Signal K Implementation

[verkerkbr]

Originally Posted by conachair

Been using SigK 24/7 since the very start so know all this

But also that no one much is using it outside the much more techy type cruisers/sailors. For the other countless thousands probably running windows getting SigK installed is just way to involved, say there was a Opencpn plugin like the openplotter V2 installers which does all the work then suddenly SigK is actually a realistic option for many thousands on Win as it's another mouse click in familiar territory. Or some sort of easy windows installer, WSL is a burning chasm to far to leap over for most as is loading node etc (which didn't work on my W10)

OpenPlotter has allready made it easy to install a SignalK server on the Raspberry Pi. But it also works very well on other Linux systems.

The wait is for a simple install for the Windows users.

It is still early days for "John the User". But the impression here is that there is a fast growing interest in SignalK solutions. At first someone thought I was the only user of SignalK. But that has changed now.

Regards,


Bram

[conachair]

Originally Posted by verkerkbr

The wait is for a simple install for the Windows users.

Exactly. A simple process including installing infuxdb & chronograf/grafana with no command line so the masses will join in.

[rgleason]

Signal K Resources

1. Signal K Implementation (in OpenCPN) <-Its not a server
2. Signal K node server instructions for Windows <-SignalK server
3. Signal K (Technical discussion about implementation) (by Signal K and other experts)
4. Dashboard-Tactics_pi the first plugin with Signal K data input streaming
5. Signal K Github Readme
6. Signal K pages (OpenCPN Supplementary Manual)

[verkerkbr]

Originally Posted by rgleason

Signal K Resources

1. Signal K Implementation (in OpenCPN) <-Its not a server
2. Signal K node server instructions for Windows <-SignalK server
3. Signal K (Technical discussion about implementation) (by Signal K and other experts)
4. Dashboard-Tactics_pi the first plugin with Signal K data input streaming
5. Signal K Github Readme
6. Signal K pages (OpenCPN Supplementary Manual)

Hi RGleason,

with OpenPlotter installing the SignalK server is very simple both on the RPI or on other Linux systems.

For most of the Windows users, installing SignalK is much too complicated. It must be a simple download and then install of the SignalK server.

Is this so difficult to make ?

Thanks for all your efforts for OpenCPN.

Regards,

Bram

[verkerkbr]

The SignalK server can be updated to version 1.20.

Works on my Linux 64 AMD, Raspberry Pi 4 and my Linux 386 system.

Update on the 64 system was possible within the application. For the Raspberry and the 386 I had to use the reinstall from the OpenPlotter menu.

Works well and is faster.

The input of SignalK is also working perfect on the 64 and RPI.


Bram

[teppokurki]

Originally Posted by bdbcat

re:
"(To be precise: it will, once I've added subscription support to its tcp service. I'll get back to this.)"

I'm confused. Is this not implemented now? If not, how is the current OCPN server access working at all?

Starting with release 1.19 SK Node server's tcp connection starts with nothing subscribed - previously it send everything for own ship. I checked the related O code a while back and believe everything should be in working order, but if not let me know.

On seccond thought I'd be happy to know that things do work after this change, so please let me know.

https://github.com/SignalK/signalk-s...es/tag/v1.19.0

[teppokurki]

One point related to choice of TCP as the integration mechanism: there is no authentication or access control defined for Signal K over TCP.

Furthermore there currently is no easy way in Node server to configure the TCP service to bind to localhost, which would be pretty easy to add and would limit exposure.

Using WebSockets would provide options for encryption, authentication and access control.

Any thoughts on this?

[verkerkbr]

Originally Posted by verkerkbr

The SignalK server can be updated to version 1.20.

Works on my Linux 64 AMD, Raspberry Pi 4 and my Linux 386 system.

Update on the 64 system was possible within the application. For the Raspberry and the 386 I had to use the reinstall from the OpenPlotter menu.

Works well and is faster.

The input of SignalK is also working perfect on the 64 and RPI.


Bram

There is also an update available for NPM (the basis for nodejs)

sudo npm i -g npm@latest

latest version v6.13.6

Works on the RPI, AMD64 and 386 Linux versions.

[bdbcat]

verkerkbr...
Can you give some sample instructions on how to update the SignalK server on OpenPlotter, and other platforms? This will help encourage more active testing.


Thanks
Dave

[BlackSea]

dave
I recommend original documentation.
https://github.com/SignalK/signalk-server-node/blob/master/raspberry_pi_installation.md

At the end of the document, you can find the information you need

[verkerkbr]

Originally Posted by bdbcat

verkerkbr...
Can you give some sample instructions on how to update the SignalK server on OpenPlotter, and other platforms? This will help encourage more active testing.


Thanks
Dave

Hi Dave,

In my AMD64 Linux Mint version Tricia the update can be done with the settings in SignalK server (update) then you get the 1.20 version.

I installed SignalK also on this AMD64 system with the add-ons of OpenPlotter.

On my Raspberry and 386 system I had to use the Openplotter SignalK installer and the setting Reinstall SignalK to get the latest SignalK 1.20 version.

Worked well on my 3 systems.

There is also an update for NPM:

npm i -G npm@latest to v6.13.6

Perhaps for interest for you. Now running the 64 bits version of Raspian Buster on the RPI4 and 3b+. Using the V8 (64 bits) kernel. Latest kernel version is 4.19.93-V8+

Here I got the 64 bits Raspian version:

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrI...Rzb3GAvnwSC7s-

The compiled version of OpenCPN 5.0.522 by DanT. is also running on the 64 bits RPI with the SignalK input.

Regards,


Bram

[transmitterdan]

For testers wanting to use Raspberry Pi 4 Buster here is a package server you can use temporarily until Buster is supported by the official PPA. Install the testing server with this at a shell prompt:

curl -1sLf \

  'https://dl.cloudsmith.io/public/dan-dickey/opencpn-raspbian-unstable/cfg/setup/bash.deb.sh' \

  | sudo bash

sudo apt update

Then you can install Opencpn and Tactics plugin like this:

sudo apt install opencpn tactics_pi

When testing is finished you can remove the temporary package server with:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/dan-dickey-opencpn-raspbian-unstable.list

sudo apt-get clean

sudo rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*

sudo apt-get update

At the moment only Opencpn alpha test version (5.0.522) and Tactics_pi are hosted. More packages can be added as time and user demand make feasible.

[verkerkbr]

Today I received a Garmin NMEA2K GPS to test a setup with the small Canable canbus adapter and OpenPlotter on the RPI4.

Using the settings in OpenPlotter only, it did not work. But after sending the inialitation string for the CandleLight firmware, It worked.

NMEA2K >Canbus/canboat> SignalK > OpenCPN.


Bram

[bdbcat]

verkerkbr...
Did finally come to update my rPI 2+/OpenPlotter device to SignalK server 1.20. Observations:
1. Subscription model works. Tested by tempoary OCPN code patches. No data transferred at all if not subscribed, and all expected data transferred on simple subscription request:

{
 \"context\":\"vessels.self\",\"subscribe\":[{\"path\":\"navigation.*\"}]
}

2. mDNS discovery works fine.


I tweaked OCPN source to drop some log-flooding messages from AIS decoder. New code in github now.


Thanks for the update.
Dave

[verkerkbr]

First test was with my Garmin NMEA2000 GPS was with the RPI 4.

Now done the same test with a 64 bits Linux Mint Tricia. This also works. But I have to send the inialisation string for the Canable board with the Candlelight firmware.

The easiest way to install SignalK on a 64 bits Linux is with the OpenPlotter add-ons for Linux.

The input of SignalK is now direct in OpenCPN.

Bram