OpenCPN and GPS

[Gabriel27]

Good morning,i have OpenCPN and a usb gps receiver Skylab SKM55,the problem i have is the position,it always showing my position sideway,even if i have full signal at the gps receiver.The difference for showing me sideway it differs from 10-20m up to 50-60m.I wonder,i must calibrate it somewhere?

[cagney]

What chart are you using, and what is the chart datum?
Is it WGS84 compatible.
If you compare he gps reading of a known object with the lat&long from google-earth - is there still an offset?

Thomas

[Gabriel27]

I'm using an Inland ECDIS 2.1(.000) chart made by local administration of the river for Danube river.And from what i've read on google about chart datum...this map have only 3 values of depth from which are made the contoures.
And unfortunately i haven't had time to compare it the gps reading on google earth..
And what do you mean by WGS84?
Also on the software which was delivered with the gps the altitude was never correct,does this have an effect of the position on map?

[Mark Ward]

I am using a Garmin etrex GPS connected to my computer running OpenCPN. This GPS works flawlessly with other mapping software I have but not with OpenCPN. My settings in the OpenCPN Tools/GPS menu are correct & Open CPN seems to recognize that my GPS is attached to the correct com port but my data stream window is empty & my location is not showing on the chart. Can anyone help me complete my OpenCPN/GPS connection so OpenCPN correctly identifys my location?

Your assistance is appreciated.

Mark

[Mark Ward]

Also: The OpenCPN manual said that OpenCPN users were experiencing problems with the GlobalSat BU-353 GPS receiver. Have these problems been worked out or is the BU-353 still not recommened for use with OpenCPN running in Windows 7? If they have been worked out I would consider buying the BU-353 to run in OpenCPN.

Thanks again, Mark

[HappySeagull]

Originally Posted by Mark Ward

I am using a Garmin etrex GPS connected to my computer running OpenCPN. This GPS works flawlessly with other mapping software I have but not with OpenCPN. My settings in the OpenCPN Tools/GPS menu are correct & Open CPN seems to recognize that my GPS is attached to the correct com port but my data stream window is empty & my location is not showing on the chart. Can anyone help me complete my OpenCPN/GPS connection so OpenCPN correctly identifys my location?

Your assistance is appreciated.

Mark

Mark, assuming you are on a windows computer and since other apps can see the gps, perhaps try "xport" or a similar emulator as an intermediary just to see. It's a useful app anyways, because you can run two nav programs from the same gps at the same time!
The other things that come to mind are the settings in the gps itself.Double-check and Set this to NMEA output,not "Garmin".
also, a "search" of this opencpn forum or the navigation forum may turn up something solved specific to the etrex.

[familycruisers]

My BU-353 works well. Just make sure you let it do its thing before opening OpenCPN.

[lolarose]

Originally Posted by familycruisers

My BU-353 works well. Just make sure you let it do its thing before opening OpenCPN.

same here. i am using bu-353 for few years now with opencpn and never had one single problem. actually i already crossed biscay twice using this combination, only what you just said, i first let bu-353 to pick up satelite and then i open ocpn.