Radar overlay and AIS targets on radar -- not working

[Plover]

I'm running a Windows 10 machine with new version of OCPN 5.8.2. My radar plug in is the new 5.5.0 version.

The radar is working fine but I'm not able to overlay it on my chart on O. Nor is it showing AIS targets on the radar.

Is there something that I need to turn on to get these two functions working on my radar?

Thank you
PLOVER

[Franziska]

On the Plug-in settings:Window-Overlay 1 On

[Plover]

How do I do that? When I go to Plugins Settings, it does not give me that option.

It says " Manually add a CatalogExpert=1 line in the Plug ins section of the configuration file. "

[merrimac]

You will need a heading input to OpenCPN, otherwise the overlay doesn't know how to rotate the radar data so it matches the chart.

If you have that set up, in the Radar Control Menu (the little vertical window where you control your radar) press "Window" then "Radar Overlay". If you don't have the proper heading input (either HDT or HDM + variation) then the Radar Info window will pop up.

[merrimac]

To get AIS targets on the PPI window, a similar action is required: Radar Control Menu > View > AIS/Arpa on PPI needs to be "On". This also requires a heading input (for the same reason).

Note that you can go to Plugin Settings (either via the OpenCPN settings menu or Radar Control Menu > Advanced > Preferences ...) and select Enable COG as heading. This will only work reliably when you are underway. It DOES NOT WORK in the marina or at anchor!

[Plover]

Thank you.

I ticked the box "use COG as heading" in Preferences and now everything is working, both radar overlay and AIS targets on the radar screen.

I am underway at the moment so very helpful.

[SoggyPaws]

I am just about to buy a Halo 20+ for a sailboat that was all Raymarine.

I have a nice Raymarine "standard" fluxgate compass (circa 2004) on the ST60+ autopilot (which all comes into the computer/OpenCPN via a Seatalk to NMEA 183 converter).

Is this a good enough heading sensor to use the full capabilities of the 20+ with OpenCPN? Or do I need to buy something else?

The heading/radar signal integration is done in OpenCPN, not in the Radar?

Thanks!

[bdbcat]

SoggyPaws...
That compass module will be fine for OCPN Radar plugin. I used one for years. Just verify that you are getting N0183 $xxHDG messages from the autopilot, ultimately making their way into OpenCPN.


"The heading/radar signal integration is done in OpenCPN, not in the Radar?"


Correct. The radar produces data in "Head-up" orientation. The Radar plugin rotates the image coming from the radar into "North-up" mode by subtracting the ownship's heading, as measured by the flux-gate compass. et voila...



Good Luck
Dave

[merrimac]

Do make sure you activate the built in “variation” plug-in if you use a magnetic compass.