EChart formats and conversion .........

[Guest]

Having trawled the web for ages in search of Format converters - I have now found useful utilities that may be useful to others as well.
My spec - was to convert various charts to Lowrance acceptable format (lcm).

Finally made it - note that other formats to / from are covered - :

For those who have various chart formats in hand and also a Lowrance Chart plotter ..... it is now possible to convert formats .....

Now I am not preaching break copyright - that is something that each individual has to check on and make sure they are within the law.

The guys at geomapping.com have produced a conversion program called "gpsmapedit". This can be downloaded and is shareware. This will take various formats of charts ... incl. Ozi-Explorer map format scans and convert to mp format ( commonly termed Polish format ). I believe it can also convert for other plotter formats - but I'm not so sure - as I was looking for lcm ....

Another Yahoo group - mapcreate - are dedicated to creating maps for Lowrance plotters ... and they have produced a program - mp2lcm - which takes above Polish format mp files and creates the lcm format needed to work in Lowrance plotters.

So if you have charts laying around - you just might be able to use them in your LR plotter now ... or if you follow mapedit - you may be able to sort for your non-Lowrance plotter.

It had to happen sooner or later - so many formats - so many people wanting charts etc. Some whizz-kid would sort it out.

If anyone does experiment - I'm extremely interested in feedback as to what is achieved.... from what format to what etc. What plotters were successful etc.

 

[Danny]

As regards copyright: I'm not sure of the legality but I sooth my consciense by telling myself that, so long as I own the charts, it's up to me how I read them - whether I use my own eyes or my PC's 'eyes' (scanner).

Links to SBC's shareware discoveries:
gpsmapedit
mp2lcm

 

[Guest]

Copyright is a real thorny area - as it seems to depend on which side of the atlantic you are.

Maptech - Over there - as example - say you cannot copy for own use when you own original, and you cannot sell on all the original even if you destroy all copies / anything you have.

Over here EU says you can copy for own use if you have full legal originals and you can also sell on to another as long as all goes to them including licence etc. EU says it's illegal to restrict as "Over there" says.

So it's a minefield - with no-one really wanting to be first to prove or disprove in court as I see it. Except of course dear old UKHO who threaten all about Tides etc.

Please note that above is my own personal interpretation of information gathered over some years while running GOPs Navigator group - where this subject comes up quite often. I do accept that there may be odd errors or misunderstandings .......

 

[Danny]

Wouldn't want those poor lawyers to starve, would we? - or would we?

I'm hoping your interpretation is right because I think that means I'm 'legal' in the EU.

 

[Guest]

I have been stopped with DVD copies at airport by customs ...... question they asked - Do you have the original disks sir ? Answer - Yes at home - these \I use to save damage to the originals. Ok sir no problem - personal use only ........

EU of course.