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WELCOME TO GPSANGLER Version 3, PC MARINE NAVIGATION SOFTWARE DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED BY ANGLERS, FOR ANGLERS (AND DIVERS!). |
FROM IT'S ULTRA LARGE GPS REPEATER DISPLAY, TO THE DETAILED CHART PLOTTING SCREEN, GPSANGLER Version 3 NOW HAS INCREASED FUNCTIONALITY, USEABILITY AND READABILITY TO ENABLE YOU TO CATCH EVEN MORE FISH!
CONTENTS
The Design Philosophy of "GPSANGLER"
GPSANGLER has been designed and developed by a group of anglers as an aid to boat angling, diving and other marine leisure activities. Starting off as a simple GPS repeater display, it has grown into a full scale chart navigation system specifically aimed at offshore sports enthusiasts. Although this software has been subjected to many hours of exhaustive system testing, it should be used as an aid to marine activities only. It certainly is not a substitute for marine navigation expertise!
ALL INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE AUTHORS HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THIS INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
OK, the actual Design Philosophy is as follows :-
DISPLAY ALL INFORMATION IN A LEGIBLE MANNER. Text is displayed in high contrast with large size fonts; easily readable in choppy waters by the helmsman or from a distance by other members of the crew. The readability of critical information in "real world" conditions is the over-riding design criterion of GPSANGLER.
KEEP IT REASONABLY SIMPLE. All screens display relevant data and nothing else. Arrays of toolbars, extraneous functions and other clutter are not part of GPSANGLER.
BIAS TOWARDS ANGLERS/DIVERS. Whilst we welcome use of the software by all our maritime friends, it has been developed with a bias towards angling and diving. Hence the "VESSEL/MARK CLOSEUP" facility and the dynamic setting and recording of target marks by a simple click of the mouse.
A COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION. A used laptop of relatively modest performance, a GPS unit that transmits the necessary information, coupled with "GPSANGLER", and we're away! Whilst full colour proprietary chart plotters may cost over £500, the aim is to build a far superior, future-proof system for less than half that....
Minimum System Requirements
Computer Type: Any PC running Windows XP, Vista or 7 ( Windows 7 Home Premium Edition or better).
Computer Specifications: A CPU running at 1Ghz with 1GB of RAM. (2 GB RAM is preferrable) Allow about 50MB of hard disk space for this software and associated files.
Secondary Drives: A standard CD-ROM drive.
Screen Type: A physical screen size of 1024 (minimum) x 768 (minimum) or larger.
Mouse Type: A 3 button scrolling mouse.
Demo Mode
In "Demo" mode, GPSANGLER uses "virtual" GPS data generated by a second program, GPSDRIVER. No actual GPS device is required.
To kick off a demonstration, we need to start 2 extra programs. Firstly, start AA_SET_UP_VIRTUAL_PORTS.exe . This will set up some internal virtual COM ports in the PC. A virtual serial (or COM) port is an internal simulation of a "real" DB9 COM port, (the 9 pin male port on the back of most desktop PCs and some laptops). This only has to be started once per "power up" of the computer. Six ports are created, COM30 to COM35. If a warning message appears concerning 64bit processing, simply press cancel, then OK to continue. Now start AA_GPSDRIVER.exe . This program is a mini "helmsman" that feeds a virtual port with GPS info, just like a real GPS device. The GPSDRIVER window will stay "always on top" and not get relegated or "lost" when a mouse click occurs on another part of the physical screen.......
Direction is adjusted with the "<LEFT<" and ">RIGHT>" buttons. Speed may be changed with the "SPEED" spin button. Startup values for Latitude and Longitude may be set by editing the file GPSDRIVER.inc with a product like Notepad++ . Notepad++ is a "freeware" product supplied with GPSANGLER. See Acknowledgements below. The contents as supplied are:
We can now start GPSANGLER Version 3 , the main program, in "demonstration" mode. To start , double click AA_GPSANGLER.exe . When the software starts, the screen will look like this:
Simply click continue; we'll cover setting parameters later....
The screen will subsequently display something like this:
The TURN INDICATOR panel is used for displaying the required degrees and direction of turn to reach a target (more on this later). Different tasks are selected by left clicking on this panel, or any other navigation display that is not a chart or depth analysis. Simply left click on the panel whereby a selection menu will be shown. Further menu items are cascaded, where applicable, when the mouse pointer "hovers" over an item. The Turn Indicator panel may be moved to any convenient part of the screen.
GPS Repeater
If we left click the Repeater option on the Turn Indicator panel, we see:
The GPS repeater shows current vessel position together with Course Over Ground (COG) and Speed Over Ground (SOG), information derived from the "virtual" GPS device simulated by GPSDRIVER. An ultra large font is used here.
Recording/Selecting a Target
To permanently record an interesting/productive mark on the computer, wait until the boat is exactly in the required position, usually with the help of a fish finder. Then centre click the mouse anywhere on the main screen (currently the Repeater Screen). The "RECORD TARGET" screen will appear. Enter a description of the mark into the field as shown; you can take your time, the coordinates will not change due to subsequent movement of the vessel:
This facility may additionally be used to record an "MOB", Man OverBoard, situation, as it can be used on any of the navigation displays.
To set a target of a recorded mark, choose SELECT TARGET . Double left click your chosen entry to set a target. If you wish to set some targets "offline", for instance with some known wreck positions, edit the file named "GPSANGLER.DAT" with Notepad++ . Ensure the last two "words" of each line are the target's latitude and longitude in that order. The format is DDD:MM.MMMX for the Latitude and Longitude values. MM.MMM must be in minutes and decimal minute format, i.e. not MM.SSS (minutes and seconds) .
Example Line:
Vessel/Target Display
So let's select a mark:
Then we can display the current position, the target position and other associated info, by selecting "TARGET DISPLAY" from the task selection menu:
The Turn Indicator suggests we should steer to the right, so adjust the COG on GPSDRIVER with the "<RIGHT<" button:
Steer the boat so that the Turn Indicator is as near to zero as possible, note however that influences such as tide, currents, wind and waves will mean that it is virtually impossible to maintain zero indefinitely.
That completes the demonstration of the "textual" displays of GPSANGLER. Now let's have a look at the chart section:
Chart Display
Via "SELECT CHART" on the task selection menu, we choose a demonstration chart, an area off Alaska (!), by double clicking that entry:
Charts may be zoomed by placing the mouse pointer on the chart and revolving the mouse wheel. Revolve forwards to reduce the chart image to 2:1 -
Revolve backwards to increase the image to 1:2 -
They may also be panned by holding down the left mouse button and "dragging" the mouse.
Setting a Target on the Chart
The small maroon squares indicate the position of targets that have been permanently recorded on the computer. Placing the mouse pointer on one of these squares will trigger a display of that target's details:
If the mouse is right clicked whilst on one of these squares, the "SELECT TARGET" screen is displayed with the entry that corresponds to that square highlighted. That target (or any other) may then be set in the normal way:
Temporary targets, i.e. ones that will not be recorded on the computer, may be set by placing the mouse pointer at the required position on the chart, and right clicking the mouse. (The GPS coordinates of the current mouse position on the chart, are displayed on the left hand text panel.) This is useful for setting targets that may or may not be productive, or for setting navigational waypoints.
The transparency of the Turn Indicator panel may be adjusted to allow "see through" viewing:
Vessel/Mark Closeup
When the boat reaches the vicinity of the target, "Vessel/Mark Closeup" may be used to closely monitor the proximity of the vessel to the mark.
The facility is most useful when drifting or anchoring over a wreck, reef or other feature.
An audio warning can be set up to indicate that the boat has drifted outside a set limit. From the master menu, choose "SET UP ALARM DISTANCE". Valid entries are 0 metres, (no alarm set), to 400 metres. As well as potentially indicating that the boat is probably well off the fish, this function is also useful in a "dragged anchor" situation.
3D Wreck Analysis
3D Wreck Analysis enables us to "see" a wreck or other feature with the surrounding sea bed. With an attached depth sounder or combination device (see below), the system will take readings and permanently store them on a disk file. This data will therefore be available on further visits to the wreck. Over several visits, a detailed picture of the wreck can be recorded.
To utilize this aspect of Gpsangler Version 3, the following additional hardware will be needed:-
a) EITHER: A Depth Sounder that outputs NMEA $SDDBT sentences, (DBT:- Depth Below Transducer) plus an additional serial or USB port on the PC. A "native" serial D9 port might not be available on a laptop so a USB-to-serial adaptor will be required.
b) OR: A GPS/FishFinder combined device (e.g. Garmin 168) which outputs NMEA GPS and DBT sentences along the same cable.
Stop GPSANGLER by selecting EXIT on the Master Menu. As we'll currently stay in "demo" mode, we need to start AA_GPSSONDRIVER.exe to emulate a depth sounding device:
This software sends NMEA $SDDBT sentences using a virtual port. Minimum and maximum depths may be set with the arrowed spin boxes. Then start AA_GPSANGLER again and click SET PARAMETERS:
Set DEPTH LOGGING to "Y" by "spinning" the box with the arrows, implying a depth sounding device is connected to the PC (currently a virtual device simulated by GPSSONDRIVER) . However, if a combined (GPS and DBT) device ( e.g. Garmin 168) were connected to the GPS PORT, we would set DEPTH LOGGING to "M" (multiplexed). To simulate this, stop GPSDRIVER and start AA_GPSMULTIPLEXER.exe and AA_GPSDRIVER_MPLEXER.exe . Now, AA_GPSDRIVER_MPLEXER and AA_GPSSONDRIVER will funnel into AA_GPSMULTIPLEXER, which in turn will present NMEA GPS and DBT sentences to GPSANGLER , simulating a GPS/FishFinder combined device. In demo mode, the GPS PORT must be COM31 and the SOUNDER PORT must be COM33.
Click ACCEPT....
In order to "normalise" depth readings, the system stores the state of the tide and applies it to the values read from the sounder device. The depth of water that we record will then be reasonably consistent at a particular point, irrespective of any state of the tide.
Let's look at what we get once we've hooked up the devices, set the parameters, and started the software.
To start Wreck Analysis in a given area (preset at 200 metres square) we must have previously recorded the approximate centre of the wreck as a target . This is done in the normal manner by centre clicking the mouse when the boat is positioned correctly and typing in details of the mark. Note: Wreck Analysis will not function by setting a temporary target with the right mouse button.
Now "SET DEPTH RECORDING ON" from the pull down menu. The system will start calculating and recording depth data whenever the vessel is within the 200 metre "arena":
The red "rod" indicates the position of the vessel. The white number "ladder" gives depths in metres from the sea bed:
There is a small panel at the bottom left showing various depth related values, and an indication showing if we are recording data to the disk. The actual normalised, "mean" depth is DADJ. The algorithm is simply DADJ = (DBT + DOFFset ) - TIDE .
Whenever you feel that enough data has been collected, "SET DEPTH RECORDING OFF" from the pull down menu to improve system performance...
To navigate around the wreck, use the following keys:-
Once enough depth data has been recorded on the database for a particular mark, on future visits simply select the target and the system will start the 3D Wreck Analysis display automatically, (but keep DEPTH LOGGING set to "Y" or "M"). No other intervention is needed.
Setting up Charts
The setting up of your charts is a pleasant enough exercise for a dark winter evening!
If you are not confident about "Setting up Charts" or any other part of GPSANGLER, then please consult a "PC literate" person, or e-mail The Development Team for guidance.
Sources of charts include the Map-Tech site at MAPTECH, and visitmyharbour.com, where extensive UK charts may be procured for a life membership fee of only 25GBP.
However you decide to procure your charts, ENSURE THAT THE DATUM SYSTEM USED ON THE CHARTS IS THE SAME AS THAT TRANSMITTED BY YOUR GPS RECEIVER! WGS84 seems to be the standard these days, although OSGB36 is another extensively used format. Note that there are various datum conversion programs available for download on the internet. Charts used with GPSANGLER can be .BMP, .GIF or .PNG format. The preferred format is .GIF ; it offers high legibility with efficient disk space usage. The maximum constraints are dictated by memory (RAM) size. If an horrendous message appears whilst loading a chart, it is almost certainly because the chart is too large. As a rough guide, a computer with 1.5GB of RAM (memory) should easily hold a chart of 4 million pixels, e.g. 2000 x 2000 or 1600 x 2500. Create charts that will encompass no more than a single day's outing - realistically, a range of 20 nautical miles from the launch site or home port would normally be sufficient. The chart resolution and detail can therefore be much greater.
Use Irfanview to create a useable chart from a larger image. Irfanview is a "freeware" product supplied with GPSANGLER. See Acknowledgements below. Open the large chart image in Irfanview, and create a rectangular shape by holding down the left mouse button and dragging the mouse across/up/down. Release the mouse. Now we can set the shape to our exact requirements by adjusting the outline of the rectangle by moving the "double arrows" that appear when the mouse is near an outline:
It makes it a lot easier if the lines of the rectangle coincide with the major coordinate lines of the chart. E.g. set the rectangle on 50 30.000 if possible instead of 50 29.894. When the rectangle is exactly correct, select "Crop Selection" from the Edit menu. Jot down in DDD:MM.MMM format the Latitude and Longitude values, as precisely as possible, of the top-left and bottom-right points of the chart. MM.MMM must be in minutes and decimal minute format, i.e. not MM.SSS (minutes and seconds) . Now "Save as" the chart as a GIF file, even though the source chart may be in a different format. Ensure that the chart file resides in the /CHARTS folder. Subsequently, use a graphics manipulation tool such as Picture It! or Paintshop to enhance the charts with additional wrecks, reefs, warnings etc., if desired.
Use Notepad++ to update the GPSANGLER.CHA file in the GPSANGLER folder. Ensure that the format of the line that defines your chart is as follows:-
TITLE="My Fishing Area",CHART=BAY.gif,TOP_LEFT=50:30.403N,004:31.508W,BOT_RIGHT=49:59.404N,002:59.45W
Here, the general description of the chart is "My Fishing Area", the chart file is BAY.gif, and the coordinate information follows. To reiterate, the format of the coordinates is DDD:MM.MMM, (decimal minutes), NOT DDD:MM.SS (minutes and seconds). Again, ensure that the GPS receiver transmits in this format! Both sets of coordinates must be Latitude, Longitude in that order. Note that DDD:MM.MM is also allowed. Use Notepad, or even better, Notepad++, to edit all GPSANGLER files, other editors can corrupt the data and produce "unpredictable results"!
Other excellent FREE products include the screen capture product ScreenHunter and the Microsoft product (yes it's free!) Image Composite Editor . Tip: The "To File, Automatic" option of ScreenHunter is useful in conjunction with the Microsoft product.
Add as many charts as you wish following the above guidelines....
Setting up the GPS Hardware
The setting up of the "real" GPS interface to the PC is straightforward; visit the excellent GPSINFO site for further information. If using a native serial cable, with a 9-pin female plug, simply plug the NMEA cable of the GPS unit into a 9 pin male COM port of the PC. This will usually be COM1 or COM2 . If using a USB device, follow the instructions on the USB/SERIAL driver CD. It is likely in this case that a "virtual" serial port will be created, e.g. COM4 . To change GPSANGLER to read from COMx instead of COM31, (the Demo Mode port), change the values on the SEP PARAMETERS screen:
Setting the Screen Colours and other Adjustments
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Notepad++ is the definitive replacement for the standard Notepad found on all Windows machines. The whole of GPSANGLER, including the program code, was prepared with this excellent freeware product.
Irfanview is a freeware graphical image manipulation tool. It is the recommended product for setting up chart images. Another similar software suite is XnView.
Wxtide32 is used for capturing the state of the tide in 3D Wreck Analysis. Another freeware product.
Virtual Serial Ports Emulator - used in "demo" mode to simulate real GPS and Sonar devices. Has it's own license; see License.rtf in the VSPE folder.
We graciously thank the authors of these programs for making them freely available for download on the 'net. Note that they are present on the CD under the terms of the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE or similar; absolutely no charge has been made for their inclusion.