OpenCPN SIMRAD/LOWRANCE Radar Overlay PlugIn

[Hakan]

All...A tip:
If you miss the EBL, electronic bearing line, function and would like use that with your radar overlay in OCPN I recommend to load the OCPN plugin "ocpn_draw_pi.dll" and use the "EBL" function to draw a bearing line from your ship to a radar target in order to find out a possible collision course. Se also http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post1783864
Håkan

[la5zo]

Just installed OCPN 4.1.925 BETA and get a warning that BR24 version is not compatible.
My version is 1.2 ..... is it me/my setup or have anyone else experienced the same problem ?


Geir

[rgleason]

Note that to use ocpn_draw with the EBL VRM function you will need ocpn v 4.1.x

[NahanniV]

Originally Posted by Hakan

All for info...
Thanks to Douwe's tips I've tried tcpreply, a Linux program to broadcast a Wireshark capture on my local network to simulate a radar scanner.
Using: sudo tcpreplay --loop=5 --intf1=eth0 Test3W.pcapng
Results in a nice scanner picture on my Win PC connected to the same local network.
See the picture where I use a VDR play to get a heading and as you may see the VDR and radar capture are not from the same location.

Håkan

Håkan,

I would like to do some further testing of new hardware running the BR24 plugin during the winter here (mast is down) and was wondering if you could send me, or, post some of your capture files.

If they are small enough to post perhaps you could put them on this thread:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...on-153810.html

Thanks,
JM.

[Hakan]

JM
Sorry for the delay, been busy.
Captured files are normally not small but here's a link to some files. Both my own and some from the "paper" being a ground for this plugin.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...4/captures.zip
Håkan

[NahanniV]

Originally Posted by Hakan

JM
Sorry for the delay, been busy.
Captured files are normally not small but here's a link to some files. Both my own and some from the "paper" being a ground for this plugin.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...4/captures.zip
Håkan

Thanks!

JM.

[merrimac]

V1.3 has just been released. It is compiled using wxWidgets 3.0.2 so it is compatible with 4.1.x on Windows and Linux, and with 4.1.x and 4.0.0 on Mac.

Many thanks to @douwefokkema and @Hakansv! In particular Douwe was the main driver this time, he implemented all new features!

• Improved performance (better OpenGL calls)
• Support for dual radar mode (4G only)
• Various improvements to dialogs and radar state
• Various fixes to guard zones
• Multi sweep filter added. This allows a more stable image by averaging over multiple radar scans
• New ''Advanced > Installation'' menu allows control of bearing alignment, antenna height, local interference rejection and side lob suppression
• Radar-only support without GPS or heading
• Hot switching between radar chart overlay and radar only display
• Radar controls (such as gain, sea state, etc.) now reflect actual radar settings instead of desired value from plugin. This allows cooperation between multiple OpenCPN installs and/or one or more chart plotters

We hope you enjoy this release.

The binaries can be downloaded from our own site at opencpn-navico-radar-plugin.github.io

[Douwe Fokkema]

I am getting questions if this release will also run with OCPN 4.0 on Windows.
Yes it will, if compiled with the old version of wxWidgets. Attached a dll for Windows to run with OCPN 4.0. Just remove the .pdf extension.

Cheers, Douwe

[cowelld]

I tried to load your attached version but OpenCPN wouldn't recognize it. I have Version 4.0.0 Build 2015-01-08 loaded. It would recognize the 1.2 BR24 PI version and an older .40513 version I was using for retrospect.
One thing I've noticed is that without a GPS and Heading input to OpenCPN none of the newer versions will display ANY radar data even when you've turned it on. With the older version you could set the preference to Standalone and get the radar image in spite of not having the GPS and Hdg inputs. That should be re-enabled.

Hasta,
Dave

[Hakan]

Hi Dave, long time no... Nice to "see" you.

The new version has a another radar stand alone method. Click the uppermost radar control button and the stand alone function should be there, heads up when no compass is available.
There are also new advanced settings for both BR24/3G and 4G type. For the 4G you can also connect a NMEA2000 compass to the radar and get the data into OCPN via the radar network connection.

Håkan

[Douwe Fokkema]

Hi Dave,

You make me doubting about myself. So I downloaded above file from my own post, put it in the plugin directory of OCPN 4.0.0 build 2015-01-08 and removed .pdf extension from the filename.
OCPN does recognize the radar_pi immediately. And yes, this version will show the radar without heading and GPS attached as Hakan describes above.
If you have any further problems, do not hesitate to mail me.

Cheers, Douwe

[cowelld]

The radar control button panel doesn't come up on starting the plug-in. When I do a general command (right click) the "Radar Control..." still does nothing. Am I missing something?

[cowelld]

I made a change to the PI name to keep from having multiple versions and I guess OCPN wouldn't recognize the changed name. Modding both names and using the correct one for your version corrected the issue. But I still have no radar control panel come up ergo no "standalone" mode. I'm using Playcap and an old Wireshark pcap file running on another PC to simulate the BR24. I'll run a VDR file to simulate the GPS/Compass and go on.

[Hakan]

Dave..
We may need to update a wiki?
Ok - More New features;
The radar tools icon has a updated behavior.
First - whenever you click the icon the radarcontrol menu is opened. If no radar is connected the info message box is opened. (Another click closes the menu.)
Second - The small icon color mark indicates radar status. Red - no connection. Amber - a radar is connected. Green - transmit.

Håkan

[cowelld]

Sorry guys. My goof. I copied the file to my developement area and not to the actual Program Files section; ergo I was always looking at the older version. (RED FACE.) All is well in the world and it seems to work as you stated. I'll get on with it. Does anyone have a version I can load on a Fedora Linux machine?