Use and Installation - New User - Welcome!

[JohnHockings]

Thanks Rick, I now seem to have it up and running, and working with the appropriate dates. Many thanks again for your help. Now I will try it out over a few months and see how this approach stacks up.

[rgleason]

Very good! John, I used 60mono.pol polar file for the routing runs Newport-Lizard and Lizard - Newport starting Jan 1 and June 1 with Climatology only using Wind and Currents as shown below, for example.

Notice that they are very different routes. Also see the completion times listed in the "Weather_routing_Configuration" window.

You're good to get OpenCPN, Climatology and Wx-routing running so readily. It usually takes a little more time and persistence.

Try downloading some Long Grib files and doing routing using 8 or 16 day gribs with Climatology extending the routing to the finish.

[Donald Peterson]

Originally Posted by rgleason

Welcome to this active community of cruising users and programmers. We help each other improve skills and improve the program. The program has become quite robust with active programming on windows, linux, osX and android platforms.

Ask your questions here and you will benefit by having the whole community contribute.

I am a new user to this forum and I am a new user to Opencpn . I have the program
but having trouble figuring how to get the program to read my GPS and how to load
charts from NOAA. I have had older nobletec programs and have A TRENDnet TU-S9
driver which works with nobletec but I cant seem to get it to work on my new pc
I am running windows 7. Do I need a different driver? The TU-S9 has a pig tail that
plugs in to a usb port.

[bcn]

Hi Donald,

you are using 4.0?

There is a very complete manual that comes with OpenCPN. Just use the help button from the tool bar - the "?" and then go for help/the manual.

If you get stuck then please come back with doubts and questions....

[rgleason]

Dear Donald,
Please install OpenCPN v4.0 as BCN suggests. The manual is pretty darn good (and can always be improved), and the areas I would read are

Getting Started Getting Started | Official OpenCPN Homepage
Charts Installing Charts | Official OpenCPN Homepage
GPS connections Setting Up GPS | Official OpenCPN Homepage

Can you download Noaa charts for your area?
See Chart Sources and find the NOAA link.
Chart Sources | Official OpenCPN Homepage

You could also install the ChartDownloader Plugin
PlugIns | Official OpenCPN Homepage
and then enable that plugin.
Then I would suggest you review how it works in the included documentation. It has been tested quite extensively. I have found it to be a great addition. This version is new. It will help you download NOAA charts and help to keep them updated. You can thank Pavel and Transmitter Dan for their efforts on this plugin.

Let us know how it goes please. We standby.

[Donald Peterson]

I am trying to set up my 4.0 Opencpn GPS .I can't figure out what driver I need.
When I go to the web site that is in the manual I can't see what they are referring
to. I have two Furuno GPS's on the boat and a driver that works with an old nobletec
but when I try to use it on Opencpn nothing happens its a TU-8- something "Trend ??
don't have it with me at the moment.

[rgleason]

Donald,
It sounds like this gps is part of your furuno navigation system and is connected via furuno cables to other insyruments etc. Plrase explain further.

Have you made a Nmea connection for opencpn to recieve the gps data?

The other alternative is to purchase a GPS mouse with usb connection for less than $50.







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