Looking for KAP file chart for Poole harbour

Franknstein

Franknstein

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Hi all

I am starting to look into experimenting with android navigation and have installed an app that requires KAP files for charts.

I've managed to find some free charts of the solent from openseamap.org, however there is no chart on there for Poole harbour - closest I get is an english channel chart, but when zooming in it has no detail.

Does anyone have a source where I can find these charts I need?

cheers
 
Sounds interesting, I'm afraid i dont know where to find KAP files, but would love to know what app you are using as i have an android tablet that would be very handy for navigation
 
I do just that on my Android.

What Android app uses KAP files?
I use MM Tracker on the Android which uses Memory Map's QCT files

However, I've written a PC conversion utility to convert Memory Map QCT files to BSB (KAP) format.

I've definately got KAP charts of Poole which I exported from Memory Map format using my conversion prog.
 
Last edited:
TopDonkey said:
Sounds interesting, I'm afraid i dont know where to find KAP files, but would love to know what app you are using as i have an android tablet that would be very handy for navigation
Click to expand...

I use MM Tracker - see above
Way better than that useless app from Navionics
Uses raster charts/maps in QCT format

It used to be available on the Android market but Googel removed it after Memory Map complained - it seems that MM Tracker is a real threat to them - a case of the big boys unable to compete so have attacked the little guy who has done a better job.

Anyway, the app IS available on an alternative Android App Market see here http://www.androidpit.com/en/android/market/apps/app/com.meixi/MM-Tracker

About a fiver and worth every penny

Alternatively you can download his free version from here
http://www.androidpit.com/en/android/market/apps/app/com.meixiFREE/MM-Tracker-FREE

Let me know if you need charts converting.
 
The app i got was called marine navigator, doesn't look brilliant to be honest, but somehow I was led along that path.

I have memory maps installed too, but went to their website and saw that the charts for the Uk is like £50 or something, not willing to pay that - maybe next summer I'll buy a cheap tablet for the boat and then get all the maps, but I've spent far too much this summer getting my boat ready for the water, and just cant justify another £50 at this stage....

Alls I is looking for for now is Poole harbour and perhaps a little outside the harbour near sandbanks bay area.... Do you know anywhere I can buy just these two charts and spend like a fiver or whatever...?

Where did you get your charts then Hurricane? I would prefer to use MM too, as it looks far better, but when I load it up it just has a land map... so at first I thought it wasn't really geared towards marine navigation

is there a difference between memory map and memory map tracker? The one I have if I go to the 'settings' then 'help'... it shows 'Memory-Map Ver. 2.0.3-370'
Perhaps I have the road version or something? - (EDIT) - dont worry, I've just installed 'tracker' version and it does seem a lot different.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Franknstein said:
Where did you get your charts then Hurricane? I would prefer to use MM too, as it looks far better, but when I load it up it just has a land map... so at first I thought it wasn't really geared towards marine navigation

is there a difference between memory map and memory map tracker? The one I have if I go to the 'settings' then 'help'... it shows 'Memory-Map Ver. 2.0.3-370'
Perhaps I have the road version or something? - (EDIT) - dont worry, I've just installed 'tracker' version and it does seem a lot different.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yep Memory Map is the company that's been providing software like this for the PC for about 12 years. The chart format that they use is QCT but they can read BSB (KAP) charts as well.
To load maps/charts onto Memory Map the PC, you would need to get the Maptech BSB charts. Memory Map do a package which includes the whole ob the UK's charts for £50 - however, this package uses a special DRM version of the QCT charts and at the moment cannot be transferred to other systems.

To make it clear, the app that I linked above is called MM Tracker and has absolutely nothing to do with Memory Map. It just happens to read the older (non DRM) QCT format charts/maps.

A point that might be of interest. I use an old copy of the PC version of Memory Map. This version has no dependance on the internet and also incorporates a georeferencing section of the program. This means that, with some experience, you can scan ANY map/chart into a .PNG format and then import it into Mamory Map thus creating your own QCT format charts. Thats where my PC program comes in - you can then output it to BSB (KAP) format for use in other applications - eg the popular open source (free) OpenCPN plotter software.

Personally, I store my raster charts in QCT (non DRM) formats (I have over 2000 digitised charts - some scanned myself) and then output them as I need them into other formats. For the PC though, you cant beat the earlier versions of Memory Map.

And for the Android - MM Tracker is equally as good.
 
Thanks Hurricane.

I used MM Tracker this weekend on my maiden voyage in my new boat out at Poole harbour and around sandbanks bay.
Worked amazingly, and am very very happy with the software, well worth the fiver I paid.
I'm considering now getting a cheap android chinese ipad with GPS exclusively for use on the boat for navigation using MM tracker.
My only thing would be now to get the charts I need.
So can I contact the american company direct for the charts - from Maptech?

Hurricane: your PM mailbox is full, tried to PM you a reply to your last message to me.
 
Make your own KAP Files

There is an ingenious program available on Windows, free, that will convert a Google Earth picture of anything into a KAP file.

The program is called GE2KAP, and is available for download here:

http://www.gdayii.ca/Downloads.php

Though it has many more complicated functions, it's simple to just create a KAP 'chart' from Google Earth with just one button click. You have to have Google Earth installed on your computer, get the view in Google Earth to be what you want, then switch to this program, name the file you are about the create, push a button, and voila, a KAP file usable in any navigation program.

We have found this invaluable out in Fiji where the 'real' charts can be off as much as half a mile. Google Earth is amazingly accurate (but you should always double check the accuracy of any chart you create this way).

If you find GE2KAP useful, be sure to push the author a little bit of money. He spends a lot of time tweaking the program for us to make it ever more useful.

Good luck,
Sherry
s/v Soggy Paws
 
Hi Hurricane,

I am having endless problems with my Memory Map software running on OSX using XP via Parallels. MM customer service have been no help. I have only just found out about CPN but need to convert my UK marine maps to the BSB (KAP) format for it to work. Can you help?

Charlie.
 
bcharlie said:
Hi Hurricane,

I am having endless problems with my Memory Map software running on OSX using XP via Parallels. MM customer service have been no help. I have only just found out about CPN but need to convert my UK marine maps to the BSB (KAP) format for it to work. Can you help?

Charlie.
Click to expand...

bcharlie
I'm trying to send you a PM but the forum is indicating that your PM box is full.
 
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