Clarify documentation about connecting dive computers

[ext/subsurface.git] / Documentation / user-manual.txt

Subsurface 1.2

User Manual

Version 0.0.4

Autor documentation: Jacco van Koll <jko@haringstad.com>

Scope of this document is the usage of the program.
Please read the build manual for instructions how to build the
software and (if needed) it´s dependencies.

Audience: Fun Divers, Tec Divers, Professional Divers


1. Introduction:

Subsurface was started because of a lack of viable dive log software
on Linux. It turns out that the resulting software was easily ported
to Windows and Mac, but it clearly is a native Linux program first.
Right now, the program is under development and from version 1.1 it is
already very usable for divers with supported dive-computers.

In this manual the Suunto Viper will be used for all examples.


2. Requirements

Before you are able to import information from your divecomputer into
Subsurface, you need some preparation. Do you have the following:

        1. Your Divecomputer - Compatible with libdivecomputer (see list in Appendix A)
        2. Communication interface - Cable to connect your divecomputer to your PC/Laptop/Netbook
        3. Working installation of Subsurface
        4. If needed, the manual of your divecomputer


3. Start using the program:

When you start the program for the first time, it shows no information
at all. This is because the program does not automatically load the
already available dive-log files.

There is a menu, containing 'File', 'Log', 'Filter' and Help.

The screen is devided in 3 area's:

        Area with 3 tabs: Dive Notes, Equipment, Info & Stats
        Area next to the 3 tabs, which will contain the dive profile
        Area with the dives (usually called dive list), which can be sorted by number, date, etc.


4. Import new dives

Before you start fiddeling around with your divecomputer, note that
there are divecomputers that consume more power when they are in the
PC-Communication mode. This could drain your battery. Therefor, ensure
if your computer is recharging when connecting to the USB port. The
Suunto Viper does not recharge trough the USB connection. Please
consult the manual of your divecomputer if you are unsure if it will
be recharged when connected to the USB port.

Now it is time to hook up your divecomputer to your Linux system:

    Make sure that your OS has the required drivers installed

         On Linux this means you need to have the correct kernel
         module loaded. Most distributions will do this automatically
         for you.

         On Windows, the OS should offer to download the correct
         driver when you connect to the USB port.

         On a Mac you at times have to manually hunt for the correct
         driver. For example the correct driver for the Mares Puck
         devices can be found as Mac_OSX_VCP_Driver.zip at
         http://www.silabs.com/support/pages/support.aspx?ProductFamily=USB+Bridges

    Connect your interface cable to a free USB port

    Put your divecomputer into PC Communication mode. (For Suunto Viper, press Mode - 1 Memory - 3 TR-PC)
        (You should consult the manual of your specific divecomputer for your brand and type)

    Go in Subsurface to 'File - Import'
        Within the popup, under Dive computer, choose your brand and type. Here we choose Suunto Vyper.
        Change the devicename under which your interface is connected.
               On Linux, default is /dev/ttyUSB0
               On Windows, default is COM3
               On Mac, default is ... specific to the dive computer

        Click the 'OK' button.

    Now watch how your data is retrieved from your divecomputer!
    Depending on your type of computer and/or number of dives, this
    could take some time. Please be patient.


5. Viewing and completing your logs

When all data from your divecomputer is transferred, you will see a
listing of your dives in Area 3.

An example:

On Sunday Oct 23, 2011 you made a dive.
In the log line of this dive, you see the following information:

    #:          12                              Dive number
    Date:       Sun, Oct 23, 2011 10:50         Date and time of your dive
    *:                                          Your rating (none at this time)
    m:          12.8                            Your maximum depth in meters
    min:        31:20                           Your dive-time in minutes and seconds
    Deg. C:     13.0                            Lowest water temperature during your dive
    Cyl:                                        Your used cylinder (none at this time)
    O2%:        air                             What type of mixture
    SAC:                                        SAC (none at this time)
    Location:                                   Where you performed your dive (empty)

    As you can see, some information is already there because it is
    retrieved from your divecomputer. Some information is waiting for
    you to be added. By double clicking on this dive, you can view and
    complete the log.


6. Edit the dive info

When you double click on the dive log line, the editor window
opens. Now you can add information that is missing. Let start with
completing the example:

You double clicked on dive #12, as described in 5. Viewing and
completing your logs.  The Dive Info window pops up and you will see
the following:

    Location:    An input where you can enter your new location, or you can choose with the pull-down previous locations
    Dive Master: An input where you can enter the name of your Dive Master, or you can choose with the pull-down a previous name
    Buddy:       An input where you can enter het name of you Buddy, or you can choose with the pull-down a previous name
    Rating:      A pull-down where you can rate your dive.
    Notes:       A free input where you can enter information about your dive. What you've seen, etc.

In this example we use the following information:

    Location:           Oostvoornse Meer
    Dive Master:        S. de Vries
    Buddy:              S. de Vries
    Rating:             3 stars
    Notes:              First dive here. Good visibility. Did see the concrete poles, some crab and fish. Very nice and easy dive.
                        Made movie with 'headcam'.

Now don't press ok yet!


7. Edit equipment info

You also want to edit your Cylinder information. And in the previous
chapter, this was not edited. There is still another item to edit in
the Dive Info screen:

    Cylinder:    A double-click fieldset. Here you can edit your Cylinder information

So, when you double click on the cylinder info, you get another
popup. This popup gives you the following:

    Cylinder:   Pull-down where you can choose your Cylinder, or add your own
    Size:       The volume if not 'filled'
    Pressure:   The maximum pressure of this Cylinder
    Optional:
                Start Pressure: What was the pressure starting the dive
                End Pressure:   What was the pressure ending the dive
                Nitrox:         What was the percentage of blend

Now we are going to enter the data:

    Cylinder:   15.0 l
    Size:       15.0
    Pressure:   220

    Now tick the option for Start & End pressure

    Start Pressure:     180
    End Pressure:       60
    Press Ok

Now your dive information for this dive is complete. You can now press
ok in the Dive Info screen and view the results.


8. Adding equipment info

In Area with the 3 tabs there is the tab Equipment. With this tab, you
can add Cylinders.  We are going to add an additional Cylinder:

        In the main screen, click on the Equipment tab. This shows your Cylinder you added in 7.
        Now press the Add button and the Cylinder popup comes back.
        Just like you added your Cylinder information in 7. Edit equipment info, you add your cylinder
        information for the second Cylinder. Fill in all the information about this Cylinder and press OK.


9. View info & Stats

After adding all the information, you can use the tab Info &
Stats. This tab will provide you with all the (statistical and
calculated) information regarding your dive.

The information contains:

   Dive Info:

        Date:           Date and time of your dive
        Dive Time:      Duration of your dive
        Surf Intv:      Interval between previous dive and this dive
        Max Depth:      Maximum depth of this dive
        Avg Depth:      The average depth of this dive
        Water Temp:     Lowest temperature of the water
        SAC:            The amount of Surface Air Consumption liters per minute
        OTU:            The Oxygen Toxicity Units of this dive
        O2/He:          Amount of Oxygen/Helium
        Gas Used:       The total volume of gas used during this dive

   Statistics:

        Total time:     Total time of all your dives together, calculated
        Avg Time:       The average divetime of your dives, calculated
        Max Depth:      The maximum depth of all your dives
        Avg Depth:      The average depth of all your dives, calculated
        Max SAC:        Highest of Surface Air Consumption of all your dives
        Min SAC:        Lowest of Surface Air Consumption of all your dives
        Avg SAC:        Average Surface Air Consuption of all your dives, calculated


10. Setting up preferences

Subsurface has the ability to modify the preferences you want. By
using menu 'File - Preferences' you will be presented a popup with the
'Units'. You are free to choose what is your preference, with other
words, use Metric or Imperial.

You can set the following options:
        Depth:          Your diving depth in Meters or Feet
        Pressure:       The pressure of your tank(s) in Bar/Ato or PSI (Pressure Square Inch)
        Volume:         The volume of your tank(s) in Liter or CuFt (Cubic Feet) (At sea-level pressure)
        Temperature:    The temperature of the water in Celcius or Fahrenheit

In the main screen, you did see in Area 3, some information. In the
Columns options, you can enable/disable options you would like to show
there:
        Show Temp:      Shows the temperature of your dive
        Show Cyl:       Shows the cylinder(s) of your dive
        Show O2%:       Shows the O2% of your dive
        Show SAC:       Shows the SAC of your dive (Surface Air Consumption)
        Show OTU:       Shows the OTU of your dive (Oxygen Toxicity Units)

And, you can change the font usage of the program.

I will give an example here:

I am a diver in The Netherlands, using the Metric System. Therefor, I
go to the menu File, choose Preferences here. In the Units section, I
use the folowing:

        Depth:          Meter
        Pressure:       Bar
        Volume:         Liter
        Temperature:    Celcius

I would like to see the:
                        Temperature
                        Show Cyl
                        Show O2%
                        Show SAC

As a beginning diver, I don't need to track my OTUs. So I leave this
one not enabled.

Clicking OK on the dialog stores these settings.


11. How to find the Device Name

When you connect your divecomputer by using an USB connector, most of the
time, the default of ´/dev/ttyUSB0' should work. But if you have other
Serial to USB devices, this can be different because '/dev/ttyUSB0' is
already in use.

One of the ways to find out what your dive name is:

        Disconnect your usb cable of your dive computer
        Open a terminal
        Type the command: 'dmesg' and press enter
        Plug in your usb cable of your divecomputer
        Type the command: 'dmesg' and press enter

Within your terminal you should see a message similair to this one:

        usb 2-1.1: new full speed USB device number 14 using ehci_hcd
        usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial
        USB Serial support registered for generic
        usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial_generic
        usbserial: USB Serial Driver core
        USB Serial support registered for FTDI USB Serial Device
        ftdi_sio 2-1.1:1.0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter detected
        usb 2-1.1: Detected FT232BM
        usb 2-1.1: Number of endpoints 2
        usb 2-1.1: Endpoint 1 MaxPacketSize 64
        usb 2-1.1: Endpoint 2 MaxPacketSize 64
        usb 2-1.1: Setting MaxPacketSize 64
        usb 2-1.1: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB3
        usbcore: registered new interface driver ftdi_sio
        ftdi_sio: v1.6.0:USB FTDI Serial Converters Driver

You see that in the third line from the bottom, the usb adapter is
detected and is connected to 'ttyUSB3'. Now you use this information in
the import settings as '/dev/ttyUSB3'. Your divecomputer interface is
connected and you should be able to import your dives.


Appendix A

The use of libdivecomputer provides the support for divecomputers. Within
the list of computers in the 'File - import' menu, you will see a listing
of divecomputers. This list is covering a compatible set. Please check
your users manual to check if your computer will be supported.

   Supported divecomputers:

        Atomics:
                Cobalt
        Cressi:
                Edi
        Mares:
                Icon HD
                Nemo
                Puck
        Oceanic:
                Veo250
                VT Pro
        OSTC: *
                DR5
                2N
        Reefnet:
                Sensus
                Sensus Pro
                Sensus Ultra
        Suunto:
                D9
                Eon
                Solution
                Viper
                Viper Air
        Uwatec:
                Aladin
                Memo Mouse
                Smart
        Zeagle:
                N2iTiON 3

* OSTC computers are listed in the pull-down menu as OSTC. All 3 types are supported.