tech stuff

Greets: Looking at implementing a low power ships computer that is permanently fixed to the boat. There are lots of low powered units now available running typcially between 3-8watts. So my existing battery banks can handle the load. The only thing I have not figured out is how to replace my wired gps bus, the currently feeds, the laptop, VHF and Raymarine control head. The netbook has been sorted and I can feed data into it via wifi, so I am free of the cables. Both the controll head (RM) and VHF (Uniden) take GPS and AIS inputs but want them wired. Any ideas how I can get there from the black box Im working on. eg: http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/reviews/sheevaplug-esata-plug-computer-review/ -- /ch

What are you thinking of for a display? I assume it will be daylight viewable. Maybe I am missing something. Are you going to have a netbook for the readout? I am afraid I am confused. I think I need another beer. Allen On Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 1:10 PM, chris123 <ch… [at] gmail.com>wrote: > > > Greets: > > Looking at implementing a low power ships computer that is permanently > fixed to the boat. There are lots of low powered units now available > running typcially between 3-8watts. So my existing battery banks can > handle the load. The only thing I have not figured out is how to > replace my wired gps bus, the currently feeds, the laptop, VHF and > Raymarine control head. The netbook has been sorted and I can feed > data into it via wifi, so I am free of the cables. Both the controll > head (RM) and VHF (Uniden) take GPS and AIS inputs but want them > wired. Any ideas how I can get there from the black box Im working on. > > eg: > http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/reviews/sheevaplug-esata-plug-computer-review/ > > -- > /ch > >

There are several low power units coming onto the market all running about 3- 8watts. The display will be via vlc so its can be anything, alternatively wifi, again it can be anything..not the issue. The slickest unit is this one: http://www.fit-pc.com/trimslice/ The current gps bus is all hard wired. Simple data cable set from garmin that feeds a terminal trip. NMEA out and NMEA in. This can be duplicated for AIS. Now the tricky part is both the VHF and Raymariine Controller accept data inputs (IN and OUT) but via wire. I'd like to get rid of the wire. Clueless on how to do that. Garmin cable set: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=519 /ch

Money no object? http://www.amazon.com/Gefen-EXT-WRS232-Wireless-RS232-Extender/dp/B002QPWE56/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1296597827&sr=1-1 <http://www.amazon.com/Gefen-EXT-WRS232-Wireless-RS232-Extender/dp/B002QPWE56/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1296597827&sr=1-1>I can't find a reasonable solution. I would go with wire. More reliable, cheap, low power. If you don't know about this place, you should: http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp <http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp>Allen On Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 1:48 PM, chris123 <ch… [at] gmail.com>wrote: > > > There are several low power units coming onto the market all running about > 3- 8watts. The display will be via vlc so its can be anything, alternatively > wifi, again it can be anything..not the issue. > > The slickest unit is this one: http://www.fit-pc.com/trimslice/ > > The current gps bus is all hard wired. Simple data cable set from garmin > that feeds a terminal trip. NMEA out and NMEA in. This can be duplicated for > AIS. Now the tricky part is both the VHF and Raymariine Controller accept > data inputs (IN and OUT) but via wire. I'd like to get rid of the wire. > Clueless on how to do that. > > Garmin cable set: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=519 > > /ch > > >

wireless serial ports...too nuvea..for me..>:) The other reference is good. What I'm working on is having a basic ship computer that is extremely low power and records ships data and rebroadcasts its as needed. Simple data controller done in hardware. but of course no one wants to play nice. wires that gauge tend to corrode really fast. The new low voltage units are basically SOC's. /ch

You think the wires will corrode faster than the electronics will fail? Not in my world. Allen On Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 2:22 PM, chris123 <ch… [at] gmail.com>wrote: > > > wireless serial ports...too nuvea..for me..>:) The other reference is > good. > > What I'm working on is having a basic ship computer that is extremely low > power and records ships data and rebroadcasts its as needed. Simple data > controller done in hardware. but of course no one wants to play nice. > > wires that gauge tend to corrode really fast. The new low voltage units are > basically SOC's. > > /ch > > > > >

just justifying the fun.....at 99 bucks a unit, they are redundant. The fun is in building this stuff, you know....:) /ch

Chris, How about tying in all your NMEA data with a Noland NM42U Multiplexer <http://www.navstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=1259> (NMEA in and USB out) run a USB cable to one of those itty bitty Linux servers <http://www.excito.com/bubba/products/overview.html> set up to broadcast WIFI? Of course the devil is in the details, but do you think this would work? MIke M. Cal-40 /Celtic Naut /On 2/1/2011 5:50 PM, chris123 wrote: > > > just justifying the fun.....at 99 bucks a unit, they are redundant. > The fun is in building this stuff, you know....:) > > /ch > > > > > >

But if you use wire you won't have to have all that fun. Paraphrase of a line from American Graffiti, my favorite movie. Just remember this: All fun projects take a boat week. There are 12 boat weeks per year. Allen On Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 2:50 PM, chris123 <ch… [at] gmail.com>wrote: > > > just justifying the fun.....at 99 bucks a unit, they are redundant. The fun > is in building this stuff, you know....:) > > /ch > > > > >

solid as your heartbeat if you do it on Linux. most of these units run Linux....thanks...the multiplexer is the ticket. I dont know anything about marine electronics other then its a captive market that I dislike sooooooooo...:) there are lots of models available. I only found out about this around noon, the head is spinning with idea what can be done here. http://www.thinq.co.uk/2011/2/1/new-it-announces-dreamplug-arm-box/ What you want is a unit where the OS is open source. Not all are, then connect with the usb over serial port, and the fun begins. You cannot brick these devices, but make a backup of the OS before you start to something off unit. At least then you can start over. Best of luck...if you need some help just ping me. /ch

Just for fun. Apple is going to release the next gen of IPADs in a few months/weeks meaning the current wifi models will be around 200 bucks on ebay. Configure your plug computer to run as wifi station ie: to broadcast. IPADS connect to remote devices via wifi....you navigator will love you. Its going to get even better as you bring more data comes on line. What would be nice for my needs is engine data and dump it to a log file every time the engine is started. Alarm the temp and oil pressure and you got a pretty good setup. The thing is these things are so cheap you can carry four spares for the price of an A-4 water pump that died and toasted my engine. Had it been alarmed by any means would have saved the cost of repowering which I wanted to do but not in year 1 of ownership. Best of luck ./ch On Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 6:10 PM, mike <mi… [at] wahini.org> wrote: > > > Chris, > How about tying in all your NMEA data with a Noland NM42U Multiplexer<http://www.navstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=1259>(NMEA in and USB out) run a USB cable to one of those itty > bitty Linux servers <http://www.excito.com/bubba/products/overview.html>set up to broadcast WIFI? > Of course the devil is in the details, but do you think this would work? > MIke M. > Cal-40 > *Celtic Naut > > * > On 2/1/2011 5:50 PM, chris123 wrote: > > just justifying the fun.....at 99 bucks a unit, they are redundant. The fun > is in building this stuff, you know....:) > > /ch > > > > > > > > -- /ch

Now if you really want to do an integration exercise, hook it up to spots newest of devices...:) http://www.findmespot.ca/en/spotnews/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=345:new-year-new-spot-product-spot-connect&catid=21:spot-updates&Itemid=1 Keep an eye on your boat while your gone as well. Man you really could have fun with this stuff...I smell an IPO coming soon from somewhere based on a user paid service fee..:) At least thats how it used to be....alas Im too old to play this game again. How many more weeks till we can go sailing and get back to basics..??? /ch

I hope everyone knows about this app for Android and iPhones. It turns your phone into a chart plotter with GPS location for $10 or $E10 http://www.navionics.com/NavionicsMobile.asp <http://www.navionics.com/NavionicsMobile.asp>I have it on my Nexus 1 and had one on my old iPhone. Works great and does not need network connectivity to work. The version I have covers the entire US west coast. There are versions for other regions. Allen On Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 4:48 PM, chris123 <ch… [at] gmail.com>wrote: > > > Now if you really want to do an integration exercise, hook it up to spots > newest of devices...:) > > > http://www.findmespot.ca/en/spotnews/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=345:new-year-new-spot-product-spot-connect&catid=21:spot-updates&Itemid=1 > > Keep an eye on your boat while your gone as well. > > Man you really could have fun with this stuff...I smell an IPO coming soon > from somewhere based on a user paid service fee..:) At least thats how it > used to be....alas Im too old to play this game again. > > How many more weeks till we can go sailing and get back to basics..??? > > /ch > > > >