VDR Plugin

[rgleason]

Good suggestion, would you mind adding that to tracker under pi-vdr?

[Schnapsy]

Originally Posted by rgleason

Good suggestion, would you mind adding that to tracker under pi-vdr?

----------------------------------------------------------------
tss, tss, tss...

I wrote previously

" (...) I filed this request on the Tracker, those who are interested can vote
FS#2592 - simplify the backup process
(https://opencpn.org/flyspray/index.p...s&task_id=2592) (...) "

[PropKnocker5]

Looking back at the log files is there a way to capture the time the sentence arrived at the serial port?

For example this is what is in the debug window

11:03:58 (Serial:COM8) $HCHDT,283.0,T*20<0x0D><0x0A>

But this is what is saved

$HCHDT,73.8,T*15

[fgd3]

Date and time are saved in track files. I export my track files as GPX files when I return to the dock. Would that work for you?

[J.Hernandez]

Hello! I'm new to this forum. I recently tried to get the VDR plugin running in order to record navigation data to create polars for my boat. I'm not a programmer and have very baisc IT skills. Getting the plugin to convert the data that I receive natively in N2K and pass it through SK to OpenCPN has been an ordeal. It is finally working but...

Wouldn't it be easier to update the VDR plugin to work with either SK or N2K data since both of those types of data are native to the latest version of OpenCPN? Just a thought.

[nohal]

The short answer is no.

NMEA 2000 is a completely different discipline, needs different tools and different approach.

SignalK is just websocket always available over network, "VDR" for it are tools like wscat. Or streaming the data into InfluxDB or whatever else.

[AedanC]

Perhaps t he signalk server would be a better place to log data. Have you checked out this plugin for signalk? There may be others.

https://github.com/mairas/signalk-data-logger

[seeUlater]

Hello.

I am using the VDR to record a voyage where I collect the boat's depth and position.

Once I have the vdr.txt file, is there a way that I can see the lat/long and depth information from each of the recorded points? In other words, is there a way to extract these lat/long and depth information for each waypoint on a csv or txt file?

Unfortunately, I am not a computer-savvy programmer and would not be able to use all the Python or other programming tools I see mentioned in forums, so I am looking for a program that would extract that data from the NMEA sentences.

Any help is appreciated.

[sv_pelagia]

https://sailing-pelagia.blogspot.com...ou-go.html?m=0

[seeUlater]

thank you sv_pelagia.
I will play with it and contact you with questions, or likely, a more effusive thank you.

[Antipole]

Voyage Data Recorder is a trusty plugin much used by those who want to record NMEA data to a file.

I have taken the idea further and offer VDR2 as an alternative for those that want what it offers.

VDR2 is implemented in JavaScript, so it is malleable and if it does not do what you want, you can change it.

Recording frequency

VDR2 records a set of NMEA records at a chosen time interval.

By default, this is set to 30 seconds. It will record the latest data received after each 30-second interval. This can drastically reduce file size. You can set any interval not less than 1 second.

You can also set a minimum distance from the previous record. If you have not moved this distance at a recording moment, the record will be omitted. The default distance is 0.02nm. This will reduce recording frequency when near becalmed or pause it while anchored.

Source of navigation data

VDR2 does not use NMEA0183 data for the basic navigational data of position, CMG or SMG. Instead, it generates the NMEA0183 records from OpenCPN's navigation data. Hence it is indifferent to how OpenCPN gets its navigation data - NMEA0183, NMEA2000 or SignalK.

NMEA2000 data

VDR2 can receive NMEA2000 data and convert it to NMEA0183 for recording. This is independent of the PGN decoding built into OpenCPN. It can handle any PGN for which there is a descriptor from the Canboat project.

A simple conversion function is required for each PGN. At present, there are functions for PGN 128267 (depth) and PGN 30306 (wind). The converter is only a few lines of code and instructions for adding further ones are included in the documentation.

File management

VDR2 has flexible file options. You can choose between creating a new file or overwriting or appending data to an existing one.

Recording can be paused and resumed.

There is an option to automatically append recorded data on script start and also when the plugin is loaded. It is possible to have a completely automated recording of data at the chosen frequency.

Details and installation

See the script's GitHub repository which also has a discussion forum.

[seeUlater]

Thanks Antipole. Looks very interesting.

As I mentioned, I am not a gig and dot understand how to run it. Should I run it using a Java console, separate from OpenCPN?

Do you have any plans to make it a PlugIn that could be used from the OpenCPN native plugin manager?

[Antipole]

Originally Posted by seeUlater

Should I run it using a Java console, separate from OpenCPN?

Do you have any plans to make it a PlugIn that could be used from the OpenCPN native plugin manager?

The script runs in the JavaScript plugin which is in the plugin manager catalogue.

Please follow the link provided above in Details and installation.

Also read the User Guide, the first part of which shows you around the plugin. This is not just for programmers.

[seeUlater]

Antipope.
I should be really dumb. Sorry

I checked the OpenCPN plugging manager and I can see how to import plug-ins but it only reads .tar files

Then I followed your instruction and
A) copied the URL
B) open the JavaScript console on my browser
C) typed load (pasted your url);
D) pressed return
Got the following message:
uncaught SyntaxError: missing ) after argument list

I don’t have any idea of what I am doing and any help would be appreciated.

BTW I am using a Chrome broser

[bcn]

Managed plug-ins:


At Options|Plug-ins, update Plug-in catalog (down left)
Scroll down until you find the JavaPI, install...