Maina intermittent issue

[mikekolling]

Hi
This is an odd one,
Most mornings i get up, switch the system on and Maiana works well. 
I receive GPS and AIS, and i transmit AIS too.
However sometimes after a trip and towards the end of the day, it just loses connection.

i have tried running 

openplotter-maiana and i get this. 

When i try to run OPENPLOTTER settings from the menu nothing happens, can i run it from terminal?
 
(openplotter-maiana:3337): Gtk-CRITICAL **: 16:36:46.105: gtk_box_gadget_distribute: assertion 'size >= 0' failed in GtkScrollbar
 
(openplotter-maiana:3337): Gtk-CRITICAL **: 16:36:46.107: gtk_box_gadget_distribute: assertion 'size >= 0' failed in GtkScrollbar

The cable seems ok, it works in the mornings, maybe its an intermittent connection issue. I guess first thing to try is to swap out the RJ45 cable.

ANy other fault finding suggestions?

mike\

[mikekolling]

further to yesterday, again, woke up this morning and its kind partly working.

I am receiving stuff on signalk see attachment.

but i cannot run the maiana app to talk to it.

---

pi@openplotter:~ $ openplotter-maiana

(openplotter-maiana:13403): Gtk-CRITICAL **: 07:58:54.488: gtk_box_gadget_distribute: assertion 'size >= 0' failed in GtkScrollbar

(openplotter-maiana:13403): Gtk-CRITICAL **: 07:58:54.492: gtk_box_gadget_distribute: assertion 'size >= 0' failed in GtkScrollbar
pi@openplotter:~ $



i am guessing its the cable?

[Sailoog]

you can ignore that gtk-CRITICAL messages.

The Maiana device is working ok if you have data in SK. The openplotter-maiana app may not connect to the device the first time due to the data traffic but it should connect if you press "refresh". this app is only used to change settings in the device.

[mikekolling]

you can ignore that gtk-CRITICAL messages.

The Maiana device is working ok if you have data in SK. The openplotter-maiana app may not connect to the device the first time due to the data traffic but it should connect if you press "refresh". this app is only used to change settings in the device.

What I actually had to do was DEINSTALL the Maiana AIS App and then REINSTALL it, and then it instantly could read the settings I already had in my Maiana.

[mikekolling]

you can ignore that gtk-CRITICAL messages.

The Maiana device is working ok if you have data in SK. The openplotter-maiana app may not connect to the device the first time due to the data traffic but it should connect if you press "refresh". this app is only used to change settings in the device.

Hi

I really dont think this system is reliable and trusted.

I was using it yesterday, didnt miss a beat all day, AIS coming in received and going out Transmitting.

I left the whole unit on overnight.

This morning - its dead, cannot receive or transmit anything to the Maiana.

So, i have switched off the power and waiting an hour or so for it all to cool down and lets see if it recovers.

But how could i trust this if i was on a 12hour passage.

Mike

[Sailoog]

Why do you think "it is dead"? symptoms?

what happens after switching on again?

I do not think you have any issue because the board getting hot. You can be affected by some electrical interference, try to find a pattern between the scenario when it is working and when it is not (devices working around, specially DC/DC converters)

[mikekolling]

Why do you think "it is dead"? symptoms?

what happens after switching on again?

I do not think you have any issue because the board getting hot. You can be affected by some electrical interference, try to find a pattern between the scenario when it is working and when it is not (devices working around, specially DC/DC converters)

I mean its dead, nothing whatsoever is received or transmitted via the serial port.

I tried the breakout board too and same thing, zero received onthe serial port. 

I could live with electrical interference if the damn thing would tell me via the serial port.

I am on a motor boat and hence i have Radar and VHf Radio.

I have now returned home again for the 4th time with it all in a box, and plugged in and its working again straight away.

I have several other systems connected to the RPI/Macarthur eg Raymarine C12) receives NMEA0183. Modbus WInd Speed and Direction, and when needed i share my phone GPS with the unit. All the other systems work flawlessly.

But the Maiana, after a full day at sea where it didnt miss a beat, just stops communicating. As i said before, this is a boat and it has to be reliable.

This is not fit for purpose and i want to return it for a refund.

[Sailoog]

How do you know there is no data in serial port? what the signal k server says? any error there? are the LEDs flashing but no data in serial port? details please.

what devices are connected and on when the Maiana is working and what devices are connected and on when the Maiana stops sending data? the same?

How are you sharing the GPS data?

If the device is running at home, leave it on for a few days and confirm you can reproduce the issue.

I am quite sure the Maiana is OK and your problem could be on settings or on some interference with another device or even a power issue.

You already had an issue with the MacArthur power module and we sent you another one but the original was OK and we are still waiting for the second one that was retained at customs due to a wrong documentation. We do not know the source of the problem but it seems that you already fixed it. We can not send you another Maiana because production is discontinued so we need to make sure where the problem is and right now it does not look a hardware problem.

[mikekolling]

How do you know there is no data in serial port? what the signal k server says? any error there? are the LEDs flashing but no data in serial port? details please.

what devices are connected and on when the Maiana is working and what devices are connected and on when the Maiana stops sending data? the same?

How are you sharing the GPS data?

If the device is running at home, leave it on for a few days and confirm you can reproduce the issue.

I am quite sure the Maiana is OK and your problem could be on settings or on some interference with another device or even a power issue.

You already had an issue with the MacArthur power module and we sent you another one but the original was OK and we are still waiting for the second one that was retained at customs due to a wrong documentation. We do not know the source of the problem but it seems that you already fixed it. We can not send you another Maiana because production is discontinued so we need to make sure where the problem is and right now it does not look a hardware problem.

i spent 3 hours with chatgpt, working through several methods to try and monitor the serial port to see any traffic in or out. i can send you the transcript of the things tried but not on this forum as it is a lot of text. Even ChatGpt agreed that the Maiana is probable cause. 

On the sharing GPS Data, which i had to do to get home on the boat and have the position on my Raymarine C120 as the Maiana had failed, i used GPS Tether Server App and a SignalK data connection TCP Client, which worked a treat when i really needed it.

if you are 'quite sure', perhaps you could suggest some real world things to try ie monitoring scripts or code to actually do proper tests. You have the knowledge on this product and i would imagine could help more than chatgpt but i am struggling to get the help i need from you!  (You need to work on the way you deal with customers)

I am not sure what relevance my sending the power unit back to you with 'wrong documentation' - you didnt tell me what 'right documentation' was before i sent it.

I have a honours degree in Eletcronic Engineering and i am a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) - i am not an idiot - dont treat me like one.

This is a support forum, so support me with some actual things to try!

I have started the process of claiming Section 75 refund from Credit Card. It would be far easier if you accept the item for return for refund.

Mike

[Sailoog]

More tips to help to find the source of your problem:

- when you turn off the MacArthur HAT the Maiana stops getting power.
- when you are at port or anchorage the Maiana (or any AIS device) will send data by VHF only every 2-3 minutes.
- if you have not a GPS fix transmission by VHF stops.
- the signal k data browser will tell you exactly when Maiana last sent data.
- the signal k log will tell you if Maiana's serial port lost connection at any point