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OpenMarine › Pypilot › General discussion v
PcNautec or make my own?

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PcNautec or make my own?
OneSea Offline
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#1
2022-05-08, 11:52 PM
I am considering buying a PcNautec Auto pilot I can see they are based on PyPilot.
Has anyone got any reviews? How reliable is it?
i contacted them last year and got a response in a day.  Now I have sent my specs to buy and in a week I have had no response, not reassuring.  I tried calling and there was no answer.

The other option is to make my own, I have a old Nautec-Autohelm, and can borrow the arm as control head becoming unreliable (I believe the internal compass is failing).

However reading the how to build guide, I fear that for me PyPilot would be a long project. How long does your average build take?

I am not incompetent on computers but have not been near programming for near 30 years. Dos Basic, Fortran77.  Practical I can be I can work through problems, I am not one for soldering.

As I see it I have a tiller Ram, I need user interface, control panel, sensors and motor controller. Then suitable box’s for the above.

All advice appreciated even if it’s not to build and look at off the shelf…

I have searched the forum but found little on PcNautec but see one member is/ was involved,
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OneSea Offline
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#2
2022-05-09, 07:36 AM
Just going to add PCNautec on holiday last week. So looking at them for autopilot, however reviews appreciated.
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Onno Offline
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#3
2022-05-09, 09:39 AM
Yes, sorry Pcnautic was closed one week do to Holiday! 
Are you Gerrit?
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PaddyB Offline
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#4
2022-05-10, 09:40 AM
(2022-05-08, 11:52 PM)OneSea Wrote: However reading the how to build guide, I fear that for me PyPilot would be a long project. How long does your average build take?

It took me surprising little time to get something working. Though this is with a Pi4 full openplotter installation, using openplotter settings to install the PiPilot. You don't need much , mpu compass, arduino nano & motor controller - I goit a ibt-2 off ebay. Then very little set up, I had it being controlled with opencpn on tablet, opencpn on laptop & web page on any device in a couple hours, no programming required though I had to jump through some hoops as the arduino was a cheapo clone, not a real one. 
Most of the time will be wiring. 
Also, Sea sells the bits - https://pypilot.org/store/

Good luck getting a Pi!! 
https://rpilocator.com/
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OneSea Offline
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#5
2022-05-13, 02:42 PM (This post was last modified: 2022-05-13, 03:05 PM by OneSea.)
We’ll order is placed with Onno, I will let you know how I get on.
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