Nasa AIS Engine....... NMEA 2000/0183??

[Sheff]

Intending to purchase and connect the above engine to my laptop running Seapro 3000 PC plotting software.

Euronav (Seapro) info states that "a suitable AIS receiver that can output NMEA0183" is required.

NASA website states "An NMEA 2000 input at 38,400 baud is required to accept the VDM AIS strings corresponding to ITU-1371."

Queried this with Euronav techno guy today who appeared genuinely surprised (as they actually supply AIS engines) and stated that the NASA websites info was incorrect and it actually outputs NMEA 0183HS at 38400 Baud.............. whatever all that means, evidently updated version but still NMEA0183.

As I believe that 2000 and 0183 are incompatible can any of the technical experts out there (BrendanS, Tome etc.) shed any light before I go an order something incompatible?

Cheers,
Paul.

 

[Amphitrite]

The Nasa AIS Engine does output NMEA 0183 HS sentences - that means NMEA AIS sentences (!AIVDM) at 38400 baud. However, the NASA serial interface is not fully up to the NMEA specs so cannot be used with NMEA Multiplexers for example, but is ok with laptops - if you have a direct serial port of find a USB-serial connector that works.

Best regards
Holger

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Is that correct, that NASA AIS engines will not work with a NMEA multiplexer? If so thanks for the info because I was just about to go down that route. Anyone out there done this successfully or had problems?

 

[tome]

Yes, Amphitrite is quite correct and the NASA website has it wrong - they've confused NMEA2000 with NMEA 0183 HS

The point he makes about the serial interface is quite true and can make the operation intermttent or non-functional on NMEA inputs (some Raymarine plotter users are reporting this as well as users of NMEA multiplexors). However, you shouldn't have any problems with a laptop

 

[BlueSkyNick]

to save Tome repeating himself for the umpteenth time, have a look at this thread from Mobo http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1329861/an/0/page/0/gonew/1#UNREAD

It was originaly about MARPA but discusses the very same Nasa subject lower down.

 

[JerryHawkins]

Mine works fine with my Raymarine E-series plotter.

Jerry

 

[tome]

Well if it stops working fine (eg batteries a bit run down) you'll have a good idea why!

 

[Sheff]

Thanks all for the info.

[ QUOTE ]
to save Tome repeating himself for the umpteenth time, have a look at this thread from Mobo http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1329861/an/0/page/0/gonew/1#UNREAD

It was originaly about MARPA but discusses the very same Nasa subject lower down.

[/ QUOTE ]

I did a search on Nasa ais engine but it didn't bring up this thread.

Special thanks to Tome for taking the trouble to repeat himself /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[tome]

Pleasure, it's confusing enough without the manufacturers getting their info wrong...