GPS RIP

[DownWest]

Yes. Mobile phones are too fussy, too needy, too fragile for me. Touch screens are bad enough on dry land, cant pick the thing up without entering the dark web or phoning someone in Iceland.

Found anything interesting on the dark web? Not brave enuf meself.

My Garmin 72 is still quite happy and connected to a Yeoman, as I like paper.
Local friend, a DCA organiser, has asked London Chartplotters for a kit, but, so far, no contact?

 

[doug748]

The guy who runs London Chartplotters posts on here now and again. I think he is having problems, perhaps health related, and wants to sell the business. The details may be on his site somewhere.

 

[lustyd]

I do recall transferring waypoints donkey's years ago but it's old tech so no chance now with USB ports......AI tells me I would need an interface card or serial converter. Don't think I will bother at this stage, I am over the initial shock of grief and disbelief.

Garmin support their devices for literally decades, you'd be surprised. You would need the right cable, but their software almost certainly still supports it.

 

[lustyd]

Still can’t see the benefit over a modern phone. Battery life lasts a day and easily recharged via any USB source (and carry battery booster when might be needed).
As noted earlier, got all charts and detailed OS maps for a wide area downloaded on the phone, so also used on water and ashore.
Can keep a record of track using multiple apps, including Memory Map.
Also acts as camera to take photos and messaging as needed.

AA batteries are globally ubiquitous and you could very easily store enough for a month on board in a small box. Phones can absolutely be recharged if you have power, but in a grab bag a dry bag full of AAs is a much better solution.
Yes, charts and maps are the same on both, although many phones will require occasional connection and licence checking (not all, but it is something to check).
The format and connection to get the files from a Garmin have not changed in decades. Memory Map didn't exist when I bought my GPSMap 62 and it's been through many changes since launch. Export and access to the data often changes with apps while a simple GPX file is portable accross all platforms and convertable to any format. It's open and can be read with Notepad. Zero lock in and zero subscriptions.

We also have phones on board with cameras, charts etc. but they don't do what the handheld GPS does. We use Navionics for most of our navigation, and the GPSMap would be an absolute last resort for that purpose. They aren't really comparable in any way.

 

[The Q]

But your phone GPS also works without any phone signal. Have used mine mid Atlantic.
And can download charts or maps as needed. I have the entire UKHO set of UK & Ireland charts permanently on the phone (£25) as well as OS 1:25,000 for walking (another £25, though the latter needs the relevant area downloaded pre walk).

Not all phones have GPS.

 

[dunedin]

Not all phones have GPS.

You would have to try really hard to buy a phone without GPS nowadays.

 

[Boathook]

The guy who runs London Chartplotters posts on here now and again. I think he is having problems, perhaps health related, and wants to sell the business. The details may be on his site somewhere.

Doesn't sound good Londonchartplotters

A great shame, as an alternative from the main stream.

 

[MoodySabre]

I have 2 Garmin 76's

Sadly, both with ever increasing dimness. Old friends now.

I don't use a chartplotter. They were the first handheld that had some sort of elementary sea mapping.

The thought of manually creating something like 100 waypoints in a new handheld makes me plod along regardless.

I have a Garmin 72 that got dim. Thanks to someone here I obtained a brand new front with a clear screen. It’s as good as new now. It may be the same cover.

 

[MoodySabre]

I have a Garmin 72 that got dim. Thanks to someone here I obtained a brand new front with a clear screen. It’s as good as new now. It may be the same cover.

Here it was. Garmin GPS 72 72h persönlicher Navigator Seefischerei GPS Front abdeckung Reparatur teil Ersatz zubehör - AliExpress 21

 

[sigma38dave]

You would have to try really hard to buy a phone without GPS nowadays.

Yes but some of us like 25 year old devices!

 

[lustyd]

Yes but some of us like 25 year old devices!

The trouble is 25 year old phones will cease to work as older services are switched off. Thankfully 2g has a stay of execution thanks to emergency services use so phone calls will work for a few more years even if Internet won’t.

 

[Skik op reis]

We use (two) of these GPS, just for spare. Originally we bought them for hiking.
Great device. You can buy used ons for little money nowadays.

 

[sigma38dave]

The trouble is 25 year old phones will cease to work as older services are switched off. Thankfully 2g has a stay of execution thanks to emergency services use so phone calls will work for a few more years even if Internet won’t.

That’s interesting, unsurprisingly I do have a modern phone but do prefer the rugged simplicity of the old school hand held GPS.

Mine is starting to show its age, all those waypoints have been navigated to and confirmed as correct, losing them would be a PITA!

 

[lustyd]

The thing that kills old GPS is GPS rollover. Garmin still issue firmware updates for old devices so not an issue.
Get (or borrow/make) the cable, use basecamp or mapsource to export the waypoints.

 

[sigma38dave]

The thing that kills old GPS is GPS rollover. Garmin still issue firmware updates for old devices so not an issue.
Get (or borrow/make) the cable, use basecamp or mapsource to export the waypoints.

I’ve never done anything with mine and think I could lay my hands on the cable. Might have a look at that.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

Here it was. Garmin GPS 72 72h persönlicher Navigator Seefischerei GPS Front abdeckung Reparatur teil Ersatz zubehör - AliExpress 21

You're a star.
Thanks.

 

[doug748]

You're a star.
Thanks.

If you would like my old 76 you are welcome, just PM me your address. The screen seemed un faded till it went blank.......might be useful.

 

[ylop]

Doesn't sound good Londonchartplotters

A great shame, as an alternative from the main stream.

That is a shame, difficult to try and fight against the big names with zero marketing budget. IMHO (as a happy customer) he didn’t really understand his value proposition - he thinks “his” plotter software is a selling point whereas I tried it once, thought it felt last century and installed Navionics. His selling point was a trustworthy source of reconditioned waterproof tablets with daylight viewable screens.

 

[dunedin]

That is a shame, difficult to try and fight against the big names with zero marketing budget. IMHO (as a happy customer) he didn’t really understand his value proposition - he thinks “his” plotter software is a selling point whereas I tried it once, thought it felt last century and installed Navionics. His selling point was a trustworthy source of reconditioned waterproof tablets with daylight viewable screens.

Shame the London Chart Plotters wind up is due to health reasons. Best wishes for the owner.
But I have never understood what their proposition / value was. You can get brand new tablets for so little money why buy second hand.
And he claims can clear £40k nett annual profit from just 25 hours a week, so about £40 an hour. Must be a lot of markup on the old kit?

 

[lustyd]

Simple, charge organisations for WEEE certificates to remove tablets then charge customers to buy them. Profit + profit = bigger profit.