Dry Tortugas Bound.

[Brian]

Sum,

How are you getting the AIS targets to appear in OpenCPN?

I recently set up OpenCPN on my Navhttp://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1817 computer. I was considering the purchase of the MarineGadget-Radar USB dongle http://www.radargadgets.com/marinegadgetusshipping.htm, but that thing is $179 and I am rather frugal.

Are you getting the AIS targets through your Standard Horizon radio? Do you need a USB multiplexer hooked up to your NMEA network in order to do that?

Thanks!

Brian

[Sumner]

Sum,

How are you getting the AIS targets to appear in OpenCPN?

I recently set up OpenCPN on my Navhttp://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1817 computer. I was considering the purchase of the MarineGadget-Radar USB dongle http://www.radargadgets.com/marinegadgetusshipping.htm, but that thing is $179 and I am rather frugal.

Are you getting the AIS targets through your Standard Horizon radio? Do you need a USB multiplexer hooked up to your NMEA network in order to do that?

Thanks!

Brian

We bought the 2100, which might not still be for sale for $240 from the GPS Store. The 2100 was being replaced with the 2150 since the 2100 was impossible to connect to some of the older chart plotters that couldn't work with different baud rates. This isn't a problem with OpenCPN. We have the radio, but I have not hooked it up in the Endeavour yet. We wanted a newer radio with DSC as we have that in the Mac and when I found the 2100 had that and also the AIS we went with it. It has the AIS built into it and uses the same antenna as the VHF part of the radio so you dont have to buy another antenna or buy a splitter box.

We have some Garmin Map 76's and will connect one of those to the radio for GPS location but could of also connected it to the computer for the same info, but I liked them separate for redundancy. The computer I built has a number of serial (com ports) so the radio will be connected to one of those ports and OpenCPN will receive the AIS sentences via that port. In OpenCPN you can go to "tools" and then "AIS" and pick the com port for the AIS. OpenCPN will then display it. A lot of people or doing this. There is a good resource for OpenCPN if you don't have it....

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f134/

We also use a $35 USB GPS dongle for position that is connected to the computer. We also always have another Garmin Map76 out in the cockpit hooked to the computer that receives waypoints from OpenCPN or SeaClear and it gives OpenCPN a second GPS position signal so more redundancy there on position.

I'm not sure about the AIS device you posted? Does it still need an antenna? I would think so. The 2150 is more than what we paid for the 2100 but still considering it incorporates the AIS in the same radio with no separate antenna needed or no splitter needed is a good deal if you need a new radio with DSC.

With you, using the notebook, you would need to use another USP/serial converter to get the AIS signal from the radio, but that is easy to do. I don't think you can use a multiplexer as the AIS is 38400 baud rate and most other communication is 4800. OpenCPN can work with multiple com ports running at different baud rates. Hope this helped some,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[JoeG]

Cpt. Ron
I see you made it to Oceanside Marina. When do you plan to head out to the Tortugas?
Don't forget, if you make it into town, look me up at Key West Bait and Tackle.
BTW, we had a great day sail today!

[opie]

Cap'n Ron,
Any follow-up on this trip? Did it happen the way you planned?

[THE CUSCUS]

.?????? Don't leave us hangin, CaptRon.

[cptron]

Just opened this thread again and will give update as soon as I can talk the admiral into typing up our adventure.