Internet? Navigation software?

[applepip]

We have sold our house and are in the process of buying a boat.
What software and charts can anyone suggest?
Internet on board?
I'm thinking of doing some freelance writing so the internet would be nice.
We are planning to cruise the Med

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[robind]

Hi!
Try www.fugawi.com (down load a free trial) and vector charts. IMHO

Regards Rob

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rejuvanu.com>RejuVanu</A>

 

[Trintella]

Hi

I have just set up an old laptop (366mhz 128MB ram Win98) with:

1) Maptech Offshore Navigator Lite (with the central south coast chart pack) - Raster charts - so they look the same as your paper charts - its about £100. I ordered it online from Seachest in Plymouth - they were good on advice - I phoned them in the end.

2) Dial up connection via the infra red link to a mobile phone

Provided you turn graphics off in internet explorer and also put some rule in outlook express about not accepting e-mails over a certain size (with a message saying so to the sender) its a workable and cheap solution. You can download the BBC Inshore/ Shipping forecast in a few seconds especially if you select their "text only version" and book mark it. Also the admiralty tides website loads quite quickly - that covers the whole world.

I think you will find that programs using the vector charts are more expensive.

Regards

Giles

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[Soong]

For your internet access, will you be within UK mobile phone range?

Soong

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[davidbains]

Applepip, I've had good results with Maxsea and Mapmedia raster charts.
In the Med there are so many internet cafes, it's probably the simplest
way to spend some time online. You can take a floppy or USB flash memory
to the cafe.


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[applepip]

Thank you all. There is certainly a lot there to explore.
I'm new to this but I shall certainly be using the forum again and shall let you all know how we get on.
Thanks again.
Terry

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[denhams]

For navigation software try 'Navigate' at www.wizworldservices.co.uk/navigate

There's a free trial version.

Regards,

Steve.

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[jonjo]

Re: Warning

I just checked out www.wizworldservices.co.uk/navigate.

The package is based on the use of wire outline charts that can be generated free on the internet. These charts lack any detailed marine features for example the Singles Bank does not show up.



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[Talbot]

if buying an electronic chart system there are two decisions to make. The first is the chart type - vector or raster

Vector is by far the best as there is no distortion through the scales, and it is faster with more detail. Raster is basically a scanned in chart with changes to detail level dependent more on what actuial chart you are on than the scale in use.

IMHO C-Map is the best vector chart system.

Having decided on which chart system to use, you can then look at the navigation programmes that support your chosen system. There are a large number of different programmes all with their own advocates and the best advice is to go to the boat show and look at them all. My personal favourite is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.chartwork.com/html/leisure.html>http://www.chartwork.com/html/leisure.html</A>


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[TonyD]

Try SeaClear plotter and nav software. The software is free. It uses raster charts so you can scan your own paper charts. It comes with suitable software to stitch together A4 size scans to reconstitue the larger charts. Seems to do most of what the expensive packages do.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sping.com/seaclear/index.htm>http://www.sping.com/seaclear/index.htm</A>

Since it costs nothing, its worthwhile looking at. I've not used it in anger yet, but I'm sure there are others on this forum who have and can advise.

TonyD

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[BrendanS]

join <A target="_blank" HREF=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/</A>

originally set up by forumites from here to talk all gps and electronic navigation. they've used seaclear and just about every other package in anger, and have compared them all. Loads of experience (even the authors of the packages turn up to comment) Can give advice on seaclear and all the other major packages. Seaclear had some v good recommendations there

<hr width=100% size=1>Utinam logica falsa tuam philisophiam totam suffodiant

 

[hamish]

Hi

if you are living aboard and crusing all over please look at the use of this software which is for Routeing charts for every month in every sea/ocean of the world.

it is called Visual Passage Planner from digwave, I have version 2 but get free updates from web site. You can download a trial version to see what you think which has information for only 1 month.

www.digware.com

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