WeatherFax ...

[rgleason]

benite, you are using a very old repository that is badly out of date. sean's.
See this huge Pull Request https://github.com/seandepagnier/weatherfax_pi/pulls
from my repository

https://github.com/rgleason/weatherf...ation=rgleason


Use that.
It looks like you have the form correct. Good job.
The changes to weatherfaxinternetretrieval.xml look good. I would shorten the name to NOAA Freeze Spray"


It looks like you have the coordinates.xml lines ok, you have a totally new section and are using area=1



When you use the Image Wizard File>Edit try picking at the second screen, "Image Coordinates" dropdown "New Coords" Then set up the image. Then find that set of coords in the files and move them into the line where needed.

[benito334]

Thanks for looking at my changes! I will fork your repository.

Originally Posted by rgleason

When you use the Image Wizard File>Edit try picking at the second screen, "Image Coordinates" dropdown "New Coords" Then set up the image. Then find that set of coords in the files and move them into the line where needed.

This is what I did to derive the elements of the Coordinates file but for some reason it doesn't inport or use them.

[rgleason]

Originally Posted by benito334

Thanks for looking at my changes! I will fork your repository.
This is what I did to derive the elements of the Coordinates file but for some reason it doesn't inport or use them.

Perhaps try copy and paste?

[benito334]

I was able to get it working when I used one of the existing Server/Region/CoordinateSet names such as "Bermuda" When I name my entries after an existing one, it works fine. When I call it something new, such as "NOAA Freezing Spray" Region "Alaska" it doesn't work.



Is there somewhere else besides. The CoordinateSet file and WeatherFaxInternetRetrieval_* file that the Server and Region needs to be added?

[rgleason]

Benito this is an excellent point! I am sorry, I forgot that there are two locations for coordinateSets.xml.
For example for Windows I find them at

• C:\ProgramData\opencpn\plugins\weatherfax\coordina teSets.xml
• C:\Users\fcgle\AppData\Local\opencpn\plugins\weath erfax_pi\data\coordinateSets.xml (installation file)

Now it is different for various environments depending on the OS. For that we have to refer to Alec's excellent documentation and Installation Path tree in the Developer Manual

https://opencpn-manuals.github.io/ma...ion-paths.html

coordinateSets.xml gets copied to a user location that is "owned" by the user (has read-write permissions) so that they can write to the file and save the coordinates. The installation file remains owned by the application and does not change unless it is modified manually.


Please say what OS and where you find the files. Thanks. I am going to have to get back into this at some point, every time requires a refresh in the mind.

[GordotheGrey]

Hi Rick,
I have recently done a clean install of OCPN on an uptodate Win10 PC.
Tried to update the data sources and got a no internet error. My internet is fine and OCPNB plugin catalog upates just fine. target error ?
I'm in Australia and none of the BOM links work.
I have no github experience but, I'm happy to have a crack at updating the target URLs if you can point me to the right place to compare the required format

regards
Gordo

[Franziska]

Hi,

we like to optimize the Tecsun PL-880 reception & therefore want to add an external antenna to it.

As we have Dyneema rigging and thru bolted stainless chain plates I am thinking of putting a cable inside of one of the Dyneema shrouds and attaching it on the outside on the chain plate bolt.
Than add a short cable from the chain plate bolt on the inside to the Tecsun PL-880 antenna in socket.

Here the questions:

1)
How long should the cable inside the shroud be?
2)
What material is best?
3)
Can it be a simple single insulated copper wire?
4)
If so, will it not quickly corrode at the stainless chain plate?
5)
Is multistrand copper better?
6)
What cross-section should it have?
7)
Do I need to add the short internal cable to the overall length?
8)
What do I need as ground if I do not have a ground system?

Thanks for answers and instructions.

[rgleason]

Originally Posted by GordotheGrey

Hi Rick,
I have recently done a clean install of OCPN on an uptodate Win10 PC.
Tried to update the data sources and got a no internet error. My internet is fine and OCPNB plugin catalog upates just fine. target error ?
I'm in Australia and none of the BOM links work.
I have no github experience but, I'm happy to have a crack at updating the target URLs if you can point me to the right place to compare the required format

regards
Gordo

Thank you Gordo for your report. I have tried File > Update Data Sources and get the same error. I will add this to Issues and try to get this fixed.
It is going to Sean's Repository for the data, yet he has not accepted a number of PR from my repos. I don't believe this is the problem, but it is possible we made some changes to the data, and his repos contains outdated data.

[rgleason]

@Gordothegrey

I'm in Australia and none of the BOM links work.
I have no github experience but, I'm happy to have a crack at updating the target URLs if you can point me to the right place to compare the required format

I would dearly like to have all the BOM links working and updated, and if you can provide the data files for this, I will include them in the next release of weatherfax!

The data files are:
WeatherfaxInternetRetrieval_<location>.xml
There are multiple files based on world location. These are found here.
C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Local\opencpn\plugins\weat herfax_pi\data or %localappdata%\Local\opencpn\plugins\weatherfax_pi \data
where the plugin was installed. For other OS locations, take a look at the Dev Manual page here Terminology and Installation Paths The file for BOM is most likely WeatherfaxInternetRetrieval_australia.xml

CoordinateSets.xml <-- Your personnal copy contains the coordinate changes you have made with the weatherfax wizard. For windows users this file is located C:\ProgramData\opencpn\plugins\weatherfax

If you can learn how these work together and manage to update the files so that they work well, I will incorporate them.
Also an improved description of exactly how this can be done easily would be nice to add to the documentation, which is here
https://opencpn-manuals.github.io/ma...fax/index.html

All Plugin Manuals you should probably bookmark this!!

https://opencpn-manuals.github.io/ma...ins/index.html

Also read about Weatherfax Image Wizard
https://opencpn-manuals.github.io/ma...x_image_wizard


We need to have Users updating these files regularly with all the local changes needed to display weatherfax easily.
Also we need updates to the weatherfax schedules around the world. Those have not been updated in a very long time.

[rgleason]

Franziska

I am not an expert at this, but I would suggest you use coax cable for this purpose, and I think you should run it continuously through the deck by fitting a clamshell (google it) deck seal around the cable.
At the end of the coax you can create a very simple antenna search youtube for "Ham Radio - The simple coax cable emergency prepper antenna." OR "Simple dipole antenna from coax" to adjust to the wavelength you use the most.


Also "Attaching Coax to a Dipole"

Originally Posted by Franziska

Hi,

we like to optimize the Tecsun PL-880 reception & therefore want to add an external antenna to it.

As we have Dyneema rigging and thru bolted stainless chain plates I am thinking of putting a cable inside of one of the Dyneema shrouds and attaching it on the outside on the chain plate bolt.
Than add a short cable from the chain plate bolt on the inside to the Tecsun PL-880 antenna in socket.

Here the questions:
1)How long should the cable inside the shroud be?
2)What material is best?
3)Can it be a simple single insulated copper wire?
4)If so, will it not quickly corrode at the stainless chain plate?
5)Is multistrand copper better?
6)What cross-section should it have?
7)Do I need to add the short internal cable to the overall length?
8)What do I need as ground if I do not have a ground system?
nks for answers and instructions.

[KompetentKrew]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Hi,

we like to optimize the Tecsun PL-880 reception & therefore want to add an external antenna to it.

As we have Dyneema rigging and thru bolted stainless chain plates I am thinking of putting a cable inside of one of the Dyneema shrouds and attaching it on the outside on the chain plate bolt.

I think this is probably overkill. I bet you will probably get good results just using a cheap few meters of insulated copper wire from Farnell, RS Components or your local electrical facto - run it behind some cabinets or you might even just be able to leave it tangled. Much less to maintain than co-ax cable and fancy shrouds.

Read some of these search results:

• https://www.google.com/search?q=tecs...g+wire+antenna
• https://www.google.com/search?q=tecs...m+wire+antenna

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by KompetentKrew

I think this is probably overkill. I bet you will probably get good results just using a cheap few meters of insulated copper wire from Farnell, RS Components or your local electrical facto - run it behind some cabinets or you might even just be able to leave it tangled. Much less to maintain than co-ax cable and fancy shrouds.

Read some of these search results:

• https://www.google.com/search?q=tecs...g+wire+antenna
• https://www.google.com/search?q=tecs...m+wire+antenna

Actually, that part of running behind some cabinets is the tricky part here. There are electrical cables in those spots where we can do that.
Running the antenna parallel to that seems not clever.
Not a fan of tangling an antenna through the interior either.

Luckily the desk were the receiver is installed is right besides one of the shrouds.
I rerigged our boat personally with Dyneema, running a wire inside the Dyneema is a super easy thing to do. Push the woven Dyneema a bit together and its diameter increases. Than add the wire as a core and reinstall the shroud.

Thanks for the links.

Regarding that wire or coax I will test.

I like Rick's idea with the Dipole.

Regarding going through the deck, it's probably not going continuously, more likely to be a deck plug of sorts, that makes putting the mast down easier.

Anybody got thoughts on the ground? Do we need that?
Is an underwater exposed stainless bolt with a large washer & which on is on the inside connected with a copper cable to the receiver enough in this case?

[CarCode]

I have a Tecsun PL-880 since many years but very rarely used. Its SSB capabilities are poor and even the far better Sony ICF-2001D, ICF-SW77, Grundig Satellit or Eton E1 are not available anymore because the time to use such things is gone now. It was substituted by other modern communications possibilities in these days.

[rgleason]

Regular wire example - "soldered a 3.5mm male mono plug to 100' of 22 gauge stranded wire."
https://www.reddit.com/r/shortwave/c...enna_goodness/


Tecsun PL660 "Solder wire to the tip of the jack plug" link for youtube.com watch?v=eWjCDv9nfXg

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by CarCode

I have a Tecsun PL-880 since many years but very rarely used. Its SSB capabilities are poor and even the far better Sony ICF-2001D, ICF-SW77, Grundig Satellit or Eton E1 are not available anymore because the time to use such things is gone now. It was substituted by other modern communications possibilities in these days.

Sorry but I disagree.

If you don't have a satphone or satinternet or a HF transceiver, a Tecsun might still be your best budget option to receive weather data (as in synoptic charts and similar) when you are offshore.

Could it be that your Tecsun does receive poor due no external antenna and missing ground?