Navigatrix.net - The First Linux Distribution for Cruisers

[wadda]

Originally Posted by Surveyor

Is there an ETA on an update incorporating OpenCPN 2.5?

The people who would re-master the ISO are off cruising...uh, doing a sea trial.

There was a discussion about upgrading OpenCPN on the Navigatrix website

Navigatrix.net • View topic - How to update OpenCPN

While it can be done on a external memory stick those who have a hard drive installation don't have the same space considerations.

I tried an earlier version a few months ago and the toolbar played hide'n'seek so I reverted.

I've just installed OCPN 2.5 10 minutes ago and at first blush there doesn't seem to be anything broken. I'll test it out tonight.

[Viking Sailor]

Originally Posted by HotRod

Well, I have started trying to modify this package to better suit users like me - I do not like restrictions...
I wan't to be able to add or remove stuff...

I would like to change this product to the better for the community...

The biggest issue I have with Navigatrix USB is that the "drives" root and home are way to small. Root does not have room for any additions like additional language packs...
I have tried a few suggestions to enlarge these "drives", but with no luck.

For a 4GB memory stick this is probably ok, but more and more people use bigger sticks...

I would like these "drives" to be "fill to maximum available space" instead of persistent size...

The abillity to run a whole system from the memstick is super, but come in mind that it has to be versatile to grab many users attention.

I run the Norwegian OpenCPN website and have had a few wishes thrown on the table... I really wish to fullfill these wishes, and the faster the better...

Navigatrix has done a good job so far, but I think it has bigger boots to fill... (without becomming fat and slow)...
Don't put to much stuff on it - let the users do that...


If you have managed to do this, I really want to know how you did this...
- No problem getting it onto such a big stick, but to utillize it with both /root and /home... That have been my issue...
Tried many recipes, but no luck so far...

You might want to consider starting with Puppy Linux.

DistroWatch: DistroWatch.com: Puppy Linux

Review: DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.

[HotRod]

I have found my way around these issues now.
Started compiling a new package out of navigatrix, now with more "room" and more languagepacks

[wadda]

Originally Posted by Viking Sailor

You might want to consider starting with Puppy Linux.

DistroWatch: DistroWatch.com: Puppy Linux

Review: DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.

There have been a few people who have done this. There is even a puppy packaged for sailing people. But by the time you add, add, and add it looks like Navigatrix...without the configuration hassles.

[wadda]

Originally Posted by HotRod

I have found my way around these issues now.
Started compiling a new package out of navigatrix, now with more "room" and more languagepacks

Cool!

There's a Spanish version out there....

http://campus.sailoog.com/course/view.php?id=3

[AussieGeoff]

Downloaded it and installed on a VM in my Win7 laptop.

Unfortunately, it appears it's essentially useless because the chartplotter app doesn't seem able to use any charts for Australian waters.

Anyone know of any?

As I understand it, the Australian Hydrographic Office use a proprietary format called Seafarer with a special reader. Naturally the algorithms are not available for the chartplotter app in the Navigatrix distro.

My only electronic charts are Garmin Bluecharts and it won't read them either.

Looks like it will be nice for the North Americans but no use here.

Bit of a shame. If anyone has a workaround, I'd be pleased to hear.

AussieGeoff

[HotRod]

C-Map edition 2, amongst others... I guess you are referring to OpenCPN distributed with Navigatrix

[AussieGeoff]

Sorry, yes, OpenCPN it is in fact. My apologies, I should have been more specific. I also dived into the thread on the NGA charts, unfortunately, there are none for where I live (South Australia), it seems to cover mostly the east, north and west coasts, plus a bit of the south around to Melbourne and Tasmania, but misses the bit in the middle. (Which is of course, where I am. )

I gathered the Cmap stuff would work, but was hoping for a free or almost free solution, but it seems we have no equivalent of the NOAA charts the US sailors enjoy, so we're stuck with the expensive commercial stuff from the looks of it.

That said, the package and distro seems quite stable and well thought out from the cruiser's point of view, and works well in Oracle VirtualBox.

The biggest other issue is to do with the fact that PACTOR seems to have become the de facto standard for email via HF, which is disturbing, since it's a VERY expensive proprietary protocol. I would have thought one of the non commercial protocols (there are quite a few) would have been picked up. At well over a $1,000 for a PACTOR modem (far more than it's worth in my opinion - padded with a fat license fee for the protocol from the looks of it.) I'm going to find anothe way, because that's just plain ridiculous.

Thanks for producing a very nice 'cruiser' package!

AussieGeoff