Installing an VHF/AIS on a Mac osx 10.5

[syinterlude]

I have two computers on board. I've been successful with installing and operating my Horizon VFH/AIS with an external Garmin GPS on my windows PC using Open CPN. With this setup I used a dual USB serial adapter (serial for the AIS and a serial for the GPS setting the correct speeds for each) with one USB to the computer. When I used this same setup on the Mac no reconization of the GPS or AIS. I then used a (Star Tech) single serial/usb connection for each the AIS and GPS and only the GPS is reconized on the Mac. I can't find any place in Open CPN to make changes to accommodate the Mac (if needed) or figure out what is needed to have the Mac accept the AIS.

[daddle]

Many serial adaptors are not operable in the Mac. But you have success with the GPS so maybe your does. KEYSPAN is the usual recommendation. On all USB serial setups, PC and Mac OS there is possible confusion of serial port names and numbers. Try to always connect up the serial and USB devices the same way. Your OpenCPN config window shows both serial devices? My OpenCPN config does not offer a serial speed setting.

I use Parallels to run some WIndows software on my Mac. It in some cases can grab the USB device for itself.

[jeroenimo]

You need a driver for a usb-serial device.
Since there are only 2 brands of usb-serial chips it should be quite easy to get the AIS nmea strings on you Mac native.
First have a look on the manufacturers page if there is an OSX driver.

If not:

The first driver I would guess you should try is the

pl2303 which can be found here: Products

Second option would be the fdti chipset:

FTDI Drivers

Once you installed the driver you should have a look in Systemprefs->Network and see if there is a new interface. This interface cab be used in OpenCPN or other chartplotter software.

greetings!

[syinterlude]

Thanks for your replys and help. I've worked out the problems and have the AIS/VHF working on both my PC and MAC using Open CPN.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by daddle

Many serial adaptors are not operable in the Mac.

I have yet to find one that did not, and I have thrown a lot of them at my Mac. The worse was a Keyspan, for which the Mac did not have a native driver and I had to download one. All the other Prolific, etc had native drivers already in the OS.

Now I have had all sorts of problems with serial adaptors and PC's....

Mark