OpenCPN routes to B&G Zeus3 MFD

[raingolfer]

I'm pouring over the B&G manual and searching online, but I don't see a way to import a GPX or other route file into my Zeus3. I'd like to do my route planning on OpenCPN and/or iNavx. Is anyone familiar or know of a way?

[raingolfer]

Follow up to my own question:

I can export a GPX route from iNavx (probably from OpenCPN, too, though I haven't been using O-CPN much). Save the file to a location (on my iPad I use a named folder in iCloud Files).
Sync iCloud to my Mac (or AirDrop the file to my Mac).
My model of MacBook still has a built in slot for a SD card. I copy the GPX file to the microSD card (in the adapter that will fit my Mac).
Take the microSD to my Zeus and insert into one of the card slots, then import the file into the Zeus (under the Storage option of the menu).

[Hakan]

raingolfer
If OCPN and iNavx is connected to the same network onboard you could maybe send the GPX-file that way.


In next OCPN update there will be a function to transfer WPs, as NMEA0183: xxWPL and routes, as xxRTE using a network connection. Maybe you iNavx can use that in the near future?

[merrimac]

Also, you can use FTP to upload to your Zeus.

[rgleason]

I believe I was able to update my B&G Zeus 12 Touch software with a key or card and an import function. That might be a way start to figure it out. The other way is work on the GoWifi side of it, but I don't have that.

[Dockhead]

Theoretically, you can transmit GPX files over a serial connection -- OpenCPN has this function. But my Zeus at least (a Mark I) can't read it.

I gave up and started simply saving GPX files to a thumb drive, and then stick the thumb drive into the Zeus, and upload it that way. It works fine, even if it's bit of a kludge. I have been doing it this way for years and have transferred probably thousands of routes this way -- I do all my passage planning in O, and then transfer the routes to the regular network for navigation.


To be clear, the functions you will need:


1. Export from O:


Route & Mark Manager < [choose route] < Export Selected < [choose thumb drive]


2. Import into Zeus:


Pages < Files < [choose thumb drive] < [select file] < Import Selected


If someone can figure out some way to do it over the network, I'll be glad to hear about it.

[merrimac]

Sorry, @dockhead, revisiting this thread, you may have missed my comment that the Zeus has ‘anonymous FTP’ support that allows (any) file transfer over its Ethernet networks. You only need to know its IP address, or if you have a DNS server onboard, its network name.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by merrimac

Sorry, @dockhead, revisiting this thread, you may have missed my comment that the Zeus has ‘anonymous FTP’ support that allows (any) file transfer over its Ethernet networks. You only need to know its IP address, or if you have a DNS server onboard, its network name.

Wow, cool!!


My ship's comp running O is in fact connected to my Zeuses over Ethernet.


I do all my passage planning on O then transfer the routes to the regular nav network, so this is an everyday PITA for me doing it with a thumb drive.


Step by step, how would we do this over Ethernet? I bet a lot of other sailors would like to know besides me.

[merrimac]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Step by step, how would we do this over Ethernet? I bet a lot of other sailors would like to know besides me.

Well, if anonymous FTP is not enough info, I need some more info about your computer.

Running Windows? Version?

Are you a command line person at all (which allows better automation) or a GUI type only?

[merrimac]

Originally Posted by merrimac

Well, if anonymous FTP is not enough info, I need some more info about your computer.

Running Windows? Version?

Are you a command line person at all (which allows better automation) or a GUI type only?

Never mind, I wrote something up for everybody. Let me know in the post comments if you have any questions.

https://merrimac.nl/2022/06/19/nos-ftp/

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by merrimac

Well, if anonymous FTP is not enough info, I need some more info about your computer.

Running Windows? Version?

Are you a command line person at all (which allows better automation) or a GUI type only?

I'm an old UNIX guy so command line is fine


Win11

[rgleason]

Thanks Kees. I will link to your blog from the manual.

[CyKlop]

Just adding into this thread for people who come later.

On Linux, I have a BASH shell script file that looks like this:

#!/usr/bin/bash
curl --ftp-pasv --user anonymous: --upload-file $1 ftp://zeus/userdata/$1

Windows users can do something pretty similar and MacOS is just linux under a pretty presentation.

saved as send_to_chartplotter I can just go to a command line and:

$ send_to_chartplotter MyTrack.gpx

tell the chartplotter to open MyTrack.gpx, and poof. All done.

[stevead]

I think I may have referred to this feature in another thread somewhere and sometime ago.

It's a great undocumented feature to be able to connect to a B&G Zeus/Vulcan chartplotter over the network. Makes it easy to transfer files and to integrate OpenCPN with the chartplotter.

Just for the hell of it, put together a little cheat sheet that may be of benefit to some users.

Some additional features that I added to the TwoCan plugin are also designed for this level of integration.

Firstly if you perform a data capture on the Zeus/Vulcan chartplotter, the TwoCan plugin supports the PCAP file format used by B&G.

Secondly, if a new waypoint is created on the B&G chartplotter, the TwoCan plugin can automagically create the waypoint in OpenCPN.

I also have code to allow you to directly export waypoints from OpenCPN to the B&G chartplotter via the NMEA 2000 network, but I'm still trying to figure out how to package & release that feature. Perhaps just like Windows 95 Power Toys, I'll contemplate a "B&G OpenCPN Toys" plugin that can also control the Day/Night mode and Backlight levels on B&G displays, control B&G autopilots and support the B&G racing features (display lay lines etc. on B&G displays)

[Jay P]

So glad I found this thread. My goal was to be able to plot a route in OpenCPN, then transfer that route to my B&G Zeus3s. High-level steps to make this work:

- Join both Laptop and Zeus to local Wifi network (with Starlink gateway), FTP manager running on PC/Mac
- Locate Zeus Wifi IP address
- Using FTP Manager, login to Zeus via IP address using Anonymous FPT
- Use FTP Manager to create Waypoints folder under USERDATA. The existing Transfer folder appears to be write protected on the Zeus
- Export waypoints or routes from Zeus
-- Pages/Storage/Waypoints - export waypoints as .GPX, destination My Files/Waypoints
- FTP Manager - transfer .gpx from Zeus Userdata/Waypoints to PC, import into OpenCPN
- OpenCPN - generate and export route as .gpx to file
- FTP Manager - transfer route .gpx from PC to Zeus userdata/waypoints folder
- Zeus - Pages/Storage/My Files/Waypoints - select route and Import
- Within OpenCPN, create a connection to the

I used FileZilla as a graphical FTP Manager - could easily do command line instead. I attempted to use GPSBabel to convert the Lowrence .USR Route, Waypoint, and Track file to .gpx with no success. Hence, export from the Zeus in .gpx format

Huge thanks to Kees, Steve, and others for providing the critical bits to get my PC talking to

Bugs: Seems I can only copy into a folder I create during a session on the Zeus. If I go back (after rebooting the Zeus), the folder acts write-protected. For now - create a folder, upload the route, then delete the folder. Looking at the folder permissions, I should be able to upload to and delete...

Jay
s/v Incognito
Salinas, PR