simple NMEA display
 

Is there an easy way to build a display that will show some chosen NMEA
data?
I have seen on the market programmable units that sell for several
hundred $ and I know that a computer is easily interfaced but what I
need is just a simple, cheap and weatherproof repeater at the helm to
display only few of the zillion data available at the underdeck main
navigation station. For example decoding just part of BWC and VTG and
displaying, say, four lines would be enough (COG, heading, bearing to
waypoint, and distance to waypoint).

Daniel

simple NMEA display
 

Daniele Fua wrote:
Is there an easy way to build a display that will show some chosen NMEA
data?
I have seen on the market programmable units that sell for several
hundred $ and I know that a computer is easily interfaced but what I
need is just a simple, cheap and weatherproof repeater at the helm to
display only few of the zillion data available at the underdeck main
navigation station. For example decoding just part of BWC and VTG and
displaying, say, four lines would be enough (COG, heading, bearing to
waypoint, and distance to waypoint).

Daniel
Any old pc/laptop wold show the stream with:

copy com1 con

assuming the stream it connected to com1 serial port with the
right baudrate.

simple NMEA display
 

Sjouke Burry :

Any old pc/laptop
assuming the stream it connected to com1 serial port with the
right baudrate.

The problem with a PC is the power consumption and the waterproofness.

wold show the stream with:

copy com1 con

It will scroll too fast to be readable. But it should be easy to write a
program displaying the data.

simple NMEA display
 

Daniele Fua wrote in news:48da95fd$0$1080
:

Is there an easy way to build a display that will show some chosen
NMEA
data?
I have seen on the market programmable units that sell for several
hundred $ and I know that a computer is easily interfaced but what I
need is just a simple, cheap and weatherproof repeater at the helm to
display only few of the zillion data available at the underdeck main
navigation station. For example decoding just part of BWC and VTG and
displaying, say, four lines would be enough (COG, heading, bearing to
waypoint, and distance to waypoint).

Daniel


We have one aboard Lionheart. It's a B&G "Network" DATA display. I
think it will display what you want except it has no chart plotter to do
bearing and distance to waypoint. For that you'd need a chart plotter
to do the calculations and to store the waypoint lat/long.

Here's its user manual:
http://www.bandg.com/upload/B&G/Docu...data_manual.pd
f
The functions you seek are under the OTHER button.

B&G Network QUAD would give you more data simultaneously. We only have
DATA, not QUAD in our system and it's located at the chart table.
http://www.bandg.com/upload/B&G/Docu...quad_usermanua
l.pdf

B&G discontinued NETWORK instruments for a newer proprietary system to
compete with Seatalk and Garmintalk (or whatever the hell Garmin calls
it). It's too bad, too, because the daisy-chained NETWORK instruments
are all STANDARDIZED NMEA 0183 data instruments that "pass through" data
fed to them, while adding their own statements if they are
talkers...eliminating the need for multiport multiplexers. they simply
plug in end-to-end with cables that match sticking out of them. At any
point in the chain, if you make the chain into a complete loop, you can
break out the NMEA 0183 data stream from all of them by slicing into the
cable and splicing your own "data out" wire (NMEA +) to the, I THINK I
REMEMBER, green wire. At any point this wire will have all the data
from all the instruments on it and can be used by non B&G instruments as
listeners, directly.

Either of these will do what you want, except for the chart plotter
functions, in one neat sailing instrument. It doesn't care where the
data comes from. Just put 12V to the RED and 12V ground to BLACK and
INPUT the data to the INPUT cable pin. Sorry I don't have the pinout
quickly available, but it's on B&G website. They'll sell you "extension
cables" you can simply cut in half to get input and output cables
already made up to connect to other manufacturer's devices. Works great
that way.

Check ebay or other used marine instrument sources for them on the
cheap. Boaters love to "upgrade" perfectly good working systems...(c;

simple NMEA display
 

On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:33:29 +0200, Daniele Fua
wrote:

Is there an easy way to build a display that will show some chosen NMEA
data?
I have seen on the market programmable units that sell for several
hundred $ and I know that a computer is easily interfaced but what I
need is just a simple, cheap and weatherproof repeater at the helm to
display only few of the zillion data available at the underdeck main
navigation station. For example decoding just part of BWC and VTG and
displaying, say, four lines would be enough (COG, heading, bearing to
waypoint, and distance to waypoint).

Daniel

There is an NMEA-0183 FAQ on my website listed below that details the
formats of common NMEA-0183 sentences.

There is a simple program to display some NMEA data somewhere on my
site, called "nmealogr.zip" (or maybe ".exe") This was written in
Borland C for DOS, but the source code should be a useful guide for
other environments.


--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca

simple NMEA display
 

Peter Bennett wrote in
news.com:

Borland C for DOS

Wow! That was a flashback towards Woodstock!

73 DE W4CSC

NNNN

simple NMEA display
 

Thank you to all but my question was more on how to make or buy a cheap
and not necessarily versatile piece of hardware.
If I find it, a second hand B&G could be the answer but I was thinking
more of a DIY (or Do-It-Myself would be more appropriate...) box with
few smart chips and a non graphic LCD display. Any of you guys ever
bumped on something similar?

Peter, I have known your site for years and I still appreciate it
whenever I need information on NMEA.

Daniel

simple NMEA display
 

On Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:50:53 +0000, Larry wrote:

Peter Bennett wrote in
rnews.com:

Borland C for DOS

Wow! That was a flashback towards Woodstock!

73 DE W4CSC

NNNN

At work, I still have a PC with DOS6 (I think), and still use Borland
C to write software for it. I use it to communicate with a data
acquisition system that I design new modules for. I've never gotten
into Windoze programming.


--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca

simple NMEA display
 

Raymarine made a multifunction display which uses the sea talk bus.

If you could get one of these off ebay and also a nema to seatalk converter
this would seem to meet the requirement

Alec



"Daniele Fua" wrote in message
. ..
Is there an easy way to build a display that will show some chosen NMEA
data?
I have seen on the market programmable units that sell for several hundred
$ and I know that a computer is easily interfaced but what I need is just
a simple, cheap and weatherproof repeater at the helm to display only few
of the zillion data available at the underdeck main navigation station.
For example decoding just part of BWC and VTG and displaying, say, four
lines would be enough (COG, heading, bearing to waypoint, and distance to
waypoint).

Daniel

simple NMEA display
 

Daniele Fua :

what I need is just a simple, cheap and weatherproof repeater at the helm

I am affraid the weatherproofness and the general robustness are hard to
achieve, and you will be better off buying a moderately expensive commercial
product.

I am a big fan of the TackTick products: you just plug inside the boat an
nmea receiver that forwards over wifi the data it receives, and then you can
hang as many wireless repeaters as you like in the cockpit. The repeaters
are entirely wireless, using solar power (they have enough battery to run
through the night), and wifi to communicate with the base.

simple NMEA display
 

"Alec" wrote in message
...
Raymarine made a multifunction display which uses the sea talk bus.

The Raymarine ST60 Graphic is very flexible in what it can display.

simple NMEA display
 

"Luc Habert" wrote in message
...
Daniele Fua :

what I need is just a simple, cheap and weatherproof repeater at the
helm

I am affraid the weatherproofness and the general robustness are hard to
achieve, and you will be better off buying a moderately expensive
commercial
product.

I am a big fan of the TackTick products: you just plug inside the boat an
nmea receiver that forwards over wifi the data it receives, and then you
can
hang as many wireless repeaters as you like in the cockpit. The repeaters
are entirely wireless, using solar power (they have enough battery to run
through the night), and wifi to communicate with the base.

One minor correction: TackTick does not use Wifi to communicate. That would
simply be impossible with solar powered instruments. They use their own
extemely low power RF system.

Meindert

simple NMEA display
 

On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:33:29 +0200, Daniele Fua
wrote:

Is there an easy way to build a display that will show some chosen NMEA
data?
I have seen on the market programmable units that sell for several
hundred $ and I know that a computer is easily interfaced but what I
need is just a simple, cheap and weatherproof repeater at the helm to
display only few of the zillion data available at the underdeck main
navigation station. For example decoding just part of BWC and VTG and
displaying, say, four lines would be enough (COG, heading, bearing to
waypoint, and distance to waypoint).

Daniel

A navigation data repeater was presented in the italian
Bolina sail magazine issued on March 2008, number 251, page
79. A four row LCD display with decoded NMEA data.
But the author has missed the schematic and the listing for
the programmable microcontroller. The project is useless.
You can check with "Bolina".

Ciao, Dino

simple NMEA display
 

Dino ha scritto:
A navigation data repeater was presented in the italian
Bolina sail magazine issued on March 2008, number 251, page
79. A four row LCD display with decoded NMEA data.
But the author has missed the schematic and the listing for
the programmable microcontroller. The project is useless.
You can check with "Bolina".

Ciao, Dino

Thank you Dino, this is exactly what I was asking for. I will do some
research and hope to obtain more information.
If you are also interested I will keep you posted.
Ciao e grazie
Daniel

simple NMEA display
 

I've put together a Parallax micro controller with an lcd display. It
receives the NMEA data from the GPS and displays what you want on the LCD.
Simple remote station for the flybridge.


Mark

"Daniele Fua" wrote in message
. ..
Dino ha scritto:
A navigation data repeater was presented in the italian
Bolina sail magazine issued on March 2008, number 251, page
79. A four row LCD display with decoded NMEA data.
But the author has missed the schematic and the listing for
the programmable microcontroller. The project is useless.
You can check with "Bolina".

Ciao, Dino

Thank you Dino, this is exactly what I was asking for. I will do some
research and hope to obtain more information.
If you are also interested I will keep you posted.
Ciao e grazie
Daniel

simple NMEA display
 

m ha scritto:
I've put together a Parallax micro controller with an lcd display. It
receives the NMEA data from the GPS and displays what you want on the LCD.
Simple remote station for the flybridge.


Mark


Great! Would you be so kind to help me replicate it or... whatever.
Daniel

simple NMEA display
 

Daniele Fua wrote:

Is there an easy way to build a display that will show some chosen NMEA
data?
I have seen on the market programmable units that sell for several
hundred $ and I know that a computer is easily interfaced but what I
need is just a simple, cheap and weatherproof repeater at the helm to
display only few of the zillion data available at the underdeck main
navigation station. For example decoding just part of BWC and VTG and
displaying, say, four lines would be enough (COG, heading, bearing to
waypoint, and distance to waypoint).

Daniel

When you say 'build', what is your experience level with hardware and
software.

There are a number of microcontroller development kits that can do what
you want. Displays available range from 2x16 character backlit
alphanumeric LCDs to QVGA (quarter VGA) bit-mapped graphics.

This outfit: http://www.parallax.com/ sells a range of products that can
do what you want if you have the skill to cobble some hardware and code
together. If that's beyond your skill level or your time is worth too
much, a ready-made unit is a better choice.

The good thing about some of these kits is that there are enough users
groups on-line that someone may already have solved your problem for
you. Or something close enough.

--
Paul Hovnanian
------------------------------------------------------------------
At some point it becomes necessary to behead all the architects and
begin construction. -- Abi-Bar-Shim (Project Mgr. - Great Pyramid)

simple NMEA display
 

Paul Hovnanian P.E. ha scritto:
When you say 'build', what is your experience level with hardware and
software.

There are a number of microcontroller development kits that can do what
you want. Displays available range from 2x16 character backlit
alphanumeric LCDs to QVGA (quarter VGA) bit-mapped graphics.

This outfit: http://www.parallax.com/ sells a range of products that can
do what you want if you have the skill to cobble some hardware and code
together. If that's beyond your skill level or your time is worth too
much, a ready-made unit is a better choice.

The good thing about some of these kits is that there are enough users
groups on-line that someone may already have solved your problem for
you. Or something close enough.


Thank you Paul, now I understand better also what Mark was telling me.
I have a pretty good experience in hardware and software but I have
never programmed a microcontroller. I have worked with most of the high
level programming languages (old fashion... fortran, C, IDL, etc) and I
have "played" with discrete analog electronics all my life. A little
also with IC's and digital components.

I will go ahead and try to find someone who can help me update my skills
and provide some more precise information on the Parallax kits.

Thank you all
Daniel

simple NMEA display
 

On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:33:29 +0200, Daniele Fua
wrote:

Is there an easy way to build a display that will show some chosen NMEA
data?
I have seen on the market programmable units that sell for several
hundred $ and I know that a computer is easily interfaced but what I
need is just a simple, cheap and weatherproof repeater at the helm to
display only few of the zillion data available at the underdeck main
navigation station. For example decoding just part of BWC and VTG and
displaying, say, four lines would be enough (COG, heading, bearing to
waypoint, and distance to waypoint).



I think what you are looking for is a CruzPro RP-60 Intelligent NMEA
0183 Remote Data Repeater:

http://www.mpsadventurer.com/cruzpro...a_repeater.htm

http://www.mpsadventurer.com/cruz%20prices.pdf

It seems reasonably priced at about $200 USD. I don't think you
could build anything cheaper than that considering development costs
and equipment.

simple NMEA display
 

Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:33:29 +0200, Daniele Fua
wrote:

Is there an easy way to build a display that will show some chosen NMEA
data?
I have seen on the market programmable units that sell for several
hundred $ and I know that a computer is easily interfaced but what I
need is just a simple, cheap and weatherproof repeater at the helm to
display only few of the zillion data available at the underdeck main
navigation station. For example decoding just part of BWC and VTG and
displaying, say, four lines would be enough (COG, heading, bearing to
waypoint, and distance to waypoint).



I think what you are looking for is a CruzPro RP-60 Intelligent NMEA
0183 Remote Data Repeater:

http://www.mpsadventurer.com/cruzpro...a_repeater.htm

http://www.mpsadventurer.com/cruz%20prices.pdf

It seems reasonably priced at about $200 USD. I don't think you
could build anything cheaper than that considering development costs
and equipment.


FWIW, I have been using one of these for the last couple of years. It
has performed as advertised, and the manufacturer was responsive to my
queries.

simple NMEA display
 

Moonshadow ha scritto:
Wayne.B wrote:

I think what you are looking for is a CruzPro RP-60 Intelligent NMEA
0183 Remote Data Repeater:

http://www.mpsadventurer.com/cruzpro...a_repeater.htm

http://www.mpsadventurer.com/cruz%20prices.pdf

It seems reasonably priced at about $200 USD. I don't think you
could build anything cheaper than that considering development costs
and equipment.


FWIW, I have been using one of these for the last couple of years. It
has performed as advertised, and the manufacturer was responsive to my
queries.

Yes, this is a good suggestion. Actually more like the CruzPro RP-110 at
$260 which has the 4 lines I am looking for.
Following previous advices, I have sorted out the parallax combination
that would fit my needs and found that it would cost about 110$.
I have also checked that it is indeed well within my hardware/software
skills.

Thank to all of you, now I have enough information to decide.
The point now is whether I have leisure time and will to build my own
device and whether it is worth the $150 difference.

With the skyrocketing stock exchange crisis probably yes but I'll see...
:-)

Thank you again
Daniel

simple NMEA display
 

Daniele Fua :

Following previous advices, I have sorted out the parallax combination
that would fit my needs and found that it would cost about 110$.

Does it include a waterproof case? I didn't find any on parallax's website.

simple NMEA display
 

"Meindert Sprang" :

One minor correction: TackTick does not use Wifi to communicate.

My bad. BTW, the large TackTick units can display at most two data
simultaneously, but there is a remote control, which, apart from enabling
you to switch the data displayed, has a screen on which it displays a large
number of data simulateously.

simple NMEA display
 

Luc Habert ha scritto:
Daniele Fua :

Following previous advices, I have sorted out the parallax combination
that would fit my needs and found that it would cost about 110$.

Does it include a waterproof case? I didn't find any on parallax's website.

You are right, I did not take this into account. Now that you raised the
point I think I will probably fit it into the box of some old "retired"
marine instrument off my drawers.

Daniel