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Bridge PC - A 5 year look and a new upgrade

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14K views 84 replies 15 participants last post by  mistercomputerman  
#1 · (Edited)
Some of you know that I have a small PC on my bridge. I got the components from mini-box.com and basically have a board mounted under the helm holding everything:

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It's tied to touchscreen daylight viewable monitor on the hardtop electronics box.

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This was my second attempt at this type of system on this boat and I put it in back in 2006. The first one I did back in 2003 looked like something w!ngless would put on a boat (except I didn't use wire nuts).

Anyway, the thing serves as a complete and separate navigation system. I like to think of it as a Sea Ray Navigator done better and one that I have control over. It's tied to a Airmar PB100 weather station/gps, WxWorx with XM weather, Rose Point's Coastal Explorer, Internet stuff, a Brookhouse NMEA multiplexer and a few other PC goodies. The thing is more of a hobby as I don't think I would want to rely on Bill Gates for my nav system. Saying that... it's been remarkably reliable.. probably more so than my Raymarine system...

Last week I decided to pull the thing out and "upgrade" it. The motherboard is an old ITX system (SBC68807) with 1GB RAM running at 400 MHz and a Pentium M processor... 2004 technology...

The one thing I've always wondered is how this thing would hold up in fairly harsh environment on the bridge. So I pulled out the case and took it apart and surprisingly, the thing is in great shape. No dust... No corrosion on any of the electronics and connectors that I could see...

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There was a little corrosion starting on the case around some screws on one of the cooling fans:

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But the fan was fine. Here's some pictures of the back connectors:

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and a closeup of some of the motherboard electronics:

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There was no coating applied to this thing (like BOEshield) and it even had a regular hard drive (not SSD). There were no shock mounts on it either.

Anyhoo... Both my dogs had to have surgery last week so I'm stuck in the house keeping them doped up and this is a good weekend project. I have a new Zotac ITX motherboard going in with 8 GB RAM and a 3.1 GHz Intel core i3 CPU. Going to update the whole mounting board with some new accessories (Icom AIS receiver) and put in a SSD drive. Also going to Windows 7, upgrade WxWorx and Coastal Explorer and tie it into the new AV system and Internet network on the boat... and I'm going to publish all the NMEA data from the helm to the boat computer network via an Aaxeon RS422 to Ethernet gateway so all the iPads, iPhones, etc. can run navigation apps and see the data from the helm via the wifi system... Also have a higher res touchscreen to put in.

I'll post more pictures as I put it in over the next few days.
 
#66 ·
OK... I bet you can't do the following with an iPad.

I got the new motherboard and components all mushed together for the new case tonight:

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You gotta love PC's and the wire management... The DVD and the hard drive have to go into this other piece and you can see the rat's nest of wires that has to connect up here:

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And I *really* hate these 4 pin power connectors. They always seem to come loose... of course they pop out just a little so you can never find the little bastards... that's why when you kick a PC, it will work better... and as you can see here, sure enough, one of the pins popped out:

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So I decided my OCD would allow me to cut all that crap out and just solder and shrink wrap up what I needed.. Much better:

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And then it all was crammed into the aluminum enclosure. This enclosure is extruded aluminum... very heavy...

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And the new back with all the connections:

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This thing has a solid state drive, internal intelligent 12v power supply, 8 GB of RAM, Windoze 7 Ultimate 64 bit... it should be a screamer...

Now off to install Windoze... that'll take until about 3 am.
 
#72 ·
Those two little black fans in front of the case that had some rust by them sound like a bow thruster... In the camp of "nothing is ever easy," I need to replace those... They are louder than my Cummins.
 
#73 ·
Then you have the right ones Gary.... Testosterone in your computer fans is awesome.....I had a new fan installed in my laptop this year, OMG it sounds like a Turbo on a 1000hp MAns diesel... loud but it works..
 
#74 ·
So I take it this system will be blue tooth enabled and can work with an IPAD/IPhone? Thus able to work with INAVX?
 
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#75 ·
We have a couple iPads in our family but they won't be talking to the system via Blue tooth. They'll talk to the system through the wifi network on the boat.

So yes... iNavX will work just fine and should be able to control the autopilot.
 
R
#77 ·
Hi Guys,

We are new to the Sea Ray Club and a Sea Ray Boat. We just bought a 2004 Sear Ray 380 Sundancer.

I am looking to upgrade my entire Helm, Is there an upgrade to the SRN or replacement. I would think there is something with a little bit better graphics and navigation.

I am not as advanced as I have read through this thread and not ready to totally dive in my self as you all have here, but I am a little bit of a geek so I love technology. I would love to see the instruments networked together and be able to have reports to my computer or tablet. (I may be shooting a bit far but as my wife says, it is the nerd in me). Sounds like it is doable but I have no clue where to start or who could help me whithout me screwing up my helm.

Thanks for your help
Roy
 
#78 · (Edited)
Roy start your own thread in one of the forums here at CSR with what you have asked above, you only need to do it in one thread/forum as what you are asking is a bit involved and would be known as "Hijacking" this thread.

Just from reading your request I am guessing there is much you need to become aware of regarding GPS systems, transducers, NMEA 183, 2000, SEATALK, analog radar versus digital etc. I will give you a hint if your system is analog, practically all new chart plotter systems will not interface with them...so yes a new separate thread would be best in my opinion


Welcome to CSR
 
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#83 · (Edited)
I've pretty much given up posting anything on my projects here as they end up copied on THT with the expert commentary of w!ngtard.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/3933407-post69.html

As he pointed out, the inside of my PC is in violation of ABYC standards (and it's not the splice with the adhesive heat shrink tubing)... I'm guessing the surface solder construction of all my TV's, DVD, DirecTV boxes, etc are probably in violation also... Hope no one carries an iPhone with them.
 
#85 ·
Four Suns said:
I've pretty much given up posting anything on my projects here as they end up copied on THT with the expert commentary of w!ngtard.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/3933407-post69.html

As he pointed out, the inside of my PC is in violation of ABYC standards (and it's not the splice with the adhesive heat shrink tubing)... I'm guessing the surface solder construction of all my TV's, DVD, DirecTV boxes, etc are probably in violation also... Hope no one carries an iPhone with them.
Click to expand...
Wingnut is a moron.
 
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