OpenCPN General

[ironman]

Am I right in finding that the Voyage Data Recorder plugin does not work anymore when OpenCPN is connected to signalk instead? If so, is there an alternative in OpenCPN or should I resort to SignalK for recording purposes? Thx!

[nohal]

You should use the recording capabilities built into the SignalK server.

[rgleason]

This is called feature creep. VDR was never intended to record signalk.
Make a RFE request for enhancement in tracker.

[LennartG]

Ironman: One option worth to try is described here: https://github.com/SignalK/signalk-to-nmea0183. This Signal K app generates NMEA 0183 from Signal K and the NMEA 0183 can then be read through port 10110.
/LennartG

[ironman]

Originally Posted by rgleason

This is called feature creep. VDR was never intended to record signalk.

I understand, and it is not my intention to demand backward compatibility beyond reasonability . I'm just looking for the best way to record my data in a new, signalk based constellation.

[Hakan]

Ironman..
To just record data in SK take a lock at InfluxDB and the SK plugin "signalk-to-influxdb".
But if the intention is to record data for later "reply" in OCPN it would not be the best method. I've at least not looked into that.

The other method is already mentioned. Use the SK plugin: "Convert Signal K to NMEA0183" and connect OCPN to network TCP address as of the signalk connection but port 10110 instead. Then you can use VDR to record as desired. In the SK plugin you can also select what to transfer and use that OCPN connection for VDR only and keep the signalk connection as is.
Happy playing
Håkan

[SCarns]

Originally Posted by Hakan

Ironman..
To just record data in SK take a lock at InfluxDB and the SK plugin "signalk-to-influxdb".
But if the intention is to record data for later "reply" in OCPN it would not be the best method. I've at least not looked into that.

The other method is already mentioned. Use the SK plugin: "Convert Signal K to NMEA0183" and connect OCPN to network TCP address as of the signalk connection but port 10110 instead. Then you can use VDR to record as desired. In the SK plugin you can also select what to transfer and use that OCPN connection for VDR only and keep the signalk connection as is.
Happy playing
Håkan

I second this option. I've never found the signalk connection in OpenCPN to work well for me (I've actually never been able to make it work and haven't cared enough to pursue it), so I've always used the "SignalK-to-nmea0183" plugin and port 10110 (which is bi-directional!). This lets SK do all the translation and, as Håkan points out, you can choose to limit what get's sent. OpenCPN and all the plugins work "normally" this way, including VDR.

[ironman]

Hey thanks for you guys input. I'm actually a big fan of native signalk - it's such a smarter way to distribute data instead of sending around nmea0183 messages. Since I switched to the native signalk connection in opencpn I never had the inclination to switch back to the old way with kplex - or burden my plotter software with data integration tasks.

In the meantime I have tweaked a copy of that signalk plugin to log straight to a file instead. It's not ready for publishing yet (I still have to hardcode the filename) but I'll post the solution to my problem here in due time.

[Walito]

I'm new to this forum. Not sure where to ask this. I'm trying to learn opencpn in my living room. Does anyone know of a simulator that can be used with opencpn?

[DreamCatcher37]

See https://chartlocker.brucebalan.com/ Bruce has some how to DIY use Open CPN he is a rock star sailor resource.

[Walito]

Not sure where to post this question. Is there a simulator available for opencpn? I'm stuck on dry land but want to become familiar with the program.

[yachtvalhalla]

Originally Posted by Walito

Not sure where to post this question. Is there a simulator available for opencpn? I'm stuck on dry land but want to become familiar with the program.

Hi Walito,

Welcome to the forum. But before you get the admins angry please don't double post your questions, OK?

I'm not aware of any simulators but you do raise an interesting point. It would be easy for those underway to use the VDR plugin to record their NMEA inputs and share that recorded data for playback in another person's program.

Let's see if any others respond to this idea and if it seems to have merit would be a candidate for a Flyspray addition.

Safe sailing,

Terry

[Antipole]

Originally Posted by Walito

Is there a simulator available for opencpn? I'm stuck on dry land but want to become familiar with the program.

Is the ShipDriver plugin what you are looking for?

Or use the JavaScript plugin and run the Driver script available in the scripts library.

With either of these, you can driver your own ship around and even navigate a route

[rgleason]

@bdbcat


Under the Manual "Move a Mark" we state "You can move the mark by left-click-dragging it around."
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...es#move_a_mark


This no longer appears to be true. Is this intentional?

If so this line should be removed.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by rgleason

@bdbcat


Under the Manual "Move a Mark" we state "You can move the mark by left-click-dragging it around."
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...es#move_a_mark


This no longer appears to be true. Is this intentional?

If so this line should be removed.

It is not so clear cut. Some waypoints act as before (you can move them by right click and dragging) while others do not (dragging moves the whole map) and the same is true with left click and dragging.

It is as if the prohibition against dragging unless the properties dialog is open stays in effect even when the properties IS open.

I have not figured out what makes the difference.

I wonder if the marks which cannot be dragged were created under a previous release.