New rtlsdr Plugin

[seandepagnier]

I believe I made this clear in the readme and instructions, you must use a vhf antenna!

[rgleason]

Sean, you may have made it clear. What I do recall is you writing I needed a very busy harbor to get anything. I will get to one and hook up the VHF antenna.

This has been a very long arduous process for this particular computer!

Whenever I open Opencpn should I be getting this message?

Failed to open: C:\Program Files (x86)\Opencpn 3.3.2118\plugins\rtlsdr_pi\bin\rtl_fm -f 161975000 -p -98 -s 48k

Why can't it open rtl_fm.exe? The file exists in the directory. Also I have an ENV path to it and have tried without an ENV path. The error message still occurs every time I open Opencpn 3.3.2118?

Thanks.

[seandepagnier]

maybe double check the path, and try to execute the program from a command line to verify you can run it. Maybe you just don't have permission

[rgleason]

I am admin.

After loading Opencpn 3.3.2118 with rtlsdr_pi, I get the message above, but find that ftl_fm.exe has loaded when I check Task Manager. I have to close Opencpn and then have to End process rtl_fm.exe *32 in Task Manager

When there is no instance of rtl_fm.exe in the Task Manager, I can Run (cmd)
cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Opencpn 3.3.2118\plugins\rtlsdr_pi\bin
rtl_fm -f 161975000 -p -98 -s 48k
And my speakers start beeping fairly fast, and gibberish scrolls up in the command window. I have to End Process in the Task Window rtl_fm.exe *32 and then the command window is closed.

Is this normal?

If I try to run from any location other than
C:\Program Files (x86)\Opencpn 3.3.2118\plugins\rtlsdr_pi\bin
I get rtl_fm is not recognized as and internal or external command...
(with no path setting in ENV variable)

I check Task Manager, no rtl_fm. Then I start Opencpn and I get the failure message, I don't open the plugin rtlsdr_pi and immediately close Opencpn. Then I find that Task Manager shows rtl_fm! - so why is there a message? The program loaded! -Perhaps it did not run or something for some reason?

Even when I have a path in ENV

It acts the same way! It runs and starts beeping and I have to "End Task" in Task Manager. Then I start Opencpn and I get the same Failure message. I close Opencpn. I go to task manager and I see rtl_fm.exe *32 still in use. Which I "End Task" because if I do not rtl_fm will give an error the next time it is run!

Very finicky little program rtl_fm.

[seandepagnier]

Originally Posted by rgleason

I am admin.

After loading Opencpn 3.3.2118 with rtlsdr_pi, I get the message above, but find that ftl_fm.exe has loaded when I check Task Manager. I have to close Opencpn and then have to End process rtl_fm.exe *32 in Task Manager

When there is no instance of rtl_fm.exe in the Task Manager, I can Run (cmd)
cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Opencpn 3.3.2118\plugins\rtlsdr_pi\bin
rtl_fm -f 161975000 -p -98 -s 48k
And my speakers start beeping fairly fast, and gibberish scrolls up in the command window. I have to End Process in the Task Window rtl_fm.exe *32 and then the command window is closed.

Is this normal?

that means it's working

If I try to run from any location other than
C:\Program Files (x86)\Opencpn 3.3.2118\plugins\rtlsdr_pi\bin
I get rtl_fm is not recognized as and internal or external command...
(with no path setting in ENV variable)

check the required included dll files

I check Task Manager, no rtl_fm. Then I start Opencpn and I get the failure message, I don't open the plugin rtlsdr_pi and immediately close Opencpn. Then I find that Task Manager shows rtl_fm! - so why is there a message? The program loaded! -Perhaps it did not run or something for some reason?

Even when I have a path in ENV

It acts the same way! It runs and starts beeping and I have to "End Task" in Task Manager. Then I start Opencpn and I get the same Failure message. I close Opencpn. I go to task manager and I see rtl_fm.exe *32 still in use. Which I "End Task" because if I do not rtl_fm will give an error the next time it is run!

Very finicky little program rtl_fm.

yes, well it shouldn't require the path env to be set. I tried this on windows once and it worked for me, but I dont know why you have, but running two instances of rtl_fm won't work, so maybe that could be one problem case.

[rgleason]

Okay so, maybe Opencpn is running two instances of rtlsdr and that causes the Failure message? --Maybe opencpn tries to load rtl_fm twice when you open it?

Also when we close Opencpn the rtl_fm.exe still seems to reside in Task Manager Process list, should it be closed then?

Sorry about the pesky questions....

AIS transmission Channels
VHF Marine 87B 161.975 MHz = AIS Channel A
VHF Marine 88B 162.025 MHz= AIS Channel B.

I think I am going to build a High Gain Collinear Antenna for rtlsdr

See
Ais Receiving Station
AIS Aerial Performance Comparisons
High Gain Collinear AIS (162MHz) Receiving Aerial
PDF Instructions ---> http://nmearouter.com/docs/ais/aerial_mk1_technical.pdf
Could I put this in small diameter pvc tube with a cap without getting interference?
I could hoist into the rigging but mast might interfere. Any thoughts?

I suppose I could do a Slim Jim but it is not as good. http://nmearouter.com/docs/ais/slimjim.jpg

Later: http://nmearouter.com/docs/ais/radioexperimenter.html

[seandepagnier]

Originally Posted by rgleason

Okay so, maybe Opencpn is running two instances of rtlsdr and that causes the Failure message? --Maybe opencpn tries to load rtl_fm twice when you open it?

Also when we close Opencpn the rtl_fm.exe still seems to reside in Task Manager Process list, should it be closed then?

I think the external process handling must still be broken on windows. Ideally then this program could be compiled into opencpn instead and use a library for better handling.

[denverd0n]

If you can run it from the command line, but it will not run from OpenCPN, I have to wonder if OpenCPN is not executing in administrator mode. I would try right-clicking on the OpenCPN icon and then select "run as administrator." Grasping at straws, but maybe?

[LeoA]

I have installed the rtl-sdr plugin in OpenCPN 4.0 running on Debian Wheezy in an Android chroot environment. Rtl-sdr fails with the following message:

Executed: aisdecoder -h 127.0.0.1 -p 10110 -a file -c mono -d -f /dev/stdin
Can't open raw file for read

I tried running it as root user and got the same result.
Any one have suggestion for getting this working?

[LeoA]

I have managed to get rtlsdr/aisdecoder running in OpenCPN without errors. I made a script that will create the missing symlink, /dev/stdin whenever I start OpenCPN. It may not be the correct or most graceful way to do this , but it worked. Now I just have to get closer to marine traffic so I can tune it.

[LeoA]

This is on my Fujitsu ST5112 tablet that I use for navigation. Ubuntu 14.04 running OpenCPN 4.0.

Rtlsdr plugin works with rtl_fm/aisdecoder, but when I switch to ais_rx (gnuradio), I get the following error:
Executed: ais_rx -d -r 48000 -e 50
Usage: ais_rx [options]

ais_rx: error: no such option: -d

Tue 20 Jan 2015 07:11:18 PM CST: Execution failed

[seandepagnier]

This is from a new version of ais_rx which uses the new gnuradio and changed some options. I haven't had much luck with the new version, but if you can find a way to make it work from the console you should be able to fix the plugin.

[the_muck]

Hallo,
i try to use the OpenCPN Plugin on Windows 8 with an Terratec T Stick.

i installed rtlsdr_pi-0.12-ov4.0-win32. from here...
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post1242779

When i activate rtlsdr 0.12, i become a error massage:

Failed to open: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenCPN\plugins\rtlsdr_pi\bin\rtl_fm -f 161975000 -p -98 -s 48k

when i go to

C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenCPN\plugins\rtlsdr_pi\bin

and start

rtl_fm -f 161975000 -p 0 -s 48k

i become an error

Found 2 device(s):
0: , <***m, SN:
1: Realtek, RTL2838UHIDIR, SN: 00000001

Using device 0: Terratec T Stick PLUS
usb_open error -12
Failed to open rtlsdr device #0.

so i have to start with device 1

rtl_fm -d1 -f 161975000 -p 0 -s 48k

and it works. I think it is not possible to change the device in the settings?

Is this the problem for the error when i start OpenCPN?

best regards, Malte

[seandepagnier]

Thank you for the feedback. I will add the option to the plugin to specify the device index. For now, maybe you can change the source code and confirm it works?

[the_muck]

thanks for the fast answer, and sorry for my bad English.

I am not sure how i can change the source code .

I am not a programmer and never write programs for windows or Linux, just Arduino in C.

i have a look at your code... rtlsdr_pi.cpp

m_command1 = PATH() + wxString::Format(_T("rtl_fm -f 161975000 -p %d -s 48k")

i think i must change it to

m_command1 = PATH() + wxString::Format(_T("rtl_fm -d1 -f 161975000 -p 0 -s 48k")

return wxString::Format(_T("rtl_fm -d1 -r %dk -s %dk -f %.1fM"), samplerate, outputrate, frequency);

but i did not know how i can compile it