Is it possible to make my laptop into a chart plotter?

[cliffdale]

My RL70 is far too small when using it as a radar and plotter split screen.

Is it possible to buy some technology which will allow me to use the laptop connected to the plotter?
Has anyone done this? does it work well? <font color="black"> </font>

 

[BrendanS]

Most GPS will connect to a laptop, or you can simply buy a cheap USB gps. Then yo simply need chartplotter software on the laptop, of which there are many. Some you buy software charts for, others you can scan in paper charts

 

[Viscount]

See www.oziexplorer.com for PC software that accepts paper charts scanned. Works very well.

 

[david_bagshaw]

[ QUOTE ]
See www.oziexplorer.com for PC software that accepts paper charts scanned. Works very well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Have used ozi for a number of years a good product

another worth looking at is sea clear which is FREE

 

[Talbot]

There are three drawbacks to using a laptop as a plotter. The major one is that it is not waterproof so cannot be by the flybridge. The others are the fragility of a laptop by comparison with the plotter, and the power that it uses - neither are especially important in a mobo.
Some plotters have an output which you could use as the NMEA feed for positions, or you could do what I prefer, which is to have a seperate system completely which provides redundancy and an ability to use it in a car with autoroute - I use a USB/GPS/Mouse which makes connectivity easy and is the cheapest way to add that function.
Charts and plotter software are two parts of the same problem. If your plotter uses C-Map, then you could either use the existing small cartridges into the laptop via a dongle available from C-map, or by joining club-c-map get access to CDs of the same areas you already have plotter cartridges at a reduced fee.
If this is not feasible, then you need to decide what route you want to take, paper charts (i.e. raster) or seemless vector charts (much better IMHO, but more expensive) If the paper chart route, then Seaclear or oziexplorer seem to be the prefered routes. if vector, then you also have a wide choice, but at more cost. Maptech seem to have a large following, but have a reputation of charts that are not as up-to date as c-map in UK waters. If you want more advise then give me a pm.

I have both a laptop system and a plotter

 

[robind]

Also www.Fugawi.com is a good package, down load it free for a month to try it out.
Rob

 

[cliffdale]

The power isnt a problem, for about £20 you can get a small inverter. We always motor in dry conditions so how water proof Dell make thier notebooks is not important.

Thanks for your advice, I will contact you later.

Cliff

 

[steverow]

Like Talbot, I use both a standalone plotter and a Laptop plotter using C-map.
I run the Laptop in the dry on the lower helm, on the flybridge I have a repeater LCD screen, a 10 inch which originally started life as a part of a shop EPOS terminal, and is brighter than a standard LCD. The repeater LCD is connected to the Laptop via a VGA lead to it's Monitor output, and full control is had from the flybridge via a wireless mouse connected to the laptop.
This system works well.
To waterproof the flybridge LCD I have made a cover, canvas at the back and seethrough plastic on the face.
All done for about £150 and gives true dual station plotter functionality.

I prefer the C-map vector charts (I also have the raster based admiralty plotter as a backup), but there is NO comparison in terms of useability..vector wins hands down.
My C-map will accept ARPA and run the autopilot, so I rarely use the standalone plotter, apart from its GPS output.

If you need more info on this set-up PM me.

Steve.

 

[steverow]

Also Known as "Where the Fugawi".

Steve