OpenCPN on Pi or Nuc-style computer for nav station

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by sailorxyz

This monitor looks really good :



13.3” Sunlight Readable Touchscreen Panel Mount Monitor




https://tru-vumonitors.com/products/srmhtppm-13-3g/


No price given .....

Tru-vu does have nice monitors, but I do remember them as being expensive. Didn't see a spec on the power consumption and expect it to be relatively high w/1920 x 1080 (1080P/60 Full HD) resolution. We have a higher res. monitor at the nav. station and it's nice, but does suck power. Do to the high power consumption, we tend to turn the screen off when not sitting at the nav. station.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by mgrouch

1.5 amps at 12v is twice that my pi and sunlight readable touchscreen in a cockpit use.

Yes, Pi is certainly the King of power consumption. OpenCPN needs a fair amount of power, however. I haven't tried it on a Pi, and perhaps Linux makes it ok (?), but I was not happy with Atom. Hell, OpenCPN running on Win10 sometimes strains my i7 Ice Lake quad core laptop.


The lowest power consumption box which runs OpenCPN reasonably well, in my experience, is the Pentium Silver (Goldmont +). At least on Win10. Maybe it's better with Linux. That's half the power consumption of the i series sets.

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Yes, Pi is certainly the King of power consumption. OpenCPN needs a fair amount of power, however. I haven't tried it on a Pi, and perhaps Linux makes it ok (?), but I was not happy with Atom. Hell, OpenCPN running on Win10 sometimes strains my i7 Ice Lake quad core laptop.

As mentioned previously in the thread, a pi works fine (even a 3B) to handle opencpn, network instruments and wifi signals to a pi zero for AP and cockpit tablet.

Our cockpit tablet is win10 based. Even w/the internet off, it has too much unnecessary junk running in the backgrd which slows it down/consumes more power. We are working on eliminating any windows computers from the boat computer system.

[ilenart]

After a fair bit of research I ended up installing a industrial fanless pc last year, a TBOX 12620 running i5 with 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD with WIN 10 Enterprise IoT 2019 LTSC. Its connected to a AOC 20E1H 19.5" HD+ 5MS LED Monitor via a Startech Single Monitor Desk Mount, which is bolted to the nav station. The pc lives under the nav station so it is totally dry. Its connected to a MiniPlex-3Wi(-N2K) Multiplexer which brings in GPS / AIS etc via the NMEA 2000 link. Also connected to the Iridum Go via wifi. Was’nt cheap but so far it has performed flawlessly running OpenCPN, PredictWind plus plenty of room for storing all the manuals on the boat. I wanted a system I could rely on when the yacht was bouncing around, plus I was concerned about making sure I would not have to upgrade the unit for 3-5 years, hence why its running LTSC.

The pc can run off 12v but so far I have left it connected to a 120v inverter that was already installed at the nav station. The monitor is also running off the inverter.

I’ll see if I can find & post some photos.

Ilenart

[ilenart]

Originally Posted by ilenart

I’ll see if I can find & post some photos.

Ilenart

Photos below

[ilenart]

Originally Posted by Bill O

Our cockpit tablet is win10 based. Even w/the internet off, it has too much unnecessary junk running in the backgrd which slows it down/consumes more power. We are working on eliminating any windows computers from the boat computer system.

That why I went for Win 10 Enterprise IoT LTSC 2019. It gives you the ability to remove a whole pile of unnecessary add-ons, plus shut down all the Win 10 updates, including critical updates for a 30 day period.

[fgd3]

Nice looking installation. What about power consumption?

[ilenart]

Originally Posted by fgd3

Nice looking installation. What about power consumption?

The specs for the pc say 25w however I have not checked it. For me power has been a secondary issue.

[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

The expense of the NUC bothers me less than the power consumption.


I use a fanless Beelink mini computer with the Gemini N Pentium Silver (which is actually Atom based) chipset with quad processors. It is as powerful is i5 of a generation or two ago, and uses max 1.5 amps at 12v.


If you run it 24/7 as I do, it makes a big difference on a long passage under sail.


I am very pleased with the Beelink which has a plethora of userful ports including two 4k capable HDMI ports, a bunch of USB3 ports, etc. It's well made in a metal case, and cheap.

I had looked at those.

How do you interface with NMEA200, 0183?

[skenn_ie]

Look for "fanless pc" on eBay, then 10, 12, or 14" touchscreen moniitor.
The PCs often come with Wind10 installed, but I would prefer Linux or possibly Android/Navionics. Right now I have Sodena on a fanless PC and a selection of screens which will be variously used for cameras (my forward near-vision isn't good, so a camera on the mast) DAQ of engine sensors, and plotter.

[Rastarea]

Originally Posted by sailorxyz

Yes, I'm wanting to do the same. In my case its a Ramarine C120W that I want to replace. The NUC part is easy but I don't know what to do about the screen.

Screen: I have found a used LG Flatron 23in. E2340 for $40, it runs on 12vdc.

[Subtandard]

Originally Posted by flightlead404

I'm considering my options for a computer/plotter at the nav station. I currently have an older Raymarine C90W that I'm going to ditch. I'd like to avoid having an "extra" laptop around as well. I'd like to have the integrated chartplotter and also be able to do "general computer stuff" like access all my manuals on PDF, update/review my various logs (spreadsheets and docs), review my only self-create notes, and browse to things like weather sites (and of course this site). Nothing super intensive, no games or stuff.

I'm considering either an rPi, or a NUC-style "bookshelf" size 12v computer.

I see lots of folks running on rPi and on laptops, but I don't see much discussion about the small form factor 12v computers. What's the general consensus on these things?

I have been using computers from Polywell (https://polywell.com) for the past 12 years. They have a huge selection, great support, and reasonable prices. I have a 21-inch LG monitor that runs directly from 12V. I use these to run OpenCPN on Ubunbtu linux. Just install a PyPilot to replace my old Autohelm autopilot.

[rossdv8]

Originally Posted by sailorxyz

Tends to be slow though....

There are other ways to use an Android tablet as a display for a Pi these days that are not slow.

The parts needed are cheap on Amazon. Just grab the USB 3 version of the HDMI capture thingy ( very little difference in price) not the USB 2 one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nui8kXvUAys

[hans-martijn]

I run an rpi 4 with a 13” touch screen from Ali express ($85) inside an a 10” normal screen, built in plexiglass (not state of the art, but it works) outside. Works flawlessly.

[skenn_ie]

I did run SOB from Digiboat on a VIA 1GHz mini-itx board 12 years ago, but it was a bit slow when running "heading up" (should be "track up" anyway). I liked the software, but not the price of C-MAP charts.