OpenCPN 3.0.2 and AIS

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causeway

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I have a cheap Radio PC 'dongle' with which i'm trying to get AIS overlay on OpenCPN. I have setup the 'AISMON' software and it is working well with the supplied test audio file (0% errors)

Problem is i can't seem to find a way to feed the info into OpenCPN?

The Online tutorials seem to be for the older version of OCPN and i'd much rather use this newer version as i've just got it set up how i like.

I have the UDP port in AISMON set to 127.0.0.1:10110 but i can't seem to find anywhere in OpenCPN to enter this info and in the 'AIS Data Port' drop down menu all i can select is 'Garmin' or 'None'.

What am i missing here? Please Help!

We crossed from Gigha to N.Ireland in thick fog last week and nearly hit a BIG ship that was less than 500m away in the gloom, basically bounced over its wake, never saw it. He obviously had us on radar because he gave us the whole 'here i come, sounding one' treatment.
 
Ah, no, the radio dongle feeds into sdr# which tunes the correct freq, which feeds by virtual audio cable into aismon which is SUPPOSED to feed into opencpn.

Fair cop though, I'll try an upgrade of the software.
 
causeway said:
Ah, no, the radio dongle feeds into sdr# which tunes the correct freq, which feeds by virtual audio cable into aismon which is SUPPOSED to feed into opencpn.

Fair cop though, I'll try an upgrade of the software.
Click to expand...
Yep sorry cocked up the answer when editing
3.2.2 is much better i found 3.0.3 very unstable with Belfield dongle + windowz 7
 
I know, its a bit of a convoluted method but I already have the dongle so thought I'd try and use it.

Thanks
 
Basically its a cheap way to get 'real' AIS as opposed to the app that many people have on their phone. It only uses radio signals and has a range of around 70 miles.

The kit is a computer with opencpn installed and a 10 quid TV/radio dongle.

When set up using quite a convoluted match of software and settings, you end up with an overlay on opencpn which shows you ships locations.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
Can you explain more what kit you have and what it does?
Click to expand...

You want a DVB television dongle. The most supported ones use the RTL2832 chipset with a E4000 tuner module. You end up with a software defined radio that can tune from around 50MHz to 1600MHz. You can tune it to the AIS frequencies and decode the information.

All good geeky fun... I'm thinking about using mine to decode HF DSC (with a suitable up-converter)

http://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-tutorial-cheap-ais-ship-tracking/
 
Means you can watch TV on the computer, listen to radio, tune into pager traffic, listen to marine frequencies, personal radios.

It is such a cool little toy for very little outlay.

I too would like an upconvertor, would be great for weather fax alone.

I've been trying to get NOAA apt images but no such luck yet.
 
Do you have any recommendations for a Open CPN/Win 7 user who is too timid/unskilled to play with devices of this sort?

The technology is roaring along at such a pace that I am dreaming of putting together a pc chart plotter based system with AIS and Radar feeds.... is it practical? is it possible?
 
Both practical and possible and whats more its MUCH cheaper.

I think you have to be somewhat of a tinkerer to make it work, so there is that to think about.

A ready made AIS dongle can be had for 100 quid so depending on funds and 'tinkerishness', you might consider that. Still a lot cheaper than a stand alone unit.

I would suggest getting opencpn with charts (both can be had for free), a GPS dongle (£25) and play around with it to see if you like it. I'm not an expert by any means but if you need to ask anything specific, don't hesitate.

Some people find a plotter easier to use while underway and i can certainly understand that (typing can prove a bit of a challenge at sea!) but openCPN has plugins for google earth, keeping logs etc. Its very powerful for something that is free.

think i'm rambling, bye!
 
Hi Causeway

I have got Open CPN already and think its great. I have CM 93 charts. I have hooked up a GPS Mouse and that is working fine. The open CPN site recommends a cheap AIS - which is fine except that needs its own aerial and I would prefer to use a splitter and my VHF aerial. But like you say AIS is not a big problem..... its just finding out which "black box" to buy

I would also like to link a radar feed to the PC rather than to a dedicated screen. Are their any books or websites on how best to do this?
 
silver-fox said:
Hi Causeway

I have got Open CPN already and think its great. I have CM 93 charts. I have hooked up a GPS Mouse and that is working fine. The open CPN site recommends a cheap AIS - which is fine except that needs its own aerial and I would prefer to use a splitter and my VHF aerial. But like you say AIS is not a big problem..... its just finding out which "black box" to buy

I would also like to link a radar feed to the PC rather than to a dedicated screen. Are their any books or websites on how best to do this?
Click to expand...

The developers are working with getting a Garmin dome working with openCPN but thats all i know at the moment. This is the dome in question http://www.ebay.com/itm/GARMIN-GMR1...508?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35baf4d64c

I have OpenCPN running already with AIS coming from my VHF. Can you post details of what radio device to buy and what convoluted software settings to use?
Click to expand...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1311.R1.TR3.TRC0&_nkw=r820t&_sacat=0&_from=R40 This is the Radio i'm currently using although i have another one which i use specifically for picking up DAB and FM which saves messing with changing drivers all the time, that is an 'E4000' type (also available on ebay, cheap)

First of all you install the dongle, using specific drivers which come from a package called 'Zadig'
Install SDR# http://sdrsharp.com/downloads/sdr-install.zip

(The above is better documented at this link: http://rtlsdr.org/softwarewindows)

Then you need to create an audio 'loop' to pipe the output from SDR# to AISMON using software called 'Virtual audio cable' or much more simply in windows7 using its inbuilt 'stereo mix' function.

(This is documented more thoroughly at this link: http://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-tutorial-cheap-ais-ship-tracking/)

Then you have to install AISMON from the yahoo groups page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aismon/ (you have to join but its fairly painless). You will also find an audio sample on their downloads section which will allow you to test that your levels and bitrates are set correctly (it will NOT work without this in my experience). A 48000 sample rate is needed.

(This is documented on the same page at: http://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-tutorial-cheap-ais-ship-tracking/)

Ignore the shipplotter bit on that page and the aerial stuff too, for most purposes any old vertical antenna will provide enough range.

Install openCPN, enter the correct UDP network settings and you should be good to go.

Another tip is to use a 'blank' 3.5mm audio jack so that you don't have to listen to the sound of SDR# while its listening to the frequency.

I think thats everything but its all very well explained on the three pages listed above, i suggest reading them thoroughly.

Happy trails, campers!
 
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