OpenCPN Version 2.2 Beta Test

[nohal]

Jonas,
for the normal user, the backgorund of the problem is not important, so the most compressed version I can give you is:
"If you are using 2.2 beta and have routes, tracks or waypoints you are not going to throw away, install 2.2.1124, open navobj.xml in Notepad, hit Ctrl-H, fill in guid in the first line and something else in the second, hit Replace All, close the dialog and hit Ctrl-S"

Pavel

[sinbad7]

Hal #359 Thanks for detailed explanation re 'guid' - now replaced.

Tore

[fgd3]

Originally Posted by nohal

Fabbian,
sorry, I thought the instructions were clear enough.
First: What you have to do is replace all the occurences of string "guid" with anything else, for example "wrongguid".

Pavel

Thanks. I thought you were using "guid" and "wrongguid" as placeholders for different strings. My files don't have any "guid" strings in them so I thought I was supposed to be looking for something different. Sometimes it's not good to think too much about things.

Fabbian

[PjotrC]

OpenCPN v 2.2.1124 beta, Windows Vista

Excercised the GARMIN/USB interface w/ GPS 72H:

1. The synchronization with NMEA source on power up and power cycle down/up is OK - it never failed.

2. After physical disconnect of USB resync never succeeded, also after setting GPS=none, then GPS=GARMIN. Restart of OCPN necessary.
GPSUtility also does not survive this, even app restart does not help.
EasyGPS works OK.
Sigh... Serial/USB converters usually allow easy reconnecting.

3. Sending routes/WPs to GARMIN in Host mode over USB does not work for me (no errors signalled, but rte/wp does not arrive to GPS).

4. OpenCPN does crash often on program exit (reminds me of the crashes I could not reproduce in 1111 after missed resync). Some likely scenarios (but none 100% reproducible):
i) clean install, set charts, set GRMN/HOST mode, set GPS=GARMIN, set GPS=none, import a route, send to GPS in GARMIN mode, set GPS=GARMIN, exit
ii) if the above will not crash, restart OCPN, delete the still visible route, exit
iii) a couple of times it was enough to set GPS=GARMIN, set GPS=none, set GPS=GARMIN, exit

resync always OK, crash occurs on exiting (logfiles attached)
case ia) was: clean install, set charts, set GRMN/HOST mode, import a route, send to GPS in GARMIN mode, set GPS=GARMIN, exit


Other GPS/USB related observations:

- when I set the NMEA source to "none", the log shows "AIS(shared)", after shutdown/restart OCPN comes back with "AIS(shared)", not "none" as selected

- attempted transfer of data to GPS over USB looks very slow, compared to how other software behaves

Minor remarks:

- uninstall not always removes the link on the Desktop
- GPS 72H does not work across an octopus USB hub
- NMEA stream window does not work with GARMIN/USB connection

Thanks for the Beta! I look forward for the release!

Piotr

[gaea]

Hi,
I will add some screenshots while sailing upstream on the river 'Waal' near Nijmegen in Holland.
Maybe it is useful in some way for future development.
Mind the use of the inland blue sign on the ais targets...
Two screenshots of opencpn and two of the periskal viewer on the same location.

The ais transponder has a serial connection, I have a Sitecom serial to usb converter that works also under latest Ubuntu out of the box.

I can't make it work to insert the pictures, so I give a link to the album.Picasa Web Albums - gerard

[gaea]

This is a better link: Picasa Web Albums - gerard - Opencpn

[BluegillBoy]

Originally Posted by PjotrC

OpenCPN v 2.2.1124 beta, Windows Vista


Minor remarks:

- uninstall not always removes the link on the Desktop
- GPS 72H does not work across an octopus USB hub
- NMEA stream window does not work with GARMIN/USB connection

Thanks for the Beta! I look forward for the release!

Piotr

Piotr, the most common problem I've had with my nav computer setup in the last 5 years is with GPS units and USB hubs.

i've seemed to have fixed them, sometimes, by configuring the USB port to not turn itself off to save energy (did anyone even know they were defaulted to do that??), by being careful of the total current required by all devices hooked up to the hub, by using a powered hub, never using extension cords (even 18" ones sometimes cause problems) and more.

and then the GPS still sometimes flips out.

my final fix has been to connect my GPS straight to a USB port on the motherboard. no problems ever since.

BTW, I'm on XP not Vista which might make some port configuration differences, but for critical components like the GPS, a straight connection seems the reasonable and surest thing to do.

[PjotrC]

Originally Posted by BluegillBoy

Piotr, the most common problem I've had with my nav computer setup in the last 5 years is with GPS units and USB hubs.

Yes, for own use I bought a Toshiba Tecra laptop just for its serial COM port.

I should add that in this testing EasyGPS and GPSUtility worked well with 72H across the hub. I have no other nav software now to compare.

[Roger Hutchinson]

Bob,
Love the new Open CPN 2.2.1124 and I finally got the CM93 charts to work with the program but now I have an issue with the Garmin GPS 18 not being recognized. The drivers for the Garmin loaded through Windows 7 but I get no response from the OPN CPN program. Any suggestions??

[HotRod]

Have you tried logging the data from the gps with hyperterminal or similar?

[Roger Hutchinson]

Thanks for the advice! Problem solved and I now have the whole system working.
Thanks and Merry Christmas!!

[yachtvalhalla]

Is the dashboard display able to be modified?

I don't want or need the GPS Status display.

I don't want or need the compass showing heading.

I would like to see the time (GMT or local) displayed along with the date.

Screen shots of the dashboard along the way would be quite useful for maintaining an image log of the passage (something I do now with Snagit and Topclock programs).

[idpnd]

Originally Posted by yachtvalhalla

Is the dashboard display able to be modified?

Yes via config - plugins

[manimaul]

Originally Posted by yachtvalhalla

Is the dashboard display able to be modified?

yes: The Dashboard PlugIn | Official OpenCPN Homepage

[bdbcat]

Hello Beta Testers!

OpenCPN Version 2.2 Beta Build 1207 is available for download.

Changelog:

203. Correct initialization of NMEA Filter history tables.
204. Correct TrackPoint name visibility property on Export/Import.(FS#253)
205. Correct some problems with linux locale selection.
206. Improve small screen Toolbox dialog layout(FS#239)
207. In RouteManagerDialog, correct distance sorting for Windows platform (FS#178) Thanks nohal.
208. Implement Toolbar zoom in/out tooltips. (FS#271)
209. Implement Garmin USB waypoint/route download function for Windows.
210. Further improve Toolbox layout for variable sized language strings (FS#263)
211. Correct/improve MOB logic (FS#147, FS#278)
212. Correct screen draw of AIS target tracks when target is off-screen (FS#258)
213. Improve Serial Port management for orphan handle and thread deletion. (FS#266)
214. Correct Toolbar flashing on small window size. (FS#265)
215. Correct '\\.\' notation in MessageBox. (FS#268)
216. Implement improved S52 symbolization rules. Lots more graphic symbol detail. Thanks Pavel
217. Update Translations. Hope I got them all.
218. Add Turkish translation Thanks to Yalin Bastanlar!
219. Correct Lat/Lon dialog input format to accept "22 S" as well as "22 00 s" (FS#283)
220. Correct AISTargetList initial drawing size/position and sort algorithm (FS#274)

Release Beta 1207

Notes:

209. Lots of new code here. Garmin users take note. We may still have trouble with Garmin USB hotplugging events, I'm afraid....

217. We can still take last minute translation files, emailed directly to me or posted on the forum. Thanks to all for your efforts on the updates.

218. Another language. Cool....

General:

This Beta is probably releasable as 2.3. However, I am working on an update to AISTargetList to improve performance and useability.
Also, there is still the "Win7 Prolific driver hanging" issue. I will increase the focus here....

Thanks to all for your patience as we work out the last few nits.

Dave