5
Posts: 1,947
Threads: 284
Joined: April 22, 2005
Reputation:
0
Yes the SR161. Use with a Keyspan USB to serial adapter. Set the AIS port to /dev/cu.KeySerialX and the rate to 38,400..
http://www.milltechmarine.com/products.htm
Scott Dillon
Sydney Australia
North Shore 38
CYCA
5
Posts: 276
Threads: 52
Joined: April 24, 2005
Reputation:
0
Is the SR161 the same as the AIS blackbox sold by NASA?
If not what are the differences and can I use the SR161 in Europe?
5
Posts: 1,947
Threads: 284
Joined: April 22, 2005
Reputation:
0
Quote:Is the SR161 the same as the AIS blackbox sold by Nasa?
No they are two different units. The SR161 offers the benefit of having LED status lights absent from the Nasa AIS receiver. Very helpful for debugging a connection.
Quote:can I use the SR161 in Europe?
Both units adhere to the ITU 1371 specification as such they are not geographic dependent. AIS uses VHF frequencies.
Please take the time to read the AIS overview..
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/enav/ais/default.htm
Scott Dillon
Sydney Australia
North Shore 38
CYCA
5
Posts: 1,947
Threads: 284
Joined: April 22, 2005
Reputation:
0
Quote:BTW on Milltech homepage there's a screenshot of MacENC using the SR161 AIS.
Looks like you answered your own questions. I made the recommendation of the Milltech SR161 to the original poster of this thread because
YES it works great with both GPSNavX and MacENC.
Scott Dillon
Sydney Australia
North Shore 38
CYCA
1
Posts: 7
Threads: 1
Joined: November 2, 2006
Reputation:
0
I will install AIS this spring. I bought the SR 161, and a "Smart Antenna Splitter" Which lets me splice into my existing VHF radio cable and use the masthead antenna for both the radio and the AIS unit. The active splitter protects the AIS receiver from being fried when I transmit on the VHF transceiver.
My problem is I'm short one USB port. I'm using a PowerBook G4 which has two USB ports and one Fire Wire port. Before the AIS, I used one USB port for the very nice GPS receiver from GPSnavX, and one USB port for the mouse. That allowed us to run the GPSnavX navigation software using a mouse.
Now with AIS I will need one more USB port for bringing in the signal from the AIS receiver. This comes out of the receiver as a serial RS 232, and can be converted using a Keyspan RS 232 to USB converter. It will take the other USB port and we will not have a port for the mouse.
We could run without a mouse using the touch pad, but neither of us likes to work with a touch pad.
I've found some hubs that are not powered that will allow me to plug into one computer USB and have three or even four USB additional connections plug into them. <www.welovemacs.com>
Does anybody know if this is the right way to go?
Will the computer and software sort all this out? The hubs are dirt cheap and look simple, just plug and play.
5
Posts: 769
Threads: 15
Joined: May 14, 2005
Reputation:
4
Does your Powerbook G4 support bluetooth? I use Apple's wireless mouse and keyboard. They both run on AA batteries that last up to a month (when I remember to shut them off when not in use).
1
Posts: 7
Threads: 1
Joined: November 2, 2006
Reputation:
0
I've never tried to use blue tooth on my laptop, but as I understand it, the blue tooth thing plugs into a USB port so it is about the same as if I plug in the mouse and like that, I have no port left over.
I've avoided Blue Tooth because I didn't want one more source of rf in the boat.
5
Posts: 1,947
Threads: 284
Joined: April 22, 2005
Reputation:
0
If your Mac has built in bluetooth there is no need to tie up a USB port for a wireless keyboard or wireless mouse.
You can open system preferences and see if you have Bluetooth.
Scott Dillon
Sydney Australia
North Shore 38
CYCA
1
Posts: 7
Threads: 1
Joined: November 2, 2006
Reputation:
0
I looked, and I have some software for Bluetooth that probably came with the OS, but no hardware.
5
Posts: 769
Threads: 15
Joined: May 14, 2005
Reputation:
4
Jerry,
If your laptop is like mine (Powerbook G4), you already have the bluetooth hardware built into the computer. The antennae are small grey plastic patches moulded into the lid on the top right and left of the screen. All you have to do (after buying a bluetooth mouse) is match it with your computer using the bluetooth configuration software found in the system preferences.
Please read the Mac Help topic "What can Bluetooth do?" on your computer for more information.
This will enable you to use a wireless mouse and save the two USB ports for GPS and AIS.
As for the extra radio frequency, I can say that I have had no problems with my VHF or FM/AM radios onboard while the bluetooth is active.
BR
Jon
1
Posts: 7
Threads: 1
Joined: November 2, 2006
Reputation:
0
There are no plastic patches on either side of the screen. I went to help, what Bluetooth can do, and clicked Bluetooth File Exchange from there.
I got a screen message that said:
"No Bluetooth hardware found."
I still wonder if these little unpowered USB hubs will solve the problem. In need to connect:
GPS (USB)
AIS (RS 232 to USB)
Mouse (USB)
to two USB ports. I wonder how to best pair them up so that the information will find its way. I don't want to use a powered hub unless I can find one that takes 12 VDC. I don't run my inverter constantly, just when I need it, but we do tend to run our navigation program more or less constantly unless we are in very familiar waters.
5
Posts: 769
Threads: 15
Joined: May 14, 2005
Reputation:
4
Jerry,
To verify your laptop's hardware contents for bluetooth, select the following under the Apple menu:
Apple>About This Mac>More Info...>Hardware>Bluetooth
1
Posts: 7
Threads: 1
Joined: November 2, 2006
Reputation:
0
I did that. Under hardware there is
Memory
PCI/ACP Cards
ATA
SCSI
USB
FireWire
AirPort Card
Modems
No mention of Bluetooth. SCSI is in the list but no hardware when clicked. There are two USB Bus, and one 400Mb firewire.
1
Posts: 41
Threads: 12
Joined: January 7, 2006
Reputation:
0
You are facing the same problem that I encountered last summer. I posted something about converting from 12vdc to 5vdc and received 0 replies. I've spent hours searching for a power supply to buy to power a USB hub, and the only thing that I have found is a cheap plug-in converter for car use that puts out 500ma. For a 4 port USB hub you need 2 amps, if the downstream devices are not self powered. Since USB devices are all 5vdc, self powered devices would pose the same problem.
I was talking to a professional marine electronics technician a few weeks ago, and he described how to make my own voltage converter using a transistor that puts out 1 amp at 5vdc. To supply more amps, I would need to add multiple transistors in parallel. This was in idle conversation and I didn't have a chance to write down the transistor (there were a few other parts too) or make a diagram, but this sounded like a pretty simple device to build, and it is the only genuine solution I've found to this USB power problem.
You desire for one more USB port ignores the wide world of possibilities with USB devices. For example, you can put a camera in some critical area, like the engine room or a sealed void, and monitor it remotely. There are so many cheap and easy possibilities with USB that I'm quite surprised not to be able to find more voltage converters out there.
). I do have a few RS232->USB converters if needbe.
