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Old 15-06-2010, 13:11   #1
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OpenCPN Speed and Course Display

First of all hi everybody,
I'm kinda stuck between cheap chartplotter (like SH CP180i) and free navigational software like OpenCPN. I'd like one navi device that will cooperate with my navicom RT650 AIS VHF. On one hand, i can have small laptop with OpenCPN but:
i read the forum and it seems that OpenCPN does not display GPS course, speed and WP distance, which is very inconvenient, and i also read that sometimes it has problem with AIS connection and display. On the other hand, i'm considering chartplotter but charts are far too expensive. Is there a way to display SOG, COG and DST data from GPS on the screen along with a chart navigation?

P.S.: As for AIS, is a regular USB to COM adapter enough to connect NMEA output from the radio and have AIS data displayed correctly on OpenCPN screen?
P.S.2: Is there any way to display weather information from NASA SSB reciver?

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Old 15-06-2010, 14:27   #2
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Use an external software such as gippy (linux) or polarcom (windows mac linux) for gps and nmea display. Gippy may well become an integral/modular part of opencpn at some stage.

By the way, course speed and wp distance are all displayed, just play around with it a bit or consult the extensive manual wiki

You can display grib files within opencpn, if you are however receiving weather faxes you will have to view them with the appropriate software. I doubt you will find a chartplotter that can display those.

USB to serial adaptors have been reported to work although there can be driver issues in linux. Do check for compatibility if you intend to use it with linux. On windows this should be a simple driver install.

If you are aware of any specific reliability problems with ais and opencpn, please state where you found this information and/or get the source to report it as a bug; there's no point hearsaying this around. The core dev team (Dave or bdboat on this forum) are (is) extremely responsive in resolving bugs. I am not aware of any ais issues at this time.
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Old 15-06-2010, 14:38   #3
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Thank you, i'll try to find posts with ais connection problems.
Can GPS be read by two programs simultanously?
For example: OpenCPN displays yacht position and at the same time other program displays SOG, COG etc. data in seperate window, and both programs feed from same GPS COM port data stream.
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Old 15-06-2010, 14:49   #4
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Yes you have to use a port splitter, you can use Polarcom or gippy to generate several outputs, just go give it a fiddle you'll get it to work.
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Old 16-06-2010, 11:08   #5
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Here is the fresh one. I've looked through the forum and couldn't find that information. If i've got USB GPS connected to my laptop(winXP) and NAVICOM RT650 through USB->COM adapter, will OpenCPN broadcast my AIS data via VHF?
Sorry for nub questions, but just making choices which equipment to buy and use on the boat.
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Old 16-06-2010, 11:28   #6
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Your NAVICOM RT650 is an AIS receiver it doesnt send anything no matter what you connect it to
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Old 16-06-2010, 11:44   #7
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Thanks
Do you know any free COM ports splitter for winXP that's been tested and works ok?
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Old 16-06-2010, 12:03   #8
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As I said try Polarcom you can generate several outputs with that
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Old 16-06-2010, 12:12   #9
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I have, and there is no option for port splitting/forwarding. You can only add existing port for data display...unless i missed something
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Old 16-06-2010, 12:21   #10
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And then you can add outputs
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Old 16-06-2010, 12:25   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sakura View Post
Here is the fresh one. I've looked through the forum and couldn't find that information. If i've got USB GPS connected to my laptop(winXP) and NAVICOM RT650 through USB->COM adapter, will OpenCPN broadcast my AIS data via VHF?
Sorry for nub questions, but just making choices which equipment to buy and use on the boat.
have a look here...
Comar Systems AIS Products
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Old 11-07-2010, 16:23   #12
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A very good free (for 32 bit Win systems) port splitter/combiner plus much more is Eterlogics VPSE here: Eterlogic - VSPE: tool for serial ports emulation
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