Laptop Chartplotter

[robstracey]

I have just bought a new laptop, and a GPS antenna, and i want to rig it up as a sort of mini ECDIS, what is the best software to buy?

Also, i have no inverter on board, is it worth fitting one to to create a 240v supply, or should i get a car power supply lead for the laptop, which will drain my batteries less?

 

[cnh]

Choice of software often depends on what charts you're going to use. SeaPro covers most options, but I must say I do find it slow and cumbersome as a program.

 

[ThereAndBack]

I bought a power adaptor from eBay for about £12 (I think). It came with a variety of laptop power connections and it has a variable output setting (up to 24v, I think). It runs my laptop well without the inefficiency of converting 12v to 240v and then back to 16v.

I would tell you the make but I can't remember and it is on the boat.

Alan

 

[Sheff]

There are several 12V power adaptors around for laptops, I bought mine from Maplins.

Check that it can supply the voltage for your laptop but also the max. amp requirement............ should give it on info plate under the laptop.

 

[Strathglass]

have a Gateway laptop bought from Tesco for £299.

The voltage and current requirements as on the mains charging adaptor (19V at 65W) .
With this info it was very easy to select the correct power of 12volt adaptor. I got it from ebay - not expensive.

For the software I have been very fortunate. I have just won an RYA chartplotter disk from ST. It will certainly do for the next year. There seems to be about 100 charts on the disk.

Iain