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Old 11-01-2025, 19:18   #2071
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Re: Help / FAQ

Tracy, did you:
  • Go into Device Manager & set the speed (BAUD rate) of that COM port to 38400?
  • Set the same speed (for the same port) in the OpenCPN connection box?
  • Always use the same USB port?
  • Reboot Win10 after making those changes?
RS232 Serial uses +/-9v switching, while NMEA0183 uses TTL level (0-5v) switching. I've found that some cheaper converters don't always switch correctly on the smaller voltage swing. You say your converter is "RS485/422", which should be fine. But if it's just a repackaged Serial<->USB, that can be a problem.
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Old 12-01-2025, 01:29   #2072
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Re: Help / FAQ

The two common problem use to be either the wire connections or the baude rate.
First: The baude rate from a AIS use to be 38400. Be sure that's used in OCPN.

Since you have the RS422 adapter instead of a RS232 the terminal designations can be somewhat confusing.
Start with the output/transmit from AIS only. On the adapter's terminal drawing the AIS is called RS-422Device. (Although it's probably RS232 but should work anyway)
From the AIS use T+ and T- or if RS232: T (Out) and COM (common)
On the CM253 RXD+ and RXD-.

Now try on OCPN with the correct baud rate 38400. (Check the AIS manual to be sure)
If nothing is received, try switching the RXD+ wire to RXD- and vice versa.

These would be my first attempts at troubleshooting.
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Old 12-01-2025, 08:21   #2073
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Re: Help / FAQ

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Hacking View Post
Tracy, did you:
  • Go into Device Manager & set the speed (BAUD rate) of that COM port to 38400?
  • Set the same speed (for the same port) in the OpenCPN connection box?
  • Always use the sam

    e USB port?
  • Reboot Win10 after making those changes?
RS232 Serial uses +/-9v switching, while NMEA0183 uses TTL level (0-5v) switching. I've found that some cheaper converters don't always switch correctly on the smaller voltage swing. You say your converter is "RS485/422", which should be fine. But if it's just a repackaged Serial<->USB, that can be a problem.
Thank you Jon. I will do that and let you know how it goes.
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Old 13-01-2025, 14:07   #2074
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Re: Help / FAQ

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Hacking View Post
Tracy, did you:
  • Go into Device Manager & set the speed (BAUD rate) of that COM port to 38400?
  • Set the same speed (for the same port) in the OpenCPN connection box?
  • Always use the same USB port?
  • Reboot Win10 after making those changes?
RS232 Serial uses +/-9v switching, while NMEA0183 uses TTL level (0-5v) switching. I've found that some cheaper converters don't always switch correctly on the smaller voltage swing. You say your converter is "RS485/422", which should be fine. But if it's just a repackaged Serial<->USB, that can be a problem.
I just did exactly as you suggested. In Hyperterminal, I did see what I call gibberish (language unknown). But in OpenCPN, I still see nothing. I tried viewing output from the chartplotter with the same cord, and saw nothing in both Hyperterminal and OpenCPN.
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Old 13-01-2025, 14:15   #2075
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Re: Help / FAQ

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hakan View Post
The two common problem use to be either the wire connections or the baude rate.
First: The baude rate from a AIS use to be 38400. Be sure that's used in OCPN.

Since you have the RS422 adapter instead of a RS232 the terminal designations can be somewhat confusing.
Start with the output/transmit from AIS only. On the adapter's terminal drawing the AIS is called RS-422Device. (Although it's probably RS232 but should work anyway)
From the AIS use T+ and T- or if RS232: T (Out) and COM (common)
On the CM253 RXD+ and RXD-.

Now try on OCPN with the correct baud rate 38400. (Check the AIS manual to be sure)
If nothing is received, try switching the RXD+ wire to RXD- and vice versa.

These would be my first attempts at troubleshooting.
I tried following your suggestion above, ensuring the baud rate was set to 38400 in both Device Manager and OpenCPN, and the wiring was correct. I still am not seeing anything in the NMEA debug window. I did not try to reverse the RXD+ and RXD- wires. I'll give that a try and let you know if that works.
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Old 13-01-2025, 14:47   #2076
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Re: Help / FAQ

Receiving "garbage" is usually an indication of incorrect baude rate. What does the AIS manual say about its rate?
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Old 13-01-2025, 15:37   #2077
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Re: Help / FAQ

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracy Andacht View Post
I just did exactly as you suggested. In Hyperterminal, I did see what I call gibberish (language unknown). But in OpenCPN, I still see nothing. I tried viewing output from the chartplotter with the same cord, and saw nothing in both Hyperterminal and OpenCPN.
Can you paste a sample of the garbage? Do you see "AIVD" on occasion? And/or a fair number of commas? AIS data is transmitted in binary format, so will look like garbage, but you should see the plain text beginning of the AIVDM or AIVDO sentences, the rest would just be random (sometimes non-printable) characters.

Otherwise, as Hakan indicates, try changing baud rates in Hyperterminal.
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Old 13-01-2025, 17:09   #2078
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Re: Help / FAQ

For this AIS unit, we are using the wires for the 38400 baud rate port. The other port wires are for 4800 baud.
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Old 13-01-2025, 17:14   #2079
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Re: Help / FAQ

When I mention garbage, I don't see anything like nmea sentence structure at all. It is a continuous string of a font I think I have seen before, like wingdings.
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Old 14-01-2025, 11:27   #2080
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Re: Help / FAQ

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracy Andacht View Post
When I mention garbage, I don't see anything like nmea sentence structure at all. It is a continuous string of a font I think I have seen before, like wingdings.
If there are any NMEA 0183 connections in the system seeing garbage in a terminal connection but nothing works might mean the connections in the NMEA 0183 are reversed. Easy fix to try, won't likely damage anything if you try.
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Old 14-01-2025, 17:19   #2081
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Re: Help / FAQ

I think the problem may simply be your choice of USB to RS485/422 converter.

Quote:
We tried following the NMEA0183 output from our Raymarine E80, and are still not seeing anything in OpenCPN or Hyperterminal
The NMEA 0183 output on a Raymarine E Series Chartplotter is compatible with RS232. If the connection is set to the correct baud rate, valid NMEA Sentences should be seen in OpenCPN.

What brand/model is your AIS transceiver? I think you will find that it too supports RS232.

Few if any modern marine devices that support NMEA 0183 support RS 485/422. Most are compatible with RS232.
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Old 15-01-2025, 08:44   #2082
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Re: Help / FAQ

Thank you for the help. Based on the wiring of both units, I thought for sure the output of both were RS422. Both units have 4 wires for NMEA0183, output +/- and input +/- for the E80, and transmit +/- and receive +/- for the Simrad NAIS-500. How would you connect this to a RS232 serial cable?
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Old 15-01-2025, 17:13   #2083
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Re: Help / FAQ

From the NAIS 500 manual, for the high speed port at 38,400 baud.

Transmit + (Brown)
Transmit - (Blue)
Receive + (White)
Receive - (Green)

The RS232 DB9 pinouts are:

Receive Pin 2
Transmit Pin 3
Ground Pin 5

As OpenCPN does not transmit anything to AIS devices, no need to connect the NAIS Receive wires. Although there are some "magic" sentences that can be sent to the NAIS 500, OpenCPN doesn't support them.

So just a matter of connecting the Brown wire to Pin 2 and the Blue wire to Pin 5.

Should you wish to wire up the Receive circuit, connect to the White wire to Pin 3 and twist the Blue and Green wires together and connect to Pin 5.

Rather than soldering, you might find a DB9 connector similar to this easier to use.

Good luck.
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Old 19-01-2025, 13:09   #2084
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Re: Help / FAQ

I have been using OpenCPN for about 7 years. When I try to open version 5.10.2 - universal + 12e5712b6 on my MacBook Pro with an Apple M1 Pro, running Mac OS Sequoia 15.2, the program crashes and the only way I can get it to run is to run is to accept the “yes” when prompted to do a “Safe Restart”. the functionality is limited in this mode.
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Old 19-01-2025, 13:42   #2085
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Re: Help / FAQ

We run a M1 with 15.2 as well. No issues.
With macOS you shall have a crash report. Can you please post it?
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