Rasberry Pi depth finder, GPS, radar ?

[FrankenCub]

Anyone here a tech geek and figured out a way to run a depth finder, GPS, or radar with a Raspberry Pi or Odroid and a computer monitor ?

I'm going to be needing new hardware for my boat and I really have a thing for bigger screens, just happen to have spare flat screens. I think that would be a great use for the Rasberry/Odroid. They don't draw much power and should easily handle the task, I just don't know how to go about it or if there's a proprietary software issue. I have been looking around the web but come up short on info, lots for every other techy stuff, just not this.

 

[sam am I]

Not yet but!! Here's my bid...............T&M

1) Research "depth finder, GPS, or radar" that has/uses/allows standard'ish remote ops w serial control communications (wireless or otherwise) 2 man-hrs @ $200/hr/device + cost of devices.

2) Develop/secure communication hardware interface/s for said devices....16 man-hrs @ $200/hr/device + cost of hardware

3) Develop communication and display software interface/s for said devices on specific HW/SW platform ....40 man-hrs @ $200/hr/first device + OS (Linux/open source discounted). Discount man-hrs for ea. additional piece at 50%

4) Sea trials....2 man-hrs @ $200/hr/device + travel, snacks and fishing.

 

[NicoPags]

Not yet but!! Here's my bid...............T&M

1) Research "depth finder, GPS, or radar" that has/uses/allows standard'ish remote ops w serial control communications (wireless or otherwise) 2 man-hrs @ $200/hr/device + cost of devices.

2) Develop/secure communication hardware interface/s for said devices....16 man-hrs @ $200/hr/device + cost of hardware

3) Develop communication and display software interface/s for said devices on specific HW/SW platform ....40 man-hrs @ $200/hr/first device + OS (Linux/open source discounted). Discount man-hrs for ea. additional piece at 50%

4) Sea trials....2 man-hrs @ $200/hr/device + travel, snacks and fishing.

Love it

 

[FrankenCub]

I thought I might be able to find a way to use the different NMEA hardware available without having to spend a grand on the display component but I haven't found anything. I have found that I can use Navionics on an Odroid running either Linux or Android. As for a fish finder/sonar, there's a Vexilar Sonarphone that looks to have pretty good reviews but limited to 240' depth, but it's also compatible with Navionics to make for a decent fishing set up. Really not concerned with radar, it would be useful at night but other than that just a novelty for me. Peeked my interest a bit because I seen a radar dome locally pretty cheap, no way I could afford a whole system. Even the NMEA system packages are out of my reach.

 

[bruceb58]

Never going to be able to do the signal processing fast enough when compared to commercially available sounders. Interesting project though.

You have a software background?

 

[FrankenCub]

Do you know if there's information available from Lowrance or Hummingbird that shows their hardware specs ? I'd be interested in reading it. I'm not sure signal processing speed will be an issue. I got into researching more about these single board PCs and found more available and are running quad core CPUs that are faster than many of todays full size home PCs. I don't have a lot of software background but have been getting into it more in the last 8 years since leaving Microlimp for Linux. I do know some people who have crazy skills with Linux though.
The Navionics/Vexilar setup seems to work well from what I've seen, other than the limited depth. I'm sure it will white out in some of the water I troll for Lakers and Salmon. Still researching lol

 

[bruceb58]

So if you don't know how to write Python or C code, you can pretty much forget about writing a depth sounder algorithm for the project. Do you know anything about signal processing algorithms? Have an engineering back ground?

Signal processing is my expertise for communications and radar signal processing and I would have to do many hours of research to scratch the surface of a sonar application.

 

[FrankenCub]

Well for one I never said I'd be writing any code trying to make something work. I started the thread asking if anyone has gotten these things to work together assuming there might be some boaters who are also code junkies and didn't want to spend thousands on off the shelf parts. Maybe I shouldn't have asked.

 

[bruceb58]

You should go to a RasberyyPi forum. You will get way more info there. Personally, its a waste of time. RasberryPi is good for certain custom things where a commercial alternative is not already available. The fractional cost of the RandD spent on a commercial sounder is well worth it.

If you don't write code, it's pretty pointless using a RasberryPi.