New Plugin NmeaConvertor

[rooiedirk]

I wanted dashboard to show the air temperature, but my AirmarPB200 doesn't send the right senteces for this. Now could I hack around in dashboard to get it work, but decided to take an other way.
I made a hard coded plugin to take the temp data from the PB200 (a $WIMDA sentence) and convert this to a $xxMTA sentence wanted by dashboard. When this worked I made it more general useable by adding a kind of spreadsheet art of formula writing.
In principle you can compose every posible nmea sentence, and send timed or after updating the input variables. That is sending every x seconds, or after all variables used in the output are renewed.
This could help to get some picky instruments working. Say converting waypoint to a format the autopilot understands, or routes to a gps that wants a special format.
https://github.com/RooieDirk/NmeaConverter
It works for me using linux, but almost sure to contain bugs. Attached a compiled linux 32 bit version and a very simple howto.
If somebody could try to make a windows .dll, that would be appreciated.
Constructive comments are welcomed.

PS working now to add calculating as in spreadsheets.

[nohal]

Dirk...
Many thanks.
The installation packages for Windows and Mac are now available at https://sourceforge.net/projects/ope...aconverter_pi/
The Ubuntu packages will be ready in a couple of minutes in the beta PPA - just

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install opencpn-plugin-nmeaconverter

Have fun

Pavel

[rooiedirk]

Added functions and calculations. So now you can recalculate some nmea data before transmitting again in a different form.
source code is now https://github.com/RooieDirk/NmeaConverter_pi here.

[rgleason]

Rooie Dirk, Thank you for the plugin. I tried compiling it for Windows and installed it, and simply tried enabling it and then went into preferences and looked and then closed preferences without changing the Dummy entry, the plugin bombed Opencpn unfortunately. Perhaps there should be a message that says you should change the Dummy entry into meaningful nmea, and then not send Opencpn anything to the thing closes without bomb.

I then found your nice short explanation pdf in this thread and should try to get my head around how you write a conversion because its going to become very handy.

I wonder if some of this how to could become more integrated? So when someone opens that Preferences, there is a Help button? More work I know, but I think the plugin is going to be very useful for people. Thanks for making it in any case.

Rick

[rooiedirk]

Rick,
Thanks for catching a fly. Forgot to check for a empty list. Corrected in git now. Including help will take some more time.

[rgleason]

Rooie Dirk, I finally made a Tracker entry for pi - NmeaConverter would you be the admin?
Thanks.

OpenCPN::Tracker pi - NmeaConverter: Tasklist

[edelvoilier]

Hi Guys,

I would like to know how to use nmeaconverter using a XDR sentence.

XDR sentence can be use to send severals sort of informations

NMEA documentation said :
1 2 3 4 n
| | | | |
$--XDR,a,x.x,a,c--c, ..... *hh
1) Transducer type
2) Measurement data
3) Units of measurement
4) Name of transducer
x) More of the same
n) Checksum


For example my wind sensor send Two XDR sentences 1 for temperature and pressure and other for humidity

$OWXDR,H,77.7,P,2*65
$OWXDR,C,21.6,C,3,P,95754,P,4*70

So my request is : How to do to create a WIMDA sentence using those XDR sentences ?

Good idea this plugin

[edelvoilier]

XDR sentences are :

$OWXDR,H,77.7,P,2*
$OWXDR,C,21.6,C,3*
$OWXDR,P,95754,P,4*

[rooiedirk]

I'm afraid you this doesn't work. The nmeaConverterPI does select te sentences is uses by TalkerID and sentence indentifier. As you are haveing different sentences with the same dentification the PI can't know with one to use.
As the PI is written now the "," is also the seperator, and you cant use it as an selector.
Dirk

[rooiedirk]

Originally Posted by rgleason

Rooie Dirk, I finally made a Tracker entry for pi - NmeaConverter would you be the admin?
Thanks.

OpenCPN::Tracker pi - NmeaConverter: Tasklist

I could do, but as an merchant seaman I am regular a few months away.

[rgleason]

Yes, understood. Sean is too on his voyages.

[povl]

I don't suppose anyone could post a recent Mac OS X build of the NMEA converter either on the website or on this forum? Pavel's package on GitHub is quite an old version - and while I normally would compile it myself, I am currently at sea with a slow satellite link, and forgot to copy my build environment onto my laptop before leaving...

Thanks,

Povl
(currently on RV Araon, 56°47'S 166°26'W)

[rgleason]

Povl, maybe Peter (ptulp) will compile it for you.
I will shoot him a PM

[ptulp]

Originally Posted by povl

I don't suppose anyone could post a recent Mac OS X build of the NMEA converter

You can download the latest version here:
https://github.com/ptulp/NmeaConvert...Plugin_0.2.pkg

Peter

[povl]

Thank you very much, Peter and Rick. Downloaded successfully!

Povl
(now at 60°02'S 157°54'W, with ever slower internet access...)