OpenCPN SIMRAD/LOWRANCE Radar Overlay PlugIn

[merrimac]

The 32 bit Linux packages for 1.1 had the same problem with the files getting the wrong permissions. Suddenly it dawned on me why this was -- the Linux VM that I use to build the 64 bit packages is hosted by Parallels whereas the Linux VM that I use to build the 32 bit packages is hosted by VirtualBox. The file system drivers that these provide to map to the host file system is apparently different.

I have now rebuilt the 32 bit packages for Linux using a local file system with full UNIX semantics and have tested it and now it looks OK to me.

[RobbieW]

Originally Posted by merrimac

...I have now rebuilt the 32 bit packages for Linux using a local file system with full UNIX semantics and have tested it and now it looks OK to me.

Looks good to me too - thanks!

[nohal]

Hi...
Could you guys please post some decent looking screenshot of a recent version for the plugin download page of opencpn.org?

Many thanks

Pavel

[rgleason]

I hope someone will create a Plugin Summary for this the Simrad/Lowrance Radar on this page http://opencpn.org/ocpn/plugins - Just register, login and pick "Child Page" at the bottom.

[NahanniV]

Originally Posted by rgleason

I hope someone will create a Plugin Summary for this the Simrad/Lowrance Radar on this page Plugins | Official OpenCPN Homepage - Just register, login and pick "Child Page" at the bottom.

It's listed as Navico which is the parent company of Simrad, Lowrance, B&G

See: Radar Overlay Pludins -> Navico BroadBand RADAR Plugin

Cheers,
JM.

[merrimac]

Not only that, but if you keep clicking you get to the documentation wiki page, which is right up to date.

I'll check if I have decent enough pcap files so I can make a realistic screen shot.

[Baikal]

Maybe you work Standalone mode without data compass, as it works on the traditional radar?

Need the ability to convert data COG > HDG not everyone can be a compass. It will work on the go and I know that will not work correctly if not true COG parked. Such as implemented in Garmin

[Hakan]

Originally Posted by nohal

Hi...
Could you guys please post some decent looking screenshot of a recent version for the plugin download page of opencpn.org?

Many thanks

Pavel

Pavel..
I captured some screen shoots today. Not the best views since I'm winter moored but if not anything else is coming up these may do?
At least the first one has US text.

Håkan

[nohal]

Hakan...
It will do for sure, many thanks.

Pavel

[Hakan]

Good.
Here it's now four hours left to New Year so I've to chill the Champagne.

Happy New Year to you and all others and thanks for a wonderful OCPN and BR24 year.

Håkan

[NahanniV]

I was surprised to find that there is no timed transmit mode.

Then I looked at documentation for Lowrance HDS, Simrad NSE, and B&G Zeus; None of them have this feature either. I wonder why this is not implemented ? Is there some limitation in the hardware? Would repeatedly starting/stopping the scanner cause some wear or damage ?

I did not do my homework when I bought this scanner, should have seen this. I had hoped to run in timed transmit mode with a guard zone while sailing in order to reduce power consumption while maintaining a RADAR watch.

From a quick look at the Garmin radar plugin code it seems that timed transmit is implemented in the Garmin RADAR unit. I wonder if it could be implemented in the plugin for Navico ?

Cheers,
JM.

[merrimac]

I guess there isn't as much of a point in reducing power consumption from 17W to 3W (Broadband) as in reducing it from 55W to 3W (Magnetron).

You're the first to ask. Personally, I don't think I would use it much.

I'm not sure I would be happy to subject the radar to all those stop/starts. In terms of electronics it probably doesn't matter but the motor might wear out more quickly. Also, we'd have to go through a complete test cycle to determine how quickly the data is reliable after a start.

[merrimac]

I think another reason you might want to use intermittent pulses with a cavity magnetron (CM) is the limited lifetime of the CM which I think is usually not much more than 500 hrs or so. It would also reduce thermal load, although you probably want to make sure you send out a pulse before it cools to much, and you may even need continued heating of the CM so at some point it doesn't actually save any power. So the CM radar would probably still use 10-15W whilst not transmitting? Just guessing here, maybe someone has some measurements?

Anyway, since Navico doesn't offer this I don't feel comfortable adding this to the plugin for fear of operating the scanner outside of its design parameters. Sorry.

[oldmonk]

Originally Posted by merrimac

since Navico doesn't offer this I don't feel comfortable adding this to the plugin for fear of operating the scanner outside of its design parameters. Sorry.

I think timed transmit with sufficiently low duty cycle say 5-10s TX every 2-5mins would not cause any harm to transmitter or antenna mechanics. It might even reduce the wear on antenna and motor bearings a little.

So I think this might be benefical feature to have. Of course you can always add a disclaimer: "feature not supported by manufacturer, use at own risk".

[BMD21]

So here's my question:

As I understand it, the 3G radar puts out a formatted radar frame with the data needed to scale it, etc. OpenCpn supplies the GPS data to locate the frame and assembles, scales, etc the radar frame and displays it on the screen.

So why can't the same be done for the Structure Scan data? It also comes in via an ethernet cable. If so where would one gete the format of the Structure Scan frame?

Boris