Devine Lu LinvegaAug 30, 2018
Did you know about GNU Radio?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Radio
GNU Radio - Wikipedia

Show threadGormless

@neauoire Yes, I was aware, but like so many tech things, the more involved you get with this stuff, the more you realise just how little you actually know. Which for me is GREAT.

SOmetimes mainstream stuff at sea is good. I only recently realised just how awesome AIS was, as I sailed across the Dover straits. with 450 ships in view. Unless you can really get odd software projects to help you then no amount of belief in 'open source' is actually going to help you.

Aug 30, 2018 at 7:21pmWeb
Show threadDevine Lu LinvegaAug 30, 2018
@gormless We have a badass VesperMarine AIS transponder, but before we tried to build our own with the MoitessierHAT for Pi. For me, it's not really about one over the other, it's more about which offers me a better understanding of how things work. I find that I better understand the innerworkings of our VesperMarine having looked into the FOSS alternative. And in this, is worthwhile.
Show threadGormlessAug 30, 2018
@neauoire I totally agree with that way of thinking. I would like to think I'm an exceptionally safe ocean sailor, and practicality is HUGE for me.
Show threadGormlessAug 30, 2018

@neauoire The John Karl and David Burch books I mentioned will take you well over a year to master, even the basics.

(Not true, John Karl will get you going very quickly, and to me was mind-blowing.)

Decent SSB radio clearly takes a lot of time to learn, I wish I had a way of learning it here. I do rather love things which take time.

Show threadDevine Lu LinvegaAug 30, 2018
@gormless I don't like SSB radios on a sailboat since you have to isolate the backstay, and bring high powered electronics aboard. But I still find the idea romantic.
Show threadGormlessAug 30, 2018

@neauoire I agree. But I'm very old ;) and we didn't have sat phones, data plans etc. SSB gave us weatherfax, long range forecasts, access to GRIBS, whilst at sea. There's a HUGE SSB radio net across the pacific. And for free. SSB is still a seriously positive communication system, take a look at the global race, which only allows SSB. So I'll disagree with you on that one. ;)

Nice to chat.

Show threadGormlessAug 30, 2018
@neauoire http://goldengloberace.com/ggr/
Best race ever. Little boats, no outside assistance. really excites me.
The Race - Golden Globe Race

Show threadGormlessAug 30, 2018

@neauoire Oh, if you have NMEA running on board, than you can suck data from AIS and plot it straight into OpenCPN. I don't know if Navionics does this, but it will definitely work on OpenCPN. It's amazing seeing your plotter with all these big ships on it. Not a big deal in Tonga, but around the straits of Dover, it's seriously helpful. ;)

I shall leave you as I have to go. Best Jonathan.

Show threadDevine Lu LinvegaAug 30, 2018
@gormless We have something like that yes, but other wifi. Aight, have a nice one! Thanks for talking :