Electronic charting for PDAs

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David52

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Afternoon all,

I wander if anyone can point me in the right direction - I recall some moons ago seeing software designed to work on handheld computers (PDAs etc) using the windows pocket operating system. I also remember some nice girl at the boat show showing me some tidal harmonic software on a similar palm top machine.. Has anyone got any, had any and, more usefully to me, know where I might get some?

Any clues gratefully received

Cheers

GB
 
Maptech do Pocket Nav ..... OK

Ozi-Explorer do Ozi-Ex CE .... better.

Fugawi and others do PDA based as well.

There's GPSPalm, GPS Pilot, etc. etc. In fact there are quite a few - but most are derivations or direct Land-based routeing stuff altered.

Biggest problem is the visibility of screen - OK in cabin - but rubbish out in the cockpit in daylight.

Here is my Jornada running Ozi_ex CE with a Solent chart on - app's to Bembridge >

8f17e946.jpg


GPS feed is a standard eTrex. But you can use a CF card GPS in this PDA. But that means you lose CF memory facility.

Here is the set-up where I use eTrex direct via splitter box to PDA ... so PC can take off data as well independently etc. >

pdatogps.jpg


The Win CE PDA's seem to be better served and easier to sort ... but Palms can be set-up.

A good site to look at is :

PDA GPS matters

But honest - I did it and I've relegated it to cabin use only and that's rare.

For the price of software / PDA / cables etc. etc. - You could buy a Lowrance 3500C with chart card for little more .... £450 all in delivered.
 
Thanks for that... I have recently got a PDA with GPS (£99 from PCWorld) for the car and it seemed ideal as a back at the chart table (at which I have a toughbook connected to and etrex!)
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PS since noticed you have been up to Newport recently you will have probably noticed Jopani (sunrider) at Odessa - I sold her a while and bought a bloody great jeaneau - still not sure I did the right thing - more power to the bilge keelers! Good to see you're keeping the group together etc...
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[ QUOTE ]
...For the price of software / PDA / cables etc. etc. - You could buy a Lowrance 3500C with chart card for little more .... £450 all in delivered.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am starting to get passionate about the colour eTrex Legend, it has a marine biased basemap pre-installed and is useable in sunlight. I am taking it out this weekend and will then know more about just how well this 'pocket plotter' performs. But for 200 quid, it is a cheap as some PDA software.

We will be directly comparing it to an XDA with Memory Map's marine charts and a bluetooth GPS. I fully expect the Garmin to win hands down, but then I *would* say that. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Let us know how you get on with the Garmin.

I'm in the market for a new handheld GPS, and one that adds some mild plotter functionality would be a bonus, if it stays small, light and doesn't eat batteries
 
i bought a compaq ipaq shop soiled for a £100, bought a navman sleeve for £90 off ebay, i had maptech on my laptop, bought their pda software for £30. got it all working by downloading charts on to the pda in a 256 mb compactflash card. it works perfectly showing realtime position. instead of a power hungry laptop i can leave it switched on, plugged into the domestic battery, giving me at a glance positioning with v lo power consumption. i also bought belfield tide predictor and they give you a pda version FOC which works perfectly on the ipaq
 
Jopani ... yep saw her on inside berth stuck behind a MOBO ....
 
??? My Etrex Legend colour, which I own for three months now, has a land-based roadmap (highways and a few major roads only) , and not a marine object in sight. I 've checked the the Garmin site, and not a word about a marine basemap. I bought is for its detailed screen and many options. Maybe we're talking about different models? My Magellan Sportrack Marine has a proper marine basemap however.
 
[quote...not a word about a marine basemap. ...

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey Thalassa,

Lets compare models... eTrex Legend C version 2.2. It has a road map down to major A roads and has small towns and large villages.

Once I know if you have the same model I will get hold of Garmin and get their view.
 
I have an old ipag and Navman with Maptech charts and use it in cockpit plug into cig socket no problem except screen is abit small. I also use tide prog Benfield on it useful for quick check, for lock depth.
 
Dear Marty:
on startup; the Thalassa "Etrex Legend C" says:"Recreational routable basemap Atlantic v 2.2".
All major roads are there, towns large and small, major villages; but I've scanned the Schelde area, and the Channel up to Ramsgate, but not a buoy or light vessel in sight, only the Ferry routes.
Also, I've used the Etrex while walking the river's edge... and walked on water! The basemap is very crude indeed. The Magellan Sportrak however has most of the buoys of the river and the Channel in its basemap.
But then, although the Etrex Legend C has "marine options" ( anchor alarm etc) , you never see it listed as a "Marine GPS". Nevertheless, it works well, has a detailed screen, and is pretty fast. However, I doubt its readability in a seaway. As I said, I intend to use it as a backup in the pocket of my wetsuit, as it has excellent battery life.
I suspect your Etrex has been loaded with a Bluechart region, and then, of course, it is indeed a plotter. As I need three unlock codes for my "usual" playground, I would run out of Euro's rather fast...

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Best wishes from Will
 
David52 said:
Thanks for that... I have recently got a PDA with GPS (£99 from PCWorld) for the car and it seemed ideal as a back at the chart table (at which I have a toughbook connected to and etrex!)
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PS since noticed you have been up to Newport recently you will have probably noticed Jopani (sunrider) at Odessa - I sold her a while and bought a bloody great jeaneau - still not sure I did the right thing - more power to the bilge keelers! Good to see you're keeping the group together etc...
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Click to expand...
Hi Dave, I just read this post from way back and don't know if this message will reach you. My wife is the Jo from Jopani, and it would be very interesting to swop information with you. Her parents were the first owners, and it stayed in the family for around 20 years I think. Contact me if you can. Thanks. Ken
 
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