pc type plotter /software

[thegasmannick]

getting a general idea of what people recommend or prefer and cost


thanks for input in advance
nick

 

[GHA]

getting a general idea of what people recommend or prefer and cost


thanks for input in advance
nick

Opencpn without a doubt
https://opencpn.org/

Very powerful with an ais display as good as any, numerous plugins for weather etc. Very active developers.

 

[thegasmannick]

thanks

 

[Yngmar]

Opencpn without a doubt
https://opencpn.org/

Very powerful with an ais display as good as any, numerous plugins for weather etc. Very active developers.

+1

Previously posted on our experience: https://sdfjkl.org/blog/2017-09-12-opencpn-in-practice/

 

[rogerthebodger]

Opencpn without a doubt
https://opencpn.org/

Very powerful with an ais display as good as any, numerous plugins for weather etc. Very active developers.

+2

I also use naymonpc as a instrument display and to combine all 4 NMEA inputs to feed OpenCPN

 

[moomba]

+2

I also use naymonpc as a instrument display and to combine all 4 NMEA inputs to feed OpenCPN

+3
running it off a standalone PC with 22 inch monitor
8 amps but larger MFD is around 5 amps so no real issues , have gps unit and AIS on it and UK charts can be bought cheap ,Also a world of non payment charts out there from other countries
find it user friendly and a great community to help and easy to understand instructions oh did someone mention it was FREE

 

[thegasmannick]

all info greatfull

cheers all

 

[Porthandbuoy]

‘Scuse my ignorance, what’s a ’naymonpc’? Google threw up nothing.

 

[TSB240]

‘Scuse my ignorance, what’s a ’naymonpc’? Google threw up nothing.

Try NAVMONPC its a typo! It is a useful tool for both displaying, data logging or repeating depth, wind and gps instrumention on a PC. It also has can be used to interconnect or multiplex all the nmea signals from different kit. I have found that Open CPN has similar abilities and no longer use navmon pc for anything other than fault finding individual sentences and data logging.

 

[bitbaltic]

If you have no other plotter or charts onboard go for openCPN as advised.

If you have a plotter onboard with currently licensed Navionics charts on SD, be aware that you can use the same paid-for licence and load them to PC plotter, which costs about 200 quid but is excellent and will mean you have identical charting on plotter and PC.

 

[maby]

If you have no other plotter or charts onboard go for openCPN as advised.

If you have a plotter onboard with currently licensed Navionics charts on SD, be aware that you can use the same paid-for licence and load them to PC plotter, which costs about 200 quid but is excellent and will mean you have identical charting on plotter and PC.

You can do similar with Garmin installations and the result is good - but in both cases, the PC is more a route planning station than a plotter. We work that way with Garmin and the result is good, but the plotter at the helm is very much the navigation station - the PC allows me to plan a passage, create a route and upload it to the plotter, but it does not support things like AIS, weather, radar etc.

 

[savageseadog]

Does opencpn work on Android? It isn't mentioned.

 

[bitbaltic]

You can do similar with Garmin installations and the result is good - but in both cases, the PC is more a route planning station than a plotter. We work that way with Garmin and the result is good, but the plotter at the helm is very much the navigation station - the PC allows me to plan a passage, create a route and upload it to the plotter, but it does not support things like AIS, weather, radar etc.

Sorry but you have obviously not used PC Plotter or many similar things. It is a fully functional and independent PC-based chartplotter, independent of whatever your marine chartplotter is. It (and many things like it) supports AIS, GRIB overlay, etc etc (probably not radar other than MARPA work because not many/no PC solutions do). It is more analogous to the sort of thing used on Volvo/clipper racing and not what I suspect you are thinking if, which is some basic PC software bundled with or sold by Garmin.

 

[maby]

Sorry but you have obviously not used PC Plotter or many similar things. It is a fully functional PC-based plotter, independent of whatever your marine chartplotter is. It (and many things like it) supports AIS, GRIB overlay, etc etc (probably not radar other than MARPA work but not many PC solutions do). It is more analogous to the sort of thing used on Volvo/clipper racing and not what I suspect you are thinking if, which is some basic PC software bundled with or sold by Garmin.

Sorry - missed that bit - I was, indeed, referring to the software that is supplied by Garmin or Navionics to support planning on the PC.

 

[bitbaltic]

Sorry - missed that bit - I was, indeed, referring to the software that is supplied by Garmin or Navionics to support planning on the PC.

No problem, cheers

I don’t think the OP is looking for this kind of solution anyhow

 

[RobbieW]

Does opencpn work on Android? It isn't mentioned.

Android is supported but not free, however at 8 quid its a bargain...
https://bigdumboat.com/aocpn/cpnapp.html

 

[Dougal]

and the Android support is EXCELLENT!

 

[maby]

What do you use for charts on OpenCPN these days? That was the problem when I last looked at it.

 

[GHA]

What do you use for charts on OpenCPN these days? That was the problem when I last looked at it.

http://o-charts.org/shop/index.php?id_category=8&controller=category&id_lang=4

Charts available growing constantly.

 

[SteveGorst]

Does opencpn work on Android? It isn't mentioned.

yes I've just used it crossing the channel with AIS on an android tablet. The AIS information on OpenCPN enabled us to cross the channel both ways with one minor course change. Great bit of kit.