PC Based charts

[Amulet]

As Maptech are no longer around

They are still around, or am I wrong? You can still buy Chart Navigator Pro (available again after discontinuation but expensive), Offshore Navigator, and the UK charts from them. Not really recommending them, though familiarity and inertia have kept me with them.

Of the stuff discussed above. Memory map AtSea is cheap but pretty hopeless. However it is a really effective way of getting all the UK charts. It is a land navigation programme bodged into marine application. I'd rate Belfield about 13th best out of the seven different ones I've tried.

Might want to have a look at this thread among others to be found if you search. It's a well trodden topic on the forums.

 

[Mavis]

As a long term user (sufferer) on Neptune I have just updated to the latest version which also included the latest admiralty charts ( April ).
Despite some software glitches when pushed hard it offers the most comprehensive planning options.
I turn on the tablet (explore 104) download the latest grib file, open Neptune and have immediate accurate tidal and route leg data based on the boat polars.
Proper course to steer and projected course over leg display for safety. All printed off for solas if required.
Plug in to boat nav station and upload route waypoints to helm plotter. Neptune picks up on board gps instead of built in one and collects AIs data from the radio.
Route changes in real time by simply dragging or inserting new ones and that fascinating option calculate optimum departure time. Everything I would do on a paper chart and more.

Kerenza

I have to say that I also use Neptune for passage planning and it is really good, especially the calculate optium departure time function which is usualy pretty spot on. Don't hear much about Neptune on here.

 

[Cappen Boidseye]

Do you mean a Seapro Lite app for the Iphone? I couldn't find it in the App Store. Incidentally, I am a firm fan of Seapro - their customer service is very good.

No, I have Seapro Lite installed on a small netbook, great software and charts squeezed onto a small netbook which manages to run it. The App I was referring to is a totally different program, it is Watermaps UK & Ireland from Flytomap.com. It is an App for the Iphone. It HAD full UK charts well displayed and well integrated with the GPS on the Iphone4. I say HAD, because after getting fed up with the latest version, which started crashing when I zoomed right in to the offline chart, I took the advantage of a Vodafone upgrade, bought an Ipad and then downloaded the latest Ipad friendly version of the software.
According to the website, through the App you download whichever charts you need, free of charge, as required. Somewhere else (maybe in the I-store) there is a paragraph which says that UK charts aren't available, I think there are licensing issues. The software is really good, you can still use the Watermap on-line charts but they lack details of nav marks (leading light angles etc). The offline chart is no use at present. I would gladly pay for the standard of chart the older program has, but that isn't an option at the moment. I was thinking about buying the Imray program and UK charts, because the Ipad is a much better platform than an aged netbook and the GPS is far more sensitive than the dongle I have for the netbook. Can anyone tell me how good, bad or indifferent their charts and App are?

 

[Flossdog]

I have to say that I also use Neptune for passage planning and it is really good, especially the calculate optium departure time function which is usualy pretty spot on. Don't hear much about Neptune on here.

I use Neptune and am very pleased with it. Does everything I need and more.......

 

[nigelmercier]

.

Eleven posts, all advertising the same thing.

 

[Boo2]

As Maptech are no longer around which PC based charting software & charts do I get?

Maptech are still around ? Not certain I'd pick them for a new purchase though, one thing I'd be looking for is AIS support.

Boo2

 

[Boo2]

I have to say that I also use Neptune for passage planning and it is really good, especially the calculate optium departure time function which is usualy pretty spot on. Don't hear much about Neptune on here.

That does look good, thanks for the pointer.

Boo2

 

[st599]

Quite agree, Ive been using OCPN full time about 2 years now. Previously used Maxsea 10, about the only thing I still cant do is weather routing using a polar - but since it wasnt that good anyway it was mostly for amusement on a long passage A few interface differences but you soon get used to those.

Not exactly thread drift as I've started looking for, even buying , more reliably updated charts than those I currently use. Seems a pity that chart compilers seem to get into bed with particular nav solutions suppliers. I like OCPN and would like to continue with it - anyone know a supplier of regularly updated worldwide BSB4 charts that would work with OCPNs plugin?

If you look at: http://opencpn.org/ocpn/routing

You'll notice they support the use of an external Open Source routing program. I've filed a feature request to build it in to OpenCPN but am having no joy. If it's a feature people want, reply to the feature request at: http://opencpn.org/ocpn/flyspray/index.php?do=details&task_id=894

A full set of feature requests can be seen at: http://opencpn.org/ocpn/flyspray/index.php?project=6&do=index&switch=1

 

[st599]

PS OpenCPN now handles AIS SARTs correctly. Probably the only plotter that does at the moment.

 

[stuartwineberg]

Any other experience of this

Don't overlook Belfield Chart Plotter.

Its about £70 including all 800 UK Raster (ARCS) charts or about £100 inc a gps dongle.

If you prefer vector charts, then strangely named US company Polarnavy charge about the same for their version with all UK AVCS charts.

I use both simulataneously - vector for overview and raster (being scans of the more familiar paper charts) for a zoomed in view.

Navmonpc supplies the nmea data to both and Polarview also comes with Polarcom a customisable instrument display. Polarview can also send data to an AP (Belfield can't).

Any other forumites got experience of these products - starting to look like my Santa letter might have to be changed

 

[stuartwineberg]

Problems with Belfield?

They are still around, or am I wrong? You can still buy Chart Navigator Pro (available again after discontinuation but expensive), Offshore Navigator, and the UK charts from them. Not really recommending them, though familiarity and inertia have kept me with them.

Of the stuff discussed above. Memory map AtSea is cheap but pretty hopeless. However it is a really effective way of getting all the UK charts. It is a land navigation programme bodged into marine application. I'd rate Belfield about 13th best out of the seven different ones I've tried.

Might want to have a look at this thread among others to be found if you search. It's a well trodden topic on the forums.

Thats a fairly clear "no" vote for Belfield. Any specific issues you have with it - it looks a good value package on paper

 

[myquest]

I must be missing something when it comes to charts on a screen. Earlier this year, after fairly extensive research on forums and online trial downloads of anything I could find, I ended up with the Belfield Chart Plotter. Sailing Today tested 10 laptop plotters and virtually dismissed the Belfield one, as most do on here. When I finally tested it I could not understand why people don't like it, it is so simple to use and the one I now use. I don't use it as a chart plotter as such as laptops are very susceptible to water damage (I had to have a new motherboard after it got dripped on!) but as a planning tool i would not be without it. With a cheap GPS mouse connected it does everything my fixed chart plotter does.