AIS on Pocket PC's

CPD

CPD

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AIS on Pocket PC\'s

I use a pocket PC running maptech software and it works very well. I am now interested in this offering from memory-map :

http://www.memory-map.com/index.html?http://www.memory-map.com/ais.htm

Does anyone have any first hand experience ??.

Also my PDA is a Mitac Mio 168 with built in GPS, so how would I get the signal (from an AIS engine) into the Mio ?.

Any comments as usual gratefully received.
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

Trying to get my head around this one. The transponders on all 300 ton plus ships are received in the VHF waveband, and so you will have to input a VHF signal from an aerial somewhere. I have seen AIS engine software available for laptops, and have often wondered how to get a VHF signal into it?
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

You need an "AIS Engine" which is a piece of hardware that decodes the VHF signal and outputs NMEA sentences (or similar).

The software you refer to is for displaying those sentences on the PC but cannot work without the hardware
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

I knew about the requirement for an AIS engine, I was then wondering how to get a NMEA signal into a PDA which has GPS built into it.
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

Through the USB port with a usb-serial converter. *Should* be straightforward. Or with bluetooth using a serial->bluetooth adapter. The fact that it has GPS built in is a plus not a problem providing the software has access to the GPS data.

How do you get sound from your radio in for weather fax ?

I may have to have a play with 1 of these things.
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

[ QUOTE ]
I knew about the requirement for an AIS engine, I was then wondering how to get a NMEA signal into a PDA which has GPS built into it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Most likely via the Data socket at base ... I'm interested as I also have a Mio 168 .... excellent piece of gear as well - Well pleased with mine.
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

It is indeed a great bit of kit. I will almost certainly go for the AIS if I can get a clear answer as to how to do this. Have emailed memory map usa so hopefully will get somewhere. It may be that we access has to be made to the internal NMEA wiring - shouldnt be too difficult !
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

Whipper-snapper, the weatherfax frrom the sw radio is fed into an hp200lx, and NOT a pocket PC. I would love to be able to do weatherfax on a pocket pc but cant find \any supporting software. Any ideas ?
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

[ QUOTE ]
Through the USB port with a usb-serial converter. *Should* be straightforward.

[/ QUOTE ]

AFAIK this wont work. The only pda capable of supporting a USB to serial converter as an IO device is linux based and pretty much 'hobbyware' territory. Thats because most PDA's act as USB slaves and to drive a USB to serial convertor you need .... you guessed it a USB bus master.
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

OK, I followed the link from the OP and it seemed to suggest that it was possible. But it was not clear what hardware they were talking about and I know nothing about PDAs, so you could well be right.

But I am watching with interest, I would love to have AIS and indeed Wx fax on a PDA.
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

I suggest a bluetooth connection. Most PDA's have bluetooth. What you need exactly depends whether your want to connect to an AIS Class A unit or just a receiver. Be aware that the NASA Engine is not compliant to RS232 signal levels and might be a problem here.
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

[ QUOTE ]
I suggest a bluetooth connection. Most PDA's have bluetooth. What you need exactly depends whether your want to connect to an AIS Class A unit or just a receiver. Be aware that the NASA Engine is not compliant to RS232 signal levels and might be a problem here.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mio 168 does not have BT and would need a "add-on" ... to do it..... and that is what original post is about really.
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

Memory map usa responded by saying exactly that ie mio 168 has no bluetooth. Sd bluetooth adapters are available but it is exactly an sd memory card which holds the charts. 2 options available then. 1 is to get hold of an sd adapter that allows more sd cards to be pludgged in to one slot, or get an sd memory card with bluetooth or a sd bluetooth adapter that has memory. Option 2 is to take the mio apart and see if the output from the ais engine can be hardwired. Volunteers anyone ?????
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

[ QUOTE ]
Memory map usa responded by saying exactly that ie mio 168 has no bluetooth. Sd bluetooth adapters are available but it is exactly an sd memory card which holds the charts. 2 options available then. 1 is to get hold of an sd adapter that allows more sd cards to be pludgged in to one slot, or get an sd memory card with bluetooth or a sd bluetooth adapter that has memory. Option 2 is to take the mio apart and see if the output from the ais engine can be hardwired. Volunteers anyone ?????

[/ QUOTE ]

I would be surprised if a data connection BT is not available - leaving the SD card slot for SD card ... there's various PDA website dealers out there ... xpansys ... pdaworld etc. .... worth checking them out ...
 
Re: AIS on Pocket PC\'s

what do you mean by a "data connection Btooth". Do you mean hard wired to the 168 somehow ?. The 168 synch cable has a USB plub, which I guess could be plugged into a USB device if such a device was available. Is this what you mean ?. Thanks.
 
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