Visit our Popular Forums

PhilC · 18-11-2023, 21:40

I'm running open CPN on a rugged Android tablet at the helm to use for navigation through coral reefs. This works really well, but I had to get my nephew to help set it up.

I'm familiar with using Windows, but Android is still somewhat of a mystery to me. Add this to the apparent peculiarities of directing open CPN to chart files in a memory card on the tablet and i'm struggling.

Is there a blow by blow guide somewhere I could use to set up the tablet?

Phil

sv_pelagia · 18-11-2023, 22:00

Not totally. There is a related Android App for opencpn help.

FYI, if higher Android OS (12 or higher?), you cannot access charts on SD card. You have to "migrate" them to the andriid opencpn folder.

cas206 · 20-11-2023, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilC

I'm running open CPN on a rugged Android tablet at the helm

Mind posting which one? Also check the settings (usually a gear icon) and look for information about the device. You can find the Android OS version someplace there.

PhilC · 21-11-2023, 15:34

The Tablet i'm using is a Galaxy Tab Active Pro. The OS is 11.

Thanks for your help.

Phil

cas206 · 21-11-2023, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilC

The Tablet i'm using is a Galaxy Tab Active Pro. The OS is 11.

Thanks for your help.

Phil

I've read that the SD card problem with Android OpenCPN, that was mentioned by SV_Pelagia, actually started with version 11. So any charts on SD that you have will need to be copied.

The easiest method to get charts is just to use the Chart Downloader to download them again. The Chart Downloader works on Android just like Windows. Hit the Gear icon inside OpenCPN on android to open settings. Click the Charts Tab. On my phone, I need to hit the right arrow (second row arrow), to reveal the "Chart Downloader" Tab. Then click Chart Downloader Tab.

You should see the empty Catalog window (unless you already have catalogs). Hit the Add Catalog Button, etc, etc. I assume you've done this on Windows? So I won't post the rest unless you run into problems.

The Charts will be downloaded on your devices internal storage. It can't be stored on SD card.

PhilC · 21-11-2023, 18:32

That makes sense. The current problem with open CPN not reading the charts started when a software update was installed. Does this mean that it is not possible to view charts stored on the memory card? There isn't enough memory in the device for the charts (thats why a memory card is being used).

rgleason · 21-11-2023, 22:07

I suggest that all Android users read the entire User Manual installation instructions particularly if you have Android 11, which is found here

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...lation:android

Please note that Android 11 Operating System changed the way files and apps work to provide greater security and protection. This change requires that the charts must be installed in a different location, which is described in more detail in the manual

Franziska · 21-11-2023, 22:39

The charts have to be migrated, and it's a pain because that way you can't share one chart folder between apps.

Be aware that the migration can take several hours and that the screen might be black and unresponsive in between.
I let it jug along and eventually it was done. The following chart folder update took some more hours though and got equally through.

But, the good news is that the migrated folder CAN reside on an external SD card. You are asked in the migration process if you want to install them there.

I have CM93 and MBtiles on my Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra on the SD card and use them with the OpenCPN app from Dave. It works.

barcoMeCasa · 21-11-2023, 23:01

Some find it easier to connect to a laptop and use a filemanager on there.

rgleason · 21-11-2023, 23:54

Yes connecting the android phone or tablet via USB to your PC and using a file manager is an excellent way to make updating and copying the files to the right place much easier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by barcoMeCasa

Some find it easier to connect to a laptop and use a filemanager on there.

Franziska · 22-11-2023, 03:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgleason

Yes connecting the android phone or tablet via USB to your PC and using a file manager is an excellent way to make updating and copying the files to the right place much easier.

Not really. Moving several Gb via USB is very slow. WiFi makes it easier. Best might be to put the external card into the PC to do it, but, I'm not sure where the folder for the migrated cards actually is....

cas206 · 22-11-2023, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgleason

I suggest that all Android users read the entire User Manual installation instructions particularly if you have Android 11, which is found here

Playstore says its' not compatible with Galaxy S20 FE (OS 13) and refuses to install.

cas206 · 22-11-2023, 09:46

For a clean install, with new SD card, on OS 13 (Samsung Galaxy S20 FE).

- Inserted new SD card in phone. Phone asked me to format it. I replied with yes.
- Started OpenCPN.
- Pressed the Gear.
- Pressed Charts and Chart Files
- Pressed the default directory "Charts" to select it and pressed Remove.
- Pressed Add.
- At the top of the screen were two tabs, "Device" and "SDCard". I pressed SDCard.
- I selected "Charts" and pressed OK at the bottom.
- At this point the new folder starts with "/storage/..."
- Pressed Apply at bottom.
- Pressed the right arrow to get to "Chart Downloader"
- Proceeded through the process to download charts. The default path for the downloads seem to point to the right place, the SD card.