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22-04-2019, 17:45
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Edmonds, WA ... Mexico next !!!
Boat: Pacific Seacraft Orion
Posts: 34
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New to OCPN ... do I need B&G chart plotter if I want Radar only?
Hi all,
Completely new to OCPN so please excuse silly questions
I'm about to pull the trigger on a new Chart Plotter/Radar installation, so am wanting to fully understand OCPN capabilities/shortcomings before finalizing my decisions.
My ideal outcome is this: - Radar dome - B&G 4G (model 000-10423-001)
- Chart plotter - OCPN with add-ins as needed
The dilemma is this - do I need to buy the B&G Zeus3 with 4G dome combo (currently available as a bundle from many vendors) ... or ... do I buy the 4G dome ONLY, and use OCPN as the chart plotter, instrument display, radar/map overlay, etc? Radar dome alone is $1,000 bucks less than the combo, so I could use that to put together a pretty good OCPN platform.
So, the question IS - Will OCPN even accept the input from a B&G dome directly ... without the inter-mediation of a compatible chart plotter like the Zeus3?
Off topic - but another penny for your thoughts - I'm leaning towards B&G equipment because I'm a sailor. When last did you see a major contender in a notable race (Volvo, etc) that DOESN'T have B&G? It's made BY sailors ... FOR sailors. What's your view?
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22-04-2019, 18:05
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Tierra del Fuego
Boat: Phantom 19
Posts: 6,197
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Re: New to OCPN ... do I need B&G chart plotter if I want Radar only?
Quote:
Originally Posted by DominoX
Hi all,
Completely new to OCPN so please excuse silly questions
I'm about to pull the trigger on a new Chart Plotter/Radar installation, so am wanting to fully understand OCPN capabilities/shortcomings before finalizing my decisions.
My ideal outcome is this: - Radar dome - B&G 4G (model 000-10423-001)
- Chart plotter - OCPN with add-ins as needed
The dilemma is this - do I need to buy the B&G Zeus3 with 4G dome combo (currently available as a bundle from many vendors) ... or ... do I buy the 4G dome ONLY, and use OCPN as the chart plotter, instrument display, radar/map overlay, etc? Radar dome alone is $1,000 bucks less than the combo, so I could use that to put together a pretty good OCPN platform.
So, the question IS - Will OCPN even accept the input from a B&G dome directly ... without the inter-mediation of a compatible chart plotter like the Zeus3?
Off topic - but another penny for your thoughts - I'm leaning towards B&G equipment because I'm a sailor. When last did you see a major contender in a notable race (Volvo, etc) that DOESN'T have B&G? It's made BY sailors ... FOR sailors. What's your view?
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The only "B&G" thing on that radome is the logo, otherwise it is exactly the same thing as all the other Navico brands (Lowrance, Simrad) sell.
You do not need the plotter to use it.
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22-04-2019, 22:01
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Germany, sailing: Northsea
Boat: Friendship 28
Posts: 244
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Re: New to OCPN ... do I need B&G chart plotter if I want Radar only?
Hi,
I use a Navico (Simrad) 3g broadband with a raspberry pi and opencpn and the radarplugin. Works great under OC 4.8.8, under OC 5.0 too (only two minior issues).
So you can go for it.
As Nohal wrote: B&G -> Marketing gag.
Lowrance, Simrad, B&G are the same under the plastic dome
Regards
Andreas
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23-04-2019, 13:25
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Edmonds, WA ... Mexico next !!!
Boat: Pacific Seacraft Orion
Posts: 34
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Re: New to OCPN ... do I need B&G chart plotter if I want Radar only?
Thanks Håkan and others. The links are really helpful
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24-04-2019, 12:00
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#6
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Post Falls, ID
Boat: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 45
Posts: 399
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Re: New to OCPN ... do I need B&G chart plotter if I want Radar only?
Quote:
Originally Posted by DominoX
Hi all,
Completely new to OCPN so please excuse silly questions
I'm about to pull the trigger on a new Chart Plotter/Radar installation, so am wanting to fully understand OCPN capabilities/shortcomings before finalizing my decisions.
My ideal outcome is this: - Radar dome - B&G 4G (model 000-10423-001)
- Chart plotter - OCPN with add-ins as needed
The dilemma is this - do I need to buy the B&G Zeus3 with 4G dome combo (currently available as a bundle from many vendors) ... or ... do I buy the 4G dome ONLY, and use OCPN as the chart plotter, instrument display, radar/map overlay, etc? Radar dome alone is $1,000 bucks less than the combo, so I could use that to put together a pretty good OCPN platform.
So, the question IS - Will OCPN even accept the input from a B&G dome directly ... without the inter-mediation of a compatible chart plotter like the Zeus3?
Off topic - but another penny for your thoughts - I'm leaning towards B&G equipment because I'm a sailor. When last did you see a major contender in a notable race (Volvo, etc) that DOESN'T have B&G? It's made BY sailors ... FOR sailors. What's your view?
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As others have already answered, you'd don't *need* an MFD for the Radar with OCPN. However you may want one.. First, why not buy the cheaper Vulcan7R with the 4G radar.. You don't need a Zeus3. An MFD gives you the ability to do firmware updates on the other B&G equipment you may have in your network (instruments, radar, etc). It's also waterproof and rugged, ideal for a helm mounted display which is not something an iPad, PC, Phone, Android Tab, etc is particularly good at. I love having OCPN, Navionics, phones, tablets, etc on the boat, in the network, but I would not personally go without a dedicated, IPX rated, hardwired, display at the helm.
__________________
Richard Anderson | Owner: Sea-Tech.com, DocksideRadio.com, KISS-SSB.com | Offshore and Marine Communications and Networking Expert, Consultant, Business Owner, Sailor, Student Pilot
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24-04-2019, 13:32
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Edmonds, WA ... Mexico next !!!
Boat: Pacific Seacraft Orion
Posts: 34
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Re: New to OCPN ... do I need B&G chart plotter if I want Radar only?
All good points, but ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sea-TechSystems
First, why not buy the cheaper Vulcan7R with the 4G radar.. You don't need a Zeus3.
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Actually, I prefer the Zeus3 for many reasons, prime being that it supports NMEA0183 and has a much faster processor. The Vulcan is a bit sluggish when panning and zooming
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sea-TechSystems
An MFD gives you the ability to do firmware updates on the other B&G equipment you may have in your network (instruments, radar, etc).
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Now here's one I hadn't considered. Do you happen to know if you can update the radome alone any other way?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sea-TechSystems
It's also waterproof and rugged, ideal for a helm mounted display which is not something an iPad, PC, Phone, Android Tab, etc is particularly good at.
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No worries there. If I decide to go this route ultimately, my OCPN will run on RasPI in a IPX67 enclosure with 7" touchscreen
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sea-TechSystems
I love having OCPN, Navionics, phones, tablets, etc on the boat, in the network, but I would not personally go without a dedicated, IPX rated, hardwired, display at the helm.
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Neither would I. And the RasPI solution I'm toying with in my head puts a tick/checkmark next to each of those criterion
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24-04-2019, 13:48
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#8
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Post Falls, ID
Boat: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 45
Posts: 399
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Re: New to OCPN ... do I need B&G chart plotter if I want Radar only?
Quote:
Originally Posted by DominoX
All good points, but ...
Actually, I prefer the Zeus3 for many reasons, prime being that it supports NMEA0183 and has a much faster processor. The Vulcan is a bit sluggish when panning and zooming
Now here's one I hadn't considered. Do you happen to know if you can update the radome alone any other way?
No worries there. If I decide to go this route ultimately, my OCPN will run on RasPI in a IPX67 enclosure with 7" touchscreen
Neither would I. And the RasPI solution I'm toying with in my head puts a tick/checkmark next to each of those criterion
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Sounds like you've thought alot of it through..
As far as firmware.. No, I am not aware of any other way short of borrowing an MFD from someone else.
__________________
Richard Anderson | Owner: Sea-Tech.com, DocksideRadio.com, KISS-SSB.com | Offshore and Marine Communications and Networking Expert, Consultant, Business Owner, Sailor, Student Pilot
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24-04-2019, 19:00
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Edmonds, WA ... Mexico next !!!
Boat: Pacific Seacraft Orion
Posts: 34
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Re: New to OCPN ... do I need B&G chart plotter if I want Radar only?
>> Sounds like you've thought alot of it through.
Barely ... I'm following in the bold footsteps of those who've tried this before me. I'm still battling to break the bond with my safety blanket begotten from brand names like Navico (with siblings), Garmin, etc. in favor of the DIY route
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