS on the navigation display. I prefer to use a seperate display of AIS info using www.shipplotter.com software, and to split the gps signal between both using Franson gpsgate software.

[Albro359]

Ah yes I thought so !

Pirates !!!

[bewitched]

Originally Posted by Talbot

Why not just split the GPS feed and provide it separately.

There is only one RS232 COM port on the laptop.

There are 2 USBs, but I can't get them to read the GPS - any ideas on this?

[s/v Jedi]

This is simple: download GPSgate.

cheers,
Nick.

[Talbot]

Originally Posted by bewitched

There is only one RS232 COM port on the laptop.
There are 2 USBs, but I can't get them to read the GPS - any ideas on this?

Your problem is probably the quality of the USB/RS232 converter. I had a similar problem to you and was also feeding a laptop with a single RS232 and also a USB slot. I got very frustrated trying to set my machine up (NASA AIS, Shipplotter, Maxsea 10.3, Virtual passage planner, Franson GPSgate). I eventually proved that the NASA was not sending me the data by use of an led. Once that had been replaced, I started working out the reason for no gps data. I tried three different serial/USB converters and was still convinced that this was the problem, having proved that data was being sent on the serial cable, and having proved that no data was being seen in the laptop. I found EasySYNC Ltd: Cables and in particular their premium product which flashes an led in the plug during data flow. The installation in XP Pro was problem free. The instant the system was connected, it worked. I have recommended the company to a number of friends, and each time this product has worked without any difficulty. I would not use any other product. GPSgate allowed instant connection to all three pieces of software and allwed all three to be running simultaneously (if your laptop is man enough!)

The additional benefit is that you can trace where the signal is getting stopped. Most people balk at the wrong GPS signal for the default setting, but you obviously have that bit covered.

[cfpcfpcfp]

I think when you add an AIS 'instrument' it should be added from the Radar tab on the utilities menu, not the 'Boat' tab.
Then select the COM port and then 'AIS NMEA 183'

[Joshua1]

DOWNLOADS gives a help if you download Using AIS with MaxSea.

[barnakiel]

I think it is in the radar tab. It was there before 10.

b.

[bewitched]

This is what worked in the end:
- I provided one feed for GPS/Instruments and another for AIS
- I used the RS232 / USB converters advised by Talbot

Works fine....on my Toshiba....but doesn't work at all on my Dell.

Does anyone know why this would be the case?