AIS Engine 2

[BigStu]

Hi all

Bagged myself an AIS Engine 2 for a good price- still boxed and with everything.

Slightly puzzled as to the wiring configuration to get it to speak with my Lowrance Elite 5 HDI Plotter as the instructions are dire!

From the AIS we have a serial connector with Black, Red and then 'Bare' wires. I think from some research to Black goes to NMEA+ on the plotter and the red is not used. Where does the 'bare' wire go? Also- no idea what settings I need to configure on the plotter.... anyone done this before that can shed any light??

Stu

 

[richardbrennan]

I am no expert, but the red and black wires on such pieces of kit are usually for the power cables. I would have expected additional wiring to connect to either a NMEA 0183 or 2000 port on your plotter.

 

[pvb]

I believe you may have to update the software on your plotter before it can handle AIS info.

 

[BigStu]

Hi- No Red and black power cable already wired in- this is from the serial port lead. Plotter already updated and ready for AIS use!

 

[Blue Drifter]

If it's the NASA one the manual is here - http://www.nasamarine.com/images/AIS Engine.pdf

I have one connected to a Garmin 750 Chartplotter and it is excellent.

 

[salar]

This shows how I installed mine and linked it to a Garmin GPSMap4008 via NMEA0183
http://www.boat-angling.co.uk/Hints_and_Tips/NASAAISEngineReview.htm

 

[BigStu]

So what does it mean by -"ground reference to the reference input of the plotter"?

 

[salar]

Did you read my link? It is Ground or Neg.

 

[wooslehunter]

A NMEA signal is technically a 2-wire signal. There's a positive and a negative. The negative is what you are referring to as ground reference. A full NMEA interface drives a signal from the positive on the sender to the positive on the listener. The listener then returns the driven current from its negative back to the negative on the sender.

However, many senders only have a single output wire. Connect this to the positive on the listener. The current still has to go somewhere. If the listener only has one input, then the current returns internally to the negative on the power source. If there are two, then connect the listener ground reference or negative to the common power negative.

 

[FulmarJeddo]

Something not mentioned so far. The AIS engine transmits at 38400 baud, so the port on the plotter will need to be configured to that speed. On the Garmin plotter's they refer to it as high speed. Most other NMEA 0183 kit will use 4800 baud.

 

[RobbieW]

If you do get it all working, consider upgrading the processor in the Engine to the V3 - www.nasamarine.com/proddetail.php?prod=AISEngineupgradechip - for 12 quid its a worthwhile upgrade

 

[wooslehunter]

From what I remember, the AIS2 has the ability to multiplex normal 4800 NMEA onto the 38400 baud stream. So if you have info comming into the plotter from somewhere else at 4800, you can connect that to the AIS which then sends it on at 38400 baud. You then only use up one port on the plotter. The AIS3 certainly does this but I didn't find an AIS2 manual to check.

 

[VicMallows]

The AIS3 certainly does this but I didn't find an AIS2 manual to check.

The AIS2 does as well.

 

[pvb]

Wasn't the AIS2's idea of NMEA a bit suspect? Hence the AIS3 and the opportunity to upgrade the AIS2 with a new chip.

I still think that a proper dual channel receiver is needed if you want to get sensible AIS plots from leisure craft.

 

[VicMallows]

if you want to get sensible AIS plots from leisure craft.

I would pay for the ability to filter OUT leisure craft !

 

[pvb]

I would pay for the ability to filter OUT leisure craft !

Ships can, despite what the AIS disciples preach!

 

[salar]

Wasn't the AIS2's idea of NMEA a bit suspect? Hence the AIS3 and the opportunity to upgrade the AIS2 with a new chip.

I still think that a proper dual channel receiver is needed if you want to get sensible AIS plots from leisure craft.

As you will see from the link I provided, AIS 2 works just fine with a Garmin GPSMap4008

 

[eddystone]

If it's the NASA one the manual is here - http://www.nasamarine.com/images/AIS Engine.pdf

I have one connected to a Garmin 750 Chartplotter and it is excellent.

Can I ask, because I was contemplating getting a receive only box to connect to my 750, can you connect more that one device to the 750 via NMEA0183 interface? reason I ask is in case, in the future, my Garmin 128 stops working and I need to connect the 750 to the VHF and I didn't want to create a NMEA2000 bus.

 

[pvb]

As you will see from the link I provided, AIS 2 works just fine with a Garmin GPSMap4008

As leisure craft use Class B, which transmits less frequently than Class A, a single-channel receiver such as the Nasa AIS engine will on average take twice as long to pick up new data than a true dual-channel receiver. As a result, plots of leisure vessels may jump about the screen as each update is received. A proper dual-channel receiver will minimise this effect.

 

[FulmarJeddo]

Can I ask, because I was contemplating getting a receive only box to connect to my 750, can you connect more that one device to the 750 via NMEA0183 interface? reason I ask is in case, in the future, my Garmin 128 stops working and I need to connect the 750 to the VHF and I didn't want to create a NMEA2000 bus.

That shouldn't be a problem. My old GPSMAP550 and my current ECHOMAP 700 both have 2 NMEA 0183 ports. I have the radio connected to one port at 4800baud and the AIS 3 engine connected to the other at 38400 baud (high speed on the Garmin).