Active track synchronised between two computers

[Barentsailor]

I have two computer running OpenCPN onboard. One on the chartable and one in the cockpit.

I would like to make an active route on the chart table computer and have it synchronised with the cockpit computer so the track (or "go to" point) displays on both computers.
For this I have tried to use different NMEA sentences across computer (APB as well as several other sentences..). The sentences are correctly received by the chartable computer but nothing is displayed. However the route or point displays correctly on my Furuno instruments.

Other way would be to use BWC or BWR sentences but I can't see how to generate them in OpenCPN and I'm not sure they will be received and translated to a waypoint on the other computer. Maybe a plugin?

So is there at all a way to have an active track or a go to point synchronised with OpenCPN? I feel I am missing something as it is such a simple thing but can't figure it out.

[Hakan]

Barentsailor..
What I know nothing is prepared to make this efficient in OCPN. We can transfer routes etc. to other instruments, as you have seen, but not to another OCPN.
A possible but uncomfortable method is to export a route as e.g. theroute.gpx to a file folder common for both PCs and use a temporary or persistent layer on the receiver.
There, in Route and Mark manager->Layers, you can add a layer and point at theroute.gpx. The uncomfortable part is that every time you change a route you have to reload it in the manager, by delete and create it again.

Maybe someone else have a better method?

[Hakan]

Barentsailor..
A second thought:
My setup in the boat is to have an active OCPN PC(1) on the chart table and show the PC(1) screen on the other PC using a VNC connection. I use TightVNC and find it useful. One chart set is then enough. I also have radar on PC(1) so it's easy to share.

[Barentsailor]

Hi Hakan,
Thanks for your reply, I will look into your option 1 as I need 2 independent units for my setup.
It would be a nice option to add in a future OpenCPN I believe as it is very useful on vessel with several charting units.

If I had better programming skills I would look into it, maybe in a while :-)

[fgd3]

Barentsailor, I don't understand. It sounds like you would be better served by one computer with displays (and input devices) in two locations. Can you explain more about why you want two independent computers linked to show the same data?


Fabbian

[Barentsailor]

Hi Fabbian, we have a large vessel and the chart table is far from the helm. So me or the mate is doing the charting and crew or guests can be at the helm. Chartplotter at the helm is an arduino with touch display just allowing panning on the chart. I don't like to mirror both displays because sometimes I need to work with forecasts or do small administration work and then it would prevent the helm from getting a chart. So I am looking at a solution to send current track and waypoint with nmea or other protocole.

[fgd3]

I see. Thanks for the explanation. That makes sense.


Fabbian

[Tillsbury]

Would it be possible to have a two -display computer at the nav station and vnc just one of the displays, so that you could do what you liked on the other screen? I have a macbook at the nav station which is plugged into a dock, so the HDMI input of a large monitor acts as a second screen. It would be quite cute if I could mirror this screen alone to a tablet at the helm... Your question raises this one in my mind...

[bcn]

Play with the two canvas set up (splitscreen) and extended desktop.
Setting the split exactly at the border of the extension/the second screen.

[Barentsailor]

Thanks, I will look into the two displays solution for now.

But still in my opinion it would be better to implement sending nmea sentences for the active waypoint in OpenCPN. The nmea sentences already exists as RMB (and more). And there is already an option to send them over in UDP and TCP to autopilots in OpenCPN. Then it should be easy to make an option to receive and display RMB sentences as active waypoint.

I have little experience programming but will look into it when I have the opportunity. I am thinking about a simple plugging to display received RMB sentences as active waypoint.

[bcn]

You will need to synchronize the navobj files on the two system as well.
Has been discussed some time ago here.

And then allow to activate a route or a waypoint local and remotely.

The involved systems will need to know that they are "in-sync" with others.

[rgleason]

Some old ways:
How to synchronize Routes, Waypoints & Marks with another computer?