Maptech on PDA

[wizard]

Has anyone any experience of using Maptech on their PDA for marine use. I am thinking of it for a back up system for the yacht. Any thoughts for or against would be useful to me. I have it on the laptop, but wondered if it is usable on a PDA. Also, can I use the maptech charts I have on the laptop rather than buy new ones or are they different.
Many thanks in advance.

 

[steve6367]

You can use the same charts - but you do need either Maptechs PDA software or 3rd party to view.

All works ok - within limits of small screen.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

I tried the software eval version.... and it seemed pretty good....

For what its worth, I tried it with a view to using the PDA as an emergency cockpit solution for either power failure conditions or navigation when I need to be at the helm in perhaps reduced visibility..... therefore my concerns are more related to how you provide power to the PDA in the cockpit. As any heavy PDA user will tell you, the batteries don't last long and with a GPS jacket, even less time.... so you'll need to put a power supply outside for the PDA.....

 

[ronniewood]

Used it last season and found it to be very accurate especially on maximum zoom. Agree it needs a seperate power source to run the PDA and GPS but we just use a 12v socket which works fine.
Use the same set up in the car with Tom Tom which is great, so get double use plus all the other bits you can use a PDA for such as downloading weather charts if you can get a mobile signal. All in all a useful gizmo.

 

[BlueMan]

The biggest downside that I could see when using the memory-map PDA software with maptech charts was that it could only display 'North up'. If you sail on the south coast of the UK (and therefore mostly travel E-W) you don't have a whole lot of PDA display (which are tall and narrow) ahead of your current position. It is worth downloading the demo (with demo charts) and seeing what you think.

 

[Sans Bateau]

I have just recently set up Maptech charts on a PDA using the Memory Map software. The master plan being, I am installing the DSC radio at the helm, using a Garmin hand held as GPS, which would supply postion data to DSC and PDA. This would be independant to the chart table instalation.

Now armed with the experience. IMHO I wish I had'nt bothered.

Dell PDA X30 (basic) £140.00
Maptech Charts (one area) £99.00
Memory Map £50.00
Seidio Cradle for PDA £50.00
Other bits of cable £20.00
Total £359.00
Plus the PInTA getting it all to work!

If I had not already got a GPS, another £120.00 so £479.00

How much can you buy a reasonable fixed chartploter for?

All wired in one 'box', waterproof, most likely EGNOS ready, etc etc

 

[BlueMan]

You can now get a Garmin 172C for less than £400 and a small chart (e.g. Central Channel incl. Solent & Channel Islands) for less than £100 more. I know that lots of people on here criticise Garmin and BlueCharts but I have installed it at my wheel and find it the perfect, simple, no exposed cables (fits on instrument pod), waterproof solution.
If only Bluechart included tidal streams......

 

[Sans Bateau]

BlueMan, a living example of what I mean!

 

[Guest]

But some people already have >

Some already have the bits and bobs and for just a cable extra or something small - they have it. The cost then is not as you list. Agreed that starting with nothing - it doesn 't make sense - except if you use it in car etc. as dual purpose so to speak.

I'm actually thinking of going the Jornado route - as a friend has offered his old Jornado cheap and I already have various bits suitable ... so cost is less than a ton to set up.

 

[fireball]

Tall and Narrow displays

There is software out there to turn the display around 90 degrees ... I found this very handy when trying to edit spreadsheets, it would work well on Memorymap too ... you do then have to mount the device horizontally though!