Laptop Interface

[Nick_Pam]

All
I wonder if anyone can help me...
I have recently bought a yacht which has a Raymarine radar/plotter combination interfaced to a screen in the cockpit (non HSB2). I think it uses the GPS mounted at the nav-table (not sure yet as haven't followed the wiring!). My thoughts are that it would be far more fun to be able to do my passage planning at the nav-table (or even at home in the armchair!!), rather than having to sit in the cockpit to do it, and then interface my laptop to the above and upload the waypoints etc.
Laptop software is the Navtech one that comes on the disk with the electronic charts
Grateful for any assistance/thoughts
Nick & Pam

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[pandroid]

If the plotter is the Pathfinder type which uses C-Map, you cant copy the charts so the only way of getting them onto another screen is HSB2 (to another Raymarine Unit or Raychart Navigator on a PC) or via the C-Map PlannerNT box where you can plug in the little cartridges. You can then transfer the waypoints either by wiring the PC to the plotter or via a C-Map user card.

None of this is particularly inexpensive

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[Nick_Pam]

Thanks for that - I think the challenge is that the display is probably about 4 years old and doesn't have HSB2.
I had wondered if I could upload the waypoints to the GPS (full function fixed one at the nav-table) and then pull them down from the GPS to the plotter somehow...
Ah well - back to the drawing board!!
Nick&Pam

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[pandroid]

I may have misunderstood you. Its usually possible to connect the PC to the GPS and upload waypoints. The wiring and interface varies according to the make and model of the GPS. Programs on the PC can vary between the very simple (i.e. Excel) to the posh (e.g. Navmaster). There are a variety of solutions (inc Freeware) depending on how much you want to spend. The cost racks up if you want to show charts on the PC.

Some plotters do pick up waypoints from an external GPS. My Raymarine ST50 and RL70CRC setup will track to a waypoint entered into either the Radar, or into the (Garmin) GPS.

If you PM me with the exact setup you've got (Make and Models) I may be able to give some more specific advice.


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[Chris_Rayner]

You may be able to upgrade your radar/plotter to HSB2 standard. This also gives you MARPA capabilities if you wire in a gyrocompass which might help you out in a foggy fix. I think it also improves handling of CMAP NT+ charts, but I'm not so sure about that.

I upgraded mine last year for between £100 and £200, sorry, can't remember how much. Seemed like a good buy at the time. If all you're after is passage planning and up/downloading waypoints then I recommend the CMAP NT PC Planner software and reader. I think this is about £130-£140. With a user cartridge you can bring your charts home and look at them on your PC, place waypoints, and save them to the user cartridge for use on the boat. Much cheaper than the Raychart software etc, which works out about £1200 plus cost of laptop, which needs to be quite a powerful one.

Chris Rayner

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[Anonymous]

I have a Pathfinder R80 which as far as I am aware has not been upgraded to HSB2 and I would like to use PC Planner. The wiring details on the C-Map website don't agree with the wiring details shown in the Raytheon manual so I am nervous of following them (could blow the laptop as well as the R80). The R80 has two slots for C-Map cards but the manual does not make any reference to 'user cards' implying only that you could install two map cartridges at the same time. The local dealer isn't very clued-up presumably because this is a product that has been recently phased out. Can you or anyone else help, or steer me towards a forum, for example, where I might get help? Many thanks.

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[Guest]

GPS Navigator group

I started a group sometime ago particular to GPS and related matters ... it has now grwon to be about 1000 members around the world and includes Chart Plotter Software Companys and authors, GPS companys and users of just about all systems currently and past available.

Follow the link at my signature at bottom and join ..... post any question you like about this and any other navigation / GPS matter - there will be a response from someone ....... you can even ask the Maptech / Seapro / Seaclear etc. etc. people direct ....


<hr width=100% size=1>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
Posts personal opinions and maybe controversial

 

[Anonymous]

Re: GPS Navigator group

I've been a member for ages but forgot all about it! Have now posted there. Thanks.

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