OpenCPN Basics - The FREE Chartplotter Program
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- Fellow boaters - I'm thrilled to share my latest project with you: MaintenanceROS! Crafted from my experiences aboard Starry Horizons, it's designed to simplify vessel and maintenance management, making life on the water even more enjoyable.
Explore MaintenanceROS.com and enjoy an exclusive 20% discount for the first 6 months using promo code 'outchasingstars'. Seamlessly manage your boat's upkeep - let's embark on this journey together!
*****
OpenCPN is a FREE program you can use for planning sailing routes, or you can get more in-depth and use it as a complete chart plotter. It is incredibly powerful, and yes, completely FREE!
We use OpenCPN all the time aboard Starry Horizons so it was the logical choice to share with you in the first of our helpful programs/apps series. This video will cover where to download OpenCPN, how to install the program, some useful options to change, how to download (free!) navigational charts, setting up a GPS connection and a quick bonus segment talking about the feature we use most often.
These are just the basics, so if you’re interested for us to a deeper dive into the features and capabilities of OpenCPN, be sure and leave a comment below!
================
Table Of Contents
================
0:00 - Intro
0:33 - What Is OpenCPN?
1:48 - How To Download
2:46 - Resources: Manuals, Charts & Forum
5:15 - Installing OpenCPN
8:41 - Basic Setup Options
12:00 - Downloading Charts
19:35 - Setting Up a GPS Connection
23:50 - Bonus Tip: Measuring Distances
================
Related Links
================
OpenCPN Website: opencpn.org/
OpenCPN Forum: www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...
GlobalSat BU-353-S4 USB GPS Receiver: amzn.to/3D0qkDt
================
Affiliate Links
================
Out Chasing Stars is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. We will make a small commission if you click them and make a qualifying purchase. If you have a different purchase in mind, you can also use these storewide links below.
🛒 Amazon: amzn.to/3yhlT1T
🛒 OCS Suggested Products on Amazon: www.amazon.com/shop/outchasin...
Absolutely have more on openCPN. Needs a series for sure!
I'm really glad people are liking this video. We'll definitely be doing more on openCPN!
David, this is awesome. I have installed OpenCPN multiple times and then reverted back to Navionics because I never had the patience/time for the steep learning curve that this software takes. But this basic tutorial clarified many issues that frustrated me in the past. I'm 1000x more likely to use OpenCPN as another source of data now. Definitely, an OpenCPN Advanced video would be highly appreciated :-).
I am really a huge proponent that you can't use enough sources for charts/planning/etc. I've used Navionics in addition to our Raymarine MFD and OpenCPN. But I do think that OpenCPN can be an extremely powerful planning tool, especially with some of the Plugins that will be covered in an advanced video! 😉
Well done. Please make more editorials of all the sophisticated equipment available today. Beyond me (I'm 80 years old, don't even own a boat anymore) but you explain it so well. The future is fascinating (since on the water you can leave most of the politics behind and be a free person). I wish you the best!
Thanks! It's amazing just how fast the technology changes. Even from 7 years ago when we started, there are a lot of new things to learn!
David, excellent presentation! I learned so much and I like this new format. Appreciate your time sharing this with us.
David - LOVED this! Thank you for making the intro painless. I HOPE you do more vids on OpenCPN! Thank you for sharing these kinds of vids! We learn so much.
Thank you so much for doing this series. I still can’t believe it’s free! So powerful!
Thank you. Great job making this easy to understand and follow. Time to download it and get underway!
So helpful… thank you and yes would love more on open cpn and other weather and navigation tools you used
Fantastic! Brief video?? I want more! Thanks David! I am off to download it now.
Great video, thanks! Never heard of it, but will be downloading soon. Good tip about checking both types of charts. Bring on the advanced course!
Just wait until we talk about checking satellite images as well! So many things to look at! 😁
Great Job! / Great Info! I believe more video(s) about OpenCPN would be VERY welcome by the boating community.
At about 23:00 into the video, you switch from an RNC chart of where you're anchored to an ENC chart of the same location. I believe the depths displayed on both charts are either MLW (Mean Low Water) or MLLW (Mean Low Low Water). That means the actual depth you're experiencing will be subject to tides. The RNC chart appears to show you anchored in an area that is between 2 and 17 feet (MLW or MLLW). The comparable ENC chart appears to show you anchored in an area between .6 meters (1.9 feet) and 5.1 meters (16.7 feet). So the charts appear to be in sync from a displayed depth data perspective. I think you added that you're actually in about 10 feet of water. I could be wrong, but to me that seems to confirm the charts are pretty accurate, since the bottom would slope from 2 meters / 1.9 feet to about 5.1 meters / 16.7 feet in that area, depending on tide level. Sorry, I geeked out a bit.
Thanks again for a Great video.
Yes, more open cpn please. Been using awhile, but only basically. A tutorial beyond this would be fantastic. Cheers
Careful... we'll start you down the rabbit hole!! 😁
Thanks David. I’d definitely heard of Open CPN but had no idea. I now feel confident to download it and give it a go. Cheers
Thank you for your tutorial. I was searching for navigation software for PCs and found OpenCPN and downloaded it. I have used Open Office for a long time and never thought that there was a navigation software that was open source. You have given a great explanation of how to get started and I greatly appreciate it.
This is the best Open CPN tutorial I have seen. I have downloaded it, and tried to use it a couple times but revert back to my chartplotter and tablet. Please create more Open CPN vide.
Very nicely done. I watched it when it first came out and said this is very nice. Watched it again while running Open CPN and got a lot out of it. I will do part II soon. And then I will likely do them again when our boat arrives! (Summer 2023). Thanks.
Holy Moly...I never knew about this. Super helpful. You rock! Yes, more.
This was very informative in so many ways.
Thank you. I really appreciate your time and effort on explaining this useful program. I am also interested in more videos of it. It is not extremely intuitive until you know how to use it.
Thank you very, very much for this introduction to open CPN, which I found very instructive and helpful
That a great introduction to OPENCPN.
Very clear and didactic presentation.
The getting charts for some spots in the world is a tricky feat, you in the US are lucky.
YES, we lsten patiently till you finally get to the stuff we need, Chart downloader and then selecting and loading charts to make this thing work! About halfway through the good stuff is finally shared. And thanks.
Hi David, this is really useful, many thanks
Great video as usual. We use this program when navigating in poorly charted areas like here in Fiji. We use Google Earth images downloaded from other cruisers. A video on making your own GE images would be awesome!
Thanks for the suggestion. There are a lot of sources for getting satellite images and I may do a whole video just on that topic. Because you're right, having satellite images are vital in poorly charted areas!
This is very helpful!! Keep them coming!
Thank you for you vid. It made it easy to load and set up the gps.
Very Professional! I can't thank you enough!
Thanks David, great vid. Cheers
Great video - would love to learn more about CPN
Great information! Thanks!
good work David, it's a very useful tool
Awesome video. Thanks
Shew that was amazing.. would love the advanced course -
I have Open CPN on a Raspberry PI. We cruse the middle Chesapeake. I just added the dAISy hat to the PI. The open CPN software even on a limited resource machine like the PI is still powerful and faster than both of my chart plotters. My next move is to convert an in dash installation. I love the Open CPN for it's power and features and the ease of use once you get used to it. I also use the Open CPN to broadcast AIS and GPS information via WIFI to my laptop for a back up and for the option of a second set of eyes on the charts.
BRAVO BRAVO !!!! More Please ! I too have tried this but was Lost in a sea of Confusion and Aborted it. This AM I pulled my Mac up Downloaded and Followed Along !!! I ordered the GPS !!! online !!! THANKYOU for Sharing your Knowledge !!!! I agree Never have enough Tools for Navigation !!! These Series have Been Great !!! If your ever in the Florida Keys I have 200 Feet of Dock on the Gulf Side in Marathon Fl and a Car your welcome too use.....Again All the Best to you Guys !!!
I'm glad you were able to get up and running with OpenCPN! At the moment, our plan is to sail down to the Bahamas for the upcoming cruising season, but keep an eye out on our FB/Instagram. Maybe we'll end up in the Keys on our way back to the States!
OpenCPN is awesome. A gift for the sailor who is a sw engineer
Thanks for sharing I enjoyed
excellent tutorial. cheers
Very helpful, thanks.
Thank you so much!!
Dude.. Thanks..you made it so easy to understand.
I can't understand why they need to charge so much for plotters.
Thank you! :)
Nice job! Would enjoy a video turtorial on Chart quilting, Chart groups, mbtiles. and charts available for purchase.
For GPS source I have successfully used the NMEA out from Raymarine chart plotter, via serial to USB cable. I also was able to get AIS data from Standard Horizon GX2150 VHF which has a built in AIS receiver. A radar overlay would complete it nicely.
New version of OpenCPN seems to be greatly improved. Nice walk through BTW.
I have my Axiom 7 wired to my autopilot through the nmea 2000 connection any idea where I might tap into the network to get GPS information from that unit?
thanks for the video .Great
Thanks for sharing
David, thanks so much for taking the time to "demystify" the OpenCPN. Could you consider progressing to advanced, then integrating with your other instruments over the BUS to gather data ? Then, maybe where a computer/tablet at the nav station, instead of a dedicated plotter could be used. Lastly, I've always wanted to also be able to put my nav screen(s) on the saloon TV...maybe add that to the integration portion. Any third party equipment that makes this easier would be appreciated as well.
Hope you and Amy are well and thanks again.
To be honest, we haven't done much of that level of integration with OpenCPN and our other equipment. So that sort of stuff may be an advanced advanced OpenCPN video. But if people are interested in it, I may try to dive a bit deeper myself.
We did actually have an option to have a dedicated plotter at our nav desk, but decided to go the computer/ipad route because we didn't want a plotter taking up all the real estate at the desk. As for nav screens on the TV, I believe there are generally easy ways to do that these days. Might have to do a quick google search for your equipment. 😁
thanks and now new sub because of this
Very nice!
Thanks for the Information. Im very new to this idea. Ive relied on devices for Navigation for a few years. Mostly Garmin stuff. They leave a lot to be desired. Recently, my Gps tracking device and marine chart plotter bit the big one and Im relegated to using my Android. Not complaining but the screen is rather small and Im 70 so, I thought it would be nice if I used my laptop. As it always seems, that is a whole new world. Never heard of an Open CPN. So, here I am. I have a hewlett Packard laptop and plan to research this as best I can to be able to use my laptop for fishing In local waters. No long trips. Depth and location are paramount. The Mrs and I plan to do a lot of fishing for our favorite tablefare so location is everything. BTW, I was stationed in Virginia for many years. Great place to fish. Thanks so much.
I love this
Yes please more info on open cpn, more advanced
One feature that I think would be amazing would be to see the minimum depth for a course you plot. It is so hard to track a course, zoomed super close in to make sure you don't miss a rock that doesn't have a rock icon (or something like that). Having a reading that says your minimum depth for the plotted course would save a ton of time and effort. To be clear, this is a double check only.
More please!!!!
Merry Christmas found your Vlog informative to load onto my Mac, any idea where I could get charts for the UK, MED, & Scandinavia Happy New Year guys keep up the great work missed your Vlogs
I used it in my nav class, but haven't really brought it aboard the boat so to speak. I would love to see a deep-dive on how to use it, connect it to the boat, etc.
I'm really happy to see that there is some more interest in detailed OpenCPN topics! I've added a few more topics to my video creation list. 😄
So very helpful I’d very much like to know more about vesper ais
Hi David - Great video - I have been playing with Open CPN to get ready for cruising. Are there any detailed maps beyond the ones listed in OCP? For example, we'll pick up our boat in Knysna South Africa. I'd like plot the route from there back to Florida but there is aren't any details for South Africa, St. Helena etc ... If there are better maps, would you show us in your next video tutorial? Cheers!!
Good primer! Please continue. Can you upload to your Raymarine MFD? Like to learn more about the advanced functionality.
It takes a few steps, but I can get routes and waypoints into our Raymarine MFD. I'll try to talk about that in an "advanced topics" video.
Great video, David! I've downloaded opencpn and want to give it a try on a trip to BVI next month. Trying to find charts for this region. Would you have any advice?
The References Page on the OpenCPN website has more links to charts, including for the Caribbean. Unfortunately, not all charts are free so you'd have to buy some for the BVI's/Caribbean. But they're pretty cheap, especially compared to the Navionics Charts we buy for our Raymarine chartplotter.
o-charts.org/
Hi David, Your presentation is awesome.... Does this software has chart for persian gulf region???
Yes more info on this please
Wow, great video, wonderful software. Thanks for the help getting started. I'd love to see the advanced videos.... Does the GPS dongle need to be outside or will it work inside a house or boat?
Keep up the good videos.
Thanks Mike! I'm starting to develop some advanced videos as we speak! 😀 We manage to have our GPS dongle inside the boat but it is somewhat sensitive to what it is under. For example, if we're under just the fiberglass 'coachroof' it woks pretty well. But if we're under the metal mast and boom it can struggle a bit more.
yes appreciate thee latest update information - following - I too use Raymarine but my plotter is getting slower and just barely keeping up with more data than designed for. E series I have laptop and large monitor at nav station Open CPN makes sense.
A show & tell of using mbtiles with Sat2 Chart would be appreciated, there are some traps for young players with that process!
Charts in remote regions, like Coral atolls are quite useless, even dangerously wrong, so satellite images are phenomenally useful, as you know. Thanks in advance.
I've been working on an idea trying to compare a few different ways to get satellite images because you're right, they're vital in different parts of the world!
Thank you for your David. I was searching for GPS reciever model BU-353 (usb) software for PCs for OpenCPN can you send me a link software maybe add that to the integration portion and never thought that there was a navigation software that was open source. You have given a great explanation of how to get started and I greatly appreciate it.
Thank you sooo much for this great tutorial. Covering the basics is so important. ! Quick question, Is there a way to download the manual ? It seems only available when online. Many thanks.
Hi Tim. There is a Manual page on the OpenCPN website that has versions you can download for offline use:
opencpn.org/OpenCPN/info/manuals.html
@@OutChasingStars Fantastic - Thank you so much !
Great video. This is the first time I've loaded ENC charts. I'm still not seeing the same information you are seeing. I loaded 'all enc' charts, but I only see depth soundings around 50 feet or greater. Coastal waters, bays, etc, do not show any depth soundings. Is there a setting or data I'm failing to see? I have played with all the detail sliders, but can't seem to get depth sounding to display, only scale the ones that are 50' or deeper.
Great video! - I cannot find any charts/maps for Australian Waters?! - I dont know whats going on there, Are you able to help please? Thank you!
very niec explaing,david i need to know how to download other regions chart.plz explain it thx
Check also BBN Marine OS for raspberry pi4. Many free and opensource boat software packages preinstalled and preconfigured. OpenCPN with all plugins too.
Hi David. Just came across your TH-cam video and all the information was great. I am going to follow your instructions. The only issue I can see is to where you get charts for the Plymouth area, Southwest Coast, UK. Could you please give me a direct link to download the chart.
Many thanks. John
Hi John. I'd recommend checking out o-charts.org to start with. They have a decent selection of charts from around the world and it looks like there are some for the UK.
open source software 'available for windows, mac, r pi, and even Linux'. Of course Linux! There is so much great open source software yet people are paying a fortune for their proprietary counterpart on their equally expensive hardware (Apple).
Excellent video!! We always used Navionics when we boated! We’ll be using this software instead. Can you plug in a Garmin or use a different GPS system on it?
I don't have any experience with using Garmin and OpenCPN, but it should definitely be possible. You'd have to check the wiring from your Garmin (or other GPS) to figure out how to get NMEA 0183 or 2000 data to your computer.
Here's a Garmin support article that may help point you in the right direction:
support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=cEbBeVacq99yelNRqaxfr9
@@OutChasingStars thanks for the info!!!
G'day David. A question from the dummy. Do I need the GPS puck if the tablet has GPS? The rest of the presentation was easy to follow, thanks.
I don't honestly know the answer to that question as I've never used OpenCPN on anything with built-in GPS. But there is a pretty detailed touch screen/tablet write up on the OpenCPN website that makes it look like it can use a built-in GPS:
opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=opencpn:opencpn_user_manual:getting_started:touch_screen_tablets
HI, very cool.
How I can get the Mediterranean and east Mediterranean sea, IOninon sea etc charts?
Great video.
So, dont most laptops and tablets already have a built in GPS? Would you always have to have an external GPS?
Are the charts really free?
I'd say GPS in tablets is pretty widespread, but less common in laptops. But if your hardware does have GPS, then you wouldn't necessarily need an external GPS, as long as you can get the internal GPS and OpenCPN to talk to each other.
As for the charts, there are quite a few areas where the charts really are free. However, they're not free worldwide so getting charts for the areas that aren't free is one of the big challenges of OpenCPN.
I enjoy your tubes, although I am a power boater I have watched many of them and all of the OpenCPNs and many more than once. Your videos have convinced me to try OpenCPN before I sink more dollars into Garmin mfd's. I wonder if you would be available for private zoom tutoring sessions. First, I would like to develop an equipment list I will need to run OpenCPN same NEMA 2000, gps antennas etc. Next help me get started -- I am computer literate but my assistant or IT department did all the technical stuff. Help!
David what was the model of the GPS plug-in you used.
Hi Perry. We use a GlobalSat BU-353-S4 USB GPS Receiver.
Can you import navonic charts in to open CPN
Can this be used on lakes and rivers in the U.S.?
Hey thanks, I loaded the software and now trying to load local charts and could use some pointers! Its not intuitive to download charts and setup to use it.
Great topic! Do you have any experience with the Garmin Glo2 as a backup gps source device?
I don't have any experience with the Garmin Glo2. It looks like it came out after we started cruising. All this new, fancy technology!
I did a quick look on the OpenCPN forum and it appears that people have gotten the Glo2 to work with a Windows version of OpenCPN using a third party software called GPS Gate. You can read a bit more about it here:
www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f134/garmin-glo-gps-183353.html
@@OutChasingStars You gotta catch up ;-).
The other nice thing about the Glo2 is that it provides a bluetooth connection for GPS. If for example, you are using a iPad without GPS built-in (only cellular versions have GPS), the Glo2 can provide a wireless GPS source. It might make for a nice backup if the chart plotter fails.
Great video - I hope you continue to go into more detail on OpenCPN.
Redundancy is always important, especially when sailing offshore. With the GPS Puck, OpenCPN is one of our backups if our chart plotter fails, but I do like the idea of an iPad being that capable as well.
David:
NIce presentation. Interesting program. Unfortunately the latest version, 5.6.2 on a MacBook Pro doesn't seem to be able to set itself up to successfully download charts from anywhere. This appears to be due to the fact that the Chart Loading Plugin that is supposed to be installed when the basic program installs is not installed or is simply not functional.
Given the inertia of the GitHub development system I suspect this will take a while to be recognized let alone fixed. This is most unfortunate. No charts, no navigation program.
install the usbutils package and then use the command lsusb to list devices on the usb bus.
In your "How we set up our catamaran to sail around the world" video, you mentions that you equipped your boat with a RayMarine chart plotter. What is your opinion of OpenCPN compared to your RayMarine CP ? Do you see OpenCPN as a replacement for your RayMarine chart plotter or a side resource to it ?
I do know boats that use OpenCPN as a primary chart plotter. However, integrating the rest of our Raymarine equipment (eg Radar) doesn't yet work very seamlessly into OpenCPN. And for our use case (sailing around the world) getting the charts on OpenCPN also remains a challenge.
So I view OpenCPN as an extra resource.
Hello sir, im done for chart download er and i pressed ok and does not see in open cpn
so this all good apart from one major f'up where is the UK maps i can't find any that are any good or are free? also how to use the sat2chart the rex verification keeps failing on windows 11
back again now needing to see how to add the GPS connection which should know where I am by satellite.
I did the download on Mac and all I got was 1file and preview content no file to preview. what now?
I want to download chart for Greece
Can you tell me how?
Thank you in advance.
Anyway for Canadian charts?
Hi ,where i can downloads Enc charts for south America ?
I can' t seem to download the Canadian charts which I have downloaded to my desktop.
There is a GPS built in on a Macbook, can i use it instead of USB GPS receiver?
I'm not aware of any Macbook that has built in GPS. But if your devices has GPS built in, I would bet there is a way to configure it to work with OpenCPN.
What else can we plug in
I have a NEW Vesper Marine xb6000. It does NOT have WIFI available within. My interest is to get AIS targets around me onto a screen possibly within opencpn to insure collision avoidance as I travel my local harbors, offshore, on the way to and from the bahamas especially in bad, inclement weather, fog and after hours. Can you help?
Guy R Carrier
There is a Pi image with all kinds of boating software (opencpn) as part of the distribution but for the life of me I cant remember the name of this dist. Anyone have any ideas?
Can some one help to manage apps , it works properly , all my routes dissaeper suddenly , antenna working good , I have no idea what is going on , used couple months without any problem .
how can i download the philippines territory thanks for response sir
Getting charts is definitely the trickiest part of OpenCPN. For the Philippines, I believe the only source is to buy S-63 vector charts. You can read a bit more about the process on the "o-charts.org" manual:
manuals.o-charts.org/index.html