Testing the GlobalStar Spot Messenger

[sinbad7]

Does anyone with C+++ capability have time and interest to create an OCPN plug-in to do the following:

1. Send a queery to Globalstar polling their database for stored SPOT data in .XML format.

2. Convert the .XML format to .GPX

3. Import this .GPX file into OCPN. (Possible at the moment using the Route Manager)

At the moment you first have to execute your standard SPOT account,organize the stored data and optionally download it as a .GPX file before you can import it to OCPN.

I was hoping that Globalstar SPOT in the future could provide a hard or bluetooth option to also make the I'm OK and Track data available to the laptop of the sending vessel,making the need for an extra GPS superflous.

Tore

[sinbad7]

The Globalstar SPOT 'Adventure' utility lacks the ability to display ALL the track information,showing just a red route line between the departure/destination points. The photos displayed in the adventure can be exported for use in Bungee.

I just came across a very useful external program called 'Bungee' which can use imported .GPX and .PLT files to reconstruct the track and also create a variety of methods to animate the imported track on a Google Earth map. Similar simulation to that found in Fugawi Marine ENC.

Would be great to have Bungee work also with OpenCPN 'real' charts.

Tore

[sinbad7]

I had hoped for more response from existing AIS network providers whom does not seem to realize the potential of the satellite based SPOT location system already covering most of the large oceans and popular cruising areas.

Each SPOT user interface can export their routes in several formats including .gpx and .kml which are directly compatible with OCPN but I was hoping that someone with programing skills would create a plugin to automatically poll the Globalstar SPOT database for the latest ship position without having to manually export the data from the SPOT user interface.

The collection of AIS data is totally dependent on the presence of shore stations and internet,SPOT is GPS/satellite base,uploading the data directly to a Globalstar satellite relaying the data to their land based servers making the data available over internet by polling.

There are presently thousands of SPOT users around the world and I am confident someone will soon wake up to the importance of this satellite based location system.

More info will follow as soon as there are further developments.

Tore

[sinbad7]

re my # 61.

I finally managed to convert the polled Globalstar SPOT .xml data into .nmea which should import directly into OpenCPN. See part of a long example of road trip Ubatuba-Sao Paulo below:

I think it can also be done using a command line. Perhaps someone could automate the polling as a plugIn?

<messageList>
<totalCount>
44
</totalCount>
<message>
<esn>
0-8099446
</esn>
<esnName>
Yachtmarine
</esnName>
<messageType>
TRACK
</messageType>
<timestamp>
2011-07-25T15:27:36.000Z
</timestamp>
<timeInGMTSecond>
1311607656
</timeInGMTSecond>
<latitude>
-23.56972
</latitude>
<longitude>
-46.61978
</longitude>
</message>
</messageList>

$GPRMC,125058.000,V,2326.630,S,04504.222,W,0.00,0. 00,301011,,*15
$GPGGA,125058.000,2326.630,S,04504.222,W,0,00,0.0, 0.000,M,0.0,M,,*6E
$GPVTG,0.000,T,0,M,0.000,N,0.000,K*50
$GPRMC,130018.000,V,2326.264,S,04505.699,W,9.04,28 5.11,301011,,*17
$GPGGA,130018.000,2326.264,S,04505.699,W,0,00,0.0, 0.000,M,0.0,M,,*6E
$GPVTG,285.113,T,0,M,9.037,N,16.737,K*65
$GPRMC,131018.000,V,2322.968,S,04507.218,W,21.51,3 37.07,301011,,*2F
$GPGGA,131018.000,2322.968,S,04507.218,W,0,00,0.0, 0.000,M,0.0,M,,*63
$GPVTG,337.066,T,0,M,21.510,N,39.836,K*57
$GPRMC,132019.000,V,2321.952,S,04507.520,W,6.32,34 4.72,301011,,*1D
$GPGGA,132019.000,2321.952,S,04507.520,W,0,00,0.0, 0.000,M,0.0,M,,*67
$GPVTG,344.724,T,0,M,6.323,N,11.709,K*68
$GPRMC,133019.000,V,2323.468,S,04510.312,W,17.90,2 39.36,301011,,*28
$GPGGA,133019.000,2323.468,S,04510.312,W,0,00,0.0, 0.000,M,0.0,M,,*61
$GPVTG,239.364,T,0,M,17.896,N,33.144,K*59
$GPRMC,134019.000,V,2321.355,S,04512.279,W,16.71,3 19.48,301011,,*2E
$GPGGA,134019.000,2321.355,S,04512.279,W,0,00,0.0, 0.000,M,0.0,M,,*63
$GPVTG,319.484,T,0,M,16.711,N,30.949,K*54
$GPRMC,135019.000,V,2318.512,S,04516.781,W,30.16,3 04.50,301011,,*26
$GPGGA,135019.000,2318.512,S,04516.781,W,0,00,0.0, 0.000,M,0.0,M,,*6B
$GPVTG,304.499,T,0,M,30.158,N,55.852,K*53
$GPRMC,140021.000,V,2312.830,S,04519.684,W,37.60,3 34.85,301011,,*2E

I used GPSBABEL.

Tore

[sinbad7]

RE MY #64

Here is the GPSBabel command line to convert Globalstar SPOT data in .xml format to NMEA 182 format:

gpsbabel -w -t -i gpx,logpoint -f D:/PROGRAM FILES/OpenCPN/GPX/SHAMMAH CRUISE-12NOV.xml -x track,course,speed -o nmea -F SHAMMAH-12NOV -o gpx -F C:/Users/BUTIKK~1/AppData/Local/Temp/qt_temp.xp8816

Should be possible to create a PlugIn to poll the Globalstar SPOT database at set intervals and convert to OCPN readable format using the above command line. Anybody up to it?

Tore

[sinbad7]

For those interested I have stored some SPOT test data in .xml .gpx and .nmea formats which can be downloaded from my GPX-KMZ-NMEA library:

4shared folder - GPX-KMZ-NMEA FILES

The test data is from a two day trip from Angra dos Reis to Paraty with the 60' charter yacht m.y. Shammah.

Tore