Tech Ep3 Waterproof Monitor at the Helm, running Openplotter on a Raspberry Pi 4B
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ย. 2024
- This is a more detailed look at the 15.6" Waterproof Touchscreen that I have installed at the helm. This screen is the second screen connected to a Raspberry Pi 4B 4Gb running Openplotter and part of my suite of open source, DIY marine electronics. The Monitor was built to my requirements of being Sunlight readable, optically bonded, Dimmable 100-0%, 9-16V supply, and 1080P. The Supplier was Sihovision (www.sihovision....
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Here are links to the products I used - they are Amazon affiliate links, which means I get a little commission and it cost you nothing
• USB over Cat6 Monoprice - amzn.to/34nZaZ3
• HDMI over Cat6 - amzn.to/35M3DoJ
• USB hub - amzn.to/32YXCUG
• Vesa Mount - amzn.to/3otllnr
@ApresSail
Thanks for sharing!
Excellent work, Jason.
First I thought the screen had CAT outputs, then I saw that your screen has an HDMI input and read your considerations for fiber optic or long HDMI. 7 years ago I installed screens for an audio/video editing studio including HDMI cables of extreme length and much higher resolutions capabilities without issues, though at that time, only on 2.5K resolution screens.
I have a RB Pi5 coming my way and my boat is smaller than yours, so I am of course taking everything into account in terms of compact/practical installation and would strongly appreciate any new information on your HDMI findings.
I look forward to your upcoming upcoming rainy videos.
Fair winds!
The Monoprice HDMI over 2 Cat6 cables appears to work pretty well for me and easy to run!!
@@ApresSail
Thanks, Jason. :)
I realize I did not actually ask a question. My bad.
About a year ago you responded to another subscriber (about 9 comments down): " I have had a few problems with the screen dropping out. I believe it is to do with the HDMI over Cat6 that i installed and this winter I will be swapping that for a fiber optic HDMI cable or long HDMI going a different route (not near any power cables)."
Did you figure out what it was that caused the screen dropping out?
Are you still planning to swap to fiber optic HDMI or long HDMI?
Looking forward to the video with your set up working in action while on the water under rain. :)
@@alexvargaslive All of my connections were inside the helm binnacle and were subject to moisture. The dropouts tended to be on days when the dew was the worst. I wrapped some of the connectors in butyl tape and the occurrences dropped, and not I have put everything in a waterproof box with a desiccant pouch and that hopefully will take care of it.
@@ApresSail Thank, Jason.
That is good news!
Great setup!
Thanks, it works for me!
Getting jealous here! Very nice monitor for the 50+ population like myself
In a few weeks (like Oct2023) I will likely be putting together an update on this monitor which includes me using it in two torrential downpours!!
Fantastic. I cannot say more at the moment as I will spend the night binge watching your channel. I am just at the planning stage to do a similar installation on my 34ft sailboat over the winter. I will most likely have questions if you are available!! LOL
Feel free to ask any questions as and when they come up!
@@ApresSail Après, d'accord.
Here is a very general question in two parts:
1- I am very interested in "playing" with the Raspberry Pi, it is intriguing and I did some programing decades ago so I am tempted.
2- I am in desperate need of some functioning electronics on my new-to-me old sailboat and the cost for a Open CPN etc system is very tempting.
SO...
If I just get a Pi today how long before I can make it useful and then just ad to it and play with it?
Of course all this on NMEA 2000 and not the old 183 format...
I would first want to connect it to my transducer for depth and install a gps, ais, weather. Then eventually connect it to my ST4000 and maybe cameras and connect the video feed to my v-blog... And of course I would like to use it for music and videos and for my maintenance and cruising log books.
The possibilities are endless, and I havent even talked about doing some coding, maybe, just for old time sake?
Should I buy one today?
I had some Linux experience and some Pi experience and I was up and running within a day or so. if you have Raymarine basic instruments - depth, speed, wind - it is very easy to incorporate these Seatalk1 devices.
NMEA2000 is easy - I don't have this on my boat but used a Waveshare CAN hat (amzn.to/3QPlZZa) on two friends boats and I wrote the Openplotter manual page that describes how to set that up. Others have said that an optically isolated version is better (see amzn.to/3u3yx5A) - I have not tested this but heard it works. the possibilities are indeed endless. Last weekend, I sailed from milwaukee to Chicago to watch the SailGP racing and during the race, we streamed the SailGP TH-cam channel to the helm screen from the Pi and with the sound over the boat audio system - it was awesome! we could have watched a movie on the 12 hr sail home but we were too busy grilling (you will see the video in a few weeks!)
@@ApresSail
Hi Jason, so a year later, I have this project working but not completed and some times ago the monitor I had purchased (no sihovision) just died.
Are you still satisfied with your monitor?
I wonder if you could share the exact model of the monitor you got from Sihovision. And I would get the same.
Thanks!
How much did the monitor end up costing? I'm looking for a semi-inexpensive way to get a waterproof touch display at the helm like this and am having quite a rough time finding one that is also easily mountable.
The Monitor was $624 with everything I wanted - the external dimmer, Capacitive touch screen that works with water on it, sunlight readable, antiglare, Optical bonding, 9-36V, -10 to 70C operating range. 1080P....... I mount it with a VESA monitor mount.
Hi Jason
Nice to see one that has found a good screen.
But how do you make a "right-click"?
I rarely need it with my current configuration. OpenCPN is in Touchscreen mode which means you can pan and long press for menus, touch targets for info, stuff like that. I do believe there are some advances in touchscreen area in later versions of Openplotter.
thank you for the quick reply, i found it, however the long press does not seem to work. i wanted to use this as i have put my charts into groups, otherwise my Pi4 becomes very slow, and to choose between those i need to right click. are you using another way to avoid that all the maps are slowing your Pi4 down?
@@ApresSail
ooh i just found out, that if you install OpenCPN Flatpack, two finger zoom and right click with longpress works 🙂@@ApresSail
Hi Jason, nice video, i ordered and managed to get running the same screen from China. It all has to become operational this season and the installation on board is ready. The only thing i was wondering how did you deal with the mouse pointer or right click options ? Also how does it work when it get wet do you still have functionality
I typically use my screen with half OpenCPN and half KIP. I have OCPN in touchscreen mode, which means that if you tap an AIS target (for instance) the dialog box pops up for it. with KIP, you don't really need right click. I briefly played around with Twofing (forums.raspberrypi.com//viewtopic.php?t=138575&p=920720) which worked in single screen mode, but it would need more work to get two screens working and I haven't progressed it. I do have a Mini wireless keyboard/touchpad I keep at the nav station and sometimes bring it to the helm (amzn.to/3m5GmXC). Most route setting is done at the Nav station or at home and emailed to the boat. The couple of times I used it in the rain it worked fine.
Thanks for the video. This is possible the best value for money screen available.
Do you advice to get a 1080P or a 720P resolution display? 10:35
I red that Sohovision build both.
you can always use a 1080P screen at 720P, you can't go the other way and I would bet that there is little cost difference at the same size, seeing as 1080P is exactly high resolution anymore. I would suggest that if you were going to do what I am doing with cloned screens, then keep the resolutions equal
This is almost witchcraft. I salute you
Thanks!, glad you enjoyed it!!
Nice work but aren't you blocking your view of your
compass from the helm?
Depends how tall you are, but I am quite short but can see the compass if I angle the screen backwards. I don't usually use the compass though, as I have Heading, COG and Waypoint on the screen
Hi, Jason, looks gorgeous
Thanks May!
All: Talk to May ^ if you want a similar monitor for your boat!
@@ApresSail will do so
Hey Jason thanks for making the video! Do you have any more information on your ordering requirements for the screen or a direct contact?
Thanks
Eric,
Talk to May (may.zhong@shinhoet.com), she helped me through the process and was very helpful but my order included the following:
- 15.6" screen
- 1000 Nit brightness
- IP67 waterproof
- Optically Bonded (do not skimp here - very important)
- capacitive touch screen
- external Brightness control for Night sailing
- I wanted 1080P to have the same resolution as my navstation screen
Some people have asked May to give them what I bought, so you could get a full spec. from them and go from there if you want to..
let me know how it goes?
Jason
Hi. how did you pay for the screen? bank transfer?
The company sent me an Aliexpress invoice and I paid by credit card to Aliexpress, very simple
Looking to do a similar thing as the Samsung Active tab at the helm is too small. How has the screen performed?. Would you recommend it?
I have had 2 issues which I am going to cover in another video - neither of these issues are related to the monitor quality. The issues are about using 2 monitors and 2 touchscreens and HDMI and getting the correct resolution with EDID. The screen is awesome!
@@ApresSail I am certain I am one of many who look forward to that video. Have you already published it? I will go look for it now...
Do let us know if you have that in the pipeline! :)
@@alexvargaslive unfortunately, I haven't gotten to this yet - sorry!
@@ApresSail No pressure from here, Jason! Gratefully looking forward to it. :D
Hey Jason. Great and informative video. I was wondering if you might provide the full spec on the monitor you had built. I recently bought a boat, and had to leave all my new electronics with the boat I sold, so I am very interested in using open source navigations and reducing the cost of buying big name brands. Along with the feeling of being trapped by their control of accessible functionality. Really appreciate any info and guidance.
Thanks for watching, the full spec. is in the link below:
1drv.ms/b/s!AmZj-tob5pZokFVbdLXgtXkHZaKC
hopefully that comes through and is useful. It was custom, so may not have been the most cost effective version. I know the manufacturer is know selling a screen with a built in RPi4 which may be a good solution at the Nav station with a waterproof version at the helm. I have had a few problems with the screen dropping out. I believe it is to do with the HDMI over Cat6 that i installed and this winter I will be swapping that for a fiber optic HDMI cable or long HDMI going a different route (not near any power cables).
I just received a monitor from them, great service, communication and shipping however the touchscreen doesn’t work!! I can use it as a regulator monitor however not as a touchscreen. Did you have any issues? I’ve reached out to their tech team, slow responses due to their holiday.
Touch screen worked out of the box for me with Raspberry Pi 4 and Openplotter 2. Assuming you have the USB connected? What are you testing it with? Have you tried a computer/OS/USB port?
As soon as I saw your video and you wrote "USB- Touch Screen" I knew that was the issue, connected it and now it functions. I used Time Zero Professional and the pinch/zoom doesn't work very well. I cant remember the type of touch style I got but I want it to be just like an iPad. Which did you get? Thank you for your response.@@ApresSail
@@boaterderek the touchscreen I ordered is was a capacitive one. What is the operating system you are using
Windows 10, I believe mine is capacitive as well.@@ApresSail
Windows 10
nice screen, how is in a very bright and sunny day?
I only took my boat cover off on Saturday but both Saturday and Sunday were bright and sunny, although not at the height of summer. The Screen is anti glare and optically bonded, as well as being very bright. I will get some more footage of it in action as we go through this year both with and without my Bimini up
I can add that after using it all summer 2022, we never had issues with not being able to see the screen, even on the sunniest direct sun days
Hi Jason, how's your monitor going, I bought a 10" monitor from Sihovision which was going fine for about 6 months then just died, they asked me to take it apart and take a look which I did, it looks look fine inside, no sign of moisture but I was surprised how little waterproofing sealant there is, just a very thin layer. Anyway they said if I ship it back to them they will repair it and send it back or I could buy a new one for half price. Given that it's still under warranty I'm not that impressed with this support. I'm thinking of sending it back at this stage.
So I installed the monitor in February of 2022 and used it all last summer and so far this summer. Over that time, I have had some issues with the screen flashing but I believe these were associated with moisture in the HDMI connector (not at the monitor). I have wrapped the HDMI connector in Butyl tape and have not had the issue since. I was caught in a torrential downpour on the water a couple of weeks ago and the screen was wide open to the elements and had no issues. The monitor I bought was IP67 and I did hear another person say they were having issues with an IP65 version. Do you know if yours is IP65 or 67?
@@ApresSail mine is IP67 so it should be fine in the elements not that I've had it out in any significant weather yet. I've had it on an adjustable arm so it sits in the companion way when I'm using it and I swing it back inside otherwise. I'm still discussing with Sihovision what the best option is but at this stage I'm thinking of sending it back so they can repair it. I certainly can't fault the communication with Sihovision, they're very responsive. I'll let you know what happens.
an update, Sihovision sent a replacement motherboard which I installed and all is working fine again, I haven't put it back on the boat yet as I'm taking this opportunity to configure openplotter & opencpn and tune & fix a few issues one being the slow response when using the touchscreen, then I'll have to seal the monitor case back together, anyway all good as far as the monitor goes,
@@jeremyoftitirangi7770 glad they took care of you. hope you have more luck with the second motherboard. As far as waterproofness goes, I have been in some torrential downpours and its been good so far
What was the costs off the monitor?
I got a quote May last year for around $900.00
The spec is somewhat custom for things I specifically wanted that you may not, so what I paid was probably a little than you could get one for but talk to May Zhong who posted above and she will help you!
Good content. But the music is so much louder than your voice, so it's almost impossible to listen to videos. Please fix this.
you can't really update it through YT but I will be posting an update to this video later in the year - how the screen has faired over the last two seasons - and I will include a cut of the original video with better sound. I was very new to editing when I made the original
@@ApresSail i have checked much more of your posts. Much better now. Even if still think you can lower the music a bit. But I must say that I really like your content 👍
this is twice as much as I paid for ONWA chartplotter with AIS transceiver build in....
Great! if you have a solution that works for you that awesome! thanks for watching the video!
Music is annoying!!
That was one of my early videos, the later ones have better balance.
The volume is not strong enough for me to hear. It makes the video useless.
Yes, it is a little quiet, sorry about that. I just watched it again on my iPhone with headphones and I was able to hear it though