Open CPN and GPS

[dnimigon]

This has probably been on this list and if someone could direct me to the threads that would be good. I'm after info on how to tie together Open CPN and a GPS. Nothing fancy, just something that works. Do I need to spend a lot on a fancy GPS and how does it work exactly. I need something that I can see without squinting as some GPS's are quite small on the screen. Will Open CPN track the boat on screen? do I need a plotter. I've looked at some threads and they get really complicated on what guys are doing. Not into that at all. I like Open CPN for what it is. Just need an addition to the awareness. I see Google Earth plugin for this also. Tried it but I guess I need some kind of a GPS link for that to work. I guess you can tell I'm kind of lost here.

[robert sailor]

Buy a little GPS puck, they plug into your computer and your good to go, cost maybe $30

[bdbcat]

GlobalSat BU 353 Waterproof USB GPS Receiver New 710348180332 | eBay

Works fine on OpenCPN under XP/Win7.

Dave

[dnimigon]

K, That all sounds fine. I was planning on using my laptop for all of this. So how does Google Earth plug in tie into this all or do you even need it. Will it show you where your at. I did try to set it up once (without the GPS) but couldn't seem to get the plug in to link up with Open CPN. Maybe I should read the manual more. Guys hate reading instructions.

[nohal]

dnimington...
Guys also hate writing instructions nobody reads All the info you should need is in https://github.com/nohal/gecomapi_pi...ter/README.txt
No, you don't need GPS to use the GE plugin and no, you don't need the GE plugin at all to use OpenCPN. Yes, you do need a working GPS receiving signal from the sats and a working NMEA connection to you PC, properly configured in OpenCPN, to have it show where you are.

Pavel

[dnimigon]

Well I'm glad some of you have the time to write back LOL Glad you did. I would never of found that post where ever it came from. Thank you. It seems pretty simple by reading it. Going to give it a try here. Now if I can speed up time here a bit so I can get back down to our boat next month.

[tonkatojo]

Hi, could someone answer me a question regarding "opencpn", will it work on a system that uses Windows CE6..... Thanks in advance.

[nohal]

No, it will not work there, neither on any other version of the Microsoft OS for phones.

Pavel