We are currently running GPSnavX on an iBook G4 with a Garmin GPS130 and the NASA AIS engine. It all works okay but I can no longer send waypoints back to the GPS. I could do this before I added the AIS.
Therefore, I am thinking of adding a multiplexer to the system. Which one should I buy? Am I barking up the right tree?
The problem is the NASA AIS receiver filters both the Garmin proprietary data (needed to transfer waypoints, routes, tracks) and all but the $GPGLL NMEA sentence. A multiplexer (mux) will not support the Garmin proprietary data, however it will allow ALL the GPS NMEA data to be received.
I would recommend a Shipmodul Miniplex Lite mux. Run the GPS into channel 1 and the AIS into channel 3 and if you have NMEA instruments run those into channel 2 of the mux.
In order to transfer the waypoint information to the Garmin GPS, you need to directly connect the Garmin GPS to the Mac via a Keyspan USB to serial adapter. The Mux does not support the Garmin proprietary data.
I don't really understand all this techy stuff so please be gentle with me.
I have a four-port Keyspan adaptor that I haven't used so far
Is there anyway I can get what I want with only 1x instrument cable going into the iBook? This looks 'neat' I think.
--Andy
Yes you can connect the GPS and AIS with the Keyspan 4 port adapter. Each then will be using it's own port. /dev/cu.USA.1 and /dev/cu.USA.2, etc.
Select the correct ports in the GPS and AIS panel Settings drawer and the 4800 and 38400 rate respectively.
With that setup you can transfer waypoints,routes,tracks to/fro your Garmin.
If you need DB-9 connectors for either, we offer crimp on ones..
Data Cable
Is using the 4-port Keyspan adaptor a good solution?
I seem to remember you telling me ages ago that a multiplexer was the way to go.
I just wanted to double-check with you before I embarked on the re-wiring of our setup:
If I alter it so that I have 2 x inputs (one from the Garmin. And one from the AIS) going into the 4-port Keyspan adaptor, this is the right thing to do???
Sorry to be a dunce.
