Repeater display for laptop?

[Guest]

Hi I will try out a laptop as a supplementary navigation tool this summer. This will have to reside below deck to avoid sea spray. I would then like to have an extra display in the cockpit. It would have to be waterproof, relatively small, consume little power, preferably fed by 12V, be VGA-compatible and not cost a fortune. Does anyone know if such product exists?

Thanks Olav

 

[Guest]

It would probably be cheaper to buy a second hand laptop that was just up to running the software that you need, and then throwing it away when it succumbs to the salt etc. Specialist screens as you describe are not cheap.

 

[Guest]

Suggest it will be cheaper and more effective to get a proper dedicated chartplotter - they do come with water resistant screens and will cost far less than the LCD-TFT screen + convertor that you'll require.

I've tried both and wouldn't return to the laptop (its very useful for keeping the log).

 

[Guest]

www.morgancomputers.co.uk

 

[Guest]

Check out asiansources.com, do a search on tft screens and pick the one you want, email the company asking for a sample, cost for a screen will range from 200 to 500 usd dependant on casing, brightness etc, these screens will not have the brightness required for readability in bright sunshine however carefull placement ie in the corner of the spayhood, or mounted underneath the bimini (look up to see course!) allows viewing on all but the brightest days. The screens will take video input, so if your laptop has a video/tv out you can direct connect, if not a pcmcia card or box can be purchased. It may be best to get a 6.4 inch screen, and encase it in a waterproofish type box from RS components. Also suitable are the small tv's you will find on asiansources, as they have video in too, and probably a semi splashproof housing, with a bulldog clip type mount, happy hunting, the solution is a good one.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all the useful info, Stuart. I will look into this and see what I can find.

Olav

 

[steveparker]

Maybe have a look on Ebay for a 'ruggedised' laptop. You can get a secondhand Itronix Gobook or a Panasonic Toughbook for £100 - £150 these days, and they are pretty well impervious to water.