Quick question : Plotter GPS and AIS functions alive ?

[Refueler]

I was playing with my Onwa KP39A Plotter today .... testing the output and antenna etc. Plus I changed tablet I use with WiFi and wanted to test that with the system.

Android tablet running OpenCPN ... GPS and AIS data fed in via WiFi from my Plexor fed by the Onwa. (I disable Androids internal GPS) ...

It was interesting that as soon as I connected power plug of my plotter / plexor - the tablet rec'd GPS and AIS data ... even though I had not switched on the plotter. I'd never thought about it before .. never noticed. But today I was testing gear - so it was noted immediately.

Out of interest - do other brands such as Garmin etc. keep GPS and AIS alive when plotter switched off ? I know my old Lowrance used to have power to the GPS puck on all time power plug was live. But I never noticed data on NMEA out.

 

[LadyInBed]

My em-trak ais engine has it's own power supply and on/off sw so when on, it's doing its job regardless of whether the CP is off or on displaying the data.

 

[Refueler]

My em-trak ais engine has it's own power supply and on/off sw so when on, it's doing its job regardless of whether the CP is off or on displaying the data.

I should have explained better .... I was more asking those with combined GPS Plotter / AIS units ... rather than add-on.

I spoke to Onwa and the reply was ... GPS always on - so it speeds up position display when you switch on plotter .... AIS always on - as safety feature because its Tx'g as well as Rec'g. The power draw is less than 200mA so not serious.

 

[tillergirl]

Well this year I had an oddity: in fairness I had fitted a YakMUX to handle 3 NMEA inputs and 3 outputs. I have a laptop which harvests NMEA into a data logger. If it is running the laptop on its internal battery, the com port is open but the logger doesn't receive the data. The moment I plug in the mains (i.e 12v supply from the boat), I get all the data!