Quote:
Originally Posted by James_Armstrong
Hello,
I would like to know if you need to have a internet connection to run OpenCPN? I have down loaded my charts and everything seems to be working. So what would I need the internet for? I hope this question isn't to reveling as to my lack of ... Thanks in advance. We love OpenCPN and are just getting started.
James Armstrong
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No, you do not need the internet to use OpenCPN. You only need internet to download new/updated charts or other files such as
weather grib files. Also, your computer will need
security updates from time to time.
OpenCPN works with a local area
network (LAN) on the
boat if there is one. It can send and receive real time
navigation data such as
wind,
depth,
autopilot or any other NMEA0183 data over a LAN. It can also send/receive the same data over USB or RS-232
serial ports. It can transfer data from/to serial/LAN. There are plugins that allow to see a
radar display overlaid on the chart display. That
radar data typically is on the boat LAN.
You only “need” one source of
navigation data onboard which is a source of position data such as a
GPS or
AIS unit. That data allows you to see your own boat’s position on the chart. The most commonly used is a so-called USB
GPS “puck”. Amazon sells them for about $40US.