anderson
Well-Known Member
how can we intergrate electronic chart with a g.p.s.on a lap top with dvd drive.
electronic chart/gps
- Thread starter anderson
- Start date
steverow
Well-Known Member
Can you be a little more specific...do you have any PC chartplotting software for instance??
Steve
Steve
gianenrico
Well-Known Member
Get a GPS module (i.e.: PCMCA card or external box connected with USB), download a navigation SW(free or commercial), download charts (usually at a cost).
Remember GPS aerial has to be mounted outside the boat.
Cheers
Remember GPS aerial has to be mounted outside the boat.
Cheers
Talbot
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Get a GPS module (i.e.: PCMCA card or external box connected with USB), download a navigation SW(free or commercial), download charts (usually at a cost).
Remember GPS aerial has to be mounted outside the boat.
Cheers
[/ QUOTE ]
One way of doing it. There are easier ways
methods depend really on existing equipment and laptop capability.
You need to decide what sort of charts you will be using on the laptop. There are really three alternatives:
scanned images of existing charts
cd of chart data - preferably then loaded to hard drive (uses less power) This may also require you to use a dongle in the usb slot to authorise your use of the charts (dependent on chart software)
cartridge from a stand alone plotter read via the proprietary reader of that manufacturer.
You then need to decide what software to use with the charts - some of these are free - Seaclear being a good example. Others are varying prices and some include other advantages such as ability to display tide and weather dat, and evn be able to use that data to optimise course. I use Maxsea and like it. You need to check that your chosen software also works with your chosen charts.
You then need to be able to provide GPS data to the laptop. Again there are a number of alternatives. If you already have a gps that can provide an external nmea signal, you can use that, but normally these only come with a serial lead. most modern laptops dont have a serial port, just several usb ones. You can use a serial to usb converter, and most of these work fine (note I said most). Newer gps may also have a usb option (e.g. Garmin 76). Another alternative is to buy a stand alone usb/gps/mouse. - this is the cheapest method, and they are sensitive enough on most boats to work inside the cabin (mine does) . you could go the bluetooth route, but I dont recommend it as it uses more power.
Get a GPS module (i.e.: PCMCA card or external box connected with USB), download a navigation SW(free or commercial), download charts (usually at a cost).
Remember GPS aerial has to be mounted outside the boat.
Cheers
[/ QUOTE ]
One way of doing it. There are easier ways
methods depend really on existing equipment and laptop capability.
You need to decide what sort of charts you will be using on the laptop. There are really three alternatives:
scanned images of existing charts
cd of chart data - preferably then loaded to hard drive (uses less power) This may also require you to use a dongle in the usb slot to authorise your use of the charts (dependent on chart software)
cartridge from a stand alone plotter read via the proprietary reader of that manufacturer.
You then need to decide what software to use with the charts - some of these are free - Seaclear being a good example. Others are varying prices and some include other advantages such as ability to display tide and weather dat, and evn be able to use that data to optimise course. I use Maxsea and like it. You need to check that your chosen software also works with your chosen charts.
You then need to be able to provide GPS data to the laptop. Again there are a number of alternatives. If you already have a gps that can provide an external nmea signal, you can use that, but normally these only come with a serial lead. most modern laptops dont have a serial port, just several usb ones. You can use a serial to usb converter, and most of these work fine (note I said most). Newer gps may also have a usb option (e.g. Garmin 76). Another alternative is to buy a stand alone usb/gps/mouse. - this is the cheapest method, and they are sensitive enough on most boats to work inside the cabin (mine does) . you could go the bluetooth route, but I dont recommend it as it uses more power.
flybynight
New Member
Some important considerations regarding electronic charts and charting software. There are two types of electronic charts. Raster charts are based on scanned images of paper charts. ENCs (vector charts) are based on data arrays of the kind of original information which is used to create navigational charts.
Raster charts are easier to create than ENCs, and hence worldwide coverage is better. ENCs are easier to update than raster charts, and are more powerful and versatile for electronic charting purposes, and require far less digital storage space.
Many PC based charting software programs accomodate both types of charts. Some of these are free of charge in available in "demo" or "viewer" configurations, but these free versions typically do not enable the GPS interface.
SeaClear II is free-ware availabe for free download from www.sping.com. It is actually fully functioning PC based charting software with GPS interface. SeaClear uses raster charts, and also user scanned paper charts; it doesn't work with ENCs. SeaClear is actually the charting software of choice for a great many liveaboard world cruisers. The inexpensive and wide availability worldwide of raster charts and scannable paper charts makes them the more important chart type for world cruisers, and so SeaClear's lack of ENC compatability is only a minor negative point. The economy is a big plus.
On the other hand, if you are not sailing on a shoestring like me, purchasing commercial software with a price tag of several hundred US dollars will get you versatility, support, and lots and lots of features, such as AIS.
Distribution systems for electronic charts vary considerable from one country to the next. US is one of the best; in the US, both ENC and raster charts of US waters are available free of charge for digital download from NOAA. See more about that, and video, on my blog site.
Raster charts are easier to create than ENCs, and hence worldwide coverage is better. ENCs are easier to update than raster charts, and are more powerful and versatile for electronic charting purposes, and require far less digital storage space.
Many PC based charting software programs accomodate both types of charts. Some of these are free of charge in available in "demo" or "viewer" configurations, but these free versions typically do not enable the GPS interface.
SeaClear II is free-ware availabe for free download from www.sping.com. It is actually fully functioning PC based charting software with GPS interface. SeaClear uses raster charts, and also user scanned paper charts; it doesn't work with ENCs. SeaClear is actually the charting software of choice for a great many liveaboard world cruisers. The inexpensive and wide availability worldwide of raster charts and scannable paper charts makes them the more important chart type for world cruisers, and so SeaClear's lack of ENC compatability is only a minor negative point. The economy is a big plus.
On the other hand, if you are not sailing on a shoestring like me, purchasing commercial software with a price tag of several hundred US dollars will get you versatility, support, and lots and lots of features, such as AIS.
Distribution systems for electronic charts vary considerable from one country to the next. US is one of the best; in the US, both ENC and raster charts of US waters are available free of charge for digital download from NOAA. See more about that, and video, on my blog site.
qetoo
Well-Known Member
I prefer to copy the chart CD to hard drive. The charts load faster.
I have posted my electronic chart system at:
http://carlten.tripod.com/Navigation/navigation.html
I find the laptop computer very desireable, compared to stand-alone chart plotters. For one thing, you can bring the laptop home for planning purposes. And the laptop computer display is usually much larger than what you get with a GPS with built in plotter.
I have tried three different charting/navigation applications and am currently using Fugawi ENC. The US raster charts are now free for download. I also cruise the Canadian west coast, but those raster charts are still propriatary, meaning you must purchase them on CD. But you can still copy them to the hard drive for faster operation.
I have posted my electronic chart system at:
http://carlten.tripod.com/Navigation/navigation.html
I find the laptop computer very desireable, compared to stand-alone chart plotters. For one thing, you can bring the laptop home for planning purposes. And the laptop computer display is usually much larger than what you get with a GPS with built in plotter.
I have tried three different charting/navigation applications and am currently using Fugawi ENC. The US raster charts are now free for download. I also cruise the Canadian west coast, but those raster charts are still propriatary, meaning you must purchase them on CD. But you can still copy them to the hard drive for faster operation.
Danny
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Fugawi
[/ QUOTE ]...as in "where the fugawi?"? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Fugawi
[/ QUOTE ]...as in "where the fugawi?"? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
