Chart plotter, DSC VHF and AIS set up - advice please

[captmikecoin]

Thank you all for the replies. As Playtime said, the thread seems to be caught in overfalls and is drifting rapidly off course!

. Where can I get the CM93 charts from? I've googled it, and there seem to be some on torrent sites, but it all looks a bit iffy. Are there any above board ways of obtaining them, or can any forum members share the file with me?


!

Take a look here http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f117/cm93-download-77905.html#post1198289

It's not the latest version but may be enough to give you an idea. I am given to understand that the 2011 version is better for Europe.

Cheers,

Mike

 

[MILLPOND]

Thanks Mike, will give it a go.

 

[Playtime]

Thanks Mike, will give it a go.

From the thread that Mike pointed to it looks like the CM93 charts are actually legal and that no-one will be coming after you if you use them. There are several sites from which you can download them as .rar (ZIP) files.

Make sure with OpenCPN that you download the plug-ins of interest and I urge you to read (and carefully follow) the Manual to get the best out of the software. Once you get it running I'm sure you will agree that it is a great piece of (free!) software.

If you do get stuck there are lots of users on this site who will help. Also, the CruiserForum site is worth monitoring for new developments and releases.

Maybe the radar overlay will be released sometime this year and then you can replace your ageing Furuno with a shiny new 4G scanner (and still have money in your pocket that you didn't spend on a C120 or equivalent)!

Best of luck (and give us some feedback when you are up and running!).

 

[testmonkey]

I have had a think about hardware and I have an old laptop with a large screen which is quite good in daylight, so will try and resurrect that.

What works well for some is to mount the laptop in wheelhouse ceiling, upside down with the display hanging down, then use software to have the display show the right way up. This frees up space to also keep a paper chart. A small wireless bluetooth keyboard and ideally a trackball instead of a mouse to use the laptop. One option for laptop is to search ebay for used used Panasonic Toughbooks, an old one will do just fine for running OpenCPN on linux. They come as waterproof, mil-grade, and with sunlight readable display.