OpenCPN on a touchscreen / tablet

[Sticky Fingers]

Hi folks

As a recent convert to OpenCPN (by which I mean that I am still getting to grips with the basics...) I am now wondering about what to run it on that could be used aboard and in the pub. Laptop the obvious choice, it is highly portable but might be vulnerable, so I've been wondering about using a tablet device as an alternative.

No iOS version available as far as I can see, so that leaves Android, or Windows 10 tablets.

Anyone with experience of either like to share their views? What works best? Chart availability - is that a problem? Tablet GPS? Good enough? How to get AIS data onto the tablet?

BTW the cost of the tablet itself not a deciding factor, I'd buy whatever was best for the job.

 

[nrcoyle]

On my boat I have OpenCPN running on a Panasonic ToughPad FZ-G1, this is a pretty expensive tablet (they can sometimes be picked up cheap on ebay), but it is i5 spec and IP65 rated. This spec of machine runs openCPN very smoothly and I use the raster charts available from Visitmyharbour. On this tablet, when there is rain the touchscreen sometimes goes a bit mad and esponds to the water droplets and salt water can be even worse. In those conditions i usually switch off finger touch and use the stylus, which works reliably.

There are versions of the Toughpad with an external GPS module, mine does not have this but has one integrated with the phone module, it is pretty slow to pick up signal and requires some messing about with virtual serial pots to make it visible to opencpn. I therefore do not like to rely on that for the GPS.

All my array of old and mismatched instruments are fed through some custom designed circuits and microprocessors and ultimately into a raspberrypi hidden within the boat, this uses another software called Kplex to serve the NMEA and GPS data over wifi for the tablet.

Having said that I guess I am in the minority and ipads and android tablets are much more prevelent. I believe that there is a version of opencpn which is android compatible, although i no little about getting the NMEA or GPS into that version of opencpn.

Hope some of the above helps, happy to provide more details etc if you are interested.

neil

 

[GHA]

I use a Sony Xperia tablet, fantastic bit of kit. Opencpn for Android and cm93 charts. The o-charts.org aren't available for Android yet but apparently should be soon. Would probably mean buy 2 licenses but you might get away with using the backup key to unlock. Internal gps works OK, having ais is well worth the effort though if the tablet is the only ais display in the cockpit - the Opencpn ais view must be as good as it gets. Like the post above I use a Raspberry Pi, running openplotter which does a hundred and one things made available over wifi. Pulls about 0.3A with monitor turned off. You should be able to do the initial setup with a monitor at home then run it "headless" with no monitor.

 

[RichardS]

Similar to GHA, I run OpenCPN on my Sony Experia water-proof Android tablet using CM93 charts. I use it for AIS rather than navigation as I have Navionics on the same tablet which are current charts rather than 2012 charts, although CM93 could be used for navigation if you are aware of its limitations.

As GHA says, OpenCPN is an excellent AIS display so I only need the lowest level of detail shown on the charts. The tablet receives its AIS data from an XB8000 AIS transceiver although any wi-fi enabled AIS unit would do the same. The tablet also receives all the other NMEA data on the boat via the XB8000 so the tablet can also be used for wind display, depth display etc so it's a sort of portable cockpit display.

The Sony, like virtually all Android tablets, has built-in GPS which is very accurate. However, I usually turn this off to save battery and use the boat GPS data which is being broadcast over wifi by the XB8000.

Richard

 

[sarabande]

I use a Panasonic Toughbook as well, but I am struggling with the external GPS - a Garmin Etrex.


Can someone point me to a simple process for adding GPS to the OpenCPN please ? (I have the newest set of UK charts, thanks to GHA's advice.)

 

[steve62]

I had the same problem. I solved it by buying a gps dongle for the toughbook and then just linked my garmin to the radio.

 

[DJE]

I run it on a Pipe X10. Connected to the AIS transponder with a NMEA to USB cable. A mouse is much more accurate than the touchscreen for selecting AIS targets. Works fine with charts from Visit My Harbour.
http://www.pipo-store.com/pipo-x10-tv-box.html

 

[Mister E]

I also have a Toughbook computer the is also wireless linked to a tablet.
The whole thing was purchased from Londonchartplotters@yahoo.co.uk. The toughtbook has the dongle pluged into it.
They also sell Tablets on their own preloaded with Opencnn charts.

 

[lpdsn]

Windows 10 tablet mounted at the chart table and visible from the helm. Currently an 8" tablet but thinking of buying bigger. The holder can be adjusted.

I feed data to OpenCPN over USB from a ShipModul Miniplexer so combine 0183 & N2K sourced data. Took me a couple attempts to get power into the USB cable to power the tablet (as ShipModul end not powered) but managed that, so can now just plug the tablet into a USB port in the chart table to get power and data.

Running VMH charts. Don't seem to be able to dim them for night sailing though.

Edit: also have vYacht WiFi if I want to use the tablet in the cockpit, but I find I rarely use that.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

So, other than the Sony Xperia which seems from this small sample to be the leading contender, any other recommendations for a large screen (12") tablet?

Android or Windows? Tempted by Android really given the huge range of cheap / free apps available.

 

[Yngmar]

The current cockpit OpenCPN (there's another one running in parallel on a laptop at the nav station) is a Toshiba Satellite Click I got for cheap because it had a Spanish keyboard which nobody else in the UK wanted. That's a convertible or "rip-off", because you can rip the keyboard off (see below) and then have a tablet, but when you want to use keys and a touchpad (like when doing your passage plan) you can just click those back on. Mounted on the binnacle grabrail with a "Railblaza Starport" with tablet holder insert and USB charger. When it gets wet, a clear plastic bag goes over the whole shebang. Sunlight readability involves squinting or shading the display with one hand - I haven't found a good device to solve that problem yet. I tried a Panasonic CF-H1 Field for a while, which had a brighter display, but it was slow, big and clunky and had a useless resistive touchscreen.

The Toshiba currently runs Windows 10, because it seems to be the only desktop OS with acceptable touchscreen support. I'd much rather run Linux like on the laptop, but there's not even a properly working virtual keyboard there yet. Mobile OSes are out, because they're too restrictive and so are the apps on them, which leads to nothing but frustration.

 

[Mikedefieslife]

Feeling a little kinky I've decided to necro this thread.

Currently wondering how people are getting on with their tablet of choice for OpenCPN. I'm considering a tablet myself as obviously a Pi isn't up to scratch in terms of being a front end.

Android looks ideal in that tablets are cheap and plentiful and available to suit all levels of performance. The big issue is the architecture. Some of the best OpenCPN plugins are not available on android. Take radar for instance. The popular Navico radar plugin doesn't have an android port, I couldn't find weather routing either and a bunch of others.

For those that want those sort of plugins, all it leave is either a linux tablet (few and far between) or a windows tablet, most of which atom based and grossly underpowered.

 

[Yngmar]

We're still using the 10" Toshiba Windows tablet mentioned above. I have since DIY "ruggedized" it. This is surprisingly easy! If you look at most tablets, they're mostly already waterproof. The front is a continuous piece of glass, the back a continuous piece of plastic. Water can only get in at the edges where the two are joined, and the connectors. The only connector you need is the one supplying power. So I just took some 3M clear tape (the super strong stuff used for patching up sprayhood windows that boasts 6 months UV resistance) and taped it over the edges, with some creative solutions around the buttons to keep them functional. Squirt a bit of silicone grease into the USB charging port before plugging it in and water won't get in there either. We've used this in driving rain and spray so far and no signs of water ingress. We can no longer attach the optional keyboard, but haven't used it before either, so no loss. It's a bit ugly looking now, but I can live with that.

Screen readability turned out to be a non-issue as soon as we got into places where you have to sail with the bimini up anyways (or turn into a shriveled husk of cancerous skin).

There's also nice looking IP67 tablets of similar spec available from importers now, but they're around €500, while the Toshiba was much cheaper than that, so while that works we'll rather spend the money elsewhere.

It's still running Windows 10, but that doesn't really matter as long as you do not allow it to auto-update, which is where it usually shoots itself in the foot. Windows update servers are blocked at the router. It's a navigation device, not a entertainment one, so no websurfing and nothing much installed - you hardly interact with the OS at all.

I haven't really checked on progress of Linux desktops with regards to touchscreen support, but suspect not much has changed in a year and it's still woefully inadequate.

And as you rightly pointed out, for those who want to use all of OpenCPN's powerful features, Android isn't an option. Our old Raymarine radar is still limping along for now, but when it goes the Navico radar plugin with only a new dome seems to be the best option for us.

We upgraded our backup chartplotter this year, meaning my ancient iPhone 4S got replaced with a IP68 rugged phone with a massive battery inside (a Blackview BV9500 for , which I've nicknamed "the Brick"). This runs Navionics, and while in coastal waters we use it in parallel with OpenCPN, because the Sonarcharts have detail (mostly very accurate so far, but of course we're aware where the data comes from) where official charts have none. Still awaiting delivery of a mount big enough for the Brick.

 

[GHA]

Feeling a little kinky I've decided to necro this thread.

Currently wondering how people are getting on with their tablet of choice for OpenCPN. I'm considering a tablet myself as obviously a Pi isn't up to scratch in terms of being a front end.

Disagree there for sure, Openplotter on a Pi is rock solid, plenty fast enough to run opencpn even without the GL driver enabled, plus signalk just makes everything so easy & has much more than most of us will ever need. Must be easily the most comprehensive boat nav/monitoring all in one operating system around.

That said, a tablet makes loads of sense to get a monitor in the cockpit.

Some of the best OpenCPN plugins are not available on android. Take radar for instance. The popular Navico radar plugin doesn't have an android port, I couldn't find weather routing either and a bunch of others.

Plugins on the way >> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.opencpn.plugins_free
more to come apparently . http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f134/android-opencpn-paid-203997.html#post2737715
Pity it just crashed opencpn on my tablet , will work soon no doubt. (Edit - does now )
Very unlikely radar will ever work on a tablet, or probably asking too much of a Pi as well.

Back to the question "wondering how people are getting on with their tablet of choice for OpenCPN" - very well indeed The AIS display must be as good as anything out there. Pi sends all the data, having engine temp & battery V/A charts are handy as well just to keep an eye on tings now and again.

 

[LadyInBed]

I've played with Ocpn and CM93 since 2001. I don't use it as primary nav but for route planning and browsing around.
I run it on Win7 PC and Notepad, old Samsung tablet, Motorola phone and lately a onda (cheap Chinese) tablet. All work well except on the onda, but to be fair, I did get a compatibility warning when I downloaded it. I have to edit the config file to point it to the chart location.
No problems exporting/importing routes or connecting to my WiFi AIS. I'm not into Pi (trying to loose weight)
Note: on Android you tap and hold to bring up the 'rt click' menu.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I'm the OP.

After much buggering about I've given up with OpenCPN, gone for paid Navionics HD (about £40 / year) on a Samsung 10" tablet, using the web app on my Mac and PC (browsers).

 

[temptress]

We run opencpn on a Samsung tablet, a Xperia tablet, my smartphone and a pc. I have my instruments connected to a WiFi and get all the info including ais on opencpn. Tablets have become our main source of navigation these days. I don't have a plotter anymore and rarely use the pc for navigation.

Sailed 30k miles ussing this setup.

 

[mjcoon]

... into Pi (trying to loose weight)

I find my weight is getting a bit loose, too...

Mike.

 

[GHA]

I'm the OP.

After much buggering about I've given up with OpenCPN, gone for paid Navionics HD (about £40 / year) on a Samsung 10" tablet, using the web app on my Mac and PC (browsers).

Was that the free ancient version or the real version? (Something maison is the ancient version on the play store, not worth bothering with).

 

[RichardS]

I'm still using the free android OpenCPN on my waterproof Xperia tablet (installed long before it was even available on the Playstore) with free CM93 charts as an AIS display and it is excellent. I have all the text options etc turned off so it basically just displays the coastline and islands and refreshes really quickly which is all I need for AIS.

Richard