Simrad CX44 10" chart plotter

[AAF]

It appears I am getting one of these but without the map data cartridge present.

What chart module(s) to buy for the UK south coast and northern France?

The manual (only downloaded from the Internet) talks about "C-MAP" cartridge and "C-CARD". General Google on the Internet talks about "NT+" and NT MAX" C-type cartridges. What is the difference and what is best? (The manual is 232 pages long so I don't fancy printing it just yet).

What else should/would be useful. There was mention of transferring data from a PC app (Ipad also?) to the/a data cartridge so you could do route planning at home and just upload. Does anyone use that? What is needed if you do?

The vessel to which the plotter is attached has also got a Simrad AP26 autopilot, 4Kw radar. Simrad IS12 windspeed indicator, Simrad RS87 VHF DSC radio. There must also be a depth sounder of some description that I don't have right now.

Advice welcome

Thanks

 

[rafiki_]

The C-Map cartridges are quite unique, and I doubt if any PC or laptop would have a slot suitable. I don't know if there is a card reader compatible with the cartridge either. The difference between the cards you mention would I think be data storage capacity, and hence, how much chart can be accommodated. Your Simrad would also need to be compatible with the data size too.

 

[jamie langstone]

c-map max are the better card as they give more detail . There is a card reader for the C-map that can be used with your PC and if you go on ebay and type in c-map pc planner you find the reader and the software that you will require. I have one and have used it many times for passage planning and creating way points. One of the good things about the simrads are that they use data cards that are the same as the c-map cards but are used for saving data from your GPS of which you can then transfer to your home PC with the use of the c-map reader. I hope this makes sense.