[cyberhusky]

Comar Systems ( http://www.comarsystems.com/ )
has introduced an AIS receiver for use with laptops.

It's called AIS-2-USB (it exits as AIS-2-NMEA version too) and fits via an USB cable to your laptop. Power supply is assured via the USB connector. The AIS receiver switches between channel A and B.

The external antenna is being attached to the other connector. Ready! As simple as that!

One main advantage is that it can be used on any boat, with just a laptop. Only the antenna needs to be fixed somewhere!

Here's a short description an pictures:

http://www.channelpilot.info/blog.php

(look for AIS-2-USB)

On the Comar System homepage check the products page.

Regards,

Manou

[GPSNavX]

>> The AIS receiver switches between channel A and B. <<

Actually it's a dual band receiver, as such no switching occurs like other lower cost single band models.

Brochure

I cannot determine from the documentation if Comar uses the FTDI or Prolific USB to serial chipsets and hence Mac OS X USB compatibility.

[cyberhusky]

Here's the reply I got from COMAR Systems today regarding which USB chip is used: (this looks good for OS X)

Thanks for the interest. The AIS-2-USB uses the FTDI chip type FT232RL. Please check the websiteof FTDI www.ftdichip.com for suitable drivers.

Our Distributor in Germany is Garmin Deutschland GmbH, e mail info@garmin.de

Regards

Peter Cotton

Comar Systems Ltd
Unit 7, Medina Court
Arctic Road
Cowes
Isle of Wight
PO31 7XD

Tel: +44 (0)1983 282400 Fax: +44 (0)1983 280402

Regards,

Manou

[seabird51]

This unit (AIS-2-USB) looks interesting. Does anyone know if that unit will be faster than my NASA Marine vintage 2005 black box engine which works ok with GPSNavX but is very slow to update. Sometimes the full info does not show up until the ship has passed by me.
Is the there a US distributor? What is price? I emailed company in UK but did not get a reply.
Regards
Lou
Seabird

[GPSNavX]

Yes updates would be about 2X as often because the Nasa Marine unit is a single channel receiver where the Comar is dual band.

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/enav/ais/what...dcasts.htm

[seabird51]

Hi Ray
That sounds like an upgrade. Do you know the cost and a US distributor.
Thanks
Lou

[bobetter]

I do not think that there is a US distributor. I have purchased Comar gear from:

http://www.euronav.co.uk/

They have online ordering.

[jfewtr]

Comar always seems to respond to the drivers question like that. It would be helpful if they actually put proper links to a download site on their own site.

Visitors to FTDI's site will find that it's easy to get confused. FTDI in fact produces two categories of driver. One they call VCP and the other D2XX. The D2XX one is not user-friendly, and I see now that that is because it was designed to run as a dynamic library. The VCP one is I suspect more likely to work. It is designed to run as a virtual serial port which is what we want, I think. I've tried downloading it from here:

http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

and it installed directly with no problem. I cannot tell whether it actually works because I don't have the AIS unit, but I suspect it will. I hope someone will be able to confirm it, because the AIS-2-USB does look attractive in the same way as the BU 353 GPS.

[FF44]

Have a look on the AIS Engine 2, the new dual band AIS receiver from NASA

[Andrew_Knight]

I've also been in touch with Comar and, with Jonathan Fewtrell's help, found my way to this VCP driver. The AIS-2-USB unit is on order and the necessary cabling for the antenna in hand. I hope to report back within about 10 days.

(I use a MacBook Pro with PassagePlus software)

[jfewtr]

The Nasa AIS Engine 2 looks similar to the SR161 and the Comar AIS-2-NMEA. It would need its own power supply and a separate serial to USB converter. Price is good though.

The attraction of the Comar AIS-2-USB (for which at the moment I can't find any direct competitors) is that it draws power from the USB and does not need a separate serial:USB converter. Just plugs straight into the USB. Much less clutter, which, to me, is a good thing.

[bobetter]

The Nasa AIS Engine 2 looks similar to the SR161 and the Comar AIS-2-NMEA. It would need its own power supply and a separate serial to USB converter. Price is good though.

The attraction of the Comar AIS-2-USB (for which at the moment I can't find any direct competitors) is that it draws power from the USB and does not need a separate serial:USB converter. Just plugs straight into the USB. Much less clutter, which, to me, is a good thing.

I would be careful of the NASA box, to the best of my knowledge, it is not really a "dual band" device. It does receive on both AIS freqs, but not concurrently. It can be set to either receive on one or the other full time or set to alternate between the two. Either setting will miss as many as 50% of the available transmissions. While I have no first hand experience with the Comar AIS-2-USB, I have owned their SLR200 and currently own their CSB 200, both of which are true dual band receivers meaning they are receiving full time on both AIS freqs, in addition to Ch 70.

[Andrew_Knight]

Yes, the Comar AIS-2-USB also has two separate receivers, enabling genuine two-channel montoring, like the other Comar models that you refer to.

[Andrew_Knight]

I have now tested the Comar AIS-2-USB unit with my MacBook Pro running PassagePlus software. It works well.

For a more detailed report, with screenshots, follow this link to my blog: Link

[bobetter]

Very nice report on the Comar unit, thanks Andrew. I believe, tho, that you are perhaps confusing the 2 channels ("A" and "B") with the 2 types of AIS devices, Class A and Class B. The AIS system (both Class A and Class B) broadcasts on 2 VHF channels commonly referred to as Ch A and Ch B.

[Andrew_Knight]

Thanks Bobetter, I hadn't appreciated that.

[seabird51]

I talked to the AIS-2-USB folks in UK. They referred me to Jeppesen in Colorado as a distributor but they did not have the units. After another half day on the web searching without success I ordered one on-line from EuroNav. It was far less than any dual channel units available in USA. It arrived in 5 days. Once I got the link for the Mac driver from Rich at GPSNavX it worked great, very fast! Small box and 2 wires (antenna lead-in and usb cable to powerbook)

[Terry Etapa]

Has anyone used the AIS-2-USB with MacENC yet?

[GPSNavX]

The AIS-2-USB works the same in MacENC as it does in GPSNavX. No difference.

[GPSNavX]

I see Milltech is now selling the Comar AIS receivers..

http://www.milltechmarine.com/products.htm

[Terry Etapa]

My Comar AIS-2-USB arrived from the UK yesterday. It was $100 cheaper, but shipping cost $30. I also ordered a Comar antenna splitter, which was $25 cheaper.

I ordered it from Yachtbits.com

[dkall]

I have the comar USB unit and the antenna splitter. I'm NOT getting any results with the AIS. I have a Macbook Pro with GPSNavX, the most current version. I have installed the newest drivers for the Comar. I get the Yellow Button but never get any AIS targets. I don't know what settings to use.

HELP!

[GPSNavX]

In the AIS/RADAR panel Settings drawer select the port USBSerial-XXXX, Rate 38400. Uncheck "Use GPS Port" and "Use Instruments" port.

Do make sure the AIS receiver is connected to your Mac before starting GPSNavX.

You can check for AIS NMEA data in the Monitor drawer (press "Start"). AIS NMEA data will show up as !AIVDM sentences.

[Cirruscloud]

I'm using MAC Enc with a Comar AIS-2-USB receiver with a dedicated antenna. I can't seem to get mac Enc to recognize the receiver. I selected, AIS connect at startup. Selected 38400, use instruments port, its not giving me the option for usbserial port unless the GPS is plugged in. I'm also getting the message, "Unable to open port, usbserial" The monitor drawer for the AIS is reading $GPGSA sentences and gives the yellow dot.

When the GPS is unplugged I get the Red Dot and no sentences.

All the lights are working on the receiver, the green power light is on, and the red Channel A and B are flashing.

dkall mentioned that he installed all the current drivers from Comar. Which is strange to me because the CD that was included with the receiver only has windows drivers on it.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Brennan

[GPSNavX]

Quit MacENC or GPSNavX

Install the FTDI driver (Mac OS X 32 bit)

http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

Plug the AIS receiver into your Mac's USB port

Restart MacENC or GPSNavX

Select "Connect" on the AIS/RADAR menu

Select "Settings" button

Select the port USBSerial-XXXX, Rate 38400, Uncheck "Use GPS Port"

If your AIS receiver is receiving AIS target transmissions, you will see AIS NMEA data in the AIS/RADAR Monitor drawer after pressing the "Start" button