Laptops on board

[Johnjo]

After reading a thread about chart software for sale on Ebay.
Was wondering how this all works,

Is it as simple as buying a cheap laptop connecting it to a GPS set, popping some of this software into it ?

And when you have done all that does it function as a chart plotter ? IE. show your exact position on it ! or have i got the wrong end of the stick !

My apoligies if im asking the obvious, but I don't have a clue !


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[powerskipper]

yes, for some of the programes available that is all you need to do. but check first, some require expencive charts on top of basic programe.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julie ,
IMOSHO of course,

 

[poter]

Not to sure what chart software thats for sale on ebay , but to answer your question re cheap chart plotter ...Yes you can use quite a few chart packages.
The offshore navigator from Maptech is free but is supplied with there own charts for around £90 each module. I have the charts from Portland to the Isles of Scilly with all the charts. Hook it up to your GPS & you have a good Plotter.


poter

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[Johnjo]

Thanks for the reply, was not really interested in the Ebay software, It just started me thinking after reading it,
Son has a couple of laptops, one of which I believe he does not use, will have to scrounge it off him, something to set up over the winter.

Is it normally a straight foreward job to connect it to a GPS set? Got a Furuno GP30.

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[Heckler]

yup
hp omnibook, maptech offshore navigator, chart bundle, serial connection to garmin 12 and bingo, thats what i use
stu

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk

 

[Heckler]

dead simple, have to fiddle a bit with the settings in the prog to connect to the gps but yes, the free prog from maptech is good but the offshore navigator is better and comes with a serial cable connection that you have to rig up. i bought a battey connector for my garmin hand held that came with a serial port connnector on it
stu

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk

 

[Johnjo]

Stu, hate to be so dense but whats a HP Omnibook ?
Always told if you don't know ask.


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[seahorse]

I agree, it is that simple. I use an old Acer laptop, Garmin 45!!
& Oziexplorer (download from their site) & scanned charts, it can use many file types & does many things Maptech won't .

I've ordered that cd from ebay 2 c what's on it, 4 the price u
can't go wrong. I'll post details if u want.


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[Heckler]

sorry, a hewlett packard laptop, any will do as long as they are reasonably powerful and i dont mean the dogs rognons, best to have one with a tft screen so that you can see it proper, some of the older ones were not to good,
stu

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk

 

[Johnjo]

Well thanks everybody,
Looks like we will have it set up on board for next summer,

regards mike

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[Robin]

As everyone says yes it will work and a lot of people go that route. The downsides are :

Laptops power consumption is quite a lot higher than a dedicated plotter and on it's own battery it will not run very long. You will need an inverter or special 12v adapter.
Water and laptops do not mix, nor do they like shock. Dedicated plotters are usually waterproof and do not have fragile hard disks.

We have two dedicated plotters running on C-Map charts for navigation (one below, one cockpit), but we also have a laptop which we take on board. The laptop has some simple tide/passage planning software as well as Weatherfax and RTTY software for use with our SSB radio (it would work with a simple HF receiver like the NASA too). We can also load C-Map charts onto the laptop via a C-Map plug in adapter, so can do passage planning at home creating WPs and routes etc, then transfer them to the plotters via C-Map user cards. The laptop is therefore very useful even if not directly used for navigation, so scrounge the one your son has whatever. In our case though when underway the laptop is in a travel case and very carefully stowed.


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[claymore]

You just need an NMEA cable which has a serial port connector on one end - unless you have a usb port free - and then wire it into the gps outlet that would be used for connecting to an autopilot, radar etc. I did it so it cannot be that difficult!
You need to think about power for the laptop if you haven't already - I bought an inverter and that is wired to the domestic battery. I simply have a 3 pin socket at one end (230Volts) and plug the laptop straight into it. 4 seasons of untroubled use
touchwood!

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

GPS Nav group

We have various Commercial interests and also a large number of amateurs involved in this field ....

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

I'm sure that we can help you set up and get on with it all ....


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

Most versatile way to do it !

Plotters are fine but compared to PC charting are dinosaurs !!

So cheapest way and easiest .......

Medium spec Notebook ...... Celeron is fine, with reasonable RAM .... 32 - 64 Mb, Hard drive of about 3 - 6 Gb ....... colour display of course. Software could be the very good FREEWARE Seaclear program, with scanned charts etc.
The GPS could be the cheapest NMEA ouputting Handheld you can get - I use the eTrex Garmin...... with Power/ Data cable.

The Notebook is run of an invertor 150W job to give continuous use.

With Seaclear you can plan, set routes, mark waypoints, auto calculate distance / course and arrival times etc.

If you decide to purchase BSB / Kap commercial charts from Maptech - it will read those as well.

Check out Seaclear site : http://www.sping.com/seaclear/

and look at our GPS site .... check my later post for this ....



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

Micro-Mart ....

have plenty of cheapies suitable for this work ....... 200 - 400 notes all in.

As long as you have CD / USB and Serial ...... even do your e-mails via GSM if you like !!!!



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

Re: GPS Nav group

Nigel thanks for that, will look in when I sort out some kit.

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[petery]

thank god for ...

..waterproof dinosaurs that bolt on to a cockpit bulkhead and have just one or two buttons and don't have trailing wires and...

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[Oldhand]

Re: thank god for ...

.... and you're welcome to the C-Map charts they use - rubbush. Install a "Capuccino" PC, DC-DC converter, LCD screen at the chart table with IR keyboard & mouse pad and hey presto, no wires and the ability to use proper scanned Admiralty and SHOM charts.

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[petery]

Re: thank god for ...

I use paper Admiralty charts on the chart-table for planning , so the detail on C-map charts on the plotter is perfectly acceptable when I use it with overlaid radar images to identify marks and when I arrive at a strange port. Sailing single handed, I really don't enjoy jumping down into the cabin whenever I need to check a screen.

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[qsiv]

Re: thank god for ...

I think perhaps thats too simplistic. I have both a plotter and PC charting onboard, as well as paper charts and Yeoman. The PC lives down below, nice an warm and dry, the plotter is in the cockpit. My experience of remote keyboards is that they dont much like falling when a wave knocks them from their perch, nor do they like fog or waves breaking over them - neither of which upset the plotter.

None of the systems available to yachtsmen replace paper charts, so the level of detail on the charts isnt hugely important (indeed too much can be confusing). PC systems are great (I have a variety from MaxSea down, and one I have written myself). they are all more complex to use than a plotter when on route, and none of them interface as cleanly with the autopilot. OTOH, they all provide vastly more functionality.

The only truly waterproof charting solution I have used is the B&G RaceVision which I have for the new boat. It is very slick, very usable (touch screen), but at £6,000 ex charts it isnt for everyone.

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