iNavX can use marine instrumentation NMEA-0183 data via WiFi. This is in place of the built in "Location Services" If one doesn't want to carry a Mac/PC aboard to serve (broadcast) the data, but instead just wants to have an iPod/iPhone/iPad then there is an answer: The Digi Connect Wi-SP creates a stand alone Ad-Hoc network that iNavX can connect to. You can connect a GPS receiver, AIS transponder or other marine instrumentation to the Wi-SP serial port. The port accepts RS232 (most common) and RS422 input.
Marine Instrumentation NMEA-0183 Data -> Wi-SP -> [WiFi] -> iPod/iPhone/iPad -> iNavX
Configuration Guide..
http://www.gpsnavx.com/pdf/Wi-SPConfigOSX.pdf
For a bare-wire connection to the Wi-SP or a Keyspan USB to serial adapter we offer this adapter..
http://www.gpsnavx.com/html/datacable.html
Another addition is to add a ShipModul MiniPlex BT Multiplexer to the Wi-SP...
http://www.shipmodul.com/en/miniplex-bt.html
Connect the NMEA data talkers (i.e GPS, AIS, Instruments) to the Multiplexer.
Connect the RS-232 output of the Multiplexer to the Wi-SP.
This gives a Wi-Fi connection for iNavX and gives a Bluetooth connection for MacENC or any other marine navigation software that supports NMEA over a serial port.
Nice thing is that both these NMEA connection points (WiFi and Bluetooth) exist without the need for a PC or a Mac.
hello, i'm waiting to receive my ipad 3g soon and i'm planning to buy inavx/navionics, i would like to integrate the ipad+inavx with my raymarine network eseries/radar/ais/log/wind/pilot etc.
in my set up i have all instrument conected to each other via a control box that has an ethernet out.
will the ipad/inavx receive all the data if i plug the ethernet cable into an airport??
thanks in advanve for your help
gerry
I don't believe the Airport has a facility to transmit data received from the Ethernet port via TCP/IP sockets, but I have never tried such a configuration. The question would be what port would the data be sent on.
thanks, i'm not too friendly with ports etc etc, i tried to ask raymarine how to set up a wifi connection but nobody is replying, was wondering if an airport or other wifi router could work, for instance they say that by downloading on pc their software raytec rns, the only needed thing is to plug the ethernet cable and then all works fine...
reckon i'm not helping my case much ....
any suggestions
thanks in advance
It should be noted that when an iPhone 3G[s]/iPad 3G is connected to the Digi WiSP AdHoc network, that internet connectivity (email, web, etc.) continues to work via the 3G cell connection.
GPSNavX Wrote:Another addition is to add a ShipModul MiniPlex BT Multiplexer to the Wi-SP...
http://www.shipmodul.com/en/miniplex-bt.html
Connect the NMEA data talkers (i.e GPS, AIS, Instruments) to the Multiplexer.
Connect the RS-232 output of the Multiplexer to the Wi-SP.
This gives a Wi-Fi connection for iNavX and gives a Bluetooth connection for MacENC or any other marine navigation software that supports NMEA over a serial port.
Nice thing is that both these NMEA connection points (WiFi and Bluetooth) exist without the need for a PC or a Mac.
Rich,
How can you do this on the BT version of the Miniplex? The AIS has to connect to the RS-232 port since all the other listener ports are 4800, so how can you also connect the Digi-connect to the RS-232 ? Is there another listener port that will hear the AIS? Or can the Digi-Connect work on the Talker #1 port, which can work at 38000?
Scot
Yes I would believe you could run the Mux in AIS mode using the RS-232 for the AIS. This mode also sends out all NMEA data out NMEA out 1. At least this is what I am seeing. So you could connect the Wi-SP to NMEA out 1. The Wi-SP supports either RS-232 (single ended) or RS-422 (differential) connections so it can be connected to the Mux appropriately. Refer to Mux manual for the specific wiring connection of NMEA talkers. Rate will be 38400 for both the Wi-SP and the BT interface.
I managed to get the Wi-SP running, but had some trouble. The Wi-SP didn't want to join my airport network (unprotected), even after fiddling around a dozen times. I finally took off my AIS Engine and replaced it with the dummy plug (on the Wi-SP) and it connected. My Mac Mini couldn't see the Wi-SP with IP Scanner, but my old PowerBook could. (The Mini was connected with Ethernet to my Time Capsule. Is that the reason? My old Powerbook has an add-on PCI wireless card and I'm not using the built-in airport.) From then on things went well, but I'm not near water so I can't tell if the AIS is really feeding data.
BTW, your explanations are really good but you might look at ScreenSteps for easy creation of graphic explanations. It's slick.
Hi,
I've purchased the Digi WI-SP. I went through your instructions for setup..... great help in getting the solution going. I noticed in the setup you need to specify 38400 for AIS and 4800 for GPS. Looks like an either or? However, the youtube indicates a simultaneous connection to both AIS and GPS? (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAkwlZhseEE) ..... I haven't made my ship board connections yet, but I am guessing then you have to go into the WI-SP config and toggle the baud rates to go AIS or GPS manually? There is no "Both" with this device......
Digiconnect Wi-SP only has one input. As such it can either be at 4,800 or 38,400. So if you have an AIS receiver AND GPS receiver you wish to interface then best to run the GPS receiver into the AIS receiver (assuming it supports this option) then the AIS receiver into the Wi-SP.