Hardware connection Navico to OpenCPN NMEA 2000/0183

[Franziska]

Hi,

we finally made it to the boat & I am about to install the radar.

We got the B&G 4G Radome and will only use it with OpenCPN on a laptop (we have a redundant one as spare).
No other B&G instruments or plotter on board.

Our instruments communicate with OpenCPN through NMEA 0183 via a Shipmodul Miniplex 3-USB-N2K interface box. We have currently no NMEA 2000 system on board.

As I understand I also need a heading sensor.
I'm looking at the Quark-Elec QK-AS08 156.50€ or QK-AS08-N2K 184.44€.
Both deliver heading info via USB and NMEA 0183, the N2K version additionally as NMEA 2000.

Question:
1)
Can we get by with the NMEA 0183 heading sensor version and just connect it via USB into our PC USB hub?
a)
This would mean we ignore the heading sensor connector on the Navico Ri10 N2K interface box and connect the heading sensor directly to the PC.
b)
Alternatively connect the heading sensor via the Miniplex NMEA 0183 to the PC.

2)
The radar comes already with a RJ45 connector at the cable end (see photo).
a) Can we ignore the Ri 10 interface box completely and plug the cables RJ45 connector directly into the computer?
b) Do we lose any functionality this way?
This leaves the 4 additional wires to be dealt with. The Red and Thick Black ones are the power supply.
The thin Black is shield/ground.
c) Where do we attach the shield & what do we do with the thin yellow one?
I suspect Yellow gets connected with Red and shield stays unconnected.
As per the Navico manual for Lowrance 3G USA. See attached last image.
c)
Can we put a circuit breaker switch into the power supply line to stop the radome?

3)
I do assume that plugging the radar cables N2K cable into the Miniplex might not work, because the radars data cable would then be transferred via USB to the PC which is unlikely to have enough power.

Attached some more info. Thanks for your advice. I numbered the questions for easier replies.

Attachment 257038

[Bill O]

Maybe you read this from the opencpn manual already for the Navico radar install. https://opencpn-manuals.github.io/ma...-(Navico).html

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by Bill O

Maybe you read this from the opencpn manual already for the Navico radar install. https://opencpn-manuals.github.io/ma...-(Navico).html

Thanks, I did that already. Unfortunately it did not answer my questions.

[Hakan]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Hi,

we finally made it to the boat & I am about to install the radar.

We got the B&G 4G Radome and will only use it with OpenCPN on a laptop (we have a redundant one as spare).
No other B&G instruments or plotter on board.

Our instruments communicate with OpenCPN through NMEA 0183 via a Shipmodul Miniplex 3-USB-N2K interface box. We have currently no NMEA 2000 system on board.

As I understand I also need a heading sensor.
I'm looking at the Quark-Elec QK-AS08 156.50€ or QK-AS08-N2K 184.44€.
Both deliver heading info via USB and NMEA 0183, the N2K version additionally as NMEA 2000.

Question:
1)
Can we get by with the NMEA 0183 heading sensor version and just connect it via USB into our PC USB hub?

Yes

a)
This would mean we ignore the heading sensor connector on the Navico Ri10 N2K interface box and connect the heading sensor directly to the PC.

Yes, correct. Then you don't need to have the radar scanner working to get a heading into OCPN

b)
Alternatively connect the heading sensor via the Miniplex NMEA 0183 to the PC.

Will also work if you like that but if you don't have other N2k instruments it seems overkill?

2)
The radar comes already with a RJ45 connector at the cable end (see photo).
a) Can we ignore the Ri 10 interface box completely and plug the cables RJ45 connector directly into the computer?

Yes

b) Do we lose any functionality this way?

No, since you don't need it to connect neither a NMEA2000 heading sensor nor a MFD. (I saved mine it in plastic bag for the future.)

This leaves the 4 additional wires to be dealt with. The Red and Thick Black ones are the power supply.
The thin Black is shield/ground.
c) Where do we attach the shield & what do we do with the thin yellow one?

A shield is normally connected to ships or device chassis in ONE end. E.g. the RJ45 connector if metal. But leave it lose on the PC end. It's probably taken care of on the other end

I suspect Yellow gets connected with Red and shield stays unconnected.
As per the Navico manual for Lowrance 3G USA.

Yes, correct

See attached last image.
c)
Can we put a circuit breaker switch into the power supply line to stop the radome?

Yes and a fuse as well!

3)
I do assume that plugging the radar cables N2K cable into the Miniplex might not work, because the radars data cable would then be transferred via USB to the PC which is unlikely to have enough power.

That wire would be meant to connect a N2k heading to Ri10 box, so no need for that?

[Franziska]

Awesome once more, thank you!

Will look deeper into it tomorrow, it's bedtime here :-) N8N8

Might get the slightly more expensive NMEA 2000 heading sensor after all, looks like it "speaks" USB and NMEA 0183 for now as well, which means it's future proof if we ever go for a NMEA 2000 system in the future.

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by Hakan

Yes Yes, correct. Then you don't need to have the radar scanner working to get a heading into OCPN Will also work if you like that but if you don't have other N2k instruments it seems overkill? YesNo, since you don't need it to connect neither a NMEA2000 heading sensor nor a MFD. (I saved mine it in plastic bag for the future.) A shield is normally connected to ships or device chassis in ONE end. E.g. the RJ45 connector if metal. But leave it lose on the PC end. It's probably taken care of on the other end Yes, correct Yes and a fuse as well! That wire would be meant to connect a N2k heading to Ri10 box, so no need for that?

Hakan, just setting things up, I have the 4G B&G radome.
What do I choose Navico 4g A or B?

Regarding network connections, I need to setup a network connection under OpenCPN connections to get it working, correct?
See image.

I now look in the firewall settings too.
All enabled for OpenCPN, still get no radar signal.
Power is on for radome, radome is plugged into PC network port.
Do I need to set an ip for the ethernet connection (see last image)?



Attachment 257172
Attachment 257173

[Franziska]

RTFM. [emoji846]
At least I know now what A&B is.
Dual range display for the B&G radome.

Still no signal as of yet though.
Ethernet not connected says the PC. Firewall is completely off at the moment.

[Hakan]

Start with 4GA. 4GB is for the options to use two different "radars" at the same time. On for long and one for short range for example.


The OCPN data connections has noting to do with radar_pi. Take it out.


The firewall shall allow both local and external for all instances of OCPN.


The PC network shall be set up as DHCP: Automatic IP address.
The radar scanners is connected as "unidentified network" "No internet"

Start OCPN and radar_pi. Plug in the RJ45 and power on the scanner.

Open 4GA control and study the info window.

Wait for connection. Can take a while the first time

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by Hakan

Start with 4GA. 4GB is for the options to use two different "radars" at the same time. On for long and one for short range for example.


The OCPN data connections has noting to do with radar_pi. Take it out.


The firewall shall allow both local and external for all instances of OCPN.


The PC network shall be set up as DHCP: Automatic IP address.
The radar scanners is connected as "unidentified network" "No internet"

Start OCPN and radar_pi. Plug in the RJ45 and power on the scanner.

Open 4GA control and study the info window.

Wait for connection. Can take a while the first time

Thanks again.
Did all that, still says unconnected.

Under "Ethernet connection" it shows no connection at all.

It says network cable removed, despite the unmodified brand new B&G cable being plugged into PC and radome.

12V- at the thin black cable, 12+ at the combined thin red and yellow cables.

Is there a fuse or other under the radome hood which I could check that the radome is running?
Could the wires inside the original supplied cables RJ45 are in a wrong sequence for plugging it directly into the PC?

[Franziska]

When I refer to the cable I mean the long cable which goes from the radome normally to the RI10.
It has an Ethernet connector as well as the 3 power wires and shield at its end.
I plugged that Ethernet connector directly into the PC (will add a switch later).
I attached power via a 5amp breaker.

Heading sensor has not arrived yet, but will go directly into PC.

Still, no signal at all.
Btw. should the radome emit some sound when supplying it with power, or is it completely solid state and not making noises (I do expect that's not the case).

[merrimac]

You can check that the radar is in standby by measuring the power consumption which should be something like 0,2 A. It is silent until the antenna starts rotating.

Put a switch in if your computer doesn’t see the radar as a valid endpoint as you are describing. $20 5 port switch is enough.

[merrimac]

A good setup is one where if you type ifconfig the Ethernet card comes back with a self assigned or a DHCP address and the plug-in shows that it is scanning that address.

[merrimac]

Sorry windows so it it is ipconfig, well just, because.

[Hakan]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Under "Ethernet connection" it shows no connection at all.

It says network cable removed, despite the unmodified brand new B&G cable being plugged into PC and radome.

12V- at the thin black cable, 12+ at the combined thin red and yellow cables.

Is there a fuse or other under the radome hood which I could check that the radome is running?
Could the wires inside the original supplied cables RJ45 are in a wrong sequence for plugging it directly into the PC?

The first is to have a network connection to the PC.

Check the IP-cable and the power.
In the radar manual there's a pin out table. Check so all wires are correct connected from the round scanner connector to the pins on the RJ45. Either measure with a multimeter or if visible the wire's color. If RX/TX are reversed you can try a reverse connected cable or put a switch in between at least for a test. (The switch will detect a reversed connection and adapt)

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by merrimac

Sorry windows so it it is ipconfig, well just, because.

Thank you.
Will try your suggestion later today.

Already tried with 3 different PC, Win 10 & 11.
Ipconfig delivers the attached on one of the Win 10 machines.

Plug-in says:
No radar, scanning interface 172.21.112.1

Will measure cables later.

Btw. Very best regards to Harlingen, I lived and worked there for a couple of years and Lady Rover was there too.