Which AIS engine?

[Adonnante]

I've recently been testing the Open CPN navigation software which claims an AIS facility. Reseach indicates that the Nasa 2 engine is a problem to set up and comes with a serial port and the alternative, the name escapes me, cost over twice the price. Does anybody have experience of using these devices on a laptop or netbook? Is there any one in the Plymouth area that could let me plug their AIS reciever into my netbook and software so that I can see if the expenditure would be worthwhile ?

Peter.

 

[PhilipF]

I've recently been testing the Open CPN navigation software which claims an AIS facility. Reseach indicates that the Nasa 2 engine is a problem to set up and comes with a serial port and the alternative, the name escapes me, cost over twice the price. Does anybody have experience of using these devices on a laptop or netbook? Is there any one in the Plymouth area that could let me plug their AIS reciever into my netbook and software so that I can see if the expenditure would be worthwhile ?

At a cost of just over £100 I should have thought it was worth a try. I think Seachest (QAB) would be able to supply at around this price. I agree I cannot think what justifies the extra cost of the Colmar over the Nasa 2.

I use mine on a Mac. not a "PC". Sorry, not near you, otherwise would help. You will of course have to use an additional areal with with your 'engine'.

Philip

 

[claudio]

The Nasa is a dual channel but scans between the channels
The Comar has two channels that can receive simultaneously.

IMHO the Comar is the better product, better receiver and NMEA output. The NASA is RS232 output.
It depends on the type of sailing you do and the area that you sail and whether you need to interface the unit to the chart plotter or a PC based system.

 

[fireball]

I had NASA on the previous boat - I left it there - it was fine, but I had a duff box that wouldn't receive properly ... the new one is the twin channel comar - receives both channels at the same time .... interfaces with my Standard Horizon CP180i happily...