YAPP production line - view from the factory floor

Norman_E,
If I may be a little pedantic, SeaTalk is not realy NMEA with a different cable. NMEA transmits ASCII text strings across a backbone as you rightly say. Simple applications like Windows HyperTerminal can see and record the strings. SeaTalk is different - it is a binary transmission, using a proprietry protocol, and it needs a a small elctronics circuit between the instrument and a non-SeaTalk device (eg a PC or NMEA) to invert the voltages. Angus' YAPP contains the elctronics and does the conversion of SeaTalk binary to a visable output. I've spent months on this and if you look at post #47 on the thread below you'll detect my glee:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?278332-YAPP-Homemade-Seatalk-to-USB-interface

Thomas Knauf gives the best description I've seen: http://www.thomasknauf.de/seatalk.htm

There a several commercial SeaTalk to NMEA converters costing many times Angus'. I've found Fank Wallenwein at:

http://www.gadgetpool.de/nuke/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=28
to be extremly helpful.

But if you want to make it yourself then Angus' YAPP is the way to go.
Cheers,
Andrew
 
Lazy Kipper said:
I've sent a pm requesting one, let me know a PayPal address, it's just the thing for our remote nav area, is the data selectable? We don't have Seatalk wind or depth, but perfect for autopilot heading, COG, speed and TTG.
Click to expand...

Data not selectable, just slowly scrolls up. Doesn't do TTG at the moment. Looking at Thomas' page TTG is not transmitted. However distance to waypoint and SOG are, so I could calculate it and replace one of the lines for you.
 
Had a brief conversation with Angus today to report back that a test run had gone well. I'm now after a permanent install and wondered whether anybody who'd obtained a Yapp had found a suitable ie good looking, project box to install it in?

Anybody?
 
AngusMcDoon said:
Data not selectable, just slowly scrolls up. Doesn't do TTG at the moment. Looking at Thomas' page TTG is not transmitted. However distance to waypoint and SOG are, so I could calculate it and replace one of the lines for you.
Click to expand...

Now does TTG to waypoint and displays it instead of sea temperature in the special Lazy Kipper software version. It calculates VMG to waypoint and works it out from that.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
Now does TTG to waypoint and displays it instead of sea temperature in the special Lazy Kipper software version. It calculates VMG to waypoint and works it out from that.
Click to expand...

Version LK1 sounds good, version LK2 would disable all wind data as I have a cheapy Tacktick that doesn't export NMEA and therefore doesn't go into the Seatalk string.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
Or the living room floor to be more precise...

sdc11703h.jpg




All 10 fired up first time with no rework required despite my shaky soldering, which is a vastly better production yield than many of the places I have worked.

.
Click to expand...

Unless my eyesight is getting as bad as my hearing, there are only 9 units in the picture. Trying a fast one on us?
 
The first one had a day's test on board connected to a real Seatalk network with live data from the boat going round a course and heading towards waypoints at sea for a full software verification.

Once the software was verified subsequent ones had a hardware test with a single Seatalk message type coming from a Seatalk simulator black box on my living room floor. There was no need to do sea trials on all of them again.

This is the same as what the big manufacturers do - a prototype will be fully tested at sea, but production ones will have a quick factory test to ensure each one has been built properly.
 
Many thanks to Angus and his production/dispatch team. The YAPP arrived last Wednesday (one week UK to Aus) and worked straight out of the box (not that I could have done much if it hadn't)!
Has anyone found a good-looking box to do justice to Angus' handywork?
Regards, Andrew.
 
Jabamusic said:
This is the biggest issue now for me too. It works brilliantly, but I disparately need something to install it into.
Click to expand...

Not had chance to fit it yet....
SWMBO decided after we had a bigger boat we had to get a bigger house, well what we had before you could not even call a house (technically it was is smaller than boat).

Poor boat is not gettign the love it should :(
 
I have now fitted mine. I sent the text below to AngusMcDoon - he suggested others may find it of interest.



In answer to the question many posters have been asking, namely in what can I house it, the answer I have used is as follows;

Take a plastic box that business cards are supplied in and very carefully with a sharp craft knife cut out a hole the same size as the display. Spray paint the lid to the colour of your choosing ( mine is matt black ). Mount the YAPP inside the box on some silicone. Mount the box in the desired location using double-sided tape. I have installed it so I can see the display from my berth ( no need even to lift my head off the pillow! ).

Hope that helps.
 
EdBeynon said:
Will this operate with sea talk NG
Click to expand...

No. Old fashioned Seatalk only. Seatalk NG is NMEA 2000, and NMEA won't let anyone do anything NMEA 2000 unless they buy the standard for big $$$. They have made it really difficult and expensive to get NMEA approval for a product which allows a manufacturer to label a product as NMEA 2000 compliant. That's why some big manufacturers don't use the "NMEA 2000" wording and call it something else instead, like SeatalkNG or Simnet.
 
Well its taken longer than I hoped to post this, but here it is........

[video]http://s121.photobucket.com/user/Pinnacle_photo/media/YAPP002.mp4.html[/video]
 
Pinnacle said:
Well its taken longer than I hoped to post this, but here it is........

[video]http://s121.photobucket.com/user/Pinnacle_photo/media/YAPP002.mp4.html[/video]
Click to expand...

Thank you for the update. That's a very neat installation. How did you cut the square cornered hole? And I couldn't quite catch what SWMBO is saying in the background - something like "What are you filming that thing for? Come and peel the spuds" :)
 
AngusMcDoon said:
Thank you for the update. That's a very neat installation. How did you cut the square cornered hole? And I couldn't quite catch what SWMBO is saying in the background - something like "What are you filming that thing for? Come and peel the spuds" :)
Click to expand...


Hole was cut with a standard Stanley knife ( with new blade ). You do need to take it easily though, as otherwise you will crack the plastic. How do I know this????? :rolleyes: I must say I am really pleased with them both.

Akshually, SWMBO's comment was more likely ["IN MY DREAMS" MODE - ON ] "Ok darling, I'm ready, come and get me! ". ["IN MY DREAMS" MODE - OFF ] :D:D:D
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top