Tactics Plugin

[rgleason]

This has all been forced upon us by the misconception IMHO that YMG is to a waypoint. I think that should be called VMC but when under power true VMG (to the wind) is not particularly relevant. Speak to a powerboater and VMG is to a mark (actually VMC), but for a sailor the more relevant measure of sailing efficiency is VMG (to wind) so to avoid confusion and disagreements about what VMG is exactly, We use NKE alternative term CMG!

[hasse_A]

I downloaded and built the latest version 1.0 code.

There seems to be a problem with True Wind angle and True Wind Speed with
this version.
Also, True Wind Dir & Speed gives no data on the display but this has probably
the same cause.

I previously had version 0.7 and with that all worked fine.

/Hans

[tom_BigSpeedy]

Hans,

are you sure you have True Wind data in your NMEA stream ?
If not, did you set the "Force True Wind calculation" in the Preferences ?
Can you try playing one of the sample files NMEA from Ricks file thingie in VDR , please ?

You built under Windows ?

BR,
Thomas

[hasse_A]

Originally Posted by tom_BigSpeedy

did you set the "Force True Wind calculation" in the Preferences ?

No, I did not and when I checked the box it works fine.

There is a difference from version 0.7. There it did not have to be checked.

Thanks a lot Thomas.

/Hans

[tom_BigSpeedy]

Originally Posted by hasse_A

... There it did not have to be checked.

Hans,
but that means that the plugin is calculating true wind now, dropping incoming NMEA data for true wind ...
It was not the intention that you must calculate TW in the plugin, if you have TW available via NMEA ...
I have to fix this.

First of all, can you please verify if you see true wind in dashboard_pi ?

I guess you're playing VDR files, right ?
Can you please upload a short part, please ?
Just use a text editor to split it.
I need to analyse this with your data. With mine, everything works fine.

PS : yes there is a change. I iplemented a "watchdog" for true wind data (i.e. setting all dependent data to "zero" if true wind data was sent and suddenly stops). You can simulate when you stop playing a VDR ...

Thanks for your help,

Thomas

[hasse_A]

Originally Posted by tom_BigSpeedy

First of all, can you please verify if you see true wind in dashboard_pi ?

I do not have true wind as input, only apparent so the plugin must calculate
it from heading and apparent.

Originally Posted by tom_BigSpeedy

I guess you're playing VDR files, right ?

No this is live. We are in Las Palmas. 20+ deg. Celsius.

Originally Posted by tom_BigSpeedy

Can you please upload a short part, please ?
Just use a text editor to split it.
I need to analyse this with your data. With mine, everything works fine.

I will record input data for you but I may not have time until tomorrow, sorry.

/Hans

[tom_BigSpeedy]

Hans,

ah, you don't have True Wind on your instruments ...

Then, everything's fine and the plugin works as designed

No need to record and upload VDR data.

PS: so we have 37° temperature difference....
We had -17° C this morning (south of Munich/Germany).


BR,

Thomas

[rgleason]

Thomas,
Your documentation is pretty much in the wiki now. Good Job on documentation! Tactics_pi
I was challenged by some of the tables and graphics but learned gradually. I am afraid I don't have the same amount of control as you do in OpenOffice or LibreOffice. I don't know how to get color text in there, but will figure that out at some point.

I had a question about graphics.
2.3 Calculate Surface current - I made the lines heavier.
3.1 Load polar file area, clipped from pdf as you suggested. I think it's ok.
3.4 Performance Data - This is the one I'd like to get better so we can see it.
- Perhaps change yellow to ? or put it on a background? I tried pdf cut and that is the result, which is better than what came through openoffice process.
3.5.5 Actual VMG - which one, also could do with a little better resolution.
3.5.8 Speed through the water - I show two, which one? I enlarged them a little.
3.5.8 bottom of page -Theory CMG Calculation - I really like this graph it explains a whole lot of things. To see this go to 3.6 and scroll back Perhaps this could be another section that has a clearer or bigger resolution graphic? And I guess I'd make the tangents a little darker.

Also I had to change the title sizes as they came through as they were too large and while doing so you'll notice I took your number and extended it with respect to 3.5 Instruments that need a polar and applied it to 2.6 Instruments
I hope that's ok.
If you have some requests on formatting etc please let me know.
If, at some point, you can send some revised graphics that would be great.

Thank you for such a great plugin.

[tom_BigSpeedy]

Rick,

thanks for all the wiki work. I'll send you revised screenshots/graphics latest till end of next week. I'm not sure if I can do it this weekend ...

Best,

Thomas

[Hakan]

Thomas
Our nice friends are still working on translations in Crowdin. Please give me a note when time is running out for you to release and get the updated .po files. Until then we'll let them work so we don't download before finalized?
Håkan

[tom_BigSpeedy]

Håkan,

thanks for the feedback. No hurry from my side.
As I didn't receive much Linux feedback (except that it compiles on Raspi 3)
I'm currently truggling to set up a (very old) laptop with linux and do the basic testing on my own.
This will take a while anyway, as I don't have real linux administration know how ...

So I'd say until that is done, we can leave it on Crowdin for translations.

Best,

Thomas

[Hakan]

Thomas
Very good. Just give me note when it's time.
Håkan

[LeaseOnLife]

Originally Posted by tom_BigSpeedy

...As I didn't receive much Linux feedback (except that it compiles on Raspi 3) ....

Sorry about that, boat is on the hard, mast unstepped for winter :-(

To test more, what do I need? Can you upload the needed files (proper VDR file, polar data, etc)?

Dirk

[rgleason]

There are three nmea files you can download from the new wiki now

You may have to register as a User on the wiki
You may have to be login in as a User and open the Media Manager (upper right dropdown) and be pointed in the media directories to here:

This link to NMEA Test files may work, we're still learning. Anyway look for tactics_sample 1,2,3 zip files
OpenCPN [Opencpn]

The way to get to Thomas tactics is
Tactics [Opencpn]
on github.

Thanks.

[NAV]

I have a question about two explanations in the Tactics manual.

1. Target VMG is described as: Target boat speed (or target speed in the diagram). In the example it means: If we would sail with 164° TWA (from example), then we could make 11.95 knots according polar), but currently we're doing only 51% of that.

I understand from this description that Target VMG is the boat speed (STW) you're trying to reach.

2. Target CMG is described as: Same as Target VMG, but towards a waypoint. Means: If we would sail 130° (Target CMG Angle, from example), we would move towards the waypoint with 11.98 knots, but currently we're only doing 64% of that.

From the part "same as Target VMG" I understand that this also is the boat speed (STW) you're trying to reach. The part "we would move towards the waypoint with 11.98 knots" is confusing to me. To me, this indicates the speed component in the direction of the waypoint, and not the STW you're trying to reach.

I think that the boat speed (STW) you're trying to reach, is meant here, but I would like Thomas to confirm this. If I am correct, I suggest to change the text "we would move towards the waypoint".