New MacArthur HAT - Testers Wanted

[Lolo]

@Jean-Marc Douroux @BellaX @Adrian

I have extracted the posts about the TVS diodes issue and created a new and independent thread for better tracking: https://forum.openmarine.net/showthread.php?tid=4558

Hi there,

I discovered your amazing MacArthur project while I was searching information on OpenCPN and it makes me fanstasticaly enthusiast ! This is THE missing part !
I have always been concerned and, to be honest, fascinated by open source philosophy but what was missing in boat stuffs was clearly the hardware.

I recently bought my first boat, an old, but huge, 440 lagoon because it was a long term dream and lockdowns made me crazy ! I swore that they will not lock me anymore in my house.
In last august, while I was bringing my boat back to the closest port of my house, a huge wave destroyed the only left Raymarine C120 screen, installed externally. (The boat had a complete Raymarine equipment, Dual C120 (one was already dead, Radar, ST6001 autopilot, AIS, ST60 Wind, ST60 Tridata, Compass, GPS antenna, etc...)

Because of the cost and old outdated stuffs, I considered a way to limit the costs with a more up-to-date system

One of my friends suggested me "a standard, with fans, computer + Windows* + OpenCPN + USB Multiplexer (from Multiship)"

As a huge critic of Gates and Windows hegemony (I am old enough to remember netscape) as well as a big fan of OSS, I preferred "Fanless computer + linux* + OpenCPN + RJ45 Multiplexer (from Multiship)"

OR BETTER : "Raspberry Pi + Openplotter + RJ45 Mulitplexer (from Multiship)" if I could find a way to configure the multiplexer !!

But was not clear for me how to connect the multiplexer to the pi4.

Even if I bought the fanless computer I would be extremely happy to replace my system by your MacArthur Hat as soon as you will make few of them available !!!!


On a personal note, it is true that I am not really experienced with boats and I am discovering Raymarine devices but I study electronics and fluids and have a 30 years of experience to repair all kinds of stuffs (including electric, Fluids, elecronics, computers, etc..)


In short, please put me on the list for the next batch of boards sailoogs please 
I'll follow the forum silently untill there


Regards and keep up the good work

Lolo


*For user interfaces I was considering one internal HDMI screen and a cheap android tablet with TightVNC connected in wifi for external screen