Depth Sounder for OpenCPN

[geoffr]

I'm looking to add a really basic depth sounder and pipe it into OpenCPN. Does
anyone have a suggestion for a sub $100 (US) one which I can pipe into Open CPN (I'm thinking NEMA 0183 with no screen)...

[seandepagnier]

I am attempting to build a depth sounder using $8 ultrasonic cleaning transducers.

[Dsanduril]

Cruzpro make a series of active depth transducers with NMEA 0183 output:

CruzPro NMEA 0183 Active Depth & Temperature Transducers using Digital Signal Processing (DSP)

but they'll set you back closer to $200.

[KeelMe]

There are plenty of NMEA 0183 transducers. Airmar makes them in any configuration you can imagine. Finding one under $200 will be tough though. I was in a resale shop in Port Charlotte a few months ago and they had at least one NMEA0183 transducer. I don't recall the price however.

[Baikal]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebsjSucPbAQ

[prof_mariner]

Following...

[geoffr]

KeelMe - yes that is what I've been finding..

Originally Posted by KeelMe

There are plenty of NMEA 0183 transducers. Airmar makes them in any configuration you can imagine. Finding one under $200 will be tough though. I was in a resale shop in Port Charlotte a few months ago and they had at least one NMEA0183 transducer. I don't recall the price however.

[seandepagnier]

my parts are in the mail, I will make a free design to measure depth and kit cost $20. Full schematic, and parts to be published and easily assembled with soldering iron.

Next I am planning to use 2 or more transducers to also measure waterspeed and temperature, but this requires much higher speed measurements, so it might need more design.

If anyone could help sponsor my project, please contact me via PM. I can send you the schematic, I have already ordered printed circuit boards. Once I get it made, I want to support any marine transducer, or even cheap ultrasonic cleaners.

I will make it either way, but I am delayed because I have no money. I want to order more parts for more experiments, so far what I on the way can maybe work. I put everything into my autopilot, see here:

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=ZaLBRRelT-M

[seandepagnier]

This is the correct link

https://youtu.be/ZaLBRRelT-M

[Baikal]

Many developers of navigation software integrate the Vexilar sounder. Can CPN add Fishfinder as a plug-in?

[Spot]

Has there been more development on an inexpensive depth sounder for OpenCPN?

[Rayson]

Originally Posted by Baikal

Many developers of navigation software integrate the Vexilar sounder. Can CPN add Fishfinder as a plug-in?

Users say that vexilar sp200 looses connection pretty often. Gadgets based on Android 9 and higher doesn't connect at all

[Baikal]

Originally Posted by Rayson

Users say that vexilar sp200 looses connection pretty often. Gadgets based on Android 9 and higher doesn't connect at all

Now there are many analogues of echo sounders for smartphones Deeper, Lowrance, Garmin

[sv_pelagia]

Originally Posted by Baikal

Now there are many analogues of echo sounders for smartphones Deeper, Lowrance, Garmin

We have a WIFI-based Deeper Pro+; like it very much for surveying from a dinghy. Useful as both a realtime portable depth sounder and, with caveats, for developing bathymetric maps. We've not had issues with Deeper on Android. Unfortunately, Deeper maps are not (or do not seem) transferable, and in order to obtain the lat/long & depth data in downloadable (CSV file) form, one must first upload the data to Deeper's website. That requires access to the internet (not easy in many many places).

However:
Although they do not advertise it, the pricier "Deeper Chirp" model will apparently output NMEA0183 via WIFI. OpenCPN should be able to take it in.

I would have purchased the Chirp model had they made the NMEA availability obvious (I only found this out through discussion with Deeper support).