CPN Macbook - AIS not Recognized

[svserengeti]

Just switched over to Mac and trying to interface everything aboard. Using El Capitan on a macbook pro - current model. I am receiving nav data via serial to usb converter with no problem. When I try to "add a connection" for the AIS device, Open CPN does not show the device as being available - it is not listed. When I manually type in its' location, nothing happens.

Looking at "system information" on the macbook- the device shows up (STM 32 Virtual Com Port). In addition, when I open the "AIS pro2" software, I can connect to the ais and verify that it is functioning. So, the connections are all good.

When I go back to the pc, the AIS shows up, connects and works fine with Open CPN.

Please if anyone has input or suggestions I would greatly appreciate it. I am stuck at this point.

Thanks,

Larry
svserengeti

[bdbcat]

Larry...

Welcome aboard.

Anything in the OpenCPN log regarding the AIS serial port?

Dave

[CarCode]

Larry,

I am not quite sure what kind of hardware you are using. I can't find any "AIS pro2" software with Google search. STM32 is usually an ARM microcontroller.
Looking for available serial devices on a Mac you start the Terminal program and issue the command: ls /dev/cu*
The given result are the serial devices connected to your Mac.

Please write which kind of AIS device you are using. Best serial to USB comverter for the Mac is the Keyspan USA-19HS.

Gerhard

[bcn]

AisPro2 is the software package for SRT based AIS devices.
The (USB-serial) drivers for MAC can be found at the site of Em-trak - same for Win.

When using the AisPro2 to check the device be sure to "disconnect" and close the program to release the COM port for other applications.

[svserengeti]

Thanks everyone for your input thus far.
The AIS software is "Pro AIS 2" not "AIS PRO 2" as earlier reported. Sorry for the confusion. My connection to the AIS is usb to usb. The macbook sees in "system information" STM32 Virtual Com Port. bcn, thanks for mentioning the need to disconnect from the PRO AIS 2 to free the port. I am aware of that requirement and have been disconnecting to make the port available to Open CPN - but it still does not show up as an available connection when I try to "addd a connection"

bdcat - Hi Dave. I checked the log per your suggestion. Here's an edited copy from this morning:
08:48:07 EST: Setting Viewpoint Lat/Lon 24.7051, -81.0823
08:48:07 EST: Setting Ownship Lat/Lon 24.7051, -81.0839
08:48:07 EST: Opening NMEA Datastream Serial:/dev/cu.usbserial
08:48:07 EST: Opening NMEA Datastream Serial:stm32
08:48:07 EST: Creating glChartCanvas

I previously manually entered "STM32 Virtual Com Port" into the "add a connection field" - baud rate of 38400 and a priority of 2

There is no further mention of Serial:stm32 in the log file for this session.
No error messages and still no ais data coming into Open Cpn
thanks again for everyone's input and please keep it coming.

Larry
svserengeti

[CarCode]

As far as I can see the software "Pro AIS 2" uses the FTDI driver for the Serial/USB-Chip of the device. You should download it from proAIS2 | Digital Yacht Ltd with the link at the bottom of this page.

After installation of this driver and if you need further help start the Terminal program at your Mac and tell us the result of the command: ls /dev/cu*

Gerhard

[svserengeti]

Gerhard,

Thanks for your input. I reinstalled the driver for mac. I am still able to control the ais via the pro ais 2 software, but still no luck seeing the connection for the device in Open CPN. The command run in Terminal yields the following:

[Command not found: is/dev/cu*]

[Could not create a new process and open a pseudo-tty.]

Thanks again for helping.

Larry
svserengeti

[CarCode]

Maybe you can better read in capital letters? The command is:
LS /DEV/CU*
These are 2 words:
- ls
and
- /dev/cu*

So between these 2 words is a space.

Gerhard

[CarstenWL]

... it is ls /dev/cu* (LS for LIST).

Carsten

[svserengeti]

Thanks for your patience. The command yields:
-Ls: /dev/cu*: No such file or directory

[Process completed]


Larry

[CarstenWL]

Larry,

do

ls /dev/cu*

Carsten

[svserengeti]

Carsten,

Thanks - that is what I did, only with a capital L.

when i enter the command: ls /dev/cu*
the response is:
-ls: /dev/cu*: No such file or directory

[Process completed]

[CarCode]

First time computer user?

Gerhard

[svserengeti]

Gerhard,

Thanks for your input today. No, I've been using computers for 35 years now. Yes, back before Windows. My first IBM computer had 2 -5 inch floppy drives and weighed a ton. I don't program computers, and I don't know computer language. I use use them to complete a task. Kind of like, I don't know everything about my car, but it sure gets me from one place to another. This is my first usage with a Mac as stated in my initial post.

If you would like to be constructive, I welcome you input. If not, please go elsewhere.

Larry
svserengeti

[CarCode]

Larry,

the command is called ls (LS in capital). It lists the contents of folders to the terminal screen. Use command man ls to see the full explaination.

So list what? /dev/cu* should be listed where dev is the folder which is under the root called with this sign: /
But we don't want all the contents of /dev but only those files starting with letters cu. We append the star * as a placeholder for any other chars after cu.

My result is e.g.:
$ ls /dev/cu*
/dev/cu.Bluetooth-Incoming-Port /dev/cu.Qstarz818XT-SPPslave
/dev/cu.HBTSOL-SPPslave /dev/cu.RO4800-BT-DevB

The dollar sign $ is the prompt of the Terminal and I do have 4 serial ports at my machine.

BTW this is all similiar to a Windows machine also and no Mac OS X miracle. Only some commands might be different.

Gerhard