OpenCPN Radar Overlay PlugIn

[Hakan]

Cont...
No radar view yet but more data:
I've a connection to the radar at 169.254.198.56 according to Wireshark:

No.     Time           Source                Destination           Protocol Length Info
      1 0.000000000    169.254.198.56        236.6.7.9             UDP      606    Source port: resource-mgr  Destination port: osaut

Frame 1: 606 bytes on wire (4848 bits), 606 bytes captured (4848 bits) on interface 0
Ethernet II, Src: NavicoAu_08:14:15 (00:0e:91:08:14:15), Dst: IPv4mcast_06:07:09 (01:00:5e:06:07:09)
Internet Protocol Version 4, Src: 169.254.198.56 (169.254.198.56), Dst: 236.6.7.9 (236.6.7.9)
User Datagram Protocol, Src Port: resource-mgr (3019), Dst Port: osaut (6679)
Data (564 bytes)

More data in attached doc.
I've assignet my network card to the same Ip segment e.g. 169.254.198.1
But nothing seems to run into the plugin. I'm running in debug mode (VC++) and the

if (br_scan_packets_per_tick > 0) { // Something coming from radar unit?
        br_scanner_state = RADAR_ON ;

is never anything else then "0".

The radar picture mentioned i prev. post I've never seen again. And the icon status point is yellow.

Next step is so far blank in my head. Anyone with a fresh mind??
Håkan

[Neptune's Gear]

Haken, you don't need an IP address. The Radar unit uses UDP not TCP. To get that picture your radar must be (or have been) connected properly. You were almost there - looks to me like to auto gain function was not working correctly.
As you now don't get a green Icon, only yellow, I'd guess there is a problem with the cable. Check cable, all connections, crimps in the RJ45 plugs, and deformities in the plastic that might prevent connection to the pins etc. If you joined/made a cable, double check all connections...
Good luck
Matt

[Hakan]

Matt..
Good point. Thanks. I know it's UDP but still it's easy to immediately dig into TCP-stuff when holding on a RJ45 I would try to go to the basics instead. I'll check the cable. It has been outside for while so why not! (I've been able to borrow a test device.)
I'll come back.

[Hakan]

Matt...all.. (Test of a BR24 - cont..)
I've checked the cable and the problem is obviously not there. All wires have connection and the connections are placed due to the wires connection scheme in the manual.
But the antenna is not rotating! There are two positive leads one red and one yellow. They should be connected together to +12 V and so it is. Now to my question before I start to unscrew the machine.
Is there a software start of the antenna? What I could follow in the program this is not the case - or? Any other hints??
If not I'll start to check the inside for physical failures but before I do that I must have permissions from the owner.
Thanks Håkan

[jonasaberg]

Håkan
Did you read this post? Or rather, the link it points at...
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post931086
Maybe some info in the student report regarding the BR24 would be helpful?

The report is attached, so that we have it here in the forum as well if it should disappear...

[rgleason]

Would this be acceptable as an attachment for Radar Documentation at Opencpn.org? We should probably summarize some of the issues and resolution techniques being found in this thread and place them in the documentation. There is a lot of knowledge that needs to be put down I think.

[NahanniV]

Will this plugin work connected to the scanner over WiFi?

802.11B? G? N?

Any other issues with using it on a Win 8 tablet?
OpenGL?

Anyone try it?

Thanks.
JM.

[Hakan]

Originally Posted by jonasaberg

Håkan
Did you read this post? Or rather, the link it points at...

Jonas...
Yes when you now reminded me I've once seen it but also forgot it. Many thanks. Now I'll study it more carefully.
Håkan

[Hakan]

All...
I'm still testing BR24 using br24Radar_pi on Win32.

Some progress... The radar is rotating and I receive some but not so nice data see below.
I found the software start command e.g. set register 00 to 1. But due the nice document JonasAberg pointed to also the register 01 should be set to 1 ???? Or is it me that don't understand the latter part off this coding:?

void br24radar_pi::RadarTxOn(void)
{
    wxLogMessage(wxT("BR24 Radar turned ON manually."));

    char pck[3] = {(byte)0x00, (byte)0xc1, (byte)0x01};               // ON register 0
    TransmitCmd(pck, sizeof(pck));
    
    pck[0] = (byte)0x01;
    TransmitCmd(pck, sizeof(pck));
}

Nevertheless the device is now starting after I touched the cable. I think there where some loose contacts because after reconnect and connecting the cable more messages are floating around. But even if the antenna is now rotating the radar view is not very nice. See attached pic.
Studying Wireshark it seems as when the device is in operation the messages are not complete but reported as fragment? See attched "wireshark.pdf". More loose contacts??
When the device is not in operation the messages look like in "Wireshark_standby.pdf"
Extract of the O's logbook is also attached.

Any help for further investigations would be appreciated.

Thanks Håkan

Edit: Here is something strange with attached pictures. I attach a pdf instead.

[Hakan]

Originally Posted by NahanniV

Will this plugin work connected to the scanner over WiFi?

JM.. Maybe not... Please read on page 6 in the document JonasAberg pointed to.
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post1482198

[Hakan]

All..
Still testing radar BR24 using br24radar_pi on Win32.
The radar is starting fine but I get only scarp and limited to a 90 dgr view. See attached screen capture.
Please ... Could this be caused by the radar or the plugin??

[jonasaberg]

Maybe there could be some info here
http://sourceforge.net/projects/openbr24/

Their implementation may make it possible to test the radar unit independently to indicate whether something is wrong with your unit or not.

/Jonas

[Hakan]

All..
Testing radar BR24 using br24radar_pi on Win32 - cont....
Ok I now have a more recent view. (There was a hardware mistake before with the plastic dome slightly hindering the antenna free rotation)
But the picture is a bit strange. see attached shots.
Shot 1)
Is this a normal view (I'm at home so it's inland) ? Rather striped?
Shot 2 & 3)
I assume the dense ring is indicating the distance limit? But in that case it's wrong. On both pictures my mouse pointer is located on the ring. Distance to pointer is viewed in the status bar and the radar ring distance in the radar control window. It's not matching at all??

Is this how it looks for you others having tested the BR24 radar??

Thanks Håkan

[Neptune's Gear]

The stripes are not normal. Other than that the image could be right.
What version of the plugin are you using? Dave Cowell's ones currently have a ranging issue - being worked on now. What range calibration factor have you got in preferences? It needs to be set so the image matches the range - best on the water, so you can range it to match a known point on your chart - something easy to distinguish, like an island or coastline.
Matt

[Hakan]

Matt....
"What version of the plugin are you using?" -I pulled some week ago. OCPN reports version 1.20130521
"What range calibration factor have you got in preferences?" - I haven't touched it so it's still on 1. I can do the calibration once in the boat and have some references as you described.

Some new info:
The radar now seems rather functional. I've tested using OpenBR24 and it's in principal the same view but I would say somewhat better. And no dense ring around so that one isn't coming from the radar but obviously made in the plugin??
See attached captures where the same location is scanned both in br24radar_pi and OpenBR24.

But I do think we will have nice view in OCPN as well. I'll check for updates and any further notes from you.

Many thanks /Håkan