Laptop Chart Software

[hamishb]

Has anyone tried any of the navigation software available for PC's. I must admit that I would prefer to have a plotter but I recon that I could hook up my laptop to my GPS for a fraction of the cost. This would only be good for chart table work but this would be an acceptable compromise to save on cost ....... as long as it works as good as the plotters. User friendliness would clearly not be so good but the display would be much larger than any chart plotter could offer.
I have seen software packages from around £80 . Has anyone any experience of any of them ?
Titles / Comments / Where to get / Cost etc ?

Many thanks,
Hamish

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[bendyone]

Use Seaclear software, free off the net with your own scanned charts. Its as good as any expensive programs and the charts can be added to whenever.
There is a link to download at www.benjafield.net
It will take NMEA inputs and output to autopilot as well as infor from log and depth.

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[david_bagshaw]

Been a user of oziexplorer for a number of years see http://www.euroboating.net/yachtman/ymlinks/links.html

and <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.euroboating.net/yachtman/voyages4.html>http://www.euroboating.net/yachtman/voyages4.html</A> for some of the other things bar normal navigation that can be done with the track data.

<hr width=100% size=1>David
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.euroboating.net>http://www.euroboating.net</A>

 

[Birdseye]

most pc software works as least as well as the plotters i have seen, and the user friendliness is better - mainly because the user is accustomed to pc's and windows.

there seem to be lots of pirated software and charts about. suggest you ask your friends - that way at least you can try it before (if) you decide to pay up

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[claymore]

I use Dolphin Maritime software with ARCS charts. Wonderful.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[BrendanS]

Suggest you sign up to <A target="_blank" HREF=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/</A>

They have trialled all the software, and some of the software authors post there. SeaClear seems to be a favourit

<hr width=100% size=1>For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of life, please press three

 

[oldgit]

I used Transas T99.Purchased at the LBS last year.The system came with 6 charts.
I used a an old very early P2 laptop and it is plenty fast enough to run software.
This was used with s/h Garmin etrex(75.00) and interface lead from Maplin(28.00).So total cost was about 200 pounds (exc laptop).
Looked at all other commercial systems,most will send you free trial CD if you ask.
Now you may be some sort of computor genius,but i am not, so all this so called freeware available on the net proved impossible for me to get to work and as for scanning all your old paper charts and then getting them to align correctly........................Well maybe your name is Bill Gates.
Spend the money on any of the ready-to -go systems and just use it.
You not be disappointed.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[Talbot]

One of the main advantages of the plotter is that you can site it near the helm, thus pilotage in confined waters becomes a dodle. The other big advantages are that it draws significantly less power and is considerably more rugged than a laptop. However the larger display of the laptop makes planning considerably easier, and the software to enable that is more available for PC based applications. The software that is available falls into 2 camps, those that have costs up front and are available for most chart types, and those that are free but locked into specific charts, - which of course is where they make their money (e.g. maptech) I would recommend that you decide what type of charts you want to use and then check on what software is available for it. I use C-Map and recommend it.

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[poter]

Yup,
I'm inclined to agree with Oldgit, I have actually scanned charts & believe me it aint easy.
Unless you have a masters degree in computers or a very friendly CHEAP computer store locally ..... forget it.

I personally use the Maptech marine software with maptech digital charts, which also have tidal height & stream data.

The beauty of the maptech charts are that they are standard raster charts BSB format & are compatible with most of the leading well know software systems such as Maxsea etc.

I have no problems with hooking up my GPS and using & old Dell laptop, you can do all the normal navigation software processes such as plotting routes on & off water planning, zoom on the charts, and auto scale up to the next chart etc etc.

I did quite a bit of investigation re cost/functionality/ & 'keep it simple' & for £90 including a complete chart area(I have the west country charts from Portland to the Isles of Scilly) & the software it is a good buy, also their support both local & on the web are excellent.

If you go here
http://www.maptech.com/support/downloads/index.cfm
they have a demo, I don’t know how good it is but at least you can see the product, I use the ‘Offshore Navigator Lite’


poter


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[Talbot]

Maptech demo is very good (20mb) (It is the same software that they provide with their charts), but they suffer from the same problem as all raster charts. see a demo using vector charts and you will see what I mean. These can be viewed at http://www.chartwork.com/ and they also sell a marine PC. I believe this is the best system for a PC solution.

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[MainlySteam]

SeaClear II (free), for example, will use BSB raster charts so there is no need to have to scan charts because one uses "freeware". Also, for some parts of the world (but not UK of course) scans of the official charts are free from the publishers without restriction.

John

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[Guest]

GPS Nav group .....

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

Join in and get help from users and also the people that sell / write the stuff !!!! We are a self-help free to join group started up by similar to yourself - wanting to know what to use and how !!

Case in point - Seaclear ......... excellent package and FREEWARE ......... author is member.

Seapro - wide-ranging chart type capability but expensive !!

Maptech - limited scope on chart type

Maxsea - similar to Seapro with wide chart possibility, but again not cheap.

What do I use ? Seaclear ! I like PC nav /plotter better than dedicated plotter as it has far more functions and capability than the average plotter ......... I site my machine just inside cabin way so that I can see the screen when helming .... you can zoom in / out etc. Get a optical radio mouse and you're laughing ...... mouse out on the seat by you, PC just inside cabin .....

There are also remote screens available that receive signal by cable or radio ...... so limits are up to you .....



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

hmm that def seems easier than i thought.
Further advantage of Transas(and others )is that that if needing a further chart,can use mobile and credit card to get instant chart access with quick phone call.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[AlanPound]

Maptech charts are (IMHO) as good as any. My gut feeling is that the Maptech Nav s/w is produced simply so you can use the Maptech charts (that you bought) for free.

I have used PC Nav software a fair bit - mainly Maxsea and OziExplorer, but also Seaclear - all good products. Also, I am something of a PC 'geek' in my work.

But despite my geekiness, I prefer a dedicated chart-plotter under the spray-hood (near the autopilot as much as next to the helm!). Why? Well, for normal purposes, I am happy to punch waypoints into my text-only GPS, and to read distance, bearing and cross-track in the cockpit, whilst slipping down to the Nav station to make the odd mark on the chart (which needs to be done anyway) - the Yeoman has a lot to commend it in this sense.

If in a more pressed situation (bad weather, fog, close on the hard stuff), I want an 'instant' appraisal of my position from on deck - I don't want to be running below all the time (and neither does my stomach) - I want my eyes, ears and hands on deck as much as possible,and there is no really satisfactory (or practical) way of getting a totally reliable PC display where I need it (and my geekiness tells me not to trust Windoze).

...For these conditions (on deck) even a little Garmin 176C is a godsend (although as always - bigger is better). I'm happy with either Garmin Bluecharts or CMap in a plotter - they are both good (albeit very different).

...For fog, it is tough to beat a Radar though!

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[Guest]

Remote display

Somebody has to come up with a sensible, economic remote display for the pc ..... there are variations on the 'in-car' entertainment jobs available on eBay etc. and they look pretty good. BUT are they able to wothsatnd the weather aspect.
A dedicated screen possibly borrowed from a 'broken' plotter may be the answer - then you have best of both worlds !


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

Re: Remote display

Sorry I disagree. The best thing about the plotter is the ability tyo be able to control it from the helm position. If you are using a remote display, and weather proof ones are being developed, then you still have the problem of control, scale change etc. There is a further problem in that the pc route is quite power hungry - now if you have more power available than you know what to do with - you are lucky. For me, I prefer the use of a laptop for route planning and an emergency plotter, and have my trusty Navman 5500 located by my helm as the main plotter. I agree with the previous thread that a radar is an invaluable aid in fog and poor visibility conditions.

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[Guest]

Re: Remote display

Radio optical mouse .... that gives control

Power ..... not this 'tosh' again (forgive the pun!) Againa I'll repeat that only real power is when the battery is being charged from a discharged state - otherwise its low needs ..... take out the battery pack, connect 12v direct via ammeter and see what I mean ...... The quoted power on the mains adaptor is max load and rarely ever gets near ..... it is NOT waht actually goes across the pc board - if it did then you would very soon have a 'fire' ....

I don't say that a plotter is not a good idea - in fact I agree that they are wonderful and useful items that can sit at helm position and do a good job. But what I don't agree with is the stuff put out that knocks PC based nav etc.

They both have their place and advantages.

But when comparing leave out the false details and errors.

Sorry to be blunt but its time to leave the office and go home !!!! so my answer is to the point !!

Oh by the way ...... my Maxdata quoted at 20V & 3A / 60W ..... has run fine for a weekend via inverter without engine charging the battery - domestic 100 AHr . It still started the engine when I forgot to change to the starter battery ...... Time on was about 30 hrs ......... so if you are right - my dom battery should have been near dead ????? Oh and it charged my mobile phone, ran the stereo on the sat evening for a couple of hours.


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

If anyone wants to try demos of the various charting programs available we have them available on a free CDROM. Just email your address to demo@marinercomputers.co.uk for a free copy.
Martin
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.marinercomputers.co.uk>http://www.marinercomputers.co.uk</A>

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[Guest]

Free Demos ....

Good for Mariner .... nice to see it ......

but Seaclear is free for a fully working upfront prgram !

http://www.sping.com/seaclear/



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

Re: Free Demos ....

Nigel,

Following your positive views about Seaclear, I have just downloaded it for a 'play' whilst in the office, ie with no GPS connected.

I must be fick or somefink, because I can't find any smaller scale charts than the whole of N Europe so I can't see the IOW, let alone our home marina.

Is there some form of Help facility, somewhere?

<hr width=100% size=1>People who think they know it all are very annoying to those of us that do.