AIS setting on Ubuntu

[claire]

I have been very impressed by the ease of connecting the GPS through gpsd, selecting "Network LIBGPS". It lets me connect the GPS to any port and it finds it automatically.

However, most of the time, I use a shared AIS/GPS input to OpenCPN and, unfortunately, there is no "Network LIBGPS" option in the AIS port selection drop down list.
I checked gpsd website and it seems to handle AIS as well as GPS data.

Even worse, at some point, I had AIS /GPS coming in on a set port and working with Opencpn; then I started xgps just to check, and Opencpn lost the input, couldn't get it back without restarting the laptop. Both programs seemed to compete for the same input.

I would appreciate some advice/explanation in the matter.

Thank you

Ubuntu 12.10
OpenCPN 3.0.2
AIS/GPS enter thru prolific usb/serial adapter