OpenCPN Test with Nema Studio GPS Simulator

[jimcreed]

I am trying to test Open CPN using NemaStudio to simulate GPS and AIS sentences.

I can not get it to recognize the NemaStudio GPS and AIS sentences although SeaClear (AIS and GPS) & Mapsource (GPS only) and other programs see them and can interpret them.

Any ideas so I can bench test Open CPN

[Netsurfer]

Hi,

Originally Posted by jimcreed

I am trying to test Open CPN using NemaStudio to simulate GPS and AIS sentences.

I can not get it to recognize the NemaStudio GPS and AIS sentences although SeaClear (AIS and GPS) & Mapsource (GPS only) and other programs see them and can interpret them.

Any ideas so I can bench test Open CPN

what version of OpenCPN and which baud rate do you use?
Be aware of the fact that OCPN did not support other baud rates (for GPS) than 4800 bps before 2.1.0 build 604.

Have you tried (if Nema Studio supports it) to use the AIS Port (shared) option in OCPN?

Gunther

[jimcreed]

Running Version 2.1.0 Build RC607a I have tried other versions also.

Tried ais and gps ports separately and ais port shared. The sentences have check sums.

I have set all output to 4800bps via software and the device manager in both computers. the one supplying data sentences and the one running Open CPN

[bdbcat]

1. Try NMEA data window check box in Toolbox->GPS

2. Add DebugNMEA=1000 in config file, then look at logfile.


Gunther....

Sure could use a Wiki section on debugging NMEA generally. Same issues over and over..... Volunteers?

Dave

[jimcreed]

I can not find a logfile or config file listed in the Open CPN program file folder. Obviously it is somewhere, since it remembers my changes when I restart the program

No data shows when I click on show the NMEA data stream (I can get a data stream to show if I attach a gps to the computer).

Here are the sentences that SeaClear sees when I have it view the same port with the same configuration as Open CPN (only 1 AIS target is simulated).


$GPGLL,4125.05316,N,07016.51022,W,225155.55,A*15
$GPRMC,225155.58,A,4125.05316,N,07016.51022,W,0002 .0,003.0,070610,000.0,W*67
$GPZDA,225155.11,07,06,2010,10,51*65
!AIVDM,1,1,,A,1>wTTCw00NJvCUpGdkr0:09h050l,0*76
$GPGLL,4125.05371,N,07016.51018,W,225157.18,A*16
$GPRMC,225157.71,A,4125.05371,N,07016.51018,W,0002 .0,003.0,070610,000.0,W*66
$GPZDA,225157.24,07,06,2010,10,51*61
!AIVDM,1,1,,A,1>wTTCw00NJvCUrGdkt@:09l050l,0*06
$GPGLL,4125.05426,N,07016.51014,W,225159.32,A*19
$GPRMC,225159.83,A,4125.05426,N,07016.51014,W,0002 .0,003.0,070610,000.0,W*6C
$GPZDA,225159.36,07,06,2010,10,51*6C
!AIVDM,2,1,7,A,5>wTTCl1KoQd4U?62204U?6222222222222 22200,0*63
!AIVDM,2,2,7,A,:0D5?1QBS<Q1APEC588888888888882,2*5 2
!AIVDM,1,1,,A,1>wTTCw00NJvCUtGdkv@:082050l,0*5D
$GPGLL,4125.05481,N,07016.51010,W,225202.49,A*11
$GPRMC,225202.02,A,4125.05481,N,07016.51010,W,0002 .0,003.0,070610,000.0,W*61
$GPZDA,225202.55,07,06,2010,10,52*67
!AIVDM,1,1,,A,1>wTTCw00NJvCUtGdl0@:088050l,0*16
$GPGLL,4125.05536,N,07016.51006,W,225204.61,A*17
$GPRMC,225204.14,A,4125.05536,N,07016.51006,W,0002 .0,003.0,070610,000.0,W*6A
$GPZDA,225204.68,07,06,2010,10,52*6F
!AIVDM,1,1,,A,1>wTTCw00NJvCUvGdl2P:08<050l,0*02
$GPGLL,4125.05591,N,07016.51002,W,225206.74,A*18
$GPRMC,225206.28,A,4125.05591,N,07016.51002,W,0002 .0,003.0,070610,000.0,W*6E
$GPZDA,225206.80,07,06,2010,10,52*6B
!AIVDM,1,1,,A,1>wTTCw00NJvCV0Gdl4P:08@050l,0*3D
$GPGLL,4125.05646,N,07016.50998,W,225208.86,A*19
$GPRMC,225208.39,A,4125.05646,N,07016.50998,W,0002 .0,003.0,070610,000.0,W*62

[bdbcat]

Jim....

Those sentences look all right to me.

on windowsXP, the config file in in

Documents and settings\{user}\Application Data\opencpn

opencpn.ini is config file.

add a line in [Settings] section

DebugNMEA=1000

run opencpn
close opencpn

look at opencpn.log

Is there any possiblity to get an evaluation version of NMEAStudio? Can't find it on the web...

Dave

[jimcreed]

Ok I got the opencpn.ini file.

Here is what happened I started the opencpn with input from a garmin GPS and then switch the cable input to the NEMA studio ouput and can see the NMEA sentences. Open CPN tracks the simulated boat.

I had to set the the input to GPS only (on Com1) and remove the AIS both. Now when I start up opencpn it can see the NMEA Studio input and can track the boat.

I have not been able to get it to use the AIS messages yet since setting the AIS port to com 1 and then using the AIS port shared option goes back to not receiving sentences.

NEMA Studio has a trial version (note spelling)
Down load site is NemaStudio from Sailsoft

I participated in some of the debugging of this product.

[bdbcat]

Jim....

Thanks for the info. I'll get the trial version.

AIS data can only be received at 38400 baud. This is the normal standard for AIS receivers.

If you set AIS to com1, and GPS to shared, and send the data to com1 at 38400, maybe it will work? Can't remember if you tried that....

Please note that the sharing does not go the other way. That is, AIS sentences sent to the GPS port are not sent to the AIS decoder subsystem. But, GPS sentences sent to the AIS port are send to the GPS input subsystem if the GPS port is set to shared. I hope that my mushy explanation is clear. A diagram would help....


Good luck
Dave

[jimcreed]

Dave

OK I got it working. Thanks for your help. I be running some experiments and will let the forum know of any anomalies.

Jim