Seaclear, Standard Horizon GX2100 and comm ports

[dgadee]

I am trying to get input to Seaclear from the GX2100 (4800 baud). I have a serial to usb connector which is on Port 5 and default at 9600 baud (device manager tells me this), yet when I try to set Seaclear to access port 5 it says it can't. Anyone done this connection already? What should the settings be?

I have been playing about with all the various settings - changing baud of Port 5, looking at other ports in case there's a virtual port being used, resetting baud rates, checking connections etc. - for a couple of hours so must be getting something/everything wrong.

 

[awol]

If you RTFM Page 131 you would find the NMEA AIS output is 38400 baud.

 

[dgadee]

If you RTFM Page 131 you would find the NMEA AIS output is 38400 baud.

Ah, I see that now. I have changed the wiring so that I am taking output from the Brown out wire from the GX2100, have changed the speed of the USB to serial connector to 38400, have set the input port on Seaclear as required (Rx, 38400). But I am still getting a message that says Could Not Open Communications Port 5. I have gone through the other ports available via Seaclear but nothing happening there either.

 

[nigelmercier]

Change the COM port settings to an even numbered port.

If your USB device won't allow this, get a decent one:

Startech.com FTDI USB to Serial RS232 Adapter Cable with COM Retention

1 Port: http://amzn.to/1cEOL4h
2 Port: http://amzn.to/1ccP1fG

 

[dgadee]

Change the COM port settings to an even numbered port.

If your USB device won't allow this, get a decent one:

Startech.com FTDI USB to Serial RS232 Adapter Cable with COM Retention

1 Port: http://amzn.to/1cEOL4h
2 Port: http://amzn.to/1ccP1fG

Movement! Although the port for the usb/serial connector is 10, I am getting AIS info coming in through Port 1. Ever since the early 1980s this port stuff has driven me to drink.

However, the gps info doesn't seem to be being sent out via the GX2100 along with the AIS info. Is there a way to sort that?

 

[dgadee]

No - gone. I think there is a bad connection somewhere. Will look tomorrow.

 

[nigelmercier]

... Although the port for the usb/serial connector is 10, I am getting AIS info coming in through Port 1...
However, the gps info doesn't seem to be being sent out via the GX2100 along with the AIS info. Is there a way to sort that?

Why would the GX2100 AIS output have the GPS data? You need to get this direct from the GPS, via another PC port.

Change the USB device to a lower even number COM port, in Windows Device Manager.

 

[dgadee]

Why would the GX2100 AIS output have the GPS data? You need to get this direct from the GPS, via another PC port.

Change the USB device to a lower even number COM port, in Windows Device Manager.

The gps inputs to the vhf so I presumed that info would be streamed out along with the ais info. You are saying I need two leads going to the PC either both from the vhf, or one from vhf and one from gps?

Seems pretty inefficient to me (as a sometime programmer).

 

[Martin_J]

Sounds like you have got it in one!

Yes - It is likely that you will need to take the 4800baud GPS datastream from the GPS unit and the 38400baud AIS datastream from the VHF as inputs to your laptop software.

A 2-port Serial to USB cable is useful in this instance.

If you need more inputs then perhaps think ahead and get a 4 serial to 1 USB convertor. Look for the ones with an FTDI chipset (for reliability with various operating systems) and even better would be a convertor with COM port retention (i.e. whichever USB port you plug it into, the serial ports will appear as the same COM port every time).

 

[Martin_J]

As a sometime programmer - you might find it more useful installing something like NavMonPC as well.

That can take your two input ports (one at 4800 baud and the other at 38400 baud) and then combine them into yet another set of virtual COM ports on your PC. One of these could then be used as a feed to SeaClear whilst you use the other Virtual Ports for other applications.

NavMonPC is great for displaying the input streams and splitting the output.

 

[Martin_J]

You might wonder why you might need more than 2 inputs.

I have a SeaTalk to NMEA convertor which provides a third NMEA stream at 4800 baud.

NavMonPC then combines the GPS NMEA, the Seatalk data such as wind and log information that has been converted to NMEA and also the AIS into a single stream for it's own display and to pass on to other applications.

 

[nigelmercier]

A 2-port Serial to USB cable is useful in this instance. If you need more inputs then perhaps think ahead and get a 4 serial to 1 USB convertor. Look for the ones with an FTDI chipset (for reliability with various operating systems) and even better would be a convertor with COM port retention (i.e. whichever USB port you plug it into, the serial ports will appear as the same COM port every time).

As I said earlier:

Startech.com FTDI USB to Serial RS232 Adapter Cable with COM Retention

1 Port: http://amzn.to/1cEOL4h
2 Port: http://amzn.to/1ccP1fG

I've got two of the 2-port type, rather than a 4-port. The total price is similar and this gives some redundancy by swapping out the less important signals. However, there is probably no need as these have been rock-solid in use, and come with WHQL Certified Windows drivers. Unlike the cheap generic ones I used to have which triggered a BSOD on a regular basis.

 

[Martin_J]

indeed.. FTDI just works.

Although when you're using a netbook that only has two USB ports.. and a mouse.. the 4-1 comes in useful..

http://uk.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/Serial-Cards-Adapters/Professional-4-Port-USB-to-RS-232-Serial-Adapter~ICUSB2324X

And to the original poster.. A single serial -> USB starts to become the limiting factor...

 

[nigelmercier]

indeed.. FTDI just works.

Although when you're using a netbook that only has two USB ports.. and a mouse.. the 4-1 comes in useful...

These devices work quite happily on a USB hub, I used one of these until I got a PC with USB 3.0 ports: http://amzn.to/1hU4e5I

 

[GHA]

However, the gps info doesn't seem to be being sent out via the GX2100 along with the AIS info. Is there a way to sort that?

Not on the gx2100, there are 2 nmea outs, one for gps and one for ais. The newest model does multiplex into one output but don't think it's available in the UK.

 

[Boo2]

Why would the GX2100 AIS output have the GPS data? You need to get this direct from the GPS, via another PC port.

The Radio Ocean 4800 does this and it simplifies wiring to a PC quite considerably, particularly if the GPS input to the VHF is restricted to 4800 baud as is (stupidly) very common.

Boo2

 

[dgadee]

I have a Yapp multiplexor from Angus which I haven't investigated yet. Could I use that to combine the two outputs?

Also will a gps provide enough signal strength to be heard by two listeners?

 

[GHA]

I have a Yapp multiplexor from Angus which I haven't investigated yet. Could I use that to combine the two outputs?

Never played with one but don't see why not.

Also will a gps provide enough signal strength to be heard by two listeners?

Should be no problem at all.

I installed a new gx2100 recently as well with a RAM mic - much chuffed!!! Great radio.