Remote Cockpit Display

[TSB240]

Looking for good repeater display.

Back Ground

I am currently using one of these as a fanless "Boat Computer" for both Navigation and Media. The boat instruments , GPS and AIS are all connected by serial to USB converter.

http://www.banggood.com/PIPO-X7-Min...-Atom-Z3736F-2_16GHz-Windows8_1-p-964796.html

I am very happily running all my basic needs for Connected info like E mails Web Browsing TV player music via wifi.

I am using this in conjunction with an Avtex 12 v tv. (A PC screen is not required)

In the main it runs at an average of 3.6W with a peak draw of 6w directly off the boats 12v supply. It will continue to run in the background with either the TV on stand-by or turned off.

I have trialed using a Hudl as a remote screen to both View and Control the computer from the cockpit with a degree of success. I am not happy with the screen size or using a touch screen non waterproof tablet for this job.

I am looking for a remote 10" or more display that is: Waterproof,
Good in bright sunshine
Can be connected either wired (HDMI or possibly USB?) or by wifi to the boat computer.
It does not have to be touch screen.
(I have the option using a bluetooth mouseboard for control)
Can be either Cockpit Bulkhead or Ram mounted under spray hood
Reasonably Priced
Any recommendations appreciated.....

 

[rogerthebodger]

I am using a car DVD player rear seat screen that I put in a waterproof box. The input is video so I used a VGA to video converter from ebay. It works fine unit a little small at 7", I am looking at a 10' that I will try to fit in a waterproof box when I have time.

 

[Adethefridge]

Can I ask what navigation software you are using? As I am trying to do the same thing, mini computer, TV as monitor , tablet as second monitor at the helm, I would be very interested in hearing more about your setup....

 

[Strolls]

If you want 10" and water-resistant then the Sony Xperia is the widely-recommended tablet.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?427622-Tablet-for-navigation-what-works

Don't know about daylight viewability - I imagine phones and tablets are improving steadily, but I doubt a desktop PC monitor would be better.

I'm sure I've read that nothing beats an actual chartplotter for daylight viewing, and this is an area in which chartplotter manufacturers are using exceptionally good screens.

IMO you shouldn't be running email / web-browsing on a PC you use for navigation. Actual risk is probably low, but it's still an unnecessary one; a bug may well lose you time on the water, though.

 

[bitbaltic]

I am currently using one of these as a fanless "Boat Computer" for both Navigation and Media. The boat instruments , GPS and AIS are all connected by serial to USB converter.

http://www.banggood.com/PIPO-X7-Min...-Atom-Z3736F-2_16GHz-Windows8_1-p-964796.html

I am very happily running all my basic needs for Connected info like E mails Web Browsing TV player music via wifi.

I am using this in conjunction with an Avtex 12 v tv. (A PC screen is not required)

In the main it runs at an average of 3.6W with a peak draw of 6w directly off the boats 12v supply. It will continue to run in the background with either the TV on stand-by or turned off.

Not got any input to the monitor question but I've just ordered a similar mini pc which I will connect to a 12v computer monitor I got from fleabay (for a tenner!). 3-6W for the computer sounds excellent, hopefully I will get similar. Can I ask, what sort of current does the Avtex draw when used just to display nav data? My monitor is 17inch, which is nice, but draws around 2 amps, so I am wondering if that can be improved. Mind you if I get the tiny sort of ampage you are getting from the mini pc then the overall load isn't too much to worry about.

Cheers

 

[rogerthebodger]

Can I ask what navigation software you are using? As I am trying to do the same thing, mini computer, TV as monitor , tablet as second monitor at the helm, I would be very interested in hearing more about your setup....

I am using OpenCPN and Navmonpc to collect all inputs and feed them to OpenCPN.
inputs from

1) Simrad instruments
2) NASA AIS
3) GPS USB mouse
4) Standard horizon GX 2000 GSC messages in to OpenCPN
inputs to GX2000 also from NASA AIS (parallel connections) and RS232 GPS mouse
5) Secondary GPS from old Simrad plotter.
6) YAPP crew watcher with GPS input paralleled from RS232 GPS mouse

Cordless mouse and keyboard at inside nav station
Nav station display Telefunken 17" LED TV with inputs selectable VGA, Video, S video and normal TV, Video used for Satellite TV.
Cockpit display is 7" Car DVD display mounted in a stainless steel water proof box purpose made.
Car DVD is Video input so used VGA to video converter from E Bay

All items powered direct from 12 VDC , TV/monitor, Mini ITX computer, and Sat TV decoder.