Garmin (N2K) via QK A034 to OPN CPN

[Grippy]

Greetings all!
I have searched this Open Cpn forum for a solution to the issues we are having with our Open Cpn system....

We have a Garmin GND 10, (wind and water transducers) feeding NMEA to Multifunction Displays. (Garmin GN series)
We are trying to display this info on the Open Cpn Dashboard, running thr N2K data through a Quark electric QK A034.

We have followed carefully, the instructions supplied on CD with the QK.

Baud rate, Com port, set, checked and verified.

Configuration Tool run, checked and NMEA info pouring in, but Open Cpn only sees the info for a split second, on start-up...

We have crawled all over CF, Y-tube , and any sight that comes up searching Open cpn, qk a034, and nmea...

Please, if anyone has been down this track before....
Please share your experiences...

We can not be the first ever to try this combination of these three well known components. 😋

Thanks in advance for any info.

Cheers, Grippy and Crew
Vida-Deriva

[Grippy]

We should add that this is all hard wire, via USB, as we are aluminum hull and bulkheads, wifi is not a reliable route.

[wholybee]

OpenCPN will not see an NMEA data if any other tool is open. In some cases, a reboot is necessary (if the other software did not properly release the port)

I don't use the Quark, but there isn't much that can be incorrect on the OpenCPN side. Assuming you have AIS, bps should be set to 38,400 on both the Quark and OCPN. The Quark manual is not 100% clear if the USB is N2k, NMEA0183, or if it is configurable. You should use NMEA0183.

Do you see anything in the NMEA debug window on OCPN?

[Grippy]

Well thank you...
Yes, 38400 set on each.
And nmea 0183, not N2K.
And I can not even find the de-bug window...
I will continue.
Thank you again.

[wholybee]

Originally Posted by Grippy

Well thank you...
Yes, 38400 set on each.
And nmea 0183, not N2K.
And I can not even find the de-bug window...
I will continue.
Thank you again.

In OpenCPN on the connections screen where you create the connection and set the parameters, there should be a checkbox, show nmea debug window.

[stevead]

Apologies for the stupid question, but do you have a A034 or A034-B ?

From a quick perusal of the manual, it appears that only the A034-B converts NMEA 2000 messages to NMEA 183 sentences. It seems as though the A034 only converts NMEA 2000 messages to a proprietary format that encapsulates raw NMEA 2000 data in a NMEA 183 sentence.

As said before, you can view the OpenCPN Debug window from the connections dialog (see attached picture).

If an A034 I would expect to see something like the following in the OpenCPN debug window.

 $PCDIN,01F119,00000000,16,0064050800FFFF0C*5B

This NMEA 2000 raw format is not supported by OpenCPN nor any of the plugins.

Otherwise if an A034-B and with the WiFi/USB output configured to output NMEA 0183, you should be able to view standard NMEA 183 sentences.

[Grippy]

Okay!
Well, the model number is A034.... no B

08:31:40 (COM16) $GPMC,163141.000,A,4940.1575,N,12455.7266,W,0.00,3 14,111223,,,A*73<0X0D><0X0A>

IS one sentence from the QK A034....

And there is much data pouring in from this com port.

On COM3 I believe is the, (but could be a gps, or other device )AIS on dAISy device I see

08:31:40 (COM3) $GPVTG,214,24,T,M,0.00,N,0.0,K,A*0D<0X0D>0X0A>

THE DAISY works and have had no issues with it displaying ais info on O cpn.

To my untrained eyes, these codes look like the same lingo....

So far, you have helped me re- find the bug window!
This is where I became convinced that the 2 units were communicating....

[Grippy]

WOW,
Sure hope there is a work-around...
There was quite some effort aquiring this quark, and to learn now that it is not the correct tool,
Is disappointing,
However, we will continue working forward...

[Corsair63]

First of all you have to understand what you have connected and how?

I guess that you'll have AIS receiver connected to N2K network, didn't it?

in instructions by default 0183 1&2 inputs are 4800, normal 0183 speed.
and #3 is 38400 HS NMEA 0183 for AIS connected via 0183.

after having clear where all devices are connected, you should run the configuration tool:
https://www.quark-elec.com/downloads...uration-tools/
and see the data stream, not running any software at that time than configuration tool.
as you could see this is only connecting via USB.
connect the device in the software.
and now you have to redirect all inputs to desired outputs, after that you must click on config.

in the windows you must see the data stream and if you see messages as:
!AIVDM,....... or !AIVDO,...... is that you're receiving AIS messages.
that is supposed that you have connected the AIS via N2K.

if you have the connection via 0183, then you must connect the AIS output in connection #3 input.

if you have a lot of data maybe you have to setup the output speed at higher value in order not receive a stream of garbage or loss of data, could be fine a speed of 115K bauds.

save all done and close the configuration tool.

only could be opened the same COM port by only one program at the same time.

after that you must make a connection in OCPN and check the COM port created, with the speed setup in previous steps as output.

from that time you must have all data in OCPN.

after that checking that everything is working, you can close OCPN and start again the configuration tools, making a WIFI connection with the same parameters that your connection on board, on this way available for all computer and mobiles on board via UDP.
save all and close configuration tools.

now you can configure in OCPN in the same computer or another device an UDP connection with the port setup in the previous step.
and you can deactivate the USB connection and having it only as spare just in case ...

USB connection says that is bi-direccional same as wifi, so, when setup the connections in OCPN you can click on use as output too, in such way maybe you could control the autopilot, that's another history and there are some threads about it.

[stevead]

You need to clarify which COM ports each device is connected to.

Nonetheless, either it is a copy-n-paste error in your post or there are errors in your connected devices, PC or whatever.

The two sentences you have posted are incorrect.

$GPMC,163141.000,A,4940.1575,N,12455.7266,W,0.00,3 14,111223,,,A*73

has an incorrect mnemonic; it should be GPRMC, the value 3 14, which is in the position that indicates course over ground should not contain a space, and the checksum 73 does not match the sentence that you have pasted.

Similarly the sentence

$GPVTG,214,24,T,M,0.00,N,0.0,K,A*0D

is in the incorrect format, the first four parameters should be heading true, T, heading magnetic M, and the checksum does not appear to be correct.

If these are not copy-n-paste errors, then that would explain why OpenCPN is not displaying anything meaningful.

The fact that you are not seeing a sentence with the prefix $PCDIN indicates that my assumption regarding NMEA 2000 -> NMEA 183 conversions on your Quark device is possibly incorrect and it does indeed convert NMEA 2000 messages to NMEA 183 sentences.

[Grippy]

Okay! Thank you.
I will work through these latest instructions.
I was not able to get the copy and paste to work correctly, so I copied by hand....
Checked 3 times, but I could have easily stuffed it up!

So, I am off the yacht, with the laptop at home, no QK till I return to the yacht, Thurs or Friday....
But I will continue with what i am able...
Also checking here for any more information.

Cheers
Grippy

[wholybee]

You mention both com16 and com3, and also a GPS and a dAISy AIS. Are the GPS and dAISy connected directly to the PC, or are they connected to the quark?

First things first. You need to know what each is connected to what com ports. For troubleshooting the quark, it might be helpful to disable all other connections in OpenCPN.

[Grippy]

The AIS, and the gps, are usb connected to the laptop, not fed to the QK.

[Grippy]

Okay, and on Thursday, when I get back to the yacht, I will unplug the GPS and AIS, re-boot and try again.
I will also make efforts to copy and paste the data feeds, before and after the unplug...
At least to varify the condition.

[Corsair63]

Originally Posted by Grippy

The AIS, and the gps, are usb connected to the laptop, not fed to the QK.

with such connection via USB there wouldn't be a problem for OCPN to show the data because everyone should be a unique COM port that you have to setup individually to OCPN with their own characteristics.

would be a miracle that you'll get the data in the QK. unless when done the connections in OCPN you'll say that are output too of all strings, but I feel that useless because you're overcharging the system when should be properly as below.

why not using the QK 0183 inputs for GNSS and AIS?
GNSS in the #1 input
AIS in the #3 input because of data speed
after you route these inputs to USB output of the QK and you'll get all data in only one COM port, the one created via USB by QK.

do the connection in QK software one by one, and check the strings received in the software, they would say to you that you're properly receiving the required data.