auto route finder

[aztec]

hello again, i'm here in my normal capacity of tight arse. on my computer iv'e got a copy of microsoft auto route express, it will only alow me to calculate distance over land (which will almost certainly damage my gelcoat!)

does any one out there know of a similar program that will allow me to calculate routes and measure distance etc, or is this what a GPS does? (i'm gonna regret asking that!)

i don't want to spend a fortune, but just wondered if any one uses a simmilar system. or can explain to me how the navigation software works, where to get it etc. i'm only going to use it for boating locally.

regards,steve.

interested in stuff that needs mendin'

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.amos/index.html

 

[steve_cronin]

PC Plotter

i keep a demo of this on my office PC as an alternative to playing Solitaire, FlightSim & Hearts at lunchtime!

They'll send you a demo disk if you contact them

support@pcplotter.demon.co.uk

or 01703 663960

Steve Cronin

 

[sailbadthesinner]

how accurate do you want to be
are u after generic distances or gen info

Autoroute 2001 has lat and long feature in it and a measuring tool that will show distance over water
whther you can plot a route form lat and long I am not surei just use the hand tool to rough calc a route distance to see how feasible it is
i can get long lat waypoints but i have never relied upon these. the last time i did pre prepare using autrote the way points were ok when checked against the chart
but still i dinnae trust them to just put into gps and set off.

...It was like that when i found it!

 

[aztec]

ok, i'll go and have another play, i did'ne know you could do that.

cheers,steve.

interested in stuff that needs mendin'

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.amos/index.html

 

[aztec]

Re: PC Plotter

cheers steve, sent email. worth a look.


interested in stuff that needs mendin'

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.amos/index.html

 

[lyc]

Download Ozi Explorer http://www.oziexplorer.com/ scan your charts into ozi and you can plot, add waypoints to your gps, measure distances, add routes and much more including uploading and downloading from your gps.

 

[alex_rogers]

Probably not too useful for local boating but Visual Passage Planner although aimed at ocean passages, does have quite a detailed scale chart.

It is pretty good for planning coastal or channel cruising, and excellent for dreaming about ocean passages - costs about £100 though.

Have a look at : www.digwave.com

 

[aztec]

hi, i had a look at ozi explorer, but i'm not sure how to scan maps so that the're the right scale. but then i only tried OS maps. are marine maps in a special scale/format?

interested in stuff that needs mendin'

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.amos/index.html

 

[aztec]

ooooh! that stings!!.. nah, i just want a toy on my 'puter that allows me to "boat" when i'm stuck in 'ere, and to plan my voyages of discovery, if only to frigten myself with the amount of petrol the old girl uses!

cheers for the thought tho', regards,steve.

interested in stuff that needs mendin'

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.amos/index.html

 

[lyc]

Scan the charts and stitch together using panavue or I use photoimpact.
When you first open a chart in ozi-explorer you calibrate to the chart datum and with 4 points on the chart giving the positions. Ozi will then work out all the positions and distances for you.

 

[steveh]

try Memory-Map software - http://www.memory-map.co.uk/software.htm - there is a free demo. I use it on my Handheld - works very well.

 

[LadyInBed]

Encarta World Atlas will do sort of a job.
It will give you Lat/Long and has a distance measuring tool.
Though I am a bit dubious about the accuracy of the Lat/Long when compaired to a chart / Almanac.

God - I wish it would stop raining!

 

[aztec]

never thought of that.. i'll give it a go, thanks.

ahh say what you like.... what's done is done!

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.amos/index.html

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: Encarta

use Kilometers and x by 0.5396 for Nmiles.

God - I wish it would stop raining!

 

[MapisM]

Good question indeed, because...

...if you are looking for a navigation software with a real "auto route-like" functionality, then none of those mentioned here (nor the others I'm aware of) can provide that.
I mean, you can outline straight routes, link waypoints to create more complex routes, calculate distances and time, etc.
But I'd expect from a good program to be also able to create automatically a route from say Korinthos to Naxos, defining automatically the shorter way to get around those islands in between.
OK, someone could argue that this would take some pleasure out from boating, and I would agree to some extent. Also, the weather conditions can influence the decision regarding the route.
But such functionality would be useful anyway, if used with some good sense.
Did anyone hear about programs doing that?

 

[Boatman]

Garmin, do some software on a CD even gives basic lights on most major world locations, don't know what it's like for the UK but I thinks its about £30 maybe worth a look, I use it for longer passage planning.

 

[Guest]

You can use the measuring tool (ctrl-e) which will allow you to measure straight lines accross land and sea.