Laptops & GPS

jimi

jimi

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How do I link my Garmin Chartplotter to my Laptop? The nmea cable out the back of the Chartplotter goes to other things at the moment (like the radar display) and I don't want to upset them. Help!

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Usually one of two ways. Either you can take an NMEA output from the radar or you can simply split the signal coming out of the GPS. I have used the former on my arrangement, GPS goes into the B&G instrument transducers and then out again to the radar. For the alternative option, I have been informed on these pages that most GPS outputs will support three or four other users in parallel.

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Your nmea output cable is the one you want. It will go into some sort of junction box, for onward routing and connection. You must get in there and connect a 9pin rs232 cable. The colour codes for the garmin differ slightly from model to model. On a 128XL, the output is blue (NMEA out) and black (ground), these go to pins 3 and 7 respectively on the 9-pin D-connector.

If you are connecting the NMEA FROM your PC TO the garmin, then you need to connect pin2 to the NMEA IN on the Garmin

If you don't have your garmin manual to hand, go to
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.garmin.com/support/userManual.jsp>http://www.garmin.com/support/userManual.jsp</A>

<hr width=100% size=1>Black Sugar - the sweetest of all<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by DeeGee on 07/11/2003 13:14 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
Why would you want to do that then? The chartplotter does all the nice things you need dunnit? Whereas the laptop is specially designed for smashing, losing on the train, or otherwise disintegrating ready for you to buy another within 12 months, specially in winter when even the taps in a boat go a bit greeby so the laptop is bound to blow up too.

imho

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Valid point! However the chart plotter is various shades of grey whereas the laptop is colour, and I tend to use it in conjunction with paper charts.On the other hand the laptop charts are exactly the same as paper ones (I'll still keep them JIC) and the screen is bigger. I'm really only expecting to use the laptop in pilotage situations.

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See my post in Liveaboards forum, for potential changes to C-Map which help split duties between these two useful tools (plotter and laptop). However if you are a stinkie then please disregard as my main reason for spltting the tasks was an energy budget problem. If you have lots of power and money then a fully ruggedised laptop with waterproof remote display may be a better option.

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Re: shades of grey

Hm. Well, the large light grey thing is the sea, which round the solent is grey anyway. Will the chart being in light blue, with a bit of dark blue, and yellow land make everything better? I wonder?

Or is it that the light grey plastic colour chart plotter doesn't match up to the colourful (also blue, i bet) interior of the boat? in which case the answer is to veneer the chartplotter, and fill in the gaps with some black mastic. NOTE: don't use white mastic as it goes a bit manky, and don't try and match the west african mahogany veneer (which is what you need i think) with brownish mastic cos that won't work either as it won't *quite* match. Black will be fine.

But, I still don't quite understand how to use a colour PC for pilotage either. I mean, you need an actual paper or almanacky chart really doncha? And you'd know where you are what with erm, you know, being there. So you could just look at the things and say aha, that is a green buoy so I will leave it to port oops er starboard er ooh er wait a minute while i recover from work, ah yes, starboard. You wouldn't need a colour plotter (or a colour laptoppy chartplotter) to say wait a minute! I will have to go downstairs to my colour laptop to verify whether it is a green buoy or not! Cos it would be green in real life. And even on a chart, in colour, the buoys have to have "BYB" to show they are black yellow and black or whatever, don't they?

Apart from playing games, the only way to use a PC for pilotage would be to bribe the harbourmaster to give you a nice marina berth for a while (and a pilotage chart) IN EXCHANGE for the laptop.



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This has taken longer than I thought - since May Bank Holiday to be precise - but I knew by the way the little chaps eyes sparkled as he played with mine - that it was just a matter of time.

Use a chocolate box. - that is none technical band speak for a junction box and all you need to do is find the manufacturers destructions then match the colours up and you can get the Radar, Autopilot, GPS and Laptop all speaking and listening to each other.
This can then be used - as mine is - as a model of harmony for when relations on board are less than. As when Dear Heart, schooled in the methods of sailing with goodself, - downwind, reef in good time, plenty of proper coffee and lets not spill anything here, and the Offspring - schooled in the Jim Saltonstall National Youth Team way of thinking - get that chimp on the wire, sheet in, upwind and gawdelpus look at all those broken cups on the cabin sole - meet.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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Re: shades of grey

Don't you have anything better to do ??
euh...oh, it's tcm...never mind....guess you don't...stupid question...sorry...[clonck]...[STEPSTEPSTEPstepstepstepstep.....]

<hr width=100% size=1>Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com
 
Jim,
Do you have software and maps for the lappy?

If no gimme a shout - I got the world on lappy and pc

Ian

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So it looks like you haven't seen the delights of chart plotting on PC ....... makes the average plotter look basic to say the least !!
PC charting ..... auto logbook, routes, waypoints, alarms, tides, currents, panning / zooming, SOLITAIRE ....... that's only the obvious - there are so many bits and bobs - it would take ages to list out ......


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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>>auto logbook, routes, waypoints, alarms, tides, currents, panning / zooming<<

Most of those on a plotter anyway? only currents is missing from mine. Before you jump, I was first member of your yahoo group, which has now gone sadly astray after the manufacturers jumped on you for hosting crack and chart info.

PC vs plotter is a close run thing, and no reason for a flame war. They both do the job they were designed for.

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why?

link chart plotter to laptop? noyt being facetious either
stu

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk
 
There are USB to serial convertors available. However, there have been problems reported using these with NMEA.

I think there was a thread or two on here or PBO earlier in the year on the subject so probably worth a search

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