How to Install OpenCPN on Ubuntu

[claire]

Hi,

My last XP laptop died and I now have a new W7 one. OpenCPN on Windows 7 is incompatible with my GPS.
Following someone's advice, I have set up my laptop to dual boot ubuntu, specifically to run OpenCPN reliably.
So, now, I have a brand new Ubuntu 12.10 installation, and I went to read the official instructions to install OpenCPN: I do not understand them!!! It seems to be a rather common problem with ubuntu, that the language used to give instructions sounds just like some barbarian language.
I can use the software center and the synaptics package manager, I am even willing to go as far as open the terminal and copy/paste commands, but PLEASE, if I can't get opencpn from the "software center" or through synaptics package manager, provide the needed commands in the right order.

I tried, but the following gibberish from the installation manual is beyond me:
Install libwxgtk2.8-0 that is compiled with support for sdl - Simple DirectMedia Layer. Such versions are available from Index of /. OpenCPN 3.0.x requires a minimum version of 2.8.12, for all features to work as expected.
Download the correct package for your version of Debian or Ubuntu and

$sudo dpkg -i ibwxgtk2.8XXXXXX (the proper name of the downloaded version)

or, follow these instructions: wiki.wxpython.org/InstallingOnUbuntuOrDebian, to add apt.wxwidgets.org as a source for packages.


Thank you

[claire]

I found my answer in posts # 4 and 5 of this thread:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post1061288

Then, used post #1 of this thread to connect GPS:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...4-a-91302.html

I had to do a little work with this command "dmesg" to identify the correct serial port: in my case, I found this sentence in the middle of a very long response: "usb1-1.4 attached to ttyUSB0"

Still, I have to open OpenCPN by typing "opencpn" each time in a terminal window, and leave the terminal open for the duration. I get the following response:

user@ubuntu:~$ opencpn

(opencpn:2038): Gdk-CRITICAL **: IA__gdk_window_get_origin: assertion `GDK_IS_WINDOW (window)' failed

If anybody can give me a fix to that, it would be appreciated.

In the mean tine, thanks a lot to Stephenippolito !!!!!

[HappySeagull]

Claire,
I've been told hereabouts, somewheres,... that that nasty message is not a problem...
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post943971

and more ...http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...archid=4180452

(...there are way too many suppositories made for the penguin, aren't there?)

[claire]

easier way to find where the GPS is connected

enter the command:

dmesg | grep tty

It will list all your serial ports in use.