A not very techy needs advice

[JumbleDuck]

Does anyone use MX Mariner? I've used it for several years a d it seems to do every thing I need. Cheap as chips and can be used on several devices at once. I keep it running on my Android phone and two tablets. (Belt and braces bloke).
I can't get it to incorporate AIS and it doesn't do inland Nederlands but excellent value.

I use it and find it excellent. Simple, reliable and very, very cheap. I've played with OpenCPN but it seems like a typical open source project, suitable only for hobbyists who are willing to put in time overcoming its gaping deficiencies. Square that for OpenCPN on a Raspberry Pi, which is truly the masochism tango.

 

[JohnGC]

I use it and find it excellent. Simple, reliable and very, very cheap. I've played with OpenCPN but it seems like a typical open source project, suitable only for hobbyists who are willing to put in time overcoming its gaping deficiencies. Square that for OpenCPN on a Raspberry Pi, which is truly the masochism tango.

If by "gaping deficencies" you're referring to the hardware platform, then I can see your point. But in terms of its software it seems rather good to me. I run it on rugged, touch screen, Windows PC with daylight screen. It's fitted by the helm and works very well.

But I admit to being an electronics and software geek. ?

John

 

[JumbleDuck]

If by "gaping deficencies" you're referring to the hardware platform, then I can see your point. But in terms of its software it seems rather good to me. I run it on rugged, touch screen, Windows PC with daylight screen. It's fitted by the helm and works very well.

But I admit to being an electronics and software geek. ��

It's more the hoops through which one has to jump to do things which deters me - in particular, using UKHO charts. I'm a Linux user myself, which may make things worse.

 

[JohnGC]

It's more the hoops through which one has to jump to do things which deters me - in particular, using UKHO charts. I'm a Linux user myself, which may make things worse.

That pritty much sums up my experience of Linux. The OS and a couple of mainstream apps are fine. Everything else is is hard work, incomplete or simply not available.

Notable exception is the software running on my domain provider's server.

 

[JumbleDuck]

That pritty much sums up my experience of Linux. The OS and a couple of mainstream apps are fine. Everything else is is hard work, incomplete or simply not available.

Yup. Luckily I have working solutions to almost everything I need to do, but my beloved employers have just changed VPN system and I foresee weeks of fiddling ahead.

 

[ShinyShoe]

It's more the hoops through which one has to jump to do things which deters me - in particular, using UKHO charts. I'm a Linux user myself, which may make things worse.

If you've not done it since there was a legal way ... It is much simpler now.

That pritty much sums up my experience of Linux. The OS and a couple of mainstream apps are fine. Everything else is is hard work, incomplete or simply not available.

Notable exception is the software running on my domain provider's server.

It very much depends what you want to do.

You can download open plotter pre installed into a Linux distro to drop straight into a sd card and bobs your mum's brother ..

 

[JohnGC]

If you've not done it since there was a legal way ... It is much simpler now.



It very much depends what you want to do.

You can download open plotter pre installed into a Linux distro to drop straight into a sd card and bobs your mum's brother ..

There are no suitable software tools for Linux or ios for my work. Lots of choice for Windows. That makes me familiar and comfortable with Windows and I have no urge to change. But I realise Linux can be good, routers, smart TVs etc. Just not my cup of tea.

 

[ShinyShoe]

There are very few things with no tools, although there are some. I could provide situations where Linux can do things windows can't.

However for an onboard computer you aren't usually trying to do a load of IT work while navigating. You may need to work in the marina, for me that's a different bit of kit if I need it.

 

[steveeasy]

Hopefully a useful piece of advice. Don't remove that Garmon 128. They are brilliant and will still be working long after a new chartploþtterhart or tablet has given up.

I've a modern up to date chartplotter while it promises a lot it's not doing it for me. It recently gave up after a short 16 months. The trusty 128 fired up an got me everywhere I wanted to get too. So in my opinion chartplotter and electric charts are my secondary source of information .

Steveeasy

 

[JumbleDuck]

If you've not done it since there was a legal way ... It is much simpler now.

Well, sort of. It appear to mean a USB stick, and installs limited to a few devices which may or may not be the USB stick and it's not at all clear if you can stop using it on one device to start using it on another and ... all just too much of a hassle for me. MXMariner does everything I want, easily and cheaper.

You can download open plotter pre installed into a Linux distro to drop straight into a sd card and bobs your mum's brother ..

That would in theory get round the "undocumented dependencies" of which the OpenCPN developers are so fond (everyone else manages to put dependencies in the package file) but still leaves the hassle of charts. All theoretical anyway, as we completely failed to get openplotter to boot on either of the household Pis.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Hopefully a useful piece of advice. Don't remove that Garmon 128. They are brilliant and will still be working long after a new chartploþtterhart or tablet has given up.

I have kept hold of mine. I also carry a GPS72, which runs for a couple of days on two AAs, found its position this summer after a year in the cupboard in under a minute and has shown no issues with the date rollover whatsoever.

 

[JohnGC]

I wanted to edit that not delete it. B.... R!

Is this forum running on Linux ?

 

[JohnGC]

What I was trying to say....

Linux issues aside; the hoops are required for UKHO, SHOM and other organisations' copyright protection and licensing.

I found the oeSENC licence handling to be simple on both my Windows OpenCPN plotters. The dongle wasn't available when I purchased. Visit My Harbour worked on Windows OpenCPN and Android MX, but I found the instructions much more difficult to follow.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3LKhBjHKegXmWRUn9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VoWaAJ4TrUEEyW7GA

 

[JumbleDuck]

Linux issues aside; the hoops are required for UKHO, SHOM and other organisations' copyright protection and licensing.

Indeed, but I can jump through them without even noticing they are they for MXMariner. It's only OpenCPN which requires me to go to a dodgy-looking Spanish website in accordance with impenetrable terms and conditions and hand across money without any clear indication of what I can and can't do with the charts as a result. Even VMH is less obscure, and that's saying something.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I wanted to edit that not delete it. B.... R!

Is this forum running on Linux ��

The server is nginx, which is available for Windows but is most likely to be running on *nix. The bug which deletes any post you try to edit ona tablet, and which I am guessing bit you, has been around for months. Nobody cares.

 

[JohnGC]

The server is nginx, which is available for Windows but is most likely to be running on *nix. The bug which deletes any post you try to edit ona tablet, and which I am guessing bit you, has been around for months. Nobody cares.

I don't think I can really blame the software, much as I'd like to.

 

[JohnGC]

Indeed, but I can jump through them without even noticing they are they for MXMariner. It's only OpenCPN which requires me to go to a dodgy-looking Spanish website in accordance with impenetrable terms and conditions and hand across money without any clear indication of what I can and can't do with the charts as a result. Even VMH is less obscure, and that's saying something.

That wasn't my experience.

MX on Android was more difficult due to poor instructions. Not that it was very difficult.

oeSENC seemed straight forward to me. My impression of their website is that it was put together in a hurry rather than being dodgy.
I would have been cheesed off if I'd lost my 30 something euros, but it wasn't a big risk. In practice it's been fine.

I see your point, but for this issue I guess I'm less risk averse than you. Liquid nitrogen would be a different matter!

 

[JumbleDuck]

I don't think I can really blame the software, much as I'd like to.

Fair enough. Just don't try editing posts on a tablet ...

oeSENC seemed straight forward to me. My impression of their website is that it was put together in a hurry rather than being dodgy.
I would have been cheesed off if I'd lost my 30 something euros, but it wasn't a big risk. In practice it's been fine.

I have been assured that it's legit, hence "dodgy-looking" rather than "dodgy". I'm still put off by the impenetrable T&Cs.

I see your point, but for this issue I guess I'm less risk averse than you. Liquid nitrogen would be a different matter!

I love liquid nitrogen. Liquid helium is fun too, but you can't rally slosh it around by the bucketful.

 

[[3889]]

I've asked this before and I'll ask it again with the certainty of being boring. Why do peeps prefer ipads / tablets to phones? Yes, a big display but at the cost of portability and one handed use. To try and simulate a plotter at the helm by putting a tablet in a plastic bag makes things worse. I have a 10" tablet and never, ever use it to navigate.
Plus 2 or 3 or whatever for the Garmin 128. I have its successor, the 158 and much prefer the numbers to a picture for nav.

 

[ShinyShoe]

I wanted to edit that not delete it. B.... R!

Is this forum running on Linux ?

Well yes but that really annoying bug is in code that runs on PHP which would be the same on a windows web server.

Indeed, but I can jump through them without even noticing they are they for MXMariner. It's only OpenCPN which requires me to go to a dodgy-looking Spanish website in accordance with impenetrable terms and conditions and hand across money without any clear indication of what I can and can't do with the charts as a result. Even VMH is less obscure, and that's saying something.

What have you not found. You can install them on two devices.

The bug which deletes any post you try to edit ona tablet, and which I am guessing bit you, has been around for months. Nobody cares.

Well I care. I think you mean the forum owner doesn't. In reality even they might, but the solution requires a full version update and I suspect that breaks other things!

I've asked this before and I'll ask it again with the certainty of being boring. Why do peeps prefer ipads / tablets to phones? Yes, a big display but at the cost of portability and one handed use. To try and simulate a plotter at the helm by putting a tablet in a plastic bag makes things worse. I have a 10" tablet and never, ever use it to navigate.
Plus 2 or 3 or whatever for the Garmin 128. I have its successor, the 158 and much prefer the numbers to a picture for nav.

Does it not depend how you navigate.

If you set WPT001 and steer a course to it then you don't need a map. If you want a map with AIS, perhaps "free wheeling" a bit because you haven't set a WPT you might want a map. Add point and click WPT setting etc.

You can set a WPT and a course to Steer can be shown in text as big as a 128 screen if you want alongside a map. No risk of transcription errors.

Share data with pc and tablet etc. Or run a VNC screen from the pC down below