Building your own Chartplotter with a Raspberry Pi and OpenCPN

[@lasivianleandros3558]

As a Raspberry Pi user and Linux guru I can say this is a solid platform. Better than a tablet for sure.

[@danielhansen1902]

Just out of curiosity: Why do you think that this is better than a tablet? I just bought a small boat and still have to decide whether I'll go for a tablet or the Raspberry Pi.

[@lasivianleandros3558]

@@danielhansen1902 Mind you I plan to use an Android tablet along with a PI. However comparing the two #1 Linux can do more things than a tablet allows you. It has the capabilities of an actual computer #2 It's modular. If one part fails you can replace it. With a tablet it's all or nothing most of the time. #3 It costs less. You can get used parts pretty cheap compared to a high-end tablet. #4 You have more flexibility. With a tablet you are locked in to what Google or Apple allow you to use. (Granted some of these are because I know Linux, most people don't. But it's like knowing your boat, you should be able to fix it if it breaks.)

[@dikkind001]

@@danielhansen1902 the gps positioning (even if receiving via wifi) just wrecks havoc on an ipad's battery.. My usb chargers arent keeping up with the charging..

[@sailingbrewer]

Thanks to you and Smart Sailing Boat videos I have pulled the trigger and making my Pi Plotter. I found the monitor to still be the most expensive part again. Fortunately I was able to find a 15.6" touch screen for $139 on amazon. It's a no name Chinese brand, but it's powered by USB. I am powering everything via a powered USB hub. The Hub I picked has a 12VDC input so I will cut off the transformer and wire it into my 12VDC system so I will have 7 USB 3.0 to power my plotter. Thanks again for the motivation and encouragement to go forward with this project.

[@jamesconger8509]

I received some very useful feedback that a better antenna splitter is needed if you want to share the antenna with both the VHF radio and the AIS receiver, to protect the AIS when transmitting. I've put a link to the Glomex RA201 splitter in the video's descriiption.

[@Kymopoleia]

'Nice work/nice video. I like the simplicity of your description. Some of the videobloggers describing this set-up make the thing seem complex, honestly your beautiful, basic set-up can be expanded into a remarkably complex and incredibly useful nav system (OpenPlotter enables MANY possibilities to add more stuff!) but your very beautiful, simple installation and good description make this amazing solution seem as approachable and manageable as it is. Such a value too! Well done.

[@gobbledegookydokey]

Check also BBN Marine OS for raspberry pi4. Many free and opensource boat software packages preinstalled.

[@jamesconger8509]

I've added a list of the key hardware elements to the description. The enclosure for the RPi is at the same link as the dAISy HAT.

[@JJ-sq9sy]

Thank you James. Very informative. You mention a Touch Screen. Can you use a standard PC mouse in the same way as on a Desktop PC non-touchscreen Monitor? If so, when entering way points is it the case that you place the cursor on the desired location and click with the mouse to select the way point on the chart? Many thanks, Best Wishes John

[@martinpugh9700]

James, 7 months later how is the system holding up? My biggest question is whether the monitor and Pi hold up in a boat (some of that rocking can be extreme!) Also, if moisture has made any problems?

[@jamesconger8509]

@@martinpugh9700 My unit is running flawlessly after about a year. I do keep a dehumidifier running inside when we are off the boat, so this is not a severe case, like sailing full time in the tropics.

[@jamesconger8509]

@@JJ-sq9sy A regular mouse would work fine. I don't use the touch screen much at all. Just came with the monitor I chose.

[@geezenslaw]

Just curious. Why the choice of dAISyHAT over MoitessierHAT?

[@sona11111111]

This is really awesome. I have used Linux as my primary OS for many years. Recently I have been getting annoyed trying to navigate attempting to buy Navionics charts for my old chartplotter. I have a number of raspberry pis I have used for other projects, and being completely open source feels awesome! Next project will have to be adding offline voice recognition: "computer, plot a course to Dry Tortugas national park" ;D

[@jamesconger8509]

OK, you got my imagination going. "Computer, can't you trim the jib properly?" "Computer, you call that a jibe?"

[@45H16E]

As someone who is 1. buying a boat and outfitting for long term off-grid sailing and 2. cheap and 3. a lifelong builder of things, this is awesome. I was considering a refurbed Fujitsu tablet to run opencpn but this is way better and more fun to build your own. Plus, think of the "street cred" when people find out you built it yourself... One of the other comments mentioned Openplotter. I scanned over it and will pass. OpenCpn with plugins is perfect and much simpler. Do you have it wired to a speaker? If you plan to use the anchor drag or AIS proximity features / warnings then I believe a speaker is needed for the audible alarms. Maybe there's a way to use a Klaxon "ring tone" for the alarm. Anyway, thanks!! Two thumbs way up!

[@jamesconger8509]

I don't have it connected to a speaker. Some of the monitors have a speaker built in, which might be ideal for your purposes. All my attempts at anchor alarms have been "wake me up in the middle of the night for no reason" alarms. I've ended up leaving the chart plotter on, very zoomed in, and check it on a schedule that makes sense based on the conditions. The system has so little power draw, that there is no reason not to leave it on.

[@adamlapsley]

Great walkthrough of the process. I was going to buy a second hand iPad to use as a CP, but this looks like a lot more fun to build and the result seems excellent.

[@isthisoneunavailable]

If you're going to use it for a singular purpose your money would be much better spent on an android tablet.

[@isiaihfox7252]

I enjoyed immensely - thank you. Brilliant!!!

[@DirkJacobsz]

incredible - well done you are so clever..

[@realhusky]

Super cool! I will try it and post pack with my results!

[@KY-ou5fs]

Thanks James

[@usablellc6735]

OK, this is the truly the most awesome sailing DYI I have ever seen. The possibility of an AIS system inside the boat for a few hundred dollar will have me running out to make this work ASAP.

[@jamesconger8509]

Thanks. We were at anchor Wednesday and it was great to be able to keep track of our position relative to the anchor as we had lunch in fairly stiff winds. Zoomed in, the display showed we were not dragging at all.

[@jeremykamel9655]

Nicely done!

[@davidgravett4231]

Thanks for the video. Would it be possible to provide a list / supplier of the components used to build the system

[@jamesconger8509]

Thanks. I bought everything off Amazon.com except the dAISy HAT. Just Google that name to get the purchase info. All the rest is easy to find on Amazon.

[@danrobert1182]

Can you list the hardware? It would be much easier to find it rather than search for “little keyboard thingie”

[@ninline2000]

@@danrobert1182 Search for raspberry pi bluetooth keyboard. There are literally dozens of them. I personally wouldn't get one as small as what he has, I have one and hate it and bought a bigger and nicer one. Of course if all you ever do is the CP then it will work. Don't get the Pi4 unless you want a desktop computer, the 3B+ is more than adequate for a CP and it uses much less power and runs cooler. Check out www.raspberrypi.org for tons of info and hundreds of projects and a huge and helpful nerd community.

[@4tracer4]

pre-installed 4tracer

[@brianwraight4966]

Well done!

[@Ed-ip2sg]

Great way to do this. Thank you

[@przemyslawlusiak2372]

Thanks

[@sidewinder1639]

Thank you so much! This is the first time I really undestand it

[@skipper1350]

Great summary, thanks.

[@cnc75adventures49]

Thanks very helpful!!!

[@RichardPhillips10]

The easier way is to install www.sailoog.com/openplotter instead of Raspbian +openCPN. Openplotter is the entire operating system with OpenCPN pre-installed plus lots of other tools to integrate nmea sources (including AIS).

[@josephballerini3730]

Yes, if someone wants to experiment with openplotter and doesn’t want to lose their normal raspberry os, just get a microsd card and install open plotter on that. Then you can just swap out cards in your pi.

[@Taylorreihe]

Thank you very much :-).

[@adambrickley1119]

Do you know anything about being able to enable DSC calls showing position of the caller onto the touch screen?

[@jamesconger8509]

No, but it sounds like a great idea. If your radio outputs nmea, then you might look at the openCPN nmea parser as a way to display that data. Search on NMEAconverter in the openCPN manual.

[@Liszkalaw]

Hi James, am I right that for this setup to work, a pre-existing vhf setup must be on the boat? You mentioned a coax cable running down the mast to the daughterboard, but it wasn't clear to me where that coax cable went to. I assume a vhf, but want to be sure. Thank you!

[@jamesconger8509]

The AIS receiver needs a VHF antenna to connect to. I use the one at the mast head. You can use a separate antenna, but the higher up the better.

[@mattd9840]

@@jamesconger8509 Is the AIS a necessary part of this? Would the plotter work sufficiently with just the GPS alone?

[@jamesconger8509]

@@mattd9840 The AIS is optional, but... Being able to detect large vessels at a distance is a big safety feature.

[@mparente2]

James, inspired by you, I put together a raspberry pi with open cpn and a daisy hat. Works well. I have the 7 inch Addafruit display which I find does give some interference on the vhf. My problem now is trying to figure out how to get it to output mnea0189 to my Raymarine tiller pilot. What do you do?

[@jamesconger8509]

I didn't connect to the autopilot. The main use I have for the autopilot is constant apparent wind mode, and I just do this from the autopilot remote.

[@voncth5791]

thx you so much for the information :)

[@jamesconger8509]

You are welcome!

[@voncth5791]

@@jamesconger8509 i like how you make the videos, very comprehensive. I am quite new to sailing so i am trying to absorb as much as i can now, the opencpn video was particularly good as sailing electronics normally are quite expensive, i am currently trying out that system but without the screen (at least until i can afford one) i use vnc and my cellphone.

[@jamesconger8509]

@@voncth5791 Thanks. You might look for an old tablet on ebay. All you really need.

[@randallayers530]

Thanks for the information on the components. The link for the monitor is no longer working. Can you list the manufacturer and model so I can search elsewhere? Thanks.

[@jamesconger8509]

It looks like that monitor is no longer available, but there are a number of similar monitors on Amazon. Search on 12V HDMI monitor, or RPi monitor. Touch screen is not required. Have fun!

[@davidhopkins]

I'm all for nerdy projects/. Here is what I don't get. What does this give you that, say, an iPad doesn't. I use Navionics on my iPad. It's great. If I wanted AIS there are solutions that add that to an iPad. . With most sailors having an iPad already (or an equivalent android tablet) what extra can we get from OpenCPN and a raspberry pi? Thanks for posting.

[@jamesconger8509]

I think both methods work fine. A friend uses the RPi and AIS board to broadcast AIS data, which he then displays on an iPAD running Navionics. He has a tiller boat, so the iPAD is great. On my boat I like having the fixed display that just comes "on" when I power up the panel. I'm essentially replacing a laptop that used to sit on the nav station.

[@redwood1957]

Is this a set up that I could program at my base, travel 1300 me led to a boat hop onto and sail. Reason I'm looking at purchase of a boat that's without electronics. Thank you

[@jamesconger8509]

Yes, with one issue. The AIS works best with a mast-head antenna. You can use a portable "emergency" VHF antenna to start with, but range will be less. No electronics sounds much better to me than a bunch of non-working electronics, which is more common. Best of luck.

[@smallpieceofmarrow6811]

Thanks for making this video. Definitely going to build one. I'm curious though, how hackable is the GPS receiver? I have a radio (UM-415) that I would like to incorporate. It has a cable coming out of it for NMEA data and the manual says it doesn't support AIS channels.

[@jamesconger8509]

GPS support under Linux is through a service called GPSD. Multiple apps can get GPS data. Take a look at the Open Plotter project for ideas on NMEA data. (openmarine.net)

[@smallpieceofmarrow6811]

Thank you

[@OlegMasterOfMind]

Thank you James for information, can you provide info for your monitor? Link on description not working..Thanks

[@jamesconger8509]

Try searching Amazon on: "Touch Monitor, UPERFECT 12.3" Computer Display 1600×1200 Portable Monitor". Any HDMI monitor will work - touch screen is not important. I liked this one because of the size and the 12 volt input voltage.

[@OlegMasterOfMind]

@@jamesconger8509 Thank you James for your response!

[@Kaizula]

Great presenation that got me interested in building a same kind of setup. Is your screen capacitive and does it accept multitouch input? I've heard Pi is quite picky about touchscreens and I've even read that the official 7" touchscreen is the only model that really works as a multitouch capacitive screen. Hope that's not the case.

[@jamesconger8509]

The documentation says that the screen accepts multi-touch, but OpenCPN does not know how to use it. I use a little keyboard/mouse device for what little input I do. Most of the time the plotter is just on, displaying the right chart for the area and all of the AIS targets. Perfect!

[@Kaizula]

@@jamesconger8509 I had an extra Pi4 so I decided to try OpenCPN with that. I managed to download and install vector maps for Finland and get the OpenCPN working with Pi4. No gps yet, so I could only browse the map and try different functions. So far so good. Only thing I didn't find was a way to show the depth of lane. You can check it by double clicking on the map, but that's not very intuitive. As it happens, I had a 23" Dell touchscreen at home, so I tried that with OpenCPN and Pi4. Worked surprisingly well and I didn't really find much need for multi-touch. Next step is to start planning how I will integrate OpenCPN/Pi4 to the systems in my boat. Going to be interesting and exactly what I need to get through the winter before the sailing season starts. Thanks for the inspiration :)

[@jamesconger8509]

@@Kaizula You are welcome. Getting the correct path to the GPS serial port took me a couple of tries.

[@abarrow4]

Hello! Is this the same James Conger who worked for Chevron at one time?

[@jamesconger8509]

Hey Andy. You must be long retired too. Sailing now?

[@abarrow4]

You bet! Have a 30 year old Beneteau Oceanis 390 here in Mexico that needs constant work! Also spending a lot of time with RPI and ESP32 programming, and doing my best to contribute to the OpenPlotter forum. Here's a link to a presentation I do for my yacht club every year as part of our cruisers seminars. Getting updated this year to eliminate GE2KAP and focus completely on creating charts with SASPlanet. Also working on ESP32 based sensors and instruments. docs.google.com/presentation/d/13kZaqIw4XIrN3B2IhBPRqsM7PGu7CFrWhR9vH2bQAmk/edit?usp=sharing

[@jamesconger8509]

Nice presentation. Signal K looks like what I really needed a few years ago when I was logging my boat data to validate the CFD models. I have a 2002 J/32 in Alameda.

[@abarrow4]

@@jamesconger8509 I'm finding decoding the incoming JSON updates from my SignalK server for my new SK instrument to be something that's firmly placed me on the upward swing of the learning curve. I'll get there, it's just going to take some time! Best to you and Claire.

[@denbertdenbertuz]

@@abarrow4 Looks absolutely fantastic - thanks for sharing, is instantly added to my google drive. Question from a newbie to boating (skilled Rasbian/Debian user) how sea/salty air proof is the Raspbarry Pi, as there is a lot of salt and humidity in the air round my boat (located in Copenhagen) - example is I bought a cheap cap last year to get some sun protection, and the cap has a metal/chrome kind of lock in the back to adjust the cap - in less than a year I'm seeing corrosion on this adjustment lock - it has been inside the boat - off course it's not airtight as it's an old boat (1979 - 22 foot)

[@dalechristensen6246]

James: How did you power your monitor and what kind of HDMI cable did you use to connect to the Pi? Thanks

[@jamesconger8509]

The monitor I bought runs on 12V DC, so I connected it directly to the terminals on the appropriate circuit breaker on the boat's 12V panel. The monitor came with a HDMI cable.

[@harri00413]

Thanks for this. Question, how do you read the data or chart at the helm?

[@jamesconger8509]

I have a small chartplotter at the helm. It's OK for some tasks, but the screen resolution limits its use. The commercial unit also gets behind if there are a lot of AIS targets, while the RPi has processing power to spare.

[@tasheido]

@@jamesconger8509 BTW you can set up the Wifi on the pi as a router and connect to it with any kind of tablet or mobile phone. Then you can acess the Navigation pi with VNC viewer, essencially remote desktopping from the deck. Has a bit of lag but good enough for use.

[@mrbcast]

James can You tell me if you have a second setup at the helm or not and if not why?

[@jamesconger8509]

I have a small Standard Horizon chart plotter at the helm. This is connected to my VHF radio so that they exchange GPS and AIS data. The CP at the helm is handy, but too small to use for navigation. It also does not have enough processing power to keep up with all the AIS traffic, so large ships are sometimes missing on the display. The RPi has no trouble keeping up.

[@SailingGoodSpirits]

How do you run this on 12v power? It runs fine if I use the canakit power supply on the 110, but every converter I try from 12v fails. Anybody have a working one not on 110v? Thanks

[@jamesconger8509]

I used a little $12 step down converter I bought on Amazon.com without any issues. Wired into my 12v DC panel.

[@wellcraft19]

Excellent summary - and thanks for pointing to OpenCPN (supported on all major SW platforms). Have you measured .the 12V power draw for the Pi as well as the monitor? This of course also opens up the possibility/alternative to use a HDMI splitter and put a monitor elsewhere (helm station?) for really on the cheap. Or two have two redundant systems w/o having to spend another fortune. Assume there is not an AIS transponder in the package.

[@jamesconger8509]

I have not measured the power drain from the system. The fridge and autopilot on our boat dominate the power draw. You only get a AIS receiver with the dAISy HAT. A separate AIS transmitter would make sense.

[@wellcraft19]

@@jamesconger8509, thank you! Interested if you update with numbers one day.

[@leiflindqvist9095]

Question: Any issues with very slow zoom & pan? I just got opencpn up an running on a pi4 and find the graphics so slow so it is not really usable. I have not seen anyone talking about sluggish graphics.....

[@jamesconger8509]

No. I'm getting really snappy performance out of the video system. Since it is straight HDMI, you might try testing the display using another computer and see how it behaves.

[@leiflindqvist9095]

Ok, thanks for your input. Then I have to find out what kind of problem I have.

[@leiflindqvist9095]

Hi @@jamesconger8509 , one question. What kind of media do store your charts on? I am thinking, maybe my first test only using the SD card is a problem.

[@jamesconger8509]

@@leiflindqvist9095 I have everything on a single SD card.

[@sailingbrewer]

Could be the transmission rate of the card. I'd get one that is rated high enough for a gopro. If it can write full HD then it should support opencpn graphics with easy

[@SailingSarah]

Is it possible to print charts from OpenCPN?

[@jamesconger8509]

Probably, but the commercial chart plotting companies are doing to do a much better job. I always have paper backups, and they have come in VERY handy on several occasions.

[@sailingbrewer]

Do you know if you can add a battery pack to make this device mobile? I was hoping to a nav station big screen for planning and reviewing and a small screen hanging from the companion way that I could use underway. I'm not sure how if it would be easier to run a second screen. Any thoughts on this? www.piborg.org/power-1137/battborg

[@jamesconger8509]

What a friend of mine did was to run the RPi and AIS board off a small battery pack, but without a screen. He then transmits the AIS data via WiFi to his tablet. The tablet runs the chart plotter software and displays the AIS data. That gives you a really portable chart plotter. He also showed me that you can have the RPi run OpenCPN and the broadcast the output to a tablet running just a terminal emulator. It was a bit slow, but quite usable. (Sorry for the slow response, but I was on this sailboat...)

[@sailingbrewer]

@@jamesconger8509 thanks for the reply. For KZbin that was a fairly quick reply. I did some looking and noticed the new pi has 2 hdmi out puts so I can try that as well. I'm currently doing the phone thing and I think the tablet would suffer from the same issue of not having a mount and sliding around. Great videos I just finished the sail trim series it really made me see what part of the sail is creating lift.

[@sailingbrewer]

Maybe my phone is acting up but the link for the monitor is not working. Can you update the link or give make and model

[@jamesconger8509]

Here is the description on Amazon.com: Touch Monitor, UPERFECT 12.3" Computer Display 1600×1200 Portable Monitor Capacitive External Screen 4:3 Speakers VESA Fit with HDMI DVI VGA Micro USB DC for PC Phone MAC Win PS4 Xbox TV Industry

[@brainsells3000]

Is this compatible with nmea2000?

[@jamesconger8509]

With USB to NMEA2000 interface you can make your RPi part of the NMEA 2000 network. Past that, I don't know how much use this will be with OpenCPN as your chartplotter software. I have not tried it.

[@harri00413]

I read some people use VNC and a simple tablet as terminal for the RPI. Did you try this? Anyone with experience In this group?

[@jamesconger8509]

I have seen it done, but it was painfully slow. Another solution is to use the RPi to broadcast AIS data via WiFi, and run the chartplotter native on the tablet. You get good chartplotter performance, and with AIS data superimposed on the chart.

[@brendasavage483]

🌀🌀

[@wilsont1010]

How do you add the radar overlay if you need one?

[@jamesconger8509]

I have not done it, but take a look at the OpenCPN radar plug in opencpn.org/OpenCPN/plugins/radarPI.html

[@wilsont1010]

@@jamesconger8509 Can your project be done on a tablet running on Opencpn instead of Openplotter on a Raspberry Pi?

[@jamesconger8509]

@@wilsont1010 A friend did something like that. Used the RPi and AIS board to collect AIS data, and then broadcast it via WiFi. The tablet can then run the chartplotter software and displays AIS data.

[@SailingSarah]

Can one get weather fax via ais?

[@jamesconger8509]

No. But you could use the same Raspberry Pi to download GRIB files if you hooked it up to some sort of communications link via a USB cable - ideally satellite data for long distance sails. The RPi is just a small computer, so you can use it for any other need like email, web browsing, etc. On my boat I dedicate this unit to being a chart plotter, as I have other devices to do the rest of it.

[@tasheido]

Weather fax is broadcast in HF, AIS is a voluntary boat reporting system and works on VHF. You CAN get weatherfax with the same raspberry but you would need an HF capable receiver + antenna + USB soundcard plugged to the pi and some sonftware like fldigi. You can then overlay the radiofax pictures on the chartplotter. It's doable you just need more gear.

[@SailingSarah]

@@tasheido I have the furuno weather fax 207. I have yet to hook it up, I need to figure out what all is needed for that. I have the manual and need to get the antenna cable and other knickknacks, I got it mounted on the wall so far and just need to run power and antenna to it as far as I know.

[@tasheido]

Those units are standalone, like you said you have to power it and hook up an antenna. The manual gives you a couple of antenna options, you can use a vertical whip or a wire antenna, that will depend on what suits your boat best. Most boats with HF use insulated backstay antennas for their HF transmitters. Sharing antennas for TX/RX need some special attention and consideration. Get a ham friend to help you out if you can. If you dont have an HF transmitter onboard than set up a wire antenna to the top of the mast for the furuno unit. Dont forget to proper gound the equipment for best reception. That thing prints out the charts directlly on paper no need for a computer. It has its pros and its cons.. good luck!

[@stillwatersailor665]

no usa inland lakes

[@tommiller8416]

Great explanation, thank you!

[@georgewashington7444]

Thanks! Well done exactly what I needed!

[@jamesconger8509]

You are welcome. Have fun!