DIY Chartplotter: OpenPlotter 4 - Why I'm Still Using a Raspberry Pi 4 (Not a 5)? 2026 Tutorial
19 January 2026 · 38 min · 6K views
Freeboard chart plots AIS vessels near Moreton Island
What this video covers
OpenPlotter 4 installation on a Raspberry Pi 4 is walked through step by step, from flashing the SD card to remote configuration via VNC Viewer, with a detailed explanation of why the Pi 4 remains the better choice for marine use over the newer Pi 5. Max, aboard Y2K, compares the two boards directly: the Pi 4 draws 2.7 W at idle and 6–7 W under load running OpenCPN, while the Pi 5 draws 3.5 W idle and 8–12 W under load and requires a 5-amp USB-C PD charger rather than a standard 3-amp phone charger.4:05 Pi 4 pricing runs €65–90 depending on RAM; Pi 5 runs €75–120.7:18 The installation sequence covers downloading the Raspberry Pi Imager from raspberry.com/software, flashing the OpenPlotter Headless image to a quality SD card, connecting to the Pi's default "openplotter" Wi-Fi hotspot (password 12345678, gateway 10.42.0.1), and accessing the desktop remotely using VNC Viewer version 6.21.11.09.16:12 Network setup covers both standalone hotspot mode and integration with an onboard router, including how to find the Pi's assigned IP address, disable the default hotspot for security, and change the default password.22:12 Victron integration is mentioned as a use case for electrical monitoring.1:50 On boats with limited power budgets, the Pi 4's lower consumption outweighs the Pi 5's performance gains.
Boats in this video
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