NMEA 0183 interface questions

[baltika_no_9]

Hello all

I'm in the early stages with setting up OpenPlotter. I've established connection with the AIS transponder by creating an input serial port descriptor on the NMEA 0183 tab. AIS contacts and boat's position now display happily on the OpenCPN chart - great so far.

I now need to extend that to incorporate other devices (wind/depth/autopilot etc). I plan to use the USB<>RS422 converter (or similar, the instruments are Seatalk) for this. My question is:

Is it possible to "drive" an autopilot from OpenCPN/OpenPlotter, say to direct it to change course?


Thank you very much
Chris

[e-sailing]

Yes OpenCPN/Openplotter can send a RMB sentence to your nmea0183 port of the autopilot. Normaly the autopilot beeps if it gets near the way point. The point when beeping starts depends on the setup of your autopilot. From security sight your autopilot doesn't like changing the waypoint while working until you press a commit button.
I'm not so deep in OpenCPN, so i don't know if Opencpn switches automatically to the next waypoint 100m 10 m 1000m before or after passing the waypoint. It could be that it also asks when to switch to next waypoint.

[baltika_no_9]

Thank you. That's useful. I willl continue my investigations.