Pocket PC Chart Plotter Software

[Sammy Lou]

Hi All,

Could anyone using a windows mobile device for navigation please give some advice on software.

I have a Mio PDA with built in GPS that I would like to use for handheld cockpit navigation (as rough guidance/backup) - I have a yeoman chartplotter below.

I have been looking around the web for suitable products & see Fugawi, memory map & others but would really appreciate any advice from people who have used a windows mobile handheld in this way.

The benefit of your experience would be much appreciated.

 

[CPD]

Hello, I have a mitac mio 168 held in an otterbox running maptech software, and it has been brilliant. It has taken me all over the East Coast, over to Belgium and to the Azores and back. It works very well however of course does have its limitations. The biggest problem is loss of software if the unit happens to turn off and drain the battery. For this reason I bought a 2nd hand unit off ebay and keep that as a backup. I also run Belfield Tides on he mitac which again works well, but is subject to the same loss on battery drain. PM if you have any specific questions.

 

[BGW]

Hi All,

Could anyone using a windows mobile device for navigation please give some advice on software.

I have a Mio PDA with built in GPS that I would like to use for handheld cockpit navigation (as rough guidance/backup) - I have a yeoman chartplotter below.

I have been looking around the web for suitable products & see Fugawi, memory map & others but would really appreciate any advice from people who have used a windows mobile handheld in this way.

The benefit of your experience would be much appreciated.

Hi Paul,
I have an IPAQ and use GarminXT (can read the old non g2 bluechart format charts), and MemoryMap which can be used with scanned maps.
In reality the screen is a little small to use as a primary navigation aid, but a reasonable backup, and good for fun use when exploring small rivers in a RIB.
I had a feeling that FUGAWI had stopped support for mobile devices (or maybe they outsourced it), and I did use a trial once but didn't see any real advantage over the other software - of course, your choice of chart/map format will dictate what you can use.

 

[Gin]

Hi All,

Could anyone using a windows mobile device for navigation please give some advice on software.

I have a Mio PDA with built in GPS that I would like to use for handheld cockpit navigation (as rough guidance/backup) - I have a yeoman chartplotter below.

I have been looking around the web for suitable products & see Fugawi, memory map & others but would really appreciate any advice from people who have used a windows mobile handheld in this way.

The benefit of your experience would be much appreciated.

I run my Yeoman Sport plotter with a basic h/h Garmin 12 which works fine and the power is drawn by a split supply from the boat battery, no problem.

1.)I have a Mitac Mio 650 with Memory Map with the intention of using that for close piloting- up rivers etc BUT so far I haven't used it for the following reasons. It also has Land series OS and TomTom which are useful

Its predecessor a Mio 550 got a splash of water and in spite of best (professional) efforts to repair it the GPS wouldn't come back to life- so make sure you waterproof the PDA if you use it in the cockpit.
2). In view of the above I purchased an Otterbox Armor with sucker mount attachment for the bulkhead by the companionway- this too has a power cable for the boat battery . Very bulky
3). The screen is very small and is not easy to see in daylight and once its in the Otterbox even more difficult
4). The Mio seems to have a mind of its own and will turn itself on unexpectedly (which makes me jump if I'm walking around the shopping mall and Joanna Lumley's voice (TomTom chartware) Tells me to take the next junction left- I really do get some strange looks in that instance from other pedestrians- but I digress!
5). I'm not attracted to yet another power cable hanging over ther chart table.

So now I have a perfectly good Mio550 PDA except for the GPS function- unused for a year or so.

I have a fully functioning Mio 650 which was to be a testbed for a h/h chart plotter which is too much of a pain and if I had bought a proper plotter outright in the first instance it would have cost a lot less. The Otterbox with handlebar mount and sucker cup for example retails at about £150(not that I paid quite that much of course)

I don't know how this will be received but I hope in some way it will help?

 

[thalassa]

OziExplorer CE works perfectly on the Mitac Mio 168. I've used it a number of years with self-scanned and calibrated charts, and with Maptech charts.
Apart from 'losing' the software due to battery drain (not too big a problem reinstalling if you keep it on a memory card), it works well.
You can run it from the boat battery, but the connector on the underside is fragile, so you need an arrangement to prevent that; I fabricated a safe holder from a scrap of 3 mm PVC.
Drawback is that it is only useful in the cabin, as the sunlight in the cockpit makes it very hard to read. And it is far from watertight...

Cheers!

 

[Playtime]

Hi All,

Could anyone using a windows mobile device for navigation please give some advice on software.

I have a Mio PDA with built in GPS that I would like to use for handheld cockpit navigation (as rough guidance/backup) - I have a yeoman chartplotter below.

I have been looking around the web for suitable products & see Fugawi, memory map & others but would really appreciate any advice from people who have used a windows mobile handheld in this way.

The benefit of your experience would be much appreciated.

Hi Paul

I use a Dell Axim 51v PDA with a separate bluetooth GPS. The Dell is connected to the boat's 12V supply using a car type cradle with suction attachment to the steering pedestal. If there is any 'wet stuff' about (rain or spray) then the PDA is moved under the sprayhood. The GPS lasts for 15 hours (or more?) on its internal battery so no need for a separate supply.

For software I use Memory Map with Maptech charts. Down below I have Maptech running on a laptop so the PDA is really only used for close in pilotage. For this it has been very useful. With sensible use of the zoom facility the small screen is not really a problem. I used it last summer for the first time and it took us into numerous 'new' ports down to the Morbihan and back without problem.

If you get fed up running up and down the stairs then I strongly recommend it.

The other advantage of a PDA (like any general purpose computer) is the ability to run other programmes - for instance Land Series OS and Navigator 6 'sat nav' when on land have been very useful.

The only drawback is that (most of) the software needed has to be purchased (unless someone knows better . . .?)