Build your own wifi GPS and start using Carp Pilot Pro
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ค. 2024
- Until October 2022 the Carp Pilot Pro could only be used if your bait boat had a built in autopilot. Many have asked me for adding support for boats without an autopilot. And let's be honest: Most anglers out there will find the challenge to build in a pixhawk and then install and configure ArduRover to be a bit demanding.
But now, as of version 4.2 in October 2022, you can use the Carp Pilot Pro even without an autopilot. But you do need a GPS inside the boat, and a way to broadcast the GPS sentences to your tablet. If you already have a Deeper that provides NMEA (Chirp+, Chirp+ 2.0 or Pro+ 2.0), a Simrad (verified with the GoXSE series), Lowrance (verified with several models) then you are good to go. Select connection option GPS and "use configured WiFi echosounder". Please note that using echo sounders is only available for premium subscribers. If you have no echo sounder providing NMEA (like the Raymarine models most anglers use), or maybe no echo sounder at all, then you still need a GPS.
This video will show you a proven way to build your own wifi GPS. Please select a GPS of decent quality that is able to provide NMEA output (most are). A ublox M8n should be the minimum. Also make sure you put it in a spot inside the boat away from electromagnetic disturbances. In this video I use a Mateksys M10s. A fairly new GPS from mid 2022. It is tiny and easily placed. I do find it may have a too small antenna though, I can wait like forever inside my hobby room. Outside it however gets GPS fix in around 30 seconds (cold start). And hot start takes just a few seconds. It is fairly accurate as well.
To get it wireless we will use an ESP8266. Model here is a D1 mini. It is cheap, I bought a pack of 10 for €30 on Amazon. And it seems very reliable. It also has a microUSB connetor making the programming very convenient. I can highly recommend it. I have had no issues the months I have used it: the mini D1 seems totaly reliable. And last but not least: The firmware image provided below fits this ESP perfectly.
The physical part of the job is straight forward. Both the ESP and the GPS need 5V input. And to get the GPS data flowing from GPS to ESP you only need to connect the GPS TX wire to the D6 port of the ESP. Done! I recommend putting some shrink wrap around the GPS and the ESP as well for protection. I also urge you to test the GPS before putting it into your boat. One of my first builds got a wire disconnected when I shrink wrapped it (bad soldering job, can only blame myself). And please test outdoors!
I use the softwar "NodeMCU" to flash the firmware image (the "bin" file) onto the ESP. And as firmware image you do not have to build your own. I have provided you a ready configured version of the NMEA to wifi multiplexer. Just use that, it works.
Once the ESP is flashed and wired up, the remaining job is super convenient:
1. Power on your boat (to enable its wifi, typically wifi echo sounder)
2. And power on your newly built wifi GPS
3. Use a phone or tablet, connect its wifi to "esp8266ap". Password 12345678
4. Once connected, tap that "esp8266ap" once more, and a web interface starts
5. Select "new AP", then find and select your wifi echosounder
6. Enter the password and click to connect. Wait a few seconds. Done.
Please unplug an plug the power to the ESP wifi GPS and you are done with everything
Once built you are probably desperate to know if it works. Do this:
- Connect the tablet to the same wifi as the ESP (most likely the echo sounder's wifi)
- Start the Pro app, go to settings, select connection and chose GPS + wifi GPS
- Return to the map and watch the GPS info above in the top telemetry line
And the GPS telemetry you check like this:
- Red icon + "no data": No connection made. If it stays like that for 30 sec it does not work
- Red icon + "no fix": Everything works (it is the GPS that tells the Pro app it has no position)
- Yellow (2D fix) and white (3D fix) icon and the boat icon will appear in yellow (2D) or red (3D)
So: "No data" is litteraly no data, everything else is a success (even though GPS-fix is not great)!
Software to be used:
1. Download this file:
1drv.ms/u/s!BGtsJVaE5T-sjOV3L...
2. Extract the archived files
3. You will find both the NodeMCU flasher and the firmware image inside.
Hardware used in this video with sample links:
ESP8266 D1 mini
www.makershop.de/plattformen/...
www.aliexpress.com/item/10050...
GPS, Mateksys M10s
www.mateksys.com/?portfolio=m1...
www.aliexpress.com/item/10050...
Enjoy! - กีฬา
hi, if i install the parts in my boat exactly like in the video will it work like an autopilot? I have a boat with 2 tanks left / right, brushless motor and rudder.
I may not have been totally clear, so let me try to be specific: You have a GPS in the boat sending it's position to the app. So yes, the boat icon will appear in the app with position and driving direction when you use your remote control to control the boat. Exactly like it will when using an autopilot. But: The GPS is no autopilot. You cannot say "drive to position XYZ" to a GPS and expect the GPS to take control of your motors and drive and steer until position XYZ is reached and then stop. Or automatically open your bait tray for you when it arrives. An autopilot, at least when controlled by the the Carp Pilot Pro, can do such things. The GPS cannot - because it is nothing else than a GPS reporting its position. So the correct answer to your question is "no": You actually have to drive your boat with your remote control. And open bait tray, trigger a hook release, turn your lights on or off "manually" using your remote. But the answer is also "yes": Besides the fact that you have to use your remote and be in charge of what the boat does, everything else in the Carp Pilot Pro app will work exactly like if you had an autopilot built in. Like creating a depth map as the boat drives. In principle it is exactly like Tesla's self driving features. With the GPS only, you need to keep control of the wheel + gas pedal + break pedal since there is no autopilot inside to let you get from A to B while you sit relaxed in the driving seat reading a newspaper...
I want to build this for my own, but question is 😂 can I use other GPS? Months ago I get few se100, and will be nice if I can use them.alreqdy flash esp with se100 gps, but dont work...
The GPS needs to offer a uart interface providing nmea sentences out. I believe the SE100 does not. Many do however. Look up the specs (mateksys is very good in that respect)
I see you have the best bait boat app already on your tablet?
I got them all, so I can with no hesitation confirm this :-)
@@TheCarpPilot baitboat app is quality 👌
@@lescooke1982. Carp pilot pro is better and cheaper.
hello. can i use esp32 instead of esp8266?
What needs to be changed in the code?
Is the Wexilar SP200 fish finder suitable?
The code here is made for esp8266. I am sure it will not run on a ESP32.
The Vexilar SP200 can be used
Hello. M10S-5883 has beed discountinued. New version is M10Q-5883 (it supports UART and nmea). I hope it is also good to do WiFi GPS ? :)
I have no ability to check every GPS there is (I would need to buy them, for once - which I cannot afford). But I guess I would not hesitate buying the M10Q should I have done my first try now. The M10 series is, by the way, a really good GPS series.
hi carppilot, i bought your app. bought the Mateksys M10 GPS and the ESP8266 D1 mini. I wired the parts as shown in the video, flash the ESP and set up the ESP on my raymarine network. then i connect my tablet to the raymarine network. unfortunately I don't get a GPS signal when testing with the UDP terminal app. maybe you can help me
Sure. Drop me a mail (thecarppilot@gmail.com) and we will figure it out together. And anyway make sure the TX cable from the GPS is connected to the D6 port on the ESP.
Thanks, I will send you a mail today :)
So, we managed to solve this problem. Even though a brand new ESP was used, it came with some software pre-installed. And main learning after solving the above and 3 other cases, one with a new ESP and two with a uses ESP: The ESP must be completely wiped clean upfront of flashing. And the best tool to use for this purpose is the "esptool" (running on Python). Main learning for anyone who think installing Python on their PC is too much, buy a new rather than try to use an old ESP. But, even then the ESP might come with some software onboard. Depends on where you bought it, obviously. The ones I bought from Amazon in Germany were totally clean, at least.
Hello carppilot i got this d1 esp8266 board and i flashed it with the file and flasher but i cant find the wifi signal on my tablet??🤷♂️
No probs wiped all data with nodeMCU py flasher and flashed it with this program and all good now
I have a Pixhawk with external GPS module, dit you build a ESP fot that? ore firmware for that? or can I use the same without the gps on it?
If you already have a Pixhawk and a GPS then you should look at the video series about building a boat. See episodes 2 and 3. Although the main focus is on autopilot, it is also including the use of a ready made esp with UDP serial communication. The adapter I plugged in in episode 3 is a ready made one bought from Ali express for around €10. But you can make the same, and the how to is described in the ardupilot wiki if you search for "arducopter" and ESP telemetry (an article explaining everything).
@@TheCarpPilot yes I understand, but the esp that become from alie that fits the pixhawk works fine of you just Connect with that one. But you vanmorgen configger it like the “wifimanneger” there is no firmware on it like the firmware you show on this video. Hope you understand what i mean.
@@jeroenlubbersen7801 The software used for WiFi GPS in this video is not by any means the same as the firmware loaded with the Ali Express versions, and they also do completely different things.
You can use the firmware in this video to make a wifi GPS Solution, but you cannot use it to transport mavlink messages from a pixhawk like you can with the Ali express version.
The Ali express version works very well both standalone (usually then with a uFl antenna socket) to connect directly or in station mode where you connect it to an onboard wifi echosounder access point.
The Ali express version and also the version you can install as per instructions on the Ardupilot Wiki has one limitation though: The SSID can only be max 16 characters long.
Hello does it mean, that after I build that wifi gps I have to buy your app(platform)?
The app is designed to use autopilot. But in 2022 we also extended it so you can get by with just using a GPS. And this video shows how to make such a wifi GPS in order to use the app. You should look at the 2023 video as it includes more detailed information, including how to properly clean the ESP in case it came with some software when you bought it or if you made a mistake and need to flash it again. The Carp Pilot Pro app is low cost (approx 5 Euro), this you need to pay to use this app. Obviously. Considering what you get to support your bait boat use it is a steal.
hi, I've built up a gps unit by following your instructions and so far all is good. I have been able to see the wifi broadcast using the UDP terminal and have reached the point where I can see the ESP in my wifi options. I don't have a sonar device. I just want to be able to use carp pro pilot to mark waypoints but I can't get the software to see the gps.
any suggestions please would help.
thanks
I just found your video about the stand alone option and can now see what I need to do. Thanks for your superb instructions, I'll be making the changes to my project asap😊
@@stevecleaver9169 ok. Thanks. Was a bit slow here to respond. But the answer would have been to watch the 2023 update for wifi GPS instead, that's the solution for you with one of the Images 👍
@@TheCarpPilot following on from this little project, I want to put autopilot into a catamaran type hull for example a microcat and will try to find a cheap second hand boat to convert. Have you seen it done?
@@stevecleaver9169 Upgrade an existing boat to one with an autopilot? Sure. There are many who also helps out with such for payment.
As the bare minimum you will need an autopilot (pixhawk often a good choice, easy and a lot of advice available), a GPS (often sold in a bundle with the autopilot), a power module, a BEC for the servo power should the boat ESCs not already have one and some servo cables. And you need to tap in on the power system. Some boats are easily serviced. Others that are sealed requires you to cut open before starting. There might be some challenges as some boats comes with an all-in-one board that may not be easily hacked. So you may need to replace some other stuff as well. You will not really know before you begin, but likely someone did this before and can give guidance.
One source of information is the Carp Pilot Pro User group in Facebook. Today the number of members are around 450. I know several that rebuild boats professionally. And many inside this group built their own autopilot in as well. Some took the easy path and started with GPS only, I assume several will do the full upgrade at some point in time.
To get an understanding of what is required then look for the building a bait boat series on this channel. The core need is described in the first episode as it explains the power and signaling system. The next two episodes will explain the autopilot setup as well.
Wjat you will do in short: You remove the cables going from your RC radio receiver to functions like lights, bait tray traps and so on. You plug them instead into your autopilot. Then using a single cable from that radio receiver as input to the autopilot. And tell the autopilot that the radio receiver is allowed to do stuff (rc override). And then you can still do what you are used to: Control the boat and all of its functions with that radio. But... The autopilot can now also control it. Letting Carp Pilot Pro be in total control. There are many users who stop using their remote altogether (like me, why would I use it except for having a backup solution?). And for it to work, you need to redo the cabling. To provide power to the autopilot, and give it a gps and compass so it knows where it is and understands it's heading. And last but not least, you need a wireless data channel for Carp Pilot Pro and the autopilot to speak with each other. That's what we call telemetry. Like a UDP adapter. Or a radio that is capable of offering a telemetry channel. Both explained in that video series.
@@TheCarpPilot so, that's it. I'm on the path now, going to do it
hello. Will there be a video of how wifi GPS works without autopilot?
Two videos have been available since 2022 on this matter. The new video on wifi GPS made available May 31st 2023 explains updated wifi GPS solution for boats with wifi echosounder. In addition how to make wifi GPS for boats with no echosounder. And also how to utilize a Skydroid remote and let that transmit the GPS information for you. In total there are now 3 videos on this matter, just watch and learn how to build the solution!
Hello carp pilot! I have a toslon xboat and I want to use carp pilot pro. Once I have mounted the wifi + gps, how do I connect all this to the baitboat?
To my best knowledge the tolson is not compatible
@@TheCarpPilot Hi, thanks for your quick response. I am not referring to a toslon echosounder, the echosounder is a deeper chip+2. The boat is from Toslon, specifically it is the Toslon Xboat 730 model, and I would like to steer it using your carp pilot pro application. I have been able to follow the tutorial more or less well, where I get a little lost is when it comes to integrating this assembly into the boat. I understand that at some point I will have to connect something to the motors so that they can be controlled by the app, but which wires from the assembly in this video should I connect to each motor?
@@user-xg6hk3tn7y OK. I see. Then that's a whole other story. The Deeper Chirp+ (old and new model) you can use.
Please note a big difference between simply using a GPS in the boat and adding in an autopilot:
When the Carp pilot pro just listens to that GPS then it can Display the boat icon as it drives on the water. You get to utilize waypoints (also as shown in the video on waypoints). You can create depth maps. But you can not have Carp pilot pro control the boat (like opening bait tray by touching a button).
If that's what you want then look at the video series on how to build a bait boat. Now, there's a lot in that series you can skip over as you already have a boat. But look at episodes 2 and 3 for how to set up a pixhawk, episode 8 for more info and the last episode 9 where I did some boat tuning and modified the app to control the boat features.
@@user-xg6hk3tn7y using GPS only (like a Deeper) is for sure a fast way to get to use Carp Pilot Pro. And soon you can get fairly good distance using the new Deeper Range Extender as well. Although this Extender for sure works, they have an error blocking the nmea0183 datastream from it. The error is recognized, and Deeper Support has said they will fix it. As soon as they have then up to 200.meter distance is their promise.
And in addition there are some good videos available on youtube and in Facebook forums that can tell you how to use the same wifi booster I use in the video series (on building a bait boat) with a Deeper.
hey is there a way. to improve the GPS of a deeper chirp?
If you mean to modify it I have absolutely no idea. But you can at least avoid placing the Deeper very close to electromagnetic disturbances (brushed motors, ESCs, wifi boosters, 2.4GHz radio receiver) as this will make things even worse.
Thank you for the answer . Can you explane mock gps?
@@TheDemiv Sure. Mock GPS uses the GPS of the Autopilot as source. The GPS we use for our autopilots are generally high quality (I had a lost GPS fix in my Deeper Chirp+, still my autopilot had 16 satellites just to examplify the difference in GPS quality). When you activate Mock GPS then the GPS position of the boat is published to the Android system, making your device position equal to that of your boat (as is device was strapped to your boat). So, when you use Mock GPS, set the Deeper app to the mode you would use if you were present inside the boat. Mapping using the Deeper will be as usual, but now you have eliminated the problem with Deeper's position jumping around the water during mapping.
Thank you 😁 I Will try That
can i use the mapping function with a dragonfly 5 pro and the gps/esp inside my boat? or do i need anything else?
Yes. As demonstrated in another video. For using fishfinder with the app and using the bathymetric abilities then also a premium subscription is required (currently approx €10 for a year). It is totally worth it...
Video here:
th-cam.com/video/Cw0Qb1wEThE/w-d-xo.html
And if I don't have wifi in the boat, how do I do it?
Have another image coming up. Will make yet a video. To install on a preferably "pro" version (with integrated uFl antenna socket). Image set up to BE a wifi access point rather than set up to connect to one. Then use external antenna, and perhaps a wifi booster in addition.
@@TheCarpPilot ok, when can we expect the image?
Messing with the under hull and Raymarine transducer right now for other videos. Perhaps next weekend 🙂