This forum uses cookies
This forum makes use of cookies to store your login information if you are registered, and your last visit if you are not. Cookies are small text documents stored on your computer; the cookies set by this forum can only be used on this website and pose no security risk. Cookies on this forum also track the specific topics you have read and when you last read them. Please confirm whether you accept or reject these cookies being set.

A cookie will be stored in your browser regardless of choice to prevent you being asked this question again. You will be able to change your cookie settings at any time using the link in the footer.

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Best device for remote internet monitoring of OP2
#1
Hi folks
I am trying to decide on the best way to remotely monitor my OP2 system and the ESP8266's which are used as battery state senders 

(this is prompted by the loss of my entire house battery bank (600Ahr) as a result of a broken solar panel cable over winter !"£$ ...argh)

I don't need a remote VNC session to OP, I just want the ESP8266's and (optionally) the OP/Pi to be able to maintain a reliable connection to the internet to send out the signalK paths via MQTT every hour.


So, I'm looking for a device or solution that provides; 
  • Bi-directional, Low bandwidth Internet connection via GSM for MQTT data.
  • Assuming it uses a data SIM, it must not expire after 90 days as I may need to keep connected without intervention for up to 9 months
  • Must be able to roam in Europe. Specifically Greece
  • High performance isnt necessary. I dont want to use it for browsing on-board, just remote monitoring
  • The boat is likely to be stored ashore in an area with patchy (marina) WiFi coverage but probably reasonably good GSM (4G) coverage 

I was thinking of a simple stand-alone MiFi device but wondered if there is a more elegant solution, perhaps a GSM board connected directly to the Pi ?

Of course Im interested to hear if there are any developments for OP2 that might help me?

I'm also interested if anyone else is remote-monitoring their OP and if so how have you achieved low-cost but reliable internet connection on-board
Thanks
Reply
#2
No tips about Internet connections but this could help you too.

We are working on a new OpenMarine project, a MQTT servers infrastructure to offer free and public connections or private and paid connections with some extra features. More news soon Wink
Reply
#3
I had exactly the same thing happen, I left my fresh water pump on and a hose burst, it ran constantly for days.

I ended up sending my data via APRS (amateur radio license required) It can be done with direwolf (software) and a $20 baofeng radio. I know this works for most of the US but I'm not sure how popular it is in the rest of the world.

https://aprs.fi/telemetry/a/N3WCH-8?range=week

Here's data from my boat straight out of OP. Its picked up by ground stations and automatically plotted on aprs.fi website, Its a little erratic right now as I just upgraded to OP2 and a PI4.

It even sends me notifications when the bilge pump goes on (you can send sms via APRS) no monthly/annual cost. Well worth getting your license.
Reply
#4
(2020-06-07, 07:21 PM)0101011101011 Wrote: I had exactly the same thing happen, I left my fresh water pump on and a hose burst, it ran constantly for days.

I ended up sending my data via APRS (amateur radio license required) It can be done with direwolf (software) and a $20 baofeng radio. I know this works for most of the US but I'm not sure how popular it is in the rest of the world.

https://aprs.fi/telemetry/a/N3WCH-8?range=week

Here's data from my boat straight out of OP. Its picked up by ground stations and automatically plotted on aprs.fi website, Its a little erratic right now as I just upgraded to OP2 and a PI4.

It even sends me notifications when the bilge pump goes on (you can send sms via APRS) no monthly/annual cost. Well worth getting your license.

Wow, that’s really interesting and provides safety and security benefits.
Reply
#5
This is interesting. Do you run Direwolf on your openplotter pi or do you have a second dedicated pi? How do you get the boat data from openplotter to transmit. Id really like a little bit more information about what you have set up. Thank you.
Reply
#6
I have https://consumer.huawei.com/en/routers/e3372/specs/ to provide 4G connectivity. The usb stick & a mobile data plana are all you need for outgoing traffic.

https://www.zerotier.com/ gives me full remote access to the Pi.

Naturally this depends on local pricing options for GSM/4G data. With a bit of googling you could probably tease the stick to send SMSs and you could disable the data, if using data all the time is too expensive.
Reply
#7
(2020-06-11, 02:02 PM)tkurki Wrote: I have https://consumer.huawei.com/en/routers/e3372/specs/ to provide 4G connectivity. The usb stick & a mobile data plana are all you need for outgoing traffic.

https://www.zerotier.com/ gives me full remote access to the Pi.

Naturally this depends on local pricing options for GSM/4G data. With a bit of googling you could probably tease the stick to send SMSs and you could disable the data, if using data all the time is too expensive.

Thanks
I do have a spare Huawei USB stick that I used to use on MS Windows but I dont know howto get it working on Raspbian ?
Reply
#8
If it is a hilink device it will probably work by just sticking it in. Otherwise it’s google time with raspbian and the specific model as search words.
Reply
#9
Just to tie up this thread as the OP ...
In the end I decided that the simplest (for me) option was a 4G/LTE router so I bought a cheap Huawei B311 and a free data SIM from Vodafone
Setup was easy and everything works great. - I now have boat data being sent every hour over MQTT and I'm not reliant on the patchy marina WiFi signal
The Rpi does seems to enjoy "chattering" a lot because even with no sensors active Im still seeing around 250Kb/hr of data being sent/received but this isn't a Mars Rover and data is cheap so Im not going to waste too much time trying to throttle down. ?
Reply
#10
(2020-06-10, 01:56 AM)jamieFL Wrote: This is interesting. Do you run Direwolf on your openplotter pi or do you have a second dedicated pi? How do you get the boat data from openplotter to transmit. Id really like a little bit more information about what you have set up.  Thank you.

Yes I run it on the same pi as openplotter.  I used this as a guide https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf/blob/...oolkit.pdf

direwolf runs a set of scripts which use the curl command to pull data from Signal K.
Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)