AvNav navigation software

First, a few important notes that you should definitely observe.

OpenSource chartplotter www.wellenvogel.net

• completely web based navigation software for boats
• raster chart display (tile based) like Google Maps
• runs as server on a raspi
• also available as standalone android app
• features
  • use small devices like tablets or cell phones for navigation
  • optimized for devices starting at 7"
  • perfectly usable on 10" devices see here
  • attach your sensors via USB, serial, bluetooth, TCP - also possible on android (GPS, wind, speed, depth,AIS)
  • using NMEA0183
  • integrated NMEA multiplexer and WLAN gateway
  • usable for NMEA2000 with canboat
  • track logging
  • route planning
  • using raster charts (BSB,NV, downloaded charts from mobile atlas creator)
  • simple installation
  • small, low power consumption
  • display adaptable(sizes via settings, free configuration what to display where)
  • can be extended and adapted (server plugins, css adaption, java script for own displays)

Left

• description
• download (latest stable version)
• android app (play store)
• source on GitHub
• discussion on Segeln Forum (german)
• hints for chart download and creation

Different Set Ups

1. “Classic” setup - Raspberry built into the boat, plus one or more tablets for display and operation. Only a browser has to be running on the tablets - they can be Android, Windows or IOS. If you want, you can also use laptop (s) or mobile phone (s) for the display.
   The raspberry will set up a WLAN where the devices can attach.
   You can attach multiple devices - you can have different displays on each of them - like the chart on one device and a dashboard on another one.
   The charts have to be available in a raster format (gemf) - a converter is available.
   I mainly used:
   • one tablet down below at the chart table
   • one tablet below the dodger

     

2. AvNav as NMEA multiplexer and WLAN gateway
   Here AvNav receives NMEA data via NMEA-0183 (and serial-USB converter), Bluetooth, NMEA-2000 via gateway or via IP and forwards them to various outputs. This operation can also be done “mixed” with the classic setup - the NMEA multiplexer is always available.
   Available data outputs:
   1. NMEA-0183 (via USB-serial adapter)
   2. IP (TCP and UDP) - local or via WLAN
3. Android “Standalone”
   AvNav is available as a normal app on the android device. You can receive data from the internal GPS but you can also receive them via bluetooth, IP or USB device. The display functions are identical to the normal app.

   

4. Android “Master-Slave”
   The app will only be installed on one device (maybe an android car radio - see DIY plotter Android radio)and can be used on this devices as well as on other devices in the same lokal network (WLAN). On the other devices you only need a broweser - so you are free again to choose your system on them.
   In the picture - an old Ipad3 as second display.

   

5. Windows (or Linux) Desktop
   There is a ready-made installer for Windows and packages for Linux. This allows AvNav to be installed on a desktop computer (or laptop). Although the focus here is the conversion of maps (which are in BSB format, for example), the entire functionality can also be used here. Of course, it is also possible to use other devices as displays via browser.