John100156
Well-Known Member
Can anyone explain this phenomenon?
Can a boat really talk............?
Can a boat really talk............?
Logging event in one minute?
- Thread starter John100156
- Start date
rickp
Well-Known Member
Whitelighter
Well-Known Member
Talk? Don't you mean 'nag'
Never mind nag, there have been times when they can be downright rude!
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that, John
BTW a belated congrats on your nd SWMBO's anniversary.
I would have suggested a later trip if I'd known before.
Jez / Rick
This is where we went
Ilas Columbrettes - about 45 miles out
The forecast (we thought) would be OK but when we got there it was too lumpy to stay.
And we had an uncomfortable run home as well - choppy sea on the nose.
Got back and Warlock arrived soon after with similar eperiences.
Tidnock
Well-Known Member
What do you mean, please?
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
I think that they are "getting at" my passage logging system.
Its actually a PC with a little Windows app that I wrote to collect NMEA information and "speak" it using Microsoft's SAPI speech system.
Actually, it really works for me - gives a really great focus for everyone on board - prompting everyone to keep good logs - they may actually make fun of it but really this is an important thing to do - a "willing helper" is better than a "pressed man" anyday.
here's an example - video clip
John100156
Well-Known Member
Yes I am!
I like to keep a complete Log on a trip but to be honest, I rarely do, often holes....
The system Mike developed for himself, speaks to you every 3 mins, stating that a 'logging event' will be announced in one minute, it then delivers Lat/Long/COG/SOG and then repeats the info. It compels you to write it down. Should something go wrong needing this info to be relayed to a rescue boat, even a novice crew could cope!
So Mike, thanks for the trip, Jenny Wren is a great boat and a great way to spend our 33rd Wedding anniversary!
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
A typo there, John - every 3 minutes would be hell!!!
Actually the time delay can be set but it defaults to 30 mins.
The software app runs on a standard Windows PC with any NMEA GPS feed so a cheap "mouse style" USB GPS on a laptop would work. To take full advantage of the speaking bit, the PC needs to be running Windows XP Pro or later versions (the MS SAPI - Sound Application Interface is used).
I could make it availabe for download if anyone is interested???
Mike
Nick_H
Well-Known Member
Sorry Mike, but that must be annoying as hell, especially in that drony american voice. It's like having a second wife to nag you! Surely the info is there on the screen in front of you when you need it? Clever "invention" for sure, but more Sinclair C5 than Dyson vacuum IMO
John100156
Well-Known Member
I know what you mean, the info is always there in front of you, but it changes as you record the data and sometimes on a bumpy trip when its probably needed the most, data is often missed. We had a very bumpy trip back to the marina, yet kept a complete log!
In fact, I have never had such a complete and accurate log and recording the spoken word just seemed so simple and much faster. Allowing better watch to be kept.
Mike, I would love a copy of this, please!
In fact, I have never had such a complete and accurate log and recording the spoken word just seemed so simple and much faster. Allowing better watch to be kept.
Mike, I would love a copy of this, please!
U4
Well-Known Member
I love it, it the coolest and most geeky thing that I have seen in ages.
So... How would I go about making this work on my boat?????
Please!
So... How would I go about making this work on my boat?????
Please!
I think that they are "getting at" my passage logging system.
Its actually a PC with a little Windows app that I wrote to collect NMEA information and "speak" it using Microsoft's SAPI speech system.
Actually, it really works for me - gives a really great focus for everyone on board - prompting everyone to keep good logs - they may actually make fun of it but really this is an important thing to do - a "willing helper" is better than a "pressed man" anyday.
here's an example - video clip
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
I'm out on the boat in Spain at the moment and the internet connection is a bit slow - too many Brits out here using it I think.
I will be back in the UK in about 3 weeks or so.
I will upload the prog to some webspace then an post a link to it on this forum.
In its simplest form all you will need is a laptop PC with windows XP or later and a GPS feed which could simply be a thirty quidish USB GPS Mouse - easily found on Ebay.
Mine's a bit more sophistacted in that it is an inbuilt PC that displays on my Raymarine displays.
In fact, the logging application doesnt need any display once it us running because it "speaks" everything that you would ever want to know.
djefabs
Well-Known Member
Mike, I can't wait to download this !!!!!!!
Wiggo
Well-Known Member
So why not just record the audio stream as an mp3 file along with lat/long NMEA data and anything else you pull from CANBUS? You could repackage your PC in a rugged orange box and have your very own FDR. Add a flybridge mic for a DIY CVR as well...
Actually, why not add one of these: http://www.thebarcodewarehouse.co.uk/Products/star-micronics-tsp100-series.aspx - then you don't need to write anything down, and if the electronics all goes into Thick Grey Smoke mode, you still have the hard copy log.
Actually, why not add one of these: http://www.thebarcodewarehouse.co.uk/Products/star-micronics-tsp100-series.aspx - then you don't need to write anything down, and if the electronics all goes into Thick Grey Smoke mode, you still have the hard copy log.
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Nick_H
Well-Known Member
Much better idea (IMO), but not sure why you need to convert to audio then store as MP3 file, or even create a barcode, just get the PC to print out the info onto a roll printer. Without the annoying voice you could then have a hard copy of course and position info every 10 mins, which, as you say, you could use if all the smoke escapes from inside the plotter.
John100156
Well-Known Member
Hold on, who on earth am I going to have a conversation with on a long single handed run, if the voice is done away with?
I like the idea of recording log data on a pre-prepared paper sheet, I can then add comments such as vessels seen, engine performance, etc, etc, which only takes a few seconds to jot down, but would take longer to type in!
I reckon Mike should charge £5 for every download, with the proceeds going to the RNLI or 'Help John buy a Squadron 43 fund'.....
Wiggo
Well-Known Member
Mostly, Nick, because I only thought about the printer bit after I'd already typed the rest of the (slightly tongue in cheek) reply...
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Mostly, Nick, because I only thought about the printer bit after I'd already typed the rest of the (slightly tongue in cheek) reply...
Actually, Graham, I did think about a printer - I believe jfm uses a Navtex printer to do exactly this - on his old boat anyway.
But you have to remember that I'm a tight ?astard and this solution is just a little bit of software that actually doesnt cost anything.
Another point on your "toungue in cheek" comment was that why store a complicated mp3 file when you actually have the data from the NMEA anyway so writing a simple ASCII file would be much easier - but certainly not as much fun.
On a more serious note, the action of picking up a pencil and hand writing the log down forces the crew into a discipline. You know the guys that came with me to Malta and back - I needed something to focus their minds on the passage so that theycould continue fascinating conversations. In fact, as Rickp wrote in the MBY write up, a call on the VHF just off the Tunisia coast was calling a boat by reffering to its lat long speed and direction. We had just done one of our logs and it was clear almost immediatly that they were trying to contact us.
Anyway, a bit of fun has turned out to be a really useful thing to have on passages. Its a pain in the arse (am I allowed to say arse) for short trips.
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Wiggo
Well-Known Member
Because it's intellectually challenging, that's why! And you could use it to help a visually impaired watchkeeper.
djefabs
Well-Known Member
Mike, I think that after long and hard negotiation i was able to establish that it was perfectly OK to say arse.
