I just expirimented with a input from 6100 AIS targets into oppenCPN and it behaves and performs very well, excellent !
Also the bug with the inland-AIS ships is perfect solved!
Nice feature is the Blue-sign square on the screen.
The only problem is the Target List freezes up and makes it useless. OpenCPN should only display targets within the visible screen,zoom
out,and you see them all. Siitech's Web VTS Lite has presently some 13.000
targets but there are no delays in the listings.
__________________ "And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by."
The only problem is the Target List freezes up and makes it useless.
OpenCPN should only display targets within the visible screen,zoom
out,and you see them all. Siitech's Web VTS Lite has presently some 13.000
targets but there are no delays in the listings.
Dear Sinbad,
Personaly I find a target list at sea useless, is is no added value for navigation, as a skilled seaman. The way opencpn handles the visible screen is excellent. In that way I do not use target lists. In every program the target list is freezing with so many targets.
Anyway, the MKD shows always a standard targetlist.
A prudent mariner uses ALL facilities available to him ensuring safe and reliable navigation.
In heavily trafficated areas it can be very tedious and time consuming checking each target for a specific ship. Fortunately,the target list does not have to be activated for those who absolutely detest it. Many boating programs have not yet been updated properly regarding heavy AIS traffic but have a look at Siitech's Web VTS Lite program and you will find it instantaneous in spite of 13.000 targets.
__________________ "And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by."
Boat: TINTEL (36ft Hoek design) see https://www.moree.nl/tintel
Posts: 126
I do agree with wadnwind. Keep OCPN as simple and light as possible. I do cross shippinglines on the North Sea regularly but never ever look at the target list.
Too much information is bad. Example, if you have a chartplotter with radar overlayed and ais in a heavy traffic area, then it might be difficult to read the screen. But a info-panel in the right (or left) side as in Navisailor would be great...
For those who wish to run two applications simultaneously, ie Open CPN and Google Earth (via Earth Bridge) off the one GPS, refer to a site Eterlogic.com (and look for VSPE Virtual Serial Port Emulation "Splitter" mode). Google Earth via a free interface (Earth Bridge) will display your current position pictorially, if provided with GPS data.The combination may be useful when entering port to look at jetty fingers, wharves, layout etc. Be aware that Google Earth photos are sometimes many years out of date. Also you will require Internet access which is most likely near or approaching land. Beware of scaling if using split screens.
Commercialsoftware for similar applications usually costs between US$12 and US$50. The above software is free.
Didn't know where to post this but wanted to comment. Just finished Stuart, Florida to Galveston, Texas trip on a 47 foot sailboat. Opencpn with NOAA charts was WAY better than the Garmin Blue Chart in ALL areas. It allowed me to do things that were unheard of until now. The crew was amazed that I could call out depth changes to within a foot 15 seconds before they would happen. The tide information was exact, the intercoastal channel information in the Galveston/Houston area was incredible and I have to tell you that OPENCPN made me look like a LOT better navigator than I am. I was able to plan land falls to exactly match the tides and our navigation was exactly right on the whole way. I was able to transfer information to paper charts incredibly easy and trip planning was made way to easy. It integrated perfectly with all the GPS units onboard including a couple of handhelds of different manufacturers. It loaded up cleanly and with no problems at all on the 3 different lap tops I have installed it on and it was incredibly easy to learn to operate. I could go on and on but ultimately the best thing I can say about it is that in a couple of marginal situations while using multiple platforms and paper charts I found OPENCPN to be the most accurate and user friendly of all the information that was available to me. On my own boat I now plan on using it instead of some much "fancier" and more costly software. Wow, what a learning experience it was to have such an incredible tool. Many Many thanks to OPENCPN and all that have helped to develop it. I still can't believe it was free... amazing....
For those who wish to run two applications simultaneously, ie Open CPN and Google Earth (via Earth Bridge) off the one GPS, refer to a site Eterlogic.com (and look for VSPE Virtual Serial Port Emulation "Splitter" mode). Google Earth via a free interface (Earth Bridge) will display your current position pictorially, if provided with GPS data.The combination may be useful when entering port to look at jetty fingers, wharves, layout etc. Be aware that Google Earth photos are sometimes many years out of date. Also you will require Internet access which is most likely near or approaching land. Beware of scaling if using split screens.
Commercial software for similar applications usually costs between US$12 and US$50. The above software is free.
Will a kind and knowledgeable soul take care of this ?
This alternative palette
- modifies the colours for land, built-up areas, deep sea and uncharted/danger/very shallow zones around rocks
- decreases texts 2 points
Warning: The modified charts may be less legible than the same charts using the current S52RAZDS file while navigating
But French users may welcome the increased similarity with French SHOM charts when planning cruises at home ...
W
Linear Mode
Recent Discussions