AIS Targets not visible

[hcolvin1]

I have a GX2150 VHF AIS receiver.
Running OpenCPN version 3.2.2
USB to RS232 adapter visible on Com 13, driver functioning OK.
Window 7 Starter OS.
My GPS connected antenna is function correctly, on Com 1.
MY baud rate on the GX2150 is set to 38400.

My GX2150 radio is showing AIA targets and my boat position relative to those targets. So the GPS data is being transmitted to the GX2150 receiver from OpenCPN.

The problem is that the AIS targets are not being displayed on OpenCPN.

How can I determine if AIS sentences are being transmitted from the GX2150 receiver through the USB RS232 adaptor. I have turned on the NEMA trouble shooting screen and messages are being transmitted from both Com 1, the GPS port, andCom 13 , the USB-RS232 port.
But I can't make any sense out of this data.

Help appreciated.

[bcn]

You might post a screenshot of "connection" tab (including the traffic of the NMEA debug Window) and your the log-file..

Is there any other program working with the AIS via the USB adapter? If yes, stop this, leave OpenCPN, plug-off the USB, plug it in again and start OpenCPN.

Hubert

[hcolvin1]

To follow up on my previous post. Here are my connections between the GX2150 AIS receiver and the USB RS232 adaptor.

GX2150............................................ ..........USB RS232

NMEA GPS Input (+) (Blue wire) <..............TXD Output (Orange wire)
NMEA AIS Output (+) (Yellow wire) ............> RXD Input (Yellow wire)
NEMA GPS Input (-) (Green wire)....................Ground (Black wire)


The documentation on the AIS and GPS seems straight forward but I am not certain of the ground wiring.

[Opie91]

I know this sounds simple, but did you toggle the ais target display on? Did you look at the manual? AIS | Official OpenCPN Homepage Some of your settings in OpenCpn could be off or there may be some type of wiring problem.

What does your icon look like? Here is an excerpt from the OpenCpn manual:

AIS data port

Select your AIS input port in the Connection Tab. The AIS button in the ToolBar, appears different according to the following conditions.
AIS Alive. The default AIS button. This icon appears as soon as an AIS port is active in the tool-box. It is also the normal state with an AIS receiver working and with no targets of interest.

AIS Alive and Activity, a small green circle will illuminate in the lower right corner of the Ais buton. If there is at least one AIS message every 4 seconds, the light will remain illuminated.

AIS Suppressed. This icon indicates only that target suppression is activated in the AIS tab in the ToolBox. Referring to the picture above there are two sort of suppression:
* Suppress display of all moored/anchored targets, max speed specified in dialog.
* Suppress Alerts for moored/anchored targets.
This icon will be over-ridden with the AIS alarm button if an alarm is, or becomes, active according to the AIS tab alarms settings in the toolbox.

AIS Alarm. A target exist that raises the alarm as defined in the AIS tab in the ToolBox. It is the three settings "CPA Calculations", that rules if and when an alarm is raised.

AIS Disabled. No targets, if available, are shown on the screen. This button toggles with the other buttons. For example, if the AIS alarm button is visible, click the button and it will change to the "AIS Disabled" button, and all targets, alarms etc, disappears from the display. Click again and the original button and AIS display comes back.


GOOD LUCK!!!

[hcolvin1]

AS far as I know there are no other programs using com13 AIS data.

I will post log and debug screen shots as soon as I can go down to my boat this pm.

Thanks for your help.

[bcn]

Originally Posted by hcolvin1

To follow up on my previous post. Here are my connections between the GX2150 AIS receiver and the USB RS232 adaptor.

GX2150............................................ ..........USB RS232

NMEA GPS Input (+) (Blue wire) <..............TXD Output (Orange wire)
NMEA AIS Output (+) (Yellow wire) ............> RXD Input (Yellow wire)
NEMA GPS Input (-) (Green wire)....................Ground (Black wire)


The documentation on the AIS and GPS seems straight forward but I am not certain of the ground wiring.

A COM port can't transmit at 4800 and receive at 38400 at the same time.
Is that what your are trying?

[hcolvin1]

I did read the manual and toggle the AIS button on the tool bar. I get the default icon.

It could be my wiring and I am checking that I is wired correctly.

[hcolvin1]

Com 1 the one that is carrying the GPS data is set at 4800.

Com 13 the one that is carrying the AIS data is set at 38400.

[hcolvin1]

I am attaching my log file.

[bcn]

Your set-up(?):

- COM1 with 4800 GPS in OpenCPN (so you have valid position data)
- this data is relayed to the AIS via the USB-RS232 converter (COM13)

- and you are trying to read the AIS output from the same converter

Hubert

[hcolvin1]

I don't think the log file was attached. I have been having problems with attachments and screen shots.

[bcn]

Originally Posted by hcolvin1

I don't think the log file was attached. I have been having problems with attachments and screen shots.

You are not the first and most probaly not the last neither

[hcolvin1]

I have enabled com 13 , the USB RS232, under connections. I think my problem may be in the way I have things wired. I really don't understand all this but if I have AIS output to a USB RS232 must that be grounded.

MY radio has AIS Output (+) and AIS Output (-).
GPS Input (+) and GPS Input (-).
DSC Output (+) and DSC Output (-).

I just found out that (-) means ground for that input or output data channel.

So it looks like in my wiring schema in a previous post I did not have the AIS output grounded.

So I will give that a try when I go down to the boat this pm.

[hcolvin1]

OK I figured out the wiring and that was the problem with the AIS targets not appearing on the OpenCPN screens.

I will do a separate post with the wiring configuration.

Thanks to all who offered help. Standard Horizon and Milltech support were very responsive.