A not very techy needs advice

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Oletimer

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4 Sep 2018
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Wolverhampton, UK Boat: Gosport
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There's a good chance what I'm asking is already here - somewhere...

Not having used a chart plotter or anything other than paper charts (and in the last year or so helped by my Garmin GPS 128) I have been pondering about getting to grips with some tecky stuff such as Visit My Harbour or/and Open CPN and possibly with AIS - which seems like a really neat piece of kit.
What I need is:
Someone to help me break the ice to enable me to understand how these things work - I mean, how does one set up what to make use of their obvious useful qualities.
What do I need in the way of hardware, software etc.
How does one set up charts to use - someone told me that Google Earth was some part of it - but I can't get to grips with it, I need a helping hand.
Does anyone have the time and patience to teach an old dog a few new tricks?
 
Te easiest solution for a chart plotter, and probably the least cost is to use a low cost tablet. I use an iPAD by Apple, which is expensive, so I will leave the low cost models up to others to advise. The tablet will need a built in GPS chip, or the ability to accept a remote GPS antenna, that you would plug in you the tablet

The tablet will now need navigation software and electronic charts. I would recommend Navionics "Boating Marine and Lakes App" (see link below). The App (short for Application i.e. Software) will be around £40, you would have to select the correct version to download for your tablets operating system. When ordering the App you select your charts.

https://www.navionics.com/gbr/apps/navionics-boating

Others will be along and advise other systems. A full blown chart plotter will cost quite a bit more. I don't use AIS at the moment so will not offer advise on the lowest cost systems or whether they can be integrated into a tablet running Navionics. You can buy stand along AIS devices e.g. NASA AIS SART Plotter, link below at a couple of hundred quid.

https://www.nasamarine.com/product/new-ais-sart-plotter/
 
A tablet may well be the cheapest way in but in the long run is not the best solution for most boats or the way they are used. This might then involve duplication when a dedicated plotter is fitted. If going the plotter route, you may need to decide whether to have a basic plotter or go the whole hog and have a system integrated with instruments, AIS, possibly radio and radar etc, which is clearly more expensive.

Each sailor and boat will have his own needs and perhaps oletimer might benefit from seeing other people's installations in situ and in use. If someone wanted to look at and play with my system I would be very happy for them to do so.
 
Steve davis
londonchartplotters@yahoo.co.uk
Will supply you an inexpensive tablet with charts under £150 possibly
Bigger is better when it comes to display and he is helpful setting it up
Personally I would go IPad (with cellular) with Navionics but your increasing your cost and won’t be able to use AIS if you want AIS ISailor will work
PBO I think did a comparison on various apps a couple of years ago
Also best to have a power source
A chart plotter will do all this and be easier to see in sunlight and usually a smaller screen but for a cost you can go bigger
So I have started with a basic fiesta and ended up with a fully loaded montego!
 
Thank you kind people, I will be back to you shortly, I need to make notes and absorb what has already been offered.
The knowledge level on this forum is mind blowing, I can see my midnight oil is going to take a bashing.

P/S LadyinBed - I have filled in my profile so it should be there for all to peruse, I made it all public.
Thank you.
 
I’ll add to the others about tablet and Navionics as a start - as long as you own a tablet anyway.

I never saw the point in a chart plotter but downloaded Navionics on my iPad 4 years ago and now it sits on the chart table as our main navigation. But as I now look at AIS (not sure why really as we rarely get fog) then a full chart plotter looks a simpler solution.
 
Oletimer, your current level of electronic navigation seems a close match to mine, ie paper charts supplemented by GPS positioning kit.

For decades I've applied a £200 threshold for electronic kit, on the basis that everything eventually gets down to that level, which is when I'll get it.

So when I could get a tablet with Navionics on it for that price, that's what I did. It's good but not great. I use the app mostly just for situational awareness, ie exactly where are we and how are we doing on our current course. But I can't have the display permanently on because it won't recharge fast enough from 12v. And anyway I have another copy of Navionics on my phone, which is in my pocket and much easier to refer to, wherever I am in the boat. So although I might have it on standby, I hardly use the tablet at all.

So I'm thinking I really ought to have something built in which will meet my basic needs. And there are now small fish finder plotters which would do this, close enough to my £200 threshold. But they don't do AIS. The screens are small. And I have to wonder if there's really anything they will do for me that I actually want. Apart from being permanently on and connected to the boat's 12v system.

Then I look at bigger versions which offer AIS integration, and with that and the cost of electronic charts etc it seems you get into 4 figure costs quite quickly. At that level I'd want, but wouldn't yet get Radar as well.

So I'll continue to plod along with what I've got for another season. Maybe get another small folio of paper charts when the one I've got for the area seems a bit old. And pick up a local large scale French chart from time to time. All my library of waypoints and routes in my GPS will remain as useful as they always were.

But I'd be very interested in how you transition into the electronic systems beyond, and how you find it.
 
Oletimer said:
There's a good chance what I'm asking is already here - somewhere...

Not having used a chart plotter or anything other than paper charts (and in the last year or so helped by my Garmin GPS 128) I have been pondering about getting to grips with some tecky stuff such as Visit My Harbour or/and Open CPN and possibly with AIS - which seems like a really neat piece of kit.
What I need is:
Someone to help me break the ice to enable me to understand how these things work - I mean, how does one set up what to make use of their obvious useful qualities.
What do I need in the way of hardware, software etc.
How does one set up charts to use - someone told me that Google Earth was some part of it - but I can't get to grips with it, I need a helping hand.
Does anyone have the time and patience to teach an old dog a few new tricks?
Click to expand...

Can't see your location. Where are you based?

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Hi I use a Computer base station at nav staion , any old laptop or desktop will do (space an issues for larger computers ) I connect this with a HDMI cable to a 24inch monitor on a swivel arm that then can be put around an angle I need when down below.
I run OPENCPN a free map software that I find very easy to understand and set up I bought the UK charts for £22 pounds which allows for 2 devices to have these charts or a back up copy on a seperate hard drive
I use a HUWAEI tablet 10in as my plotter this has a built in GPS and aslo runs OPENCPN this will cost you £7 from Goolge store for the APP on your Tablet you can download the Maps you have bought (second copy) if you wish
Most modern AIS will fit onto your Main computer via a series port or USB plug and play, make sure your AIS has the ability for USB as this would be the easiest way to connect.
In some cases you would need a wifi router to get your AIS Data to your Tablet I do not use this option as I can see my main Screen down below and If I can't see the Boat why do I need it on my Display (my opinion)
Londoncharttplotters are great for your set up
Ebay for a cheap laptop , second hand tablet , there is no need to spend hundreds on a tablet just a later model that runs more up to date operating systyms
My UK charts are Raster charts digitalised so look like like a paper maps , there are also vector maps that are computersied and layered , each person has their favourites.
GPS unit is also on my main computer a small one which keeps a great signal so again there is no real need to have wires running all the way back to the Pushpit with an anntena bolted outside.
My NAVTEC also goes through the main computer with simply software
OPENCPN also allows google Maps overlay were you can have Google earth and your chart together , it also offers plug and play for most Radar Makers as long as your computer has decent graphics , most semi modern computers will handle this , it also has many little aids to help and you download what you need.

Price
second hand Desk top and screen £200 (decent laptop £100+)
Tablet £110
OPENCPN App £7
UK Maps from Admirality £22

Comparison
2 MFDs 10 inch £2000+ (approx)
Maps £?
GPS anntena £60

Always slight varations on price but a significant saving out there if you look at all the options

Pros of the expensive systym is reall pure plug and play and interaction but may cause issues with different manufactures
Cons of cheaper set up is a little knowledge on getting it set up (how to find apps and comm ports on computer ) not hard
good luck in your search
 
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Stupid photo. To finish

I did not have to do any install just plug the GPS in turned it on and it worked.
Their support is great, so if like me you are just starting the Plotter thing I would recommend them to buy from.
 
Baggywrinkle said:
If you want to have a look at the navionics app before you buy a tablet etc. then it is also available for route planning online here, just follow the link and have a play ...

https://webapp.navionics.com
Click to expand...

I have used (Firefox) the above link perfectly for a long time, but for the last year now i have been unable to get anything except "Error-Your session is no longer valid. Please login again." and a blank page?
 
I have used this before with no problems but now all i ever get is - Error-Your session is no longer valid. Please login again.
 
Many apologies for the delayed reply, I will get round to individual answers over the next day or two, I have a lot to take onboard and in all honesty, I'm not the fastest horse in the race as far as new ideas uptake is concerned. So far I have had a look at the OpenCPN and (surprise, surprise), it doesn't appear to be that difficult to get to grips with.
Does anyone know if a UK set of charts is available under that NOAA free chart system - I couldn't find anything, but I'm sure there must be something somewhere, I mean, Americans do get here by their own boats, don't they?
I haven't done so much new learning since I was in Uni, went to bed last night and couldn't sleep, my head was buzzing with all manor of stuff to do with charts and screens and techy instructions.
I'll be back shortly to both update my experiences and probably seek recommendations to a reasonably priced shrink to unfry my brain.
ATB George
P/S For those asking for my location:
I live in the Midlands and my boat is in Gosport (A bit of a drag to 'nip' down to the boat but Wolves is not very coastal) :ambivalence:
 
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