Before running OpenCPN on the LiveDVD you should activate the sample data. To do this open a Terminal from the main Applications menu and run opencpn_noaa_agreement.sh at the command prompt. The user’s password is given in the file on the main desktop.
You can download additional US nautical charts from NOAA at http://www.charts.noaa.gov
If you have a GPS connected you will want to start the gpsd service. To do that run:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure gpsd
and
sudo /etc/init.d/gpsd start
BlueTooth GPS users should take special care to read up about the no-probe option.
Current weather and wave forecast data can be downloaded and draped over your charts using the GRIB plugin. The zyGrib software (also on this disc) is an easy way to download that. See the zyGrib quickstart for details. Enable the plugin the right most tab of the OpenCPN configuration menu; right click on the GRIB directory selection window to show hidden files, including the .zygrib directory containing the default GRIB download directory. If you saved the GRIB file into your home directory navigate to /home and select your user directory as the GRIB data directory. There is no need to uncompress the file. Click on the “>” to the left of the filename and select from the list of available forecast times.