Electronic Cartography

[colin_jones]

We are just starting the research leading to an in-depth look at the 3 forms of cartography used in chart plotters - C-Map, Garmin (Bluechart) Navionics - to show how they do the same things differently.

If anybody who has used any of the above would like to share their experience, or observations I (and certainly others) would like to read them, either here, or as a PM to me - especially if you would like to contribute an editorial gobbet.

We have done this twice before (Tides & PDAs) and were very pleased with the quality of the response, the debate and with the guys who eventually wrote
editorial 'boxes' to add to our own tests and usage experience.

There is a lot of collective wisdom out there, just asking to be shared and making us all a bit wiser and safer for the doing.

My PM is either here or via colinj@colvicwatson.co.uk

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[mikesharp]

I see from today's newspapers that the Grey Funnel line (RN) is starting to replace Admiralty paper charts with electronic thingies on some of their boats. Bang goes my best excuse for not going electronic.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I have navionics charts on my Geonav plotter.

95% happy in all aspects, but ..

Cannot find tide diamonds if they exist
And you don't have the side notes on the charts like the paper un's.

Otherwise, seamless technoligy that appears and has for me worked very well, for instance, I got up the river at Waterford in Southern Ireland in pitch black, I would not have done this without my plotter and as must be said Navionics chart.

Can't comment on the others though.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Top Cat Homepage</A>

 

[Guest]

Post a request on the group ...

GPS Navigator .....

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

You will find we use literally all versions out there, as there are now over 750 members worldwide and also Manufacturers and Software producers / sellers ....



<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
So WHAT does the EU really stand for ????/forums/images/icons/cool.gif

 

[Talbot]

You will need to consider the Admiralty product as well, as it is due out this year (?boat show) even though it is still a raster product. I use CMap in a plotter and am very satisfied with both the software and the hardware Vector is definetely the way to go - much better and clearer.

Are you aware of <A target="_blank" HREF=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/</A> as this is a more appropriate place for your questions.

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[Gunfleet]

<<as this is a more appropriate place for your questions. >> I'm sure you didn't mean that the way it sounds. Colin is a charming chap and well known magazine contributor... I think he's entitled to post questions here as much as anyone else!

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[BrendanS]

Colin,

I presume this has been kicked off by the thread on the subject late last year, where forumites were discussing how different units calculated when they transferred a route after passing a waypoint, and how that calculation was derived.

If so, I'd rather not duplicate that discussion, as it was quite detailed

More than happy to give comments on Garmin BlueChart in a 176c. What do you need?

<hr width=100% size=1>There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family."

 

[Guest]

GPS Group

As moderator of the group .... I would like to say that we do not want to be looked at as a replacement for this or any other forum .... I apprecaite the post that says .... more appropriate place etc. but feel that was an error in wording ...

Complimentary to the forum may be a better way to put it !!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
So WHAT does the EU really stand for ????/forums/images/icons/cool.gif

 

[Talbot]

was meant to be a helpful suggestion not a reprimand. This is a perfectly good place for his question, just thought the other might give him more response!

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[Gunfleet]

I know. It was just a wording thing. I pointed it out (politely I hope) because it came over a bit frosty.

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[beneteau_305_553]

C-Map updates cost £30 a time and with Uk charts being updated monthly its either expensive or your own updated paper charts are the only ones that can be relied upon.



<hr width=100% size=1>Richard

 

[colin_jones]

Brendan

It would be a mistake to enshrine the forums with that amount of importance. There is a life beyond them.

In 1999, we did an analysis of the then 2 extant electronic cartography systems and received a vast amount of excellent feedback, including some from the suppliers themselves, with whom we have been in regular contact ever since.

We knew that Navionics Gold was on the way and that Bluechart was developing, so decided to have another look when we had some hands on experience of all of them. The suppliers have agreed the sense of this and it has been very interesting to do.

We are blessed with 3 (maybe 4) excellent cartography systems, but they have their individual ways of doing some things and, as we all navigate slightly differently, it would be useful to know about these idiosyncracies before buying.

We have a deal of experience of plotter navigation, but nobody knows everything about everything so it would be good to share the findings from the forum's many experienced cruisers.

I am not a very regular forumite, so missed the thread to which you refer. My searches using a variety of keywords including 'show all user's posts' gave my supercharged PC acute indigestion.

If anybody can point me in the right direction, I should be very grateful.

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[colin_jones]

Brendan

It would be a mistake to enshrine the forums with that amount of importance. There is a life beyond them.

In 1999, we did an analysis of the then 2 extant electronic cartography systems and recceived a vast amount of excellent feedback, including some from the suppliers themselves, with whom we have been in regular contact ever since.

We knew that Navionics Gold was on the way and that Bluechart was developing, so decided to have another look when we had some hands on experience of all of them. The suppliers have agreed the sense of this and it has been very interesting to do.

We are blessed with 3 (maybe 4) excellent cartography systems, but they have their individual ways of doing some things and, as we all navigate slightly differently, it would be useful to know about these idiosyncracies.

We have a deal of experience of plotter navigation, but nobody knows everything about everything so it would be good to share the findings from the forum's many experienced cruisers.

I am not a very regular forumite, so missed the thread to which you refer. My searches using a variety of keywords including 'show all user's posts' gave my supercharged PC acute indigestion.

If anybody can point me in the right direction, I should be very grateful.

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[colin_jones]

Sorry about the double posting.

It seems that the supercharged PC is much faster than the operator's brain

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[BrendanS]

Colin,
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=mby&Number=414283&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>here</A>

As you can see, Kim was going to suggest to various people some testing for an article, hence my assumption that your request was related

<hr width=100% size=1>There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family."

 

[colin_jones]

Found it. Thanks Brendan.

Different topic from our current venture, but interesting

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