Navico BR24 Radar - Open Source protocol implementation

[ewitts]

Well, I just hooked up a lowrance 3g radar to a hds5, looked good. Then I tried connecting the radar to the computer, I could not turn it on. I then turned it on with the hds 5 switched the cable to the computer and it displayed but I could not use the controls to zoom. At least I get a radar image to my computer at the nav station.

[jonasaberg]

Please provide some more details!

Which software did you use to get a picture?
Did you use the OpenBR24 software?

Did you try using a hub like it is described in the paper?

I dont have a BR24, or any other radar, but am interested in this development.

/J

[ewitts]

Yes I used the openbr24 software but I was just bench testing all my new electronics and data flow products. I was planning on some kind of hardware like a hub but I haven't gotten that far yet.

[prca]

Hi guys,
I'm new to this forum. I'm also interested in Open source radar protocols. I have two 4G's, that I connect over SDK from Navico. Catch is that You need unlock key for every particular piece. I'm planning to read this link about BR24, it's seems interesting...

[ewitts]

What do they charge for that and what is the functionality? I thought it was just a licensing agreement.

[prca]

A lot if You ask me, about 900€ for L1 license. You get control of all the gains and ranges, and of course You get radar image, plus tracking, but only MARPA... this is not much of help. Protocol, at least what I can see, is the same as this for BR24. I will try in a few days(now I'm on hollidays) this Java implementation from Austrian team, to see if 4G would work without license. I also noticed that this SDK supports other Navico radars.


I also have one Nobeltec radar(Koden) and of today I started to work on dissasembling their protocol... If I succeed I will be glad to share it. I can not share Navico SDK because of NDA

[ewitts]

Seems a little high, I used the old Raymarine software it was 600 $ us, and it had chart overlay function as well. I'm really surprised that on my HDS they don't have AIS overlay on the radar. When ocean sailing all I need is radar and ais, I'm not looking at charts.

[ewitts]

I like this, here's a screen shot. Overlay would be nice.screen.PNG Views: 294 Size: 251.5 KB ID: 44145" style="margin: 2px" />

[deandavis1]

I remember reading that the guys who worked on the BR24 project felt it would work on 3G but not on 4G because of protocol changes. I have been in contact with a member from the Roboat project team. He was really friendly. I know he is very busy with his thesis, but was also very keen to get his hands on a 4G. I wonder if there is an opportunity to get him a member's loan 4G unit or all contribute if he could get involved?

I would love a 3G solution, but love a 4G solution even more. Maybe worth focusing our efforts on 4G???

I have sent the Roboat team member a link to this thread on the off chance he can be involved.