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[idpnd]

Originally Posted by gonesail

a question for the openCPN folks: is there a way to configure the display to show a different color for shallow water? thanks.

Negative sorry, the chart display scheme is fixed..

[Viking Sailor]

Originally Posted by gonesail

a question for the openCPN folks: is there a way to configure the display to show a different color for shallow water? thanks.

Yes you can for vector charts. Under the tool button -> vector charts tab there is a section for setting up the depth display.

Regards,

Paul

[gonesail]

yes vector charts .. i tried the shallow water setting but nothing happened. i did see the 6' depth line on the chart but no color change either.

[sf-robert]

I'm exploring the functions of OpenCPN, and belive I have installed the newest build/release (Version 1.3.5 Build 1118).

Ultimately I would like to connect the program to my existing Raymarine system via NMEA. For now, I'm playing with a Garmin GPSmap176, but cannot get OpenCPN to "see" the Garmin.

I have the Garmin serial+power cable. I am connecting the serial port of that cable to my Win XP pro system via a Radio Shack Serial/USB adapter.

It looks as if OpenCPN can see the com port. In one USB port it was Com9, and in another Com10. I've made a variety of settings on the Map176 system - NMEA and Text output at various baud rate. On the computer, I've adjusted the com port to 4800 baud.

Despite OpenCPN seeing the com port, it is not seeing the GPS. The block in the upper right remains red/rose in color.

I'm wondering if 1) it isn't going to work or 2) I need to make a patch to change the wiring of the serial connection or 3) do something else. After spending a couple hours on this, it seemed reasonable to ask those that might know.

Thanks in advance,
Robert

Wanderlust
Gulfstar 37
San Francisco

[dacust]

sf-robert,

Well, of the common problems, looks like you figured the hardest out: How to tell which com port.

Is the Garmin set to communicate via Garmin mode or MNEA? Must be NMEA for most nav packages, including OpenCPN.

-dan

[sf-robert]

I did have the Garmin set to NMEA and it defaults to 4800 baud. There are adjustments one can make in the hardware setup for baud rate of serial ports - I changed it to 4800 as well.

No connection.

Robert

[cagney]

There is a problem in OpenCPN with Garmin as they are using a proprietary protocol.
More in this post Beta Test / Technical

Thomas

[dacust]

Originally Posted by cagney

There is a problem in OpenCPN with Garmin as they are using a proprietary protocol.
More in this post Beta Test / Technical

Thomas

That problem is only for waypoints and routes. For just using the GPS to feed the position, if it is set to NMEA it should work fine.

[bdbcat]

sf-robert....

For simple NMEA data stream debugging, add the following to your opencpn.ini file:

[Settings]
DebugNMEA=1500


This will provide up to 1500 debug messages pertaining to NMEA traffic to the opencpn.log file.

Thanks
Dave

p.s. A little help amplifying and clarifying this idea for the tips file being developed elsewhere would be appreciated.

Dave

[sf-robert]

Dave,

Added the phrase to my ini file - had to do a quick search to see that it is located in the users application data folder.

Below is a part of the resulting log file. Didn't want to put it all here. Does any of this make sense to you? Are the two devices communicating? Looks like they may be. I can send more privately or in a post here if that might help.

Oh, I should mention that the GPS is in simulator mode as I can't get any signals in my home. If that's the issue - well I'll continue testing outside.


Robert

18:29:22: 2009-11-22 02:29:22 -------Starting opencpn-------
18:29:22: Using existing Config_File: C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\opencpn\opencpn.ini
18:29:22: Setting Viewpoint Lat/Lon 37.4686, -122.479
18:29:22: Using s57data in C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\s57data
18:29:22: Using Tide/Current data from: C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\tcdata\
18:29:22: Setting Viewpoint Lat/Lon 37.4686, -122.479
18:29:22: NMEA Data Source is....Serial:COM10
18:29:23: AIS Data Source is....None
18:29:23: Using WVSChart datafile: C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\wvsdata\wvs43.dat
18:29:23: NMEA AutoPilot Port is....None
18:29:23: OpenPD: 240, new_count = 1 for COM10
18:29:23: GPS Watchdog Timeout is: 6 sec.
18:29:23: NMEA timeout
18:29:23: NMEA timeout
18:29:23: NMEA timeout
18:29:23: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:23: Buffer is: $GPRMC,023640,V,3730
18:29:23: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:23: Buffer is: .1323,N,12228.9938,W
18:29:23: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:23: Buffer is: ,0.0,0.0,221109,15.0
18:29:23: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:23: Buffer is: ,E,S*36
$GPRMB,V,,,
18:29:23: NMEA Sentence received...$GPRMC,023640,V,3730.1323,N,12228.9938, W,0.0,0.0,221109,15.0,E,S*36

18:29:23: MEH.NMEA Sentence received...$GPRMC,023640,V,3730.1323,N,12228.9938, W,0.0,0.0,221109,15.0,E,S*36

18:29:23: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:23: Buffer is: ,,,,,,,,,A,S*0E
$GP
18:29:23: NMEA Sentence received...$GPRMB,V,,,,,,,,,,,,A,S*0E

18:29:23: MEH.NMEA Sentence received...$GPRMB,V,,,,,,,,,,,,A,S*0E

18:29:24: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:24: Buffer is: GGA,023640,3730.1323
18:29:24: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:24: Buffer is: ,N,12228.9938,W,8,11
18:29:24: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:24: Buffer is: ,2.0,23.2,M,-28.5,M,
18:29:24: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:24: Buffer is: ,*4D
$GPGSA,A,3,03,
18:29:24: NMEA Sentence received...$GPGGA,023640,3730.1323,N,12228.9938,W, 8,11,2.0,23.2,M,-28.5,M,,*4D

18:29:24: MEH.NMEA Sentence received...$GPGGA,023640,3730.1323,N,12228.9938,W, 8,11,2.0,23.2,M,-28.5,M,,*4D

18:29:24: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:24: Buffer is: 05,06,09,14,18,19,21
18:29:24: Initializing Chart C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\Charts\18680\18680_1.KAP
18:29:24: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:24: Buffer is: ,22,26,27,,3.6,2.0,3
18:29:24: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:24: Buffer is: .0*39
$GPGSV,3,1,11
18:29:24: NMEA Sentence received...$GPGSA,A,3,03,05,06,09,14,18,19,21,22,2 6,27,,3.6,2.0,3.0*39

18:29:24: MEH.NMEA Sentence received...$GPGSA,A,3,03,05,06,09,14,18,19,21,22,2 6,27,,3.6,2.0,3.0*39

18:29:24: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:24: Buffer is: ,03,45,280,46,05,53,
18:29:24: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:24: Buffer is: 042,48,06,52,269,48,
18:29:24: NMEA activity...20 bytes
18:29:24: Buffer is: 09,16,079,41*7D

[gmau]

Originally Posted by sf-robert

I'm exploring the functions of OpenCPN, and belive I have installed the newest build/release (Version 1.3.5 Build 1118).

Ultimately I would like to connect the program to my existing Raymarine system via NMEA. For now, I'm playing with a Garmin GPSmap176, but cannot get OpenCPN to "see" the Garmin.

I have the Garmin serial+power cable. I am connecting the serial port of that cable to my Win XP pro system via a Radio Shack Serial/USB adapter.

It looks as if OpenCPN can see the com port. In one USB port it was Com9, and in another Com10. I've made a variety of settings on the Map176 system - NMEA and Text output at various baud rate. On the computer, I've adjusted the com port to 4800 baud.

Despite OpenCPN seeing the com port, it is not seeing the GPS. The block in the upper right remains red/rose in color.

I'm wondering if 1) it isn't going to work or 2) I need to make a patch to change the wiring of the serial connection or 3) do something else. After spending a couple hours on this, it seemed reasonable to ask those that might know.

Thanks in advance,
Robert

Wanderlust
Gulfstar 37
San Francisco

Here is a short version of what I would do.

Verify the output of the Garman is nema 183 and going to pin 2 and pin 5 (gnd) of your computer.

Use HyperTerminal to verify nema 183 sentences are getting to XP.

End HyperTerminal and start OpenCPN. Make sure the Nema Data Source is configed correctly.

You should get a lat/Long in the Ship and some small reading in the SOG of the Status Bar. Another clue is the color of pale green background in the upper right window of the tool bar. The third is If you are stationary and your boat icon rotates
OpenCPN does not see anything. All it does is receive or transmit different kinds of nema 183 sentences.
Some Raymarine units will receive and translate nema to Seatalk to be passed on the seatalk bus to other units. An updated help file is at gmau.

Gordon

[bdbcat]

Robert....

Great job, perfect.

Here is the sentence that opencpn looks for:

 18:29:23: NMEA Sentence received...$GPRMC,023640,V,3730.1323,N,12228.9938,  W,0.0,0.0,221109,15.0,E,S*36

So, the hardware connection to the Garmin unit is good, and the port is found OK, and the data is coming in.

However, that little 'V' in '$GPRMC,023640,V,37...' tells us that the GPS signal is not valid. This must be due to the simulator mode. We are looking for 'A' in this field.

I suspect it will work OK outside with a clear sky view in normal mode.


Good Luck, and thanks for the feedback trace.
Dave

[bdbcat]

mbnelson.....

Any luck with trying a MAC build from the current CVS sources?

Dave

[sf-robert]

Dave,

Once I had the GPS under the open sky OpenCPN was happy to display my boat position!

I don't really think it's important, but wonder if a warning that an attached GPS is in simulation mode might be something to think about in a future release. I think this is the second time in all the years I've used a GPS where I put it in simulation mode, but the program indicating this status could be helpful.

Thank you again for your help.
Robert

Originally Posted by bdbcat

Robert....

Great job, perfect.

Here is the sentence that opencpn looks for:

 18:29:23: NMEA Sentence received...$GPRMC,023640,V,3730.1323,N,12228.9938,  W,0.0,0.0,221109,15.0,E,S*36

So, the hardware connection to the Garmin unit is good, and the port is found OK, and the data is coming in.

However, that little 'V' in '$GPRMC,023640,V,37...' tells us that the GPS signal is not valid. This must be due to the simulator mode. We are looking for 'A' in this field.

I suspect it will work OK outside with a clear sky view in normal mode.


Good Luck, and thanks for the feedback trace.
Dave

[bdbcat]

sf-robert....

Glad it works.

Unfortunately, we cannot determine that the GPS is in simulation mode. All we know from the 'V' is that the GPS receiver is signaling that the data are not accurate enough for navigation. So, opencpn shows the red bar,

Good Luck....
Dave