Question on Garmin Radar -> OpenCPN

[GSilvegren]

Hello!
Being a rookie on OpenCPN and marine electronics, I thought I'd make a reach out here before I go and purchase some gear I may not need.

We don't use a chartplotter and run GPS & AIS via our N2K network onto our PC onboard (opencpn). My next step is to get our Garmin 18 xHD data displayed in OpenCPN too.

The radar antenna has a power switch installed and we have pulled an ethernet cable from the antenna into the cockpit.
My sweet dream would be to just plug it into the PC (via a ethernet to usb-c adapter) right away. However, when I am looking at the instruction provided in the OpenCPN help-pages, a setup using an "Amphenol MRJ*5780*01 adapter" is suggested. Is this required or can I just plug in the ethernet cable to the PC?

I assume this question is already covered in another thread somewhere, but I couldnt find it when searching.

many thanks!
Gustav

[bdbcat]

Gustav....
Unfortunately, this is not a simple as plugging the scanner into the PC ethernet port.


The adapter, or something like it, is required. As described elsewhere, you will need to wire a secondary switch into the ethernet cable to control the scanner's "standby/active" mode. The particular adapter recommended makes this easy. But there are certainly other ways to accomplish the switch wiring.


Thanks
Dave

[Hakan]

Gustav..
Pls see also here for possible more info:

https://github.com/opencpn-radar-pi/...n-%28Garmin%29


Håkan

[GSilvegren]

Hey Håkan & Dave,
thanks for your input! Much appreciated!

/Gustav