Using OpenCPN with the Actisense W2K-1/WGX-1

Created onJune 10, 2021

Updated onNovember 27, 2024

OpenCPN is a Chartplotter software to be used at the helm station of your boat while underway. By using the software with our W2K-1 NMEA 2000 to WiFi Gateway or WGX-1 NMEA 2000 Wi-Fi Gateway, you can chart your course and track your position right from your laptop.

Setting up the W2K-1

OpenCPN can use both NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 as its data format, so the data server(s) on the W2K-1 have to be set up for one of these.

To do this, follow these simple steps:

1. Ensure your W2K-1 is connected to your NMEA 2000 network and is powered (LEDs indicate this. The device will also show on NMEA Reader in Network View via an Actisense NGT-1 or NGX-1).

2. Connect your PC / Mobile device to the W2K-1’s Wi-Fi access point

wifi w2k

3. Once connected, open your web browser and search for the W2K-1’s AP (Access Point) IP (192.168.4.1)

4. When connected, you will be presented with the following home page:

5. From here, enter Settings > Data Server Settings. You may need to log in, in which case the Username and Password is ‘admin’, unless this has been changed by the owner/installer.

6. In the Data server menu, you will be presented with 3 data servers. At least one of these needs to be set up to NMEA 0183 or NMEA 2000 Format. The Data direction is dependent on what you are using the W2K-1 with OpenCPN for. If you are only using the W2K-1 to send data to OpenCPN, then the direction can be set to Transmit Only. However, if you also want OpenCPN to send data such as waypoints back to the W2K-1, then set the direction to ‘Both’. Once you are happy, hit the ‘Update’ button.

7. With OpenCPN you can use any Port number on the W2K-1, which means they can be left on the default numbers. For this example, data server 1 will be used with OpenCPN, with Port Number 60001.

Setting up the connection in OpenCPN

1. If you do not already have OpenCPN installed, it can be downloaded from here:
https://opencpn.org/OpenCPN/info/downloads.html

2. With OpenCPN downloaded and installed, run the program. You will be presented with the following screen upon startup:

3. Select the settings icon:

4. Go to the connections tab, this is where you will set up your IP connection with the W2K-1. Select ‘add connection’.

5. Enter the IP and Port Number of the W2K + Data Server you are using:

6. If you want the connection to operate on both Transmit to the W2K-1 and Receive from the W2K-1, then the ‘Receive Input on this port’ and ‘output on this port’ must both be ticked.

7. One very useful tip we recommend is that you enable the NMEA Debug Window. This window will indicate the data that is being sent and received, and whether there are any errors, thanks to OpenCPN’s easy to use sentence colour scheme.

8. The debug window will show every sentence being sent and received and highlight any sentences in red if there is an error. Green is received sentences, and blue is transmitted sentences by OpenCPN:

Using the WGX-1 with OpenCPN

The WGX-1 is also capable of working with OpenCPN, using both NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 data formats. As the device operates the same way as the W2K-1 in terms of Wi-Fi connectivity, connecting is simple, just like the W2K-1 methods detailed above.

WGX with OpenCPN

WGX and OpenCPN

As shown in the screenshots above, the WGX-1 works as both an access point and a client-connected device on a pre-existing network.

With the recent addition of NMEA 2000 data support into OpenCPN, there is now access to more data than ever before, making this free application even more appealing to the market. The WGX-1 further enhances this by being a bi-directional conversion device for NMEA 0183/NMEA2000 and also a Wi-Fi gateway for all data to be shared.

As an industry-leading device that offers NMEA 0183/N2K bi-directional conversion with the largest conversion library of any competitor gateway, Wi-Fi streaming as both an access point and a client, diagnostics with Actisense-i (free software included within the WGX-1) and logging via an SD Card (*not included with product)… the device really is an all in one product, that solves many problems with a cost-effective price tag.