Laptop navigation software

single

single

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I used to use Transas Navigator Pro but its quite old now so what are the good options now days? It would need to work on laptop linked with Magellan 315. Main bits i used to like were clarity,ERBL,Log etc.Something quite easy to use and nice and clear.AIS would also be good.

Just found one of the laptops has open cpn 2.3.1 .Is it any good and how do i update it?
 
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OpenCPN is good and is being actively updated (now at v3.02) with new function, see here. There is also a set of support forums over on CruisersForum.

The main issue for non US yachties is the availability of charts, a diligent Google search will probably throw up a source for CM93 ed2 charts that will work with OCPN. These are worldwide charts, the most recent set I've seen was updated to May 2010 but its aways advisable to use these in conjunction with a recent Pilot or Almanac.
 
single said:
Just updated to 3.0.2.
How do i get it to recognise magellan 315 gps and what should baud rate and nmea settings be?
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Give 4800 a go, never used a magellan but on Garmin you need to make sure the output is set to NMEA. Device Manager should show which comm port it's plugged into. If you click on the "show nmea data window" you can see if anythig is actually coming in.

I´m a big fan of opencpn, does everything you need, V3 was a big advance. the ais is good if you can get that data in there somehow.
 
For the Magellan use: 4800 baud, 8, N,1, checksum off.
According to the manual the baud rate can also be set to 1200, 9600or 19200.

Output is in NMEA 0183 format, version 1.5 or 2.1
 
No idea....all settings seem ok but its not showing me in the Bristol Channel.....its put me off W coast of Africa!!!! There is no indication that its got data from the Magellan either?
 
single said:
No idea....all settings seem ok but its not showing me in the Bristol Channel.....its put me off W coast of Africa!!!! There is no indication that its got data from the Magellan either?
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Is that at N00:00W00:00? That's what Transas defaults to if no GPS detected.

I use Memory Map. The ERBL is rudimentary but overall MM works ok

Nick
 
Seapro lite seems good enough for me.
What sort of interface quirks?
Gave up trying to solder the tiny wires so got a new cable, £2.50 ebay.
 
single said:
Seapro lite seems good enough for me. What sort of interface quirks?...
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My main niggles:
  • Right clicking on the chart activates zoom, rather than a menu. OK once you are used to it.
  • The mouse wheel zooms to fast, so I don't use it.
  • it isn't always obvious that some function is still in progress, but this is down to my eyesight
.

Other than these, it is great.
 
PaulGooch said:
Latest charts i could find are CM93 Jan 2011.

Set the GPS to 4800 and on the GPS setting page in OpenCPN set it to 4800 also.

OpenCPN also has the ability for AIS overlay.
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OpenCPN is excellent and totally free, as well as AIS there is a a Google Earth plug-in that links it to your position on the chart, zoom in on the chart and Google Earth follows so you can get a sea level view of where you are as well in a window to one side of the screen, works great for us on the ICW in the USA, we can get a picture view of bridges as we get to them.. Fortunately Uncle Sam gives us all his electronic charts free in either vector or paper chart formats, but Then like many I do also have a downloaded copy of the CM93s worlwide Jan 2011 for non-USA waters, purely for academic interest you understand since we are USA based and get our charts free and copyright free.
 
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