Downeaster Yachts.com - Forum: Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat Simple:Press Version 5.6.7 SV Dulcinea on Downeaster 38 polar file http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/downeaster-38-polar-file#p3901 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/downeaster-38-polar-file#p3901 Hey owners, I'm doing a Raspberry Pi chart plotter using openplotter which has a waypoint to waypoint autopilot feature and a weather routing feature. It requires a  Polar file to use the boats sailing parameters to steer more effectively. the whole system will cost less than $1K which is pretty cool. Anyone already have one. The system will self generate one after I sail a bit but installing one from the git go would be sweet. Anyone out there doing the same. if not check out Openplotter and see what you think. 

]]> Sun, 07 Mar 2021 18:20:33 -0500 Scott Carle on The start of my geeking http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/the-start-of-my-geeking#p3234 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/the-start-of-my-geeking#p3234 I found for hardware that the people at the 3Gstore.com were very knowledgeable about exactly what cables and adapters I needed to go from one piece of equipment to the next to make it all work together. You will end up with about 3 different types of connectors on the units that all need to be adapted from one to the next if I remember correctly. Also their prices on pre-made antenna cables and adapter cables was very competitive/reasonable. I had more than a couple long phone calls with them as I went through the learning process on doing this.

]]> Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:16:56 -0400 Scott Carle on The start of my geeking http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/the-start-of-my-geeking#p3233 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/the-start-of-my-geeking#p3233 Just some thoughts based on my experience setting up 3g/4g access on commercial boats.

One of my past customers was one of the casino boats here in SC that for years used a satellite system. It worked but was horrendously expensive and best speed was about 256 k or something like that. Seemed to me that they were ripping customers off as I have another customer that we connected a remote mountain cabin with satellite for 100 a month and he got decent high speed and no data charges. However in the marine realm the satellite companies that provide it charge the shit out of it. I have always wondered if you could build your own satellite system using Hughes net equipment and account that could track the satellite. Or adapt one of the marine satellite hardware systems to access your Hughes net satellite Internet account.

Ok to some hard info. The casino boat was paying about 2500 a month for Internet with the satellite system. 98% of the time they only went between 3 and 10 miles from the coast line. I had been able to maintain a signal on my cellphone out to about 4 miles and sometimes 5 from the top deck of the casino boat so we started to research doing data over it. We purchased a cellular router, antenna and booster unit from the 3gstore.com  Being high speed I decided that we wanted 4G to give the best performance. Antenna went on highest mast on boat with about a 50 ft cable from it to the booster unit. Then from booster unit we converted down to a dongle that attached to a usb 3g/4g att/sprint (we tested both att and sprint with about the same results) dongle that in turn plugged into the 3g/4g router. It worked great at the dock with it set to 4G. Blazing fast.

Then there was the but!! but it didn't work reliably and totally crapped out about 2 miles off shore a lot of the time. Didn't work at all if the weather was bad.. etc.. I spent a lot of time troubleshooting and researching antennas and other stuff (finally talked to a antenna manufacture in california that gave me that answer to our problem). So we finally figured out the issue. 4G data (LTE, WiMax) is commonly on  1700-2100 MHz, 1900MHz and 2500-2700 MHz).  3G on the other hand runs on 900 mhz..

In a humid environment or in rain or heavy clouds etc.. the moisture in the air kills the signal in the higher 4g frequencies. Under ideal conditions it still has less than half the effective range of 3G. Once we changed the antenna to one designed for 900 mhz, put a 3G booster in place, and forced the router to only connect at 3G or less everything started working. They could under almost all conditions maintain decent internet up to 6 miles off shore. I could even do remote access over it most of the time. Running a network of about 25 computers on the boat their bill ran 300 to 400 a month.

This is the heart of the system we used. A cradle point router that when at dock connected to internet through wifi and when the boat left the dock automatically failed over to the 3G signal..

http://amzn.to/295K08g

It seems most of the boosters we used are discontinued but any reputable one that works on 3g frequencies should work.

]]> Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:02:00 -0400 svliberty on The start of my geeking http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/the-start-of-my-geeking#p3231 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/the-start-of-my-geeking#p3231 I work as a network engineer doing Cisco switches and firewalls, probably 15/85% split on those. I have 2 rungs up the corporate ladder oking my wish to live where I want so I need to get started. I bought S/V Boomer and renaming her S/V Liberty and fly out to do a trial work from boat next week. Will add a 4G external antenna, signal amplifier and wifi hotspot to hopefully deal with the close to shore stuff. Planning on staying in San Diego Bay until the boat is complete. Also need to work the details on two flip down monitors from the salon of the cabin in the pilothouse so I can continue to not having to flip through applications. 

I will be adding KVH satellite shortly so I can actually take my boat offshore. Not sure if people are looking to do the same but will document the process just in case someone else has the urge to spend 50 cents a MB for internet access. Then there is always the 802.11 wifi with the fancy directional antennas for when you just have to post a new Youtube of your adventures and  you are too cheap to pay for the ATT hotspot. 

Well that is my immediate projects so I can get sailing offshore. I will probably take a look at virtual machines and things like OpenCPN too just so I can put on my pocket protector and look like a nerd. 

]]> Fri, 01 Jul 2016 03:16:58 -0400 Scott Carle on Monitor Mounts and other Computer stuff http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3216 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3216 Marine satellite is expensive. I took that out of one of the casino boats here and and installed a 3g system good to about 6 miles offshore. Saved them about 2200 dollars a month and got better performance  up to the point they ran out of signal. For their application though it worked perfect. All they needed was to get past the 3 mile line to be able to run the casino. So they could run up and down the coast between three and 6 miles out with no problem. Nice thing was that all the hard ware to do the 3g system only cost a little more than a grand. It cost them more for the labor to install it.

]]> Wed, 22 Jun 2016 09:32:13 -0400 svliberty on Monitor Mounts and other Computer stuff http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3214 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3214

scirocco2 said
I'm not messing with wifi/internet yet 

I'm using a cellphone as a hotspot 

and im going to use another cell as a hotspot for security/dash  

So me going with a KVH satellite for when my 4G hotspot with a signal amp and amplified antenna, is a bit over the top. 

Sounds like you and I are looking to do the same thing. I plan on just staying in the Micronesia, Marshall Island, maybe Marianas area diving. Where are you based out of, PNW?

]]> Tue, 21 Jun 2016 01:37:34 -0400 scirocco2 on Monitor Mounts and other Computer stuff http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3212 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3212 I'm not messing with wifi/internet yet 

I'm using a cellphone as a hotspot 

and im going to use another cell as a hotspot for security/dash  

cameras to notify me remotely of smoke intrusion or c02

 

i need an mppt controller than can do solar and wind, 

pnw sucks for solar except all summer long is good for the panel and all year for wind 

 

http://yachtwork.com/report-welder.htm

Here is a link about alternator welding with your motor

 

yeah I've noticed how anything "marine" is jacked up

i went to west marine for a fid/awl and it was 45$ 

went to hobby lobby and got the same one for 17$

Ill get get some pics going 

of the seagoose, still scrubbing the outside 

the hull isn't too bad because it was on lake Union for a couple years prior to salt 

even though it's a 41 it's closer to 45 currently is 43' 

My ultimate goal is to setup for off the grid pacific sailing 

I wish we had more downeasters in the sound  I know of at least 5 

would be awesome to have a traveling flotilla and I can be the emergency go to repair person 

]]> Tue, 21 Jun 2016 01:04:30 -0400 Scott Carle on Monitor Mounts and other Computer stuff http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3210 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3210 lol.. I enough people want to go down a geeking out the boat thread I will create a new major forum page for that :) let me know.

 

I had to try and keep my craze under control. Till we moved off the boat I had a full network and the AIS run through the computer with two monitors. Also have a morningstar MPPT controller for the 500 watts of solar that is accessible through the network for monitoring and programing. Internal wired and wireless network with ability to attach to external wireless networks. Internal media server that we could throw movies, audiobooks, or music to any monitor, tablet, laptop or cellphone on the boat. Kids could watch one thing with each of us doing something different. That system ran off the PC which we brought back to the house with us to act as our server here. Had a full i7 with 32 gigs of ram I built specifically for the boat. computer only drew 15 to 20 watts running and monitor another 20 watts.

 

have had lots of other ideas but hadn't done much with them. To much money and sadly consumer electronics are very susceptible to a water environment. Our boat is a very dry boat so never had any real problem below but when I started thinking about stuff on deck etc.. it was very hard to stay away from marine specific systems that just cost to much or a lot of work build and housing custom one off stuff.

]]> Mon, 20 Jun 2016 13:50:45 -0400 scirocco2 on Monitor Mounts and other Computer stuff http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3209 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3209 You can make your own dc/ac gas welder I'll find the link later 

all you have to do is add a spool gun and a gas regulator to the design 

fyi you can weld with an alternator I want to have a setup like that just for emergencies 

]]> Mon, 20 Jun 2016 13:48:04 -0400 scirocco2 on Monitor Mounts and other Computer stuff http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3208 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3208 I have all the tools I need besides a gas welder and orbital sander

 

 I have a electronics background, bolstered with mechanics 

I would not recommend a Chicago electric (HB freight special) as I used one for body work and returned it 

just not enough penetration  and nasty welds 

a Hobart or Miller for 400 that does mig and tig is ideal  only a couple hundred more 

I will use cpn on my macs  and make my own ais antenna with a coaxial 50'. Strip 6' of shield and wrap to make a long distance antenna 

 

liberty im on the seagoose in Everett 

]]> Mon, 20 Jun 2016 13:46:21 -0400 svliberty on Monitor Mounts and other Computer stuff http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3205 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3205 Maybe we should start a thread on 'Geeking your boat'

]]> Mon, 20 Jun 2016 09:49:34 -0400 Scott Carle on Monitor Mounts and other Computer stuff http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3204 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3204 Just a note on the monitor setup we built. It was setup so it could slide all the way between the chart table and galley so that you could see it from the helm. We ran opencpn on the computer and also tied the class b AIS into it. It sat back far enough that it couldn't rain on it even with companionway open and we replaced the dropboards in companionway with 1/2 inch acrylic so with everything closed you could still see it. In good weather we could swing it up and aft so that it moved it about 3 feet closer to the companionway also. Sit in cockpit and watch movie on it, or again chart plotter etc.. thought about a nice TPZ camera on top of the mast that streamed to it also.

can you tell I'm a tech junkie also. :)

]]> Mon, 20 Jun 2016 07:24:02 -0400 Scott Carle on Monitor Mounts and other Computer stuff http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3203 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3203 I fabricated a stainless fold down monitor holder on valkyr for my 24 inch monitor. In the up position the monitor snugged up between two of bows on the roof. Down I could slide it side to side and up or down to adjust its position. As well as rotate it to be seen in the salon. I had plans to add a second smaller monitor but never got to it. Not sure if I ever uploaded pictures of it. I will have to take a look.

 

If you are comfortable creating your own design and then fabricating it I would get one of the little small 120 volt harbor freight inverter welders. Cost about 160 dollars if I remember right. They work great for light stainless tubing and plate. Secret to them is to use the thinner welding rods. If you use the more normal size welding rods they just don't have the amps to get a good arc. but with the thinner diameter rods you can do some nice welding. Whole unit is about the size of a loaf of bread. So perfect size for keeping on a boat.  I think a decent size inverter would run it just fine also so you aren't tied to a dock while using it. You should be able to use it for emergency repairs to many of the stainless components on a boat from chain plates to pulpits. Chain plates would be a pain as they are thicker than you really want to weld with this small a unit but you could probably make enough passes to fill in and weld the thicker metal. Stainless tubing such as pulpits is ideal for this unit. You can also weld either polarity which is a nice feature. I'm usually not a big electronis person from harbor freight but this has good reviews and personally done good service for me.

here is link to one I have.

http://www.harborfreight.com/8.....61749.html

 

edit..

 

couple other tools I have gotten a lot of use out of on the boat... random orbital sanders both 5 and 6 inch ones. Roto zip for some cutting but more for the cutoff and grinding blades. Also the flexibile wand  attachment. Basically a dremel on steroids.

oscillating multi tool for all your detail cutting and sanding. one of best tools ever.

http://www.harborfreight.com/v.....62867.html

 

I'm sure their are others I'm not thinking of but all these are seriously flexible and or heavily used if you do a lot of your own work. The harbor freight stuff I linked to are some of the few powertools from them that I would get. I would also pay for the extended no question warranty. Two years and you just bring it in and give them your phone number to verify warranty and they hand you a new tool. Haven't had to use it yet but their stuff is not known as super high end quality. However these items are so cheap that you can buy it and the warranty for 1/5 the cost alone of a bosh or other higher end tool.

]]> Mon, 20 Jun 2016 07:05:31 -0400 scirocco2 on Monitor Mounts and other Computer stuff http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3202 Geeking Out Your Boat http://downeasteryachts.com/forums/geeking-out-your-boat/monitor-mounts-and-other-computer-stuff#p3202 Thanks Scott It's a great boat my 3rd week living aboard 

svliberty sounds familiar are you in puget sound?

I have a 32" tv/ display in the v berth that swings to side 

I'm using g4 with 27" &g5 Mac towers and a MacBook Pro as a laptop 

i also have a 28" display I'm going to use in the salon to hook up to the G5 as a second display 

for navigation/ ais/ chartplotting/ movies 

 

about to install a furuno radar setup thursday, I have 2 solar panels and I'm trading one for radar setup 

and 1 230watt solar panel is plenty I will mount  after I make a Bimini frame  I have a small battery bank for it 

I picked up a 85-51 seafrost that I tied to the deck forward the v berth hatch that and a

thermoelectric mini fridge should have food covered 

just need to work on hot water and get the Newport diesel heater going 

]]> Mon, 20 Jun 2016 04:45:51 -0400