Open cpn query...anyone?

[mackerel man]

Hi, I use open cpn and would like advice on two things....

One, in the top right of the screen where the GPS signal bars are, if you click on the icon there it will turn from blue to red or visa-versa...why? what does that do?

Two, sometimes my usb connector from the GPS gets the slightest toch and I loose the signal....every time this happens i have to close the program and re-open it....losing my route etc.... V.annoying! Is there any other way of 'refreshing' or similar that will get it to reconnect without the re-boot? (There was a time when I could pull the usb out and put it back but that no longer works).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.

[Moontide]

Don's see any other responses so here you go.

1.

[Moontide]

Didn't see any other responses so here you go.

1. Think it turns the GPS on and off.

2. I can usually solve this by going to tools/connections and un-selecting the GPS port, applying it and then re-selecting it.

Hope that helps.
Bill

[cagney]

Your first question.
It's a question of display orientation.
Red -> Course Up
Blue -> North Up
With no gps or with zero SOG both will show north up.

More here https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...ay_orientation

Please read the friendly manual. It is built into OpenCPN. Go to "About OpenCPN"(blue book with a ? in the toolbar), an press "Help".

Thomas

[rgleason]

Please search the user manual on gps icon or getting started.
All explained there.

[rgleason]

Also get a new usb connector or fix it! Its a hardware problem.

[rgleason]

Do not just pull your usb out, usually not a good idea, particularly on drives.

[Lucas1983]

I have never used Open CPN but might at some point. I just have Navionics right now and used regular plotters but could you tell me the main differences and benefits from having open cpn or what it does that other devices and programs dont. I heard you can set way points on your computer and i guess Bluetooth them to your plotter in the cockpit or it receives any course change somehow, does that sound familiar? there are many many thread on open CPN, could you tell me or suggest what I should read to learn about it besdies what you can tell me here.
thank you. Any advice is welcome. Also does a AIS system work with cpn on your computer to where you can look at a screen showing the boats with AIS like radar kinda

Originally Posted by cagney

Your first question.
It's a question of display orientation.
Red -> Course Up
Blue -> North Up
With no gps or with zero SOG both will show north up.

More here https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...ay_orientation

Please read the friendly manual. It is built into OpenCPN. Go to "About OpenCPN"(blue book with a ? in the toolbar), an press "Help".

Thomas

[nohal]

Originally Posted by Lucas1983

I have never used Open CPN but might at some point. I just have Navionics right now and used regular plotters but could you tell me the main differences and benefits from having open cpn or what it does that other devices and programs dont. I heard you can set way points on your computer and i guess Bluetooth them to your plotter in the cockpit or it receives any course change somehow, does that sound familiar? there are many many thread on open CPN, could you tell me or suggest what I should read to learn about it besdies what you can tell me here.
thank you. Any advice is welcome. Also does a AIS system work with cpn on your computer to where you can look at a screen showing the boats with AIS like radar kinda

Lucas...

Install OpenCPN, which is free, download some free NOAA charts for the area either south or north from where you seem to be settled using the integrated downloader, use it to learn what it does, how and whether you like it or prefer some other tools.
If you like to read instead (or with it), read the manual at https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...pn_user_manual (or integrated in the program for offline viewing) - It likely has the information you would like us to duplicate here for you in a bit more comprehensive form than we are able to produce just guessing what exactly you are interested in. To your question, it "does sound familiar"...

If and how you can transfer waypoints and other info to your plotter depends on what plotter you have.

What OpenCPN can do that other programs and devices can't of course depends on what "other programs" and "devices" you have on mind.

And yes, you can view AIS targets "kinda like radar" if you like using the AIS radar plugin if you for some reason prefer it over the normal view on the chart canvas.

Pavel

[sy_gilana]

How about this as the main difference between O and all the others.

OpenCPN is driven by real sailors. Right now somewhere, an OpenCPN user or programmer, or Plug-In builder is thinking of a better way of doing something, while the programmers paid by the "others" are waiting for next months management meeting to discuss improvements, that programmers have written, but management think is too expensive, and the bottom line will guide every decision.

OpenCPN is created with love, for the love of it. The others are created to take your money.