AIS with Standard Horizon GX2150

[mikereed100]

I have been stumped trying to get my radio to talk to my PC and vice-verse. I am using a USB to NMEA serial adaptor cable from Digital Yacht.
Digital Yacht - Light Years Ahead
It installed successfully and the Device Manager on Windows 7 claims it is working properly. I have a BU 353 puck on port 17 and the serial adaptor on port 14. My paltry bag of tricks is spent. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated as the Singapore Straights loom in the haze.

[santana22]

I have a very similar issue, with the same puck and the same USB to NMEA adaptor - except I'm using OpenCPN for the chartplotter. HELP!

[JesperWe]

OK, first things first. And when having Serial-Device-To-OpenCPN problems the first thing to do is check that you are actually getting any data from the device.

Use any Serial Port monitor application to connect to the port and look at what data is arriving. If you don't have any such application, a really simple one to get is PuTTY [Download] [Instructions].

Connect to your devices (Speed can be 4800 or 38400). If the thing is on and working you should see a stream of data coming in in the window. If nothing happens you either are looking on the wrong port, or there is a problem with your device or its driver or its wiring.

[mikereed100]

JesperWe,

Thanks for that. Using PuTTY as you suggested I discovered that my adaptor was working but was not on the port I thought it was (doh!). Switched, rebooted and now I am surrounded by AIS targets. You've made my day. Thanks!

Mike