PC Chartplotter Software.

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DJE

DJE

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www.casl.uk.com
I like the look of a PC chartplotter set up using raster versions of Admiralty Charts. I also want an AIS interface. On the face of it I can't see much difference between the Belfield and Meridian products. Although Meridian seems to use French charts for France, but what I've seen of the French charts I would be happy using them. Would anybody care to comment on these two or recomend something different?
 
I was very happy with Belfield. Shows AIS, I used the NASA AIS engine. But it doesn't cover France, I did raise this with them a couple of years ago, and they said they were trying to get a licence to use French chart. I say was happy, as I changed to a Garmin plotter, keeping the laptop for backup.

No experience of Meridian.
 
Meridian use Imray charts but they also give you the old Admiralty Easy Chart software to access the Imray charts as well as the Meridian software. The latter accepts AIS input running on NMEA 0183.
 
We used to use the Meridian Seatrak software with the admiralty charts but the charts were soo expensive. £80 for a 10 chart package that covered a small area. We ended up with over 25 of these folios, was not cheap, but the quality of charts and speed of the software far surpassed any vector charts at the time. I then went to Software On Board and used CMAP MAX charts which were about £120 for all the UK and Europe down to Africa. Now we use OpenCPN.

I think the software development has played a great part in chossing which charts we used. Seatrak was by far the best for useability when we first got it, but updates were very slow. SOB was great and we upgraded from when it was free to a package but again, support and updates were slow. Now with OpenCPN, the interface is being tweaked and refined by talented users/boaters and I find the interface excellent, especially with v3.2.

For mobile, I use MX Mariner on a Nexus 7, which was £4 for the app and then the official UK Admiralty Charts for the UK were £3.50 or something fairly unbelievable!!! times have changed. If you want admiralty, I would definitely get a nexus 7 with 3G built-in and get MX Mariner.
 
markdj said:
We used to use the Meridian Seatrak software with the admiralty charts but the charts were soo expensive. £80 for a 10 chart package that covered a small area. We ended up with over 25 of these folios, was not cheap, but the quality of charts and speed of the software far surpassed any vector charts at the time. I then went to Software On Board and used CMAP MAX charts which were about £120 for all the UK and Europe down to Africa. Now we use OpenCPN.

I think the software development has played a great part in chossing which charts we used. Seatrak was by far the best for useability when we first got it, but updates were very slow. SOB was great and we upgraded from when it was free to a package but again, support and updates were slow. Now with OpenCPN, the interface is being tweaked and refined by talented users/boaters and I find the interface excellent, especially with v3.2.

For mobile, I use MX Mariner on a Nexus 7, which was £4 for the app and then the official UK Admiralty Charts for the UK were £3.50 or something fairly unbelievable!!! times have changed. If you want admiralty, I would definitely get a nexus 7 with 3G built-in and get MX Mariner.
Click to expand...


Agreed - get OpnCPN and UK charts from Vistmyharbour.

The software is great.
 
st599 said:
Agreed - get OpnCPN and UK charts from Vistmyharbour.

The software is great.
Click to expand...

+1

needs VMH data stick version, so slightly more expensive than the sea clear version, but faster to load.

Ais implementation of CPA is much better than seaclear
 
I have to declare a vested interest as the developer of the EU Tidal Streams plugin for OpenCPN, which is supplied with the VMH charts.

The plugin is minimal at present and needs work. On my machine I already have a version where the tidal streams page (HW+1 etc) is automatically linked to the HW times at the standard ports. Feedback on the plugin and using the UKHO tidal streams from VMH would be useful in improving the plugin.

If there is enough interest I will start a new thread on the subject.

Mike
 
For users of OpenCPN, who are trying the VMH Tidal Streams plugin; I have attached an updated version, which uses OpenCPN tidal data to link tide times to the tidal current chart.

Rename the plugin file 'EUTidalcurrents_pi.dll' already on your computer if you want a fall-back option.

Download the new plugin from my website (Right click on 'Here', Save Link As - choosing your OpenCPN plugins folder).
You need 'libexpat.dll' in your main OpenCPN folder (From the VMH disk/stick or the link below).

When the plugin is running click the '+' button and choose the main VMH 'TIDAL STREAM ATLASES' folder on your disk/stick. Select the NP you want to use and press 'HW' etc. You can change the start date and the next tidal current pages will reflect that new date.

www.mikerossiter.co.uk/OpenCPN/OpenCPNFiles.html

Please try and break the plugin. It's the only way to make it better!

Mike
 
Mike

Had a go good work, though.....

It doesnt remember where the files are even if stick is not removed, also shows a file tree structure before first allocation

Just have a problem on closing the plugin when it makes ocpn not respond for a long while.

win7 aspire one 722
 
Great to have feedback like this.

The file tree structure is 'hard coded', based on the VMH folder structure. It will always show. Just that the links to the folder on the stick/disk will not work unless you can see the main 'TIDAL STREAM ATLASES' folder in the box above.

I'll do some thinking about 'file memory'. If I have the main VMH Tidal Streams folder showing in the box when I close the program, and I have used the files, it finds the files when I restart my machine.

Win XP3

Mike
 
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