So what setup are you all using for OpenCPN.

Ceirwan said:
Well doing some digging today I discovered that its possible to get a USB powered monitor.

For example this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MB169B-15-...467325861&sr=8-2&keywords=usb+powered+monitor

Only draws 5w of power and is ran from the USB port of the computer, the response time suffers a touch apparently, but for chart plotting it could be ideal.
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I have been using an Asus MB169B+ at the chart table since beginning of last season. ( See post #17). It works fine from either the USB 2 or USB 3 ports on the Dell Latitude. The response time when running OpenCPN and other nav applications is not an issue.
I did run a small bead of silicon under the bezel in an attempt to protect from inevitable drips landing on chart table. One other issue was the micro USB3 connector on the side. It does need taping in every time to stop boat movement and weight of cable shaking it out.
 
I tired OpenCPN and liked it very much. The main problem is that I sail in the Baltic, and there are no charts available that I can use [currently I use PC Plotter with a Navionics cartridge].

Any suggestions?
 
I have been chatting in another thread here about a chartplotter idea I had. http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?371261-Hard-wiring-nmea-0183-to-android-tablet

I am relatively new to the marine electronics realm, but I am inheriting the problems that came with my wife
:cool:

She (now we) has a 2001 Bayliner 2655 Ciera purchased in Virginia (we are on the west coast of USA in the Columbia River), with an old Garmin nav chart plotter (the obsolete, difficult-to-find card to update our charts with modern, local charts is a significant portion of the cost of a new chart plotter), and a Standard Horizon GX1500S marine VHF radio. Our stereo system is a standard car stereo installed inside the cabin with a bluetooth remote control. Two problems have cropped up.

1. The USB port on the stereo system (although designed for use with iPods) doesn't work correctly with her iPhone which she uses primarily for music content, storage, and streaming audio
2. Our marine VHF radio just crapped out on us this weekend. It appears to be a problem with squelch where the SQL circuit is turned up all the way, not allowing any audio to the speaker, and it's not responding to the controls to turn squelch limiting down

So I have resolved to replace some gear with something more modern, feature rich, and integrated.

I am considering a dash-mount Android-based (5.1 Lollipop) car stereo system at the pilot station: GA6153W Android 5.1.1 Quad-Core 8″ Multimedia Car GPS with Mutual Control EasyConnection (Without DVD Function) http://www.eonon.com/Android-Car-GPS/Vehicle-Specific-GPS/GA6153W.html ($289-$319)

This has an integrated GPS receiver/antenna, digital AM/FM radio, both WiFi and Bluetooth integrated comms/remote control for use with iPhone and Android phones/tablets, updates to the Android system itself, and access to the Android app store for adding functionality. 8" touchscreen display, native support for all common video formats, support for a variety of navigational applications, audio/video inputs and outputs for multiple mirrored displays (think main dash plus backseats of a minivan, or cockpit and cabin), microphone jack, phone/tablet bluetooth tethering for remote control of the radio and other functions, integrated WiFi for OS updates, media transfer, and even use as a WiFi hub for guests (if I add a 4G gateway, which wouldn't be hard), lots of other features. Even without setting up integration to the VHF radio and AIS it's a pretty neat solution for a small boat like ours, I think. We only boat on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, with our single small block V8 gas engine we don't cross the bar on the Columbia. This boat has never been in the salt and we'll probably keep it that way.

Because it is not a marine grade system, I would add a splash cover such as: Maxomation Motorparts Double Din Splash Guard ($149.99) http://europeantoysstore.com/produc...ver-double-din-for-motorcycles-cars-boats-and

The specific naivgation/chart plotter app would be OpenCPN for Android. I've decided I am going to try to get our Standard Horizon replaced. But I plan on something with a similar feature set to include AIS, DSC, and Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI). Probably the SH GX2200.

I was reading about the ShipModul multiplexor with USB output. The Android multimedia box I'm looking at accepts USB inputs (two whips) so I'm thinking one with a covered bulkhead fitting for external flash drive and one for a USB hub behind the cockpit panel to accept output from the ShipModul for CAN Bus info (probably NMEA 2000/N2k since that seems to be the latest standard, but if there's no support for it in OpenCPN I'm not sure. More research, I suppose.) We have all analog gauges currently (ba dump), but when I was researching adding a fuel flow meter, it sure seems I could benefit from a CAN Bus for adding some more info to our cockpit. The gear lube low level alarm, engine overtemp alarm, engine stall alarm, basically anything wrong is exactly the same piercing sound, which doesn't help much with troubleshooting quickly. I'm already looking into replacing some switches and gauges on the cockpit panel anyway, due to some lights out and generally worn condition.

I'm also an Amateur Radio operator (KF7PCW) so I'm interested in nerdy options that integrate with Ham radio too.

We're a power boat so less of a problem with our amp budget than most of you lot. We keep a Honda i2000 on board for powering appliances (microwave, TV, hotpot) while anchored out, we even have a solution for strapping it to the swim platform while under way, and we can use it for emergency charging of batteries should we be so foolish as to run them down too far to start.
 
Used a laptop on the chart table for a few years but recently changed to a Pipo X10 to save space and power. Running Opencpn with the visit my harbour charts and fed from the AIS transponder. Does a very good job for not much money. I use a mouse in preference to the touch screen but that's just a personal preference.

http://www.pipo-store.com/pipo-x10-tv-box.html
 
TSB240 said:
I have Navmon PC and Open CPN plus VMH charts and CM93 running on a Pipo X9 .

The X9 is basically a TV Box /Tablet without a battery but has great usb, wifi and bluetooth interconnectivity) runs directly off 12v.

On black screen stand by (with open cpn operating in back ground uses less than 0.3 amps.) In use the X9 uses a max observed current of 1.25 amps.

Easily Interconnected with boat instrumentation by USB to serial converters Wind, Depth, Speed,GPS and AIS, Autopilot and repeating via wifi to mobile phone or tablet in cockpit if required.(NB phone or tablet power consumption can be much higher with internal gps running),

It can be plugged in to a dedicated Avtex 12v TV/DVD by HDMI connection giving a 24" plotter screen at the chart table.

The Avtex tv uses less than 1 w on standby and probably about 2.5 amps in use.

This compares with the Icom Radio which uses up to 5.5 amps on Tx or 1.5A on Standby.

Probably one of the lowest power and lowest cost plug and play option Boat Computer/ entertainment Centre/e mail storage /music storage/ Photo storage etc.

for Non Geeks.
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Sounds amazing! Do you have Radar running as well? I know the new broadband radar systems use a network cable to send signals and can be overlayed into OpenCPN

Do you wifi to a tablet often? can you still control the screen from the tablet or is it just for viewing? Also does that increase power draw?

The PiPo is very reasonably priced and looks slick to boot.

Thanks for sharing this setup.. strongly considering it!
 
My OpenCPN setup was driven by a few factors:

I had a couple of Gigabyte Brix N2807 (Celeron, 12v) mini PCs kicking around
My wife wants to be able to watch TV at anchor / in a marina
I already had VMH chart download (hence windows required)
I want a certain level of info in the cockpit
There is no way I would want to rely on any Microsoft product if things are going wrong.

So the solution:

Cockpit mounted Garmin GPS158. Built in GPS Antenna and although not a plotter gives me enough info in the cockpit. Provides GPS over NMEA 0183 to the PC and the VHF. So if I ever have to hit the distress button Microsoft are not involved. Routes & Waypoints can be sent to the GPS.
NMEA 0183 from the Log & Wind instruments
Interface box built to provide 5 serial ports to 1 USB port using CH340 USB to TTL adapters and Max 232 TTL to RS232 adapters.
Aforementioned Gigabyte Brix mini PC with SSD & 4Gb RAM. Windows 10 & OpenCPN.
Cello 15.6" TV / DVD player acting as VGA monitor at 1366 x 768
I did want to add a Digital Yacht AIT1500 AIS transceiver, however (surprise surprise) I'm discovering that this boating business can be a bit expensive. The budget was getting a bit tight, so I've bought the Quark dual channel receiver for this year connected to a pushpit mount antenna, which will double as an emergency VHF antenna if required.

It all works as it should. The PC is a bit slow, but perfectly adequate, & obviously doubles up to provide all the other PC functions. As has been discussed elsewhere the Cello TV is not the greatest but again, perfectly adequate.

The TV claimed 1.15A. It came with a 12v 5A regulated PSU. The PC ran originally of a 2.5A supply, so I run the whole lot off of the TV's PSU. Once I had it all working I put an ammeter in the line and started checking. Very pleased with the results

TV only 800mA (I expect this to go up if a DVD was playing)
TV & PC 1.15A
TV & PC CPU loaded up 1.3A
Instruments all on, VHF on standby, no illumination on instruments 600mA

So the whole lot should consume about 2A, with the odd spike from the VHF

This is intended for cruising from the Solent to Lyme bay with the odd Cherbourg / Channel islands trip. I agree with what was said about needing something in the cockpit but am happy with the GPS158
DSC_0204.jpg
 
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I use two systems: a Raspberyy Pi3 with Open CPN and CM93 plus an old Notepad running stripped down Windows andOpen CPN with VMH. Both have separate access to GPS and AIS.

The Notepad used to run for about 2-3 hours off power but the battery now struggles to boot it up! (Note to self)
 
On a budget I think a tablet with navionics is probably the best their is now. The tablet can be put in a waterproof cover and easily mounted. Even had it like this on my kayak for a while. Navionics is kept upto date better than raster charts too.
 
Tammany said:
On a budget I think a tablet with navionics is probably the best their is now. The tablet can be put in a waterproof cover and easily mounted. Even had it like this on my kayak for a while. Navionics is kept upto date better than raster charts too.
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I found running both opencpn with cm93 charts and navionics worked well, especially if you have ais over wifi - the opencpn ais display is excellent.

Word on the street is UK charts for opencpn could be imminent ...


http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f134/opencpn-on-raspberry-pi-problem-180681.html#post2334431

attachment.php
 
mattonthesea said:
I use two systems: a Raspberyy Pi3 with Open CPN and CM93 plus an old Notepad running stripped down Windows andOpen CPN with VMH. Both have separate access to GPS and AIS.

The Notepad used to run for about 2-3 hours off power but the battery now struggles to boot it up! (Note to self)
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I have a raspberry 3. With open plotter opencpn. How do you get uk charts on to it please. aah i should have read the post above
 
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PaulRainbow said:
They are already available from Visit My Harbour.
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Exactly. Bought them a month ago. Running on a Windows 10 tablet. They finally saw sense and you don't need a dongle any more.

I use a USB link most of the time (bought a teak holder for the tablet and mounted it at the chart table) but can use WiFi if I want to take it out to the cockpit.
 
PaulRainbow said:
They are already available from Visit My Harbour.
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Only on Windows unfortunately, and only as raster I think.

What's on the way by the looks of it is licensed charts which will run on a Raspberry Pi

Will come with 4.6 an is tested for RasPi
Licensed charts.
Click to expand...

The data sets come from UKHO/Admiralty
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GHA said:
Only on Windows unfortunately, and only as raster I think.

What's on the way by the looks of it is licensed charts which will run on a Raspberry Pi
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Yes, Windows and raster only, can't understand why VMF chose to only support MX Mariner on Android, rather than OpenCPN. That said, i tried the free "unofficial" Android OpenCPN but it was as slow as hell. A Vector option would be nice.

I've put Transas iSailor on my tablet and it seems to work really well. The app was free but i had to pay about £30 for the charts and another £9.50 for AIS to work. Some of the features that are available on iOS are missing in the Android version, but overall it seems pretty decent.
 
Joker said:
It would be nice if we could get OpenCPN to run with Navionics.
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I asked about this on the Navionics stand at the London Boat Show and got a really strong brush-off, not the usual helpful Navionics attitude at all. I thought about it and decided they are trying hard not to upset the makers of chartplotters which are really their main market in the marine sector at the moment. It seems to me that when OpenCPN has access to the usual charts that leisure boaters use the market for chartplotters is going to shrink, possibly significantly.
affinite said:
I have a number of old BSB charts from Maptech days but I prefer Vector charts and have purchased a small folio of S63 ENCs from Chartworld for my current cruising area.
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I appreciate I am quoting from an old post but while investigating Chartworld I discovered they don't seem to allow you to buy their charts unless you have an approved ECDIS which OpenCPN on a PC definitely isn't! - see this quote: We ask you to enter the S63 ENC User Permit and/or the Hardware ID How do leisure sailors buy Chartworld vector charts?
 
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