L/top charts/inverter

[newboater]

Which simple charts shall I buy to use on my L/top for use on south coast from say Poole to Penzance? and does anyone know where to buy road maps for France and Spain to use on my Ltop? and lastly which inverter shall I buy to use with my Ltop? (it is ok to be used with 12v) Prices will be helpful.A lot to ask but thanks if you can help.sorry some of this is not nautical.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I have a modified sine wave inverter for my laptop, which for general running of the laptop works fine, but if I wish to use the laptop with HF radio to recieve navtex or weatherfax it is way too noisy, I am not sure about full sinewave inverters but they are far more expensive anyhow.

This is not personal to icwales and his invertors but at the prices he is shipping they can only be modified sine wave and therefore inpracticable if you wish to use for the above purpose.

I have just ordered a DC-DC switched convertor supply from <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.eurobatteries.com/sitepages/power-adaptors.asp>Eurobatteries.com</A> to give me the 18v I require, hopefully it will not create the noise problem I have found thus far.

hope this helps

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue> Julian </font color=blue>

 

[HenryB]

Although I agree with Jools about the problems of using a cheap inverter while running an HF radio, I find them OK to charge the laptop then use it off its own battery while receiving weather faxes or whatever. As to your road map query - Microsoft's Autoroute product covers the whole of Europe (and a bit more) and doesn't cost a lot if you look out for one of their bargain packages.
I don't have too much experience of charts for a laptop although I have seen the CMap charts and they have excellent coverage of the south coast.


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[Guest]

Join our Yahoo group - GPS Nav...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

Join our growing band of like minded computer navigators and charters ..... we have over 140 members now, all dedicated to helping, advising etc.

Your question about South coast UK ..... well thats easy .... !!

As to inverter - I paid 49.99 for a 150W inverter and it runs my notebook all day AND charges my phone / video at the same time !!!! If I was to buy again .... I would go up a little on wattage to minimum 200, but then again my 'cheapie' 150W job does it !!!

Road maps ..... I'll see what I can do !!!


Join up and we'll get you well on the road !!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Heckler]

i agree

bought a cheap 350 watt (59 quid) invertor, runs my laptop HP ok, also runs colour tele, also oziexplorer is good nav prog not least cause you can scan in your own maps and geo reference them.
stu

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[poggy]

Hi,

I bought a 150W inverter from a company called TLC for £22.20 + VAT and it works very well with laptop, TV etc. It is capable of higher surge outputs and is a basic inverter (not modified sine wave). Most laptops have a well filtered and capable switch mode PSU, so it should be OK for most applications. Not sure about inteference on Navtex etc.

Their website is www.tlc-direct.co.uk

I use them all the time for electrical supplies for home and boat as the prices are very good. I have no connection with them other than as a customer.


Poggy


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[Oldhand]

Maptech ChartPack BACD01 covers Weymouth to the Scillies but if you want Poole you will need BACD16 as well. The latter covers Portland to Selsey including the Solent in detail. Maptech are the cheapest at list price of £99.95 inc. VAT list but can be obtained for less. You will have to use Maptech's own software or MaxSea to have compatible chart plotting software.

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[tr7v8]

Being a skin flint Ozi explorer seems a good buy especially as it's virtually free!
Also can use old cast off laptop that comes for virtually nothing and can be regarded as disposable.

<hr width=100% size=1>Jim

Draco 2500

 

[Guest]

one of the biggest problems

is the cost of gear and then paying for chart packages ..... I accept that nothing in life is free and I also accept that we choose our hobby !!

But when Seaclear is freeware, Ozi-Explorer is Shareware, Win GPS is shareware ....... with various other versions free, etc. etc. ..... accepting various formats of charts ---- scanned from paper, screen-dumped from graphic displays, Maptech, BSB, etc. - it surprises me that payment of 'lrage sums' of money are made for comercial packages with little more advantage really. OK there are those that integrate Tidal range into the package - but Her Majesty's HO has put paid to that one by restricting all UK tidal info. to registered and paid users ....... no longer are there tidal freebies out there !!!

Having spent a long time trying to sort this out for myself - I decided that others may have same problem and we ought to help each other ...... GPS Nav group on Yahoo was born.

It has done what it was intended to do, it still continues to do so and it will stay on line till boats are dried out and gone !!!

I was amazed when I started looking through what is available, how much etc. but its not necessary .....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Guest]

Comparison ....

Full commercial package on a ship ....

My notebook with Seaclear

I stood on the bridge while inspecting the ship and compared my freeware system and scanned charts to a full commercial package costing more than the computer I was using ..... The ships officer and master were with me and they commented that Seaclear dipslayed better and admittedly had fewer facilities - but was preferable to the commercial package they had ...... except for the lack of auto update on charts etc. that they were privileged to enjoy via e-mail etc.

I was surprised ... and prior to my present work - I was a ships navigator for 17 hrs.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !