Chart Navigator Pro USB, NASA AIS, Garmin 72

Amulet

Amulet

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I currently use Offshore Navigator. I am contemplating moving to Chart Navigator Pro. A major motivation is to get AIS data into the program.

My budget is limited, and there are constraints on the configuration.

I have a laptop (viao running xp) connected to a Garmin 72 on the Garmin protocol. Preference for Garmin over NMEA as I can transfer routes to the 72 giving me GPS navigation even if the computer fails. The connection is via an RS232 to USB converter.

The AIS engine I can afford is the NASA one, which also delivers its output to RS232. Another converter?

My laptop has only 2 USB ports. One of them is in use for a trackball mouse. Thus, the configuration available to me requires a USB hub to create an axtra port.

Anticipated setup:

-Chart Navigator Pro on Vaio under XP.

-USB hub with two RS232 to USB converters connecting to a Garmin GPS72 (Garmin protocol) and a NASA AIS engine (NMEA). Other USB port for mouse.

Can I expect this to work? I don't want ot buy the software and all the other kit only to find it can't be rendered functional.

Any advice appreciated.
 
Amulet said:
I currently use Offshore Navigator. I am contemplating moving to Chart Navigator Pro. A major motivation is to get AIS data into the program.

My budget is limited, and there are constraints on the configuration.

I have a laptop (viao running xp) connected to a Garmin 72 on the Garmin protocol. Preference for Garmin over NMEA as I can transfer routes to the 72 giving me GPS navigation even if the computer fails. The connection is via an RS232 to USB converter.

The AIS engine I can afford is the NASA one, which also delivers its output to RS232. Another converter?

My laptop has only 2 USB ports. One of them is in use for a trackball mouse. Thus, the configuration available to me requires a USB hub to create an axtra port.

Anticipated setup:

-Chart Navigator Pro on Vaio under XP.

-USB hub with two RS232 to USB converters connecting to a Garmin GPS72 (Garmin protocol) and a NASA AIS engine (NMEA). Other USB port for mouse.

Can I expect this to work? I don't want ot buy the software and all the other kit only to find it can't be rendered functional.

Any advice appreciated.
Click to expand...

Cant see any reason why not. My system will be along the same lines but a lot more complicated.

ElectronicLayoutFullCircleV2.jpg
 
Amulet said:
. . . . My laptop has only 2 USB ports. One of them is in use for a trackball mouse. Thus, the configuration available to me requires a USB hub to create an axtra port. . . . . .
Click to expand...

You can always utilise the spare PCMCIA Card slot and purchase at Dual USB Card which will fit into this spare slot.

See this one from PCWorld:

http://www.pcworld.com/shopping/detail/prtprdid,415278-sortby,retailer/pricing.html

See review by JohnHK in the above link for this product:

Reviewed by: JonHK

Updated:09-20-08

Duration of ownership:2 Months

Strengths: Good price point, a snap to install, works very well

Weaknesses: None detected so far...

Overall Evaluation: I use my laptop aboard my boat as a navigation computer, and all of my existing USB ports were being used by a weather receiver, a GPS receiver and the multiplexer. So when I upgraded the navigation software and the new version required a USB key, I had no USB port to use for access. I installed the USB 2.0 PCMCIA 2-Port Card and plugged the navigation program key into one of the ports; the computer immediately recognized the key, and the navigation program and all of my hardware peripherals now work flawlessly. I would recommend this card to anyone looking to increase the USB connectivity of a laptop...it works as advertised!
 
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Amulet said:
USB hub with two RS232 to USB converters connecting to a Garmin GPS72 (Garmin protocol) and a NASA AIS engine (NMEA). Other USB port for mouse.

Can I expect this to work? I don't want ot buy the software and all the other kit only to find it can't be rendered functional.
Click to expand...

As FC says, that sounds like a sensible arrangement that should work. The PC Card USB adapter is a good alternative to a powered hub too.

Expect to pay around 95.00 for the NASA AIS Engine at the moment.
 
CNPro

Amulet said:
I currently use Offshore Navigator. I am contemplating moving to Chart Navigator Pro. A major motivation is to get AIS data into the program.

My budget is limited, and there are constraints on the configuration.

I have a laptop (viao running xp) connected to a Garmin 72 on the Garmin protocol. Preference for Garmin over NMEA as I can transfer routes to the 72 giving me GPS navigation even if the computer fails. The connection is via an RS232 to USB converter.

The AIS engine I can afford is the NASA one, which also delivers its output to RS232. Another converter?

My laptop has only 2 USB ports. One of them is in use for a trackball mouse. Thus, the configuration available to me requires a USB hub to create an axtra port.

Anticipated setup:

-Chart Navigator Pro on Vaio under XP.

-USB hub with two RS232 to USB converters connecting to a Garmin GPS72 (Garmin protocol) and a NASA AIS engine (NMEA). Other USB port for mouse.

Can I expect this to work? I don't want ot buy the software and all the other kit only to find it can't be rendered functional.

Any advice appreciated.
Click to expand...

I would advise against purchasing Chart navigator Pro at this time.
The company previously called Maptech in the US, has been broken up and sold off.
For instance their mapping arm is now called KPM marine, and the last charts they sold me had to have a load of bugfixes to make them work in CNP particularly the tides and currents. The rights to CNP and OSN are owned by a different small company.
Whole situation is a mess.
However, Chart navigator Pro was never owned by Maptech just licesnsed out to them by Rose Point navigation who are the US company who wrote it first and still market it in the US under the Title Coastal explorer. Rose Point have recently upgraded Coastal Explorer to a 2009 version with a significant number of improvements. An upgrade to CNP users in the states to Coastal explorer 2009 is available to US users of CNP only for 99 dollars, but not yet for UK and European users and I am trying to find out why this is.
Its seems that Rose Point want to distance themseleves from the Maptech Debacle and discontinue licensing of the product.
Mike Evans at Evo Distribution (memory map) Maptech'sUK distributors,does his best and is extremely helpful but it is unlikely that there will be any upgrades for CNP to come.

It is a great program..I love it..but annoying gaps are appearing in the program such as the downloadable weather from Coastal explorer.net stops at the Meridian, leaving Eastern UK users and the rest of Europe without weather overlays. Sure, you can download a grib file from another source but these do not have such detailed data as the built in weather.

My advice would be to go directly to the states to buy Coastal Explorer 2009 from Rose Point navigation where there will be continuing support and uprades. It is basically the same program.

You will have no problems with NASA AIS on CE/CNP and it runs well under XP. The system you propose is pefectly pheasable.

www.rosepointnav.com

Hope this helps with your decision.
 
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Amulet said:
I currently use Offshore Navigator. I am contemplating moving to Chart Navigator Pro. A major motivation is to get AIS data into the program.


Anticipated setup:

-Chart Navigator Pro on Vaio under XP.

-USB hub with two RS232 to USB converters connecting to a Garmin GPS72 (Garmin protocol) and a NASA AIS engine (NMEA). Other USB port for mouse.

Can I expect this to work? I don't want ot buy the software and all the other kit only to find it can't be rendered functional.

Any advice appreciated.
Click to expand...

My advice would be to stick with Offshore Navigator (if it works don't fix it!) and get another programme to read the AIS data.

I use Yacht AIS (http://www.y-tronic.com/english/standard_en.htm) with the NASA Engine and it works fine. I actually prefer presentation of the AIS data in a separate programme/window i.e. not overlaid on a chart. The presentation in Yacht AIS is like a radar screen and the targets are very clearly visible against a white background. Range can be quickly adjusted (without affecting the chart programme) and the usual CPA stuff is all there. The alarm is particularly good!

There is one minor problem using a separate programme for the AIS - you will need 2 GPS ports - one for Offshore Navigator and one for Yacht AIS. This is easily achieved using a programme called Franson GPSGate (http://franson.com/gpsgate/).

Using 3 USBs into the Vaio should be no problem as others have already stated.
 
Nasa AIS

The Nasa AIS engine comes with a RS 232 connection (9pin D) which has a flying lead for the gps input so an extra input port is not needed. Not sure about output though!
 
Playtime said:
My advice would be to stick with Offshore Navigator (if it works don't fix it!) and get another programme to read the AIS data.

I use Yacht AIS (http://www.y-tronic.com/english/standard_en.htm) with the NASA Engine and it works fine. I actually prefer presentation of the AIS data in a separate programme/window i.e. not overlaid on a chart. The presentation in Yacht AIS is like a radar screen and the targets are very clearly visible against a white background. Range can be quickly adjusted (without affecting the chart programme) and the usual CPA stuff is all there. The alarm is particularly good!

There is one minor problem using a separate programme for the AIS - you will need 2 GPS ports - one for Offshore Navigator and one for Yacht AIS. This is easily achieved using a programme called Franson GPSGate (http://franson.com/gpsgate/).

Using 3 USBs into the Vaio should be no problem as others have already stated.
Click to expand...

This program is very expensive I think £79 for the class A non-pro version.
NASA do a very similar AIS plotter for £8 plus vat & p/p from their website.

www.nasamarine.com

The NASA AIS engine has just been upgraded to a mark 3 which includes all class A and B sentences same price as the old one.
Comes supplied with Seaclear and Shiplotter, both of which will accept AIS.
If you have older BSB3 charts with your Offshore navigator Seaclear will read these too, but not the later encypted BSB4's.

I'm afraid that you will probably find the same situation with OSN with lack of support etc.
I have last version 5.08 and there were a lot of fixes to make tides and currents work with the 2009 KPM marine charts (formerly mapetch).
Dont forget also that OSN doesnt have AIS, or weather data overlays plus a host of stuff like guide books etc that CNP/Coastal Explorer has.
IMHO Coastal Explorer your best option..unless you go for something else completely like Maxsea..but a lot more money alas.

PM me if you need any more info on alternatives etc.
 
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steverow said:
This program is very expensive I think £79 for the class A non-pro version.
NASA do a very similar AIS plotter for £8 plus vat & p/p from their website.

www.nasamarine.com
Click to expand...

To be pedantic Yacht AIS is 79 Euro but yes, still a bit pricey (it was less when I bought it 3 years ago). However, it's still a lot cheaper than replacing with a new chartplotter package that will do AIS, and, IMHO, gives much better presentation.

Regarding the NASA AIS software (http://www.nasamarine.com/proddetail.php?prod=30_PC_AIS_software) it is unclear whether this works in 'real time'. I would rather doubt it for the price and the statement "User position can be set manually from GPS" worries me a bit!
 
OpenCPN

You might like to try OpenCPN. Its free just google for the download link.

It seems to read most charts including CM93 and version 1.3.6 displays AIS and Grib file overlays.
 
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