OpenCPN and Lowrance 4G not working

[Hakan]

cruzzrr...
Thanks to Douwe you can now on Win8:
Keep your OCPN version 4.0
Download Douwes attached file. Delete the extension ".pdf" so the file name ends with .dll
Copy the renamed file to your plugin folder. (C:\program files.......\Opencpn\plugins\
Connect and power on the radar to your PC.
Run OCPN
In Tools>plugins>BR2Radar_pi>preferences check the "pass RADAR heading to OpenCPN" option. -OK
Now you should have a heading in BR24 plugin and also in OCPN as such.

Try and please tell us what you got.

Good luck
Håkan

[rgleason]

Yes, I belive that version is also on

OpenCPN Beta File Thingie rguser rgpass

Under directory 4.0 PI Win
Please find br24radar_pi_1.2-ov4.0-d-win32.exe dated 5-27-2015
I believe it has the changes mentioned. If it does not, please let me know which repository and branch to compile.

Also there are several Earlier versions under Earlier PI

[Douwe Fokkema]

Originally Posted by rgleason

Yes, I belive that version is also on

OpenCPN Beta File Thingie rguser rgpass

Under directory 4.0 PI Win
Please find br24radar_pi_1.2-ov4.0-d-win32.exe dated 5-27-2015
I believe it has the changes mentioned. If it does not, please let me know which repository and branch to compile.

Also there are several Earlier versions under Earlier PI

No, that is not the latest version as it is dated 27-05-2015. This version may still crash at start-up on slow machines. Latest version as said before (sources) are on (dated 02-06-2015):
https://github.com/douwefokkema/BR24radar_pi
And the binary for windows with OCPN4.0 (same again) attached (remove .pdf extension).

[rgleason]

Thanks, Douwe, I will move that to "Earlier PI" and have uploaded your dll labeled
"br24radar_pi.dll.ov4-0-douwe-fix.dll.pdf" to the 4.0 PI Win directory

and have compiled & uploaded for v4.1.602

[Shipraiser]

Hi cruzrr, did you get it working?

Originally Posted by cruzrr

How should I connect the compass to make it work? using NMEA2000 or SimNet? Because now it seems like it is NMEA2000.
Do I have something wrong in my setup?

NMEA2000 (N2K) and Simnet is the same thing, just with different connectors. Adapter cables are available.

Your drawing seems correct but is missing 2 terminators on each end of the N2K bus. If using Simnet connectors it's the red ones.

There is no direct way for the compass heading to reach your computer if you have no N2K gateway or converter to USB or serila data. The new code should be able to read it from the radar, but see below;

Originally Posted by Douwe Fokkema

... and I added the "heading on radar"

From my own testing it provides improved stability, as I wrote in the main thread. But I can't get "pass heading to OCPN to work". It looks like a classic Catch 22: The radar can pass heading to O, but the plugin requires heading to start the radar.....

We did "trick" it into working by using the magnetic heading from the autopilot (too slow and inaccurate for good radar overlay) + the wmm plugin, this allows the plugin to accept the preconditions and start the radar, then it seems to use the fast heading from the simnet/N2K-connected radar.

Maybe if "pass heading into OCPN" is enabled, the plugin should start without heading present and instead quit with a message "no heading from radar" if heading is not arriving in the radar data ?

BR /Marcus

[Douwe Fokkema]

Hi Marcus,
You are completely right. I just did not think of that. In all of my testing there was also connected a NMEA heading. So the radar would start and the plugin would use the heading from the radar there after. I will look into a solution, possibly as you suggest.
Thanks for your comments.
Douwe

[bengt123]

There is no direct way for the compass heading to reach your computer if you have no N2K gateway or converter to USB or serila data.



I am also setting upp my 3G radar, just waiting for warmer weather to mount the pole on the aft deck. Do I understand it correctly that Opencpn needs the heading and the RI10 just sends the heading to Opencpn via RJ45 cable?
I have a course computer that sends the fast heading signal in NMEA 0183 connected to multiplexer/USB.

/wim

[seandepagnier]

I could be wrong, but I think it works in stand alone (radar on black screen not chart) with head up without a heading sensor.

[Douwe Fokkema]

Hi Wim,

To display the radar overlay on the chart the radar_pi needs a heading. This heading can be obtained from OCPN if OCPN has a heading available, received from NMEA.
Alternatively a heading sensor can be connected to the RI10, the heading is transmitted to the radar and is inserted by the radar into the radar lines. From the radar lines this heading will be used to display each radar line in the right position on the chart.
So passing the heading through the RI10 will be more accurate (heading per line, no delays), but I doubt if in normal operation the difference will be visible compared with a fast heading sensor that is only connected through NMEA.

Cheers, Douwe Fokkema

[bengt123]

Thanks Douwe,
will try without the box, saves me some money and keeps thing more simple.




/wim

[Douwe Fokkema]

Hi Sean,

You are right, in standalone mode no heading and no position is required to get a radar image on the black background.
And I wish you good winds rounding the Cape! (if not passed already)

Cheers, Douwe

[David Fullmer]

According to the info for BR24radar_pi v1.3 (at http://opencpn-navico-radar-plugin.github.io/), it will only run with OCPN 4.1.925

I need some of the features in BR24radar_pi v1.3, but can't find OCPN 4.1.925 anywhere on your site. I've tried OCPN 4.1.1108 and 4.1.10?? but both generate an error message indicating that one of the components of the plugin is not compatible with that version of OCPN.

Please let me know how to find OCPN 4.1.925 for Win7 or recompile the plugin to run with the later versions of OCPN.

Thanks,

- Dave -

[rgleason]

Look on Opencpn Beta File Thingie, main directory.

[Hakan]

Dave,,
The BR24Radar_pi installation you refer to is working well on all betas above OpenCPN 4.1.925. I've just tried it on my 4.1.1108.
Could it be you've other plugins installed not ready for 4.1.....?
Håkan

[David Fullmer]

I do have other plugins, but they all came from the menu section that said they *should* be good to go with 4.1.+


I don't have it in front of me right now, but the error I was getting was specific to one of the BR24 s/w components.


How do I change over to just a black screen with no chart/map information?

Originally Posted by Hakan

Dave,,
The BR24Radar_pi installation you refer to is working well on all betas above OpenCPN 4.1.925. I've just tried it on my 4.1.1108.
Could it be you've other plugins installed not ready for 4.1.....?
Håkan