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3/08/2024 10:53 pm  #1


Tablet running expedition data to take place of displays

I have a J/120.  Struck by lightning last summer.  Destroyed everything on the NMEA network, including my 4 Garmin GNX120 mast displays and 3 B&G GFDs above the companionway.  Insurance fucked me on the replacement.  But then I realized...I'm a solo sailor.  I don't need all these displays.  The autopilot drives most of the time.  I just need some key pieces of data when I'm on deck or hand steering.  I'm confident I get this information to be displayed in a single tablet rather than 7 friggin' displays.  Sure, it'd be great to have a few B&G Nemesis displays.  But for now, I'm trying science the hell out of this like the Martian.  Ok, maybe not the same level as the Martian.

I'm looking for the best solution to display Expedition data on a tablet that I will have in the companionway and that can swivel in place in the companionway to show me on deck (Mini 6.50 style) or that I can mount at the helm.  I see 3 options, described below.  I'd love anybody's thoughts (especially Nick's) on the best solution.  I like option 3, but don't like the fact that I'll probably need to buy a second license for Expedition.  :  - (

Option 1:  At nav station, I have a Panasonic CF54 toughbook running Expedition.  Laptop is connected to NMEA2000 network via Actisense NGT-1-USB.  Rest of data on network is is NMEA2000.  I could use an Actisense W2K-1 WiFi gateway to send all my NMEA2000 data, including the Expedition data to be read on a tablet (e.g., one like Sailproof running Android) connected to the WiFi gateway and using an app that displays NMEA data.  The downside is that I haven't found any great third-party Android apps that give you the flexibility to display NMEA data in a great way.  And Stripchart is literally the best thing ever.  Would hate to not have that functionality in a roaming display.  

Option 2:  Panasonic CF54 running Exp at nav station.  No NGT-1-USB.  No W2K-1 Wifi gateway.  Instead, use a WiFi router along with a remote desktop app to get Exp display from nav station laptop onto tablet.  Tablet could be Android like Sailproof tablets or something like a Toughbook CF-33 running Windows.  Downside that I see is latency.  Plus-side of the downside is that there's almost built-in dampening of the displayed data

Option 3 (my favorite):  Panasonic CF54 running Eep at nav station.  No NGT-1-USB because no need to offload Expedition data onto NMEA network.  Instead, W2K-1 Wifi gateway plugged into NMEA network, which sends all NMEA2000 data to a Toughbook CF-33 running a second instance of Expedition.  This seems like the best option because you're not dealing with the latency inherent in a remote desktop application.  The only things I see as potential downsides is just that this could be overkill if the goal for the CF-33 is displaying data on deck and the possibility of needing a second license.  This option seems to give the best speed and flexibility on deck.  

Like I said, appreciate any thoughts here.  

 

3/09/2024 10:52 pm  #2


Re: Tablet running expedition data to take place of displays

Option 3 is the best solution, either as a stand alone site of Expedition, or using remote access apps like RDP, Radmin, Spacedesk etc.

You can also do same with a tablet (iOS or Android). Spacedesk mightbe a good option as you can set up to work as an extended display and just show a number box with your data.

You would not need to purchase a 2nd license if you chose to use a tablet PC like Getac, Panasonic or other.


:::Campbell Field::::::www.fieldyachting.com:::
 

3/10/2024 8:19 am  #3


Re: Tablet running expedition data to take place of displays

Thanks.  Checking out Spacedesk.  In Expedition, there are options to increase the size of number boxes.  But they only get so large.  Is there a way to modify the text size (e.g., in some settings files) to make them even bigger.  Just to expand on the Option 3 solution, if there were a way to manipulate the number boxes with even more flexibility, a $1k refurbished Panasonic tablet could literally take the place of $5k B&G Nemesis display.

Last edited by jreisberg (3/10/2024 8:19 am)

     Thread Starter
 

3/10/2024 9:04 am  #4


Re: Tablet running expedition data to take place of displays

You can change the number box sizes within the number boxes themselves.


:::Campbell Field::::::www.fieldyachting.com:::
 

3/10/2024 9:24 am  #5


Re: Tablet running expedition data to take place of displays

Yup.  familiar with that functionality.  But it's limited.  Just wondering whether there was a way to dig into Expedition program files to adjust the number boxes even more than what's allowed in the number boxes UI itself.  

     Thread Starter
 

4/01/2024 1:59 am  #6


Re: Tablet running expedition data to take place of displays

Is a SailProof tablet (or equivalent) in combination with https://ventusnavigation.com/ not an option?

 

4/01/2024 2:05 am  #7


Re: Tablet running expedition data to take place of displays

Completely an option.  I ended up going with a tough book cf-33 tablet to allow for the option of running a separate instance of expedition natively.  Now looking at PC-based options. 

Went with a tough book cf-33 because the screen is bigger and has better brightness than the sailproof (1200 bits vs 1000).

     Thread Starter
 

4/01/2024 9:23 pm  #8


Re: Tablet running expedition data to take place of displays

Last time I looked at Sailproof, the options weren't sufficient to run Windows well. That may have changed though.

 

4/01/2024 10:44 pm  #9


Re: Tablet running expedition data to take place of displays

Sailproof no longer do windows tablets, just android. Their reasoning was that it was too difficult to do windows tablets powerful enough to run expedition or Adrena well at a decent price. They are about to release a new android version (in the next couple of weeks or so)

 

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