Affordable Real-Time Data Visualizer Using Raspberry Pi and Open Plotter Software

Affordable Real-Time Data Visualizer Using Raspberry Pi and Open Plotter Software

Hey there, sailor! Grab your tools and let's get busy installing an advanced chart plotter and AIS system on your boat, using a Raspberry Pi and a USB TV tuner. Here's a no-nonsense guide on how to transform your humble watercraft into a technologically-savvy seafaring vessel.

What's this all about?

We're going to make our boat a bit smarter by giving it a brain—a Raspberry Pi. With this little computer, we'll create a chart plotter that's as powerful as those expensive big brands, but a fraction of the cost. Plus, we'll add an AIS system to see other boats around us. Frustrating boat collisions will be a thing of the past!

Let's get acquainted with a few basics

If you've heard of the Raspberry Pi or Open Plotter, that's great! If not, no worries! We'll walk you through it all. The Raspberry Pi is a small, cheap, but powerful computer. Open Plotter is a Linux-based operating system designed specifically for the Raspberry Pi. It comes packed with handy utilities and programs for seafarers.

So, what can we do with it?

With a Raspberry Pi, Open Plotter, and some extra accessories, we can:

1. Turn a USB GPS into a versatile chart plotter for our boat.
2. Convert it into an AIS (Automatic Identification System) receiver with a 12-euro TV tuner, allowing us to see big ships and their courses in real time.
3. Download meteorological information and overlay it on our plotter maps.
4. Connect other instruments we already have on the boat, such as the sounder or wind equipment, and display all that unified information on the screen of your choice (or even better yet, through Wi-Fi on your tablet or smartphone).
5. Act as a Wi-Fi access point for all that data.
6. And, of course, view our cameras on a TV or screen!

But for now, let's start with the basics.

Mounting Options

We'll look at two mounting options: a system without a screen or connected to the boat's TV, or a self-contained, all-in-one option with a built-in touch screen.

Shopping List

For both options, you'll need:

• A Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 (choose one and grab it from Aliexpress or Amazon)
• A 64GB Micro SD memory card
• A USB TV tuner (my favorite or the best fit if you're using a VHF antenna)
• A 12V power supply socket
• A USB 5V 3A charger
• A power supply cable (USB C)

For the option without a screen or connected to a TV screen

1. GPS USB
2. HDMI – Micro HDMI cable
3. Mini keyboard with touchpad
4. Raspberry Pi case (for RPi4 or RPi5)

For the all-in-one option

1. GPS USB with integrated antenna
2. Touch screen case

Connections

Regardless of which option you choose, installing and commissioning will be identical. If you go with my option and reuse a TV from the ship:

1. Place the Raspberry Pi in its box, add heatsinks and a fan.
2. Plug your USB GPS into a USB port, the TV tuner into another, and connect to your TV with an HDMI cable.
3. Use a mini USB keyboard with touchpad, and connect the power cable to a mobile charger on your boat's battery.

If you've opted for the all-in-one option with a touch screen:

1. Put the Raspberry Pi in its box with the touch screen, connect the internal screen connectors, then connect the rest of the components. Keyboard is optional since we have a touch screen.

Startup

1. Download the Open Plotter on the 64GB memory card using a card reader.
2. Install the Raspberry Pi Imager and write the Open Plotter onto the card.

Setup

1. Insert the card into the Raspberry Pi
2. Power on the Raspberry Pi to initiate the configuration process. Follow along with a video for detailed guidance.

The First Features

With this, opening OpenCPN on the Raspberry Pi will let you see your position on maps, along with surrounding vessels. It's only the beginning—we'll delve deeper into additional features in future posts! Good luck, sailor! Navigate those seas with confidence!

We will integrate a chart plotter and AIS system into our boat using technology such as the Raspberry Pi and gadgets like a USB TV tuner. With these additions, we can transform our boat's navigation system into a powerful one, accessing weather data, real-time views of other boats, and even connecting existing instruments. During the installation process, we will consider two mounting options: one without a screen or connected to the boat's TV, and another all-in-one option with a built-in touch screen.

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