Tidal predictions software?

Thanks for the responses.

Unfortunately the programs referred to are too complicated for me.

I was attracted by OpenCPN and downloaded it. However I then found that there is a problem loading charts on a laptop running Windows 7 64 bit. The helpful manual mentioned doing something with 'directories', whatever they are. So OpenCPN doesn't seem to be for lay people.

WX Tide 32 downloaded as a collection of files. That left me stumped. I don't like the sound of 'unzipping'.

Looks like I'll be sticking to my paper version of Reeds.
 
Coaster said:
Thanks for the responses.

Unfortunately the programs referred to are too complicated for me.
Click to expand...

I checked several freeware tide-calculators and found them unreliable. For instance, WX Tide predicitions differed significantly from official predictions found on the web, like http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/Easytide/easytide/, http://www.shom.fr/les-services-en-ligne/predictions-de-maree/predictions-en-ligne/ or http://maree.info/. I also tried the predictions of my Raymarine plotter and found them unreliable as well (although the Navionics card is still in its update period). These experiences motivated me to implement the ATT-method by an EXCEL spreadsheet. For doing a tide calculation, data from the ATT or the Reeds is inserted in the spredsheet, so the effort in acquiring data is like when preparing the calculation with a paper form. Once the required data is inserted, the results (tides at secondary port, requested time and height) are computed and displayed. All what is needed is EXCEL 2010 being installed on your computer (maybe other EXCEL versions work as well, but I never checked). Familiarity with EXCEL is not required.

I always try to get the tidal data from some official web site and use the progam only if I do not have internet access. And I use it when I need to know "height at a given time" or "time for a given height", as most web-sites do not provide this service (http://maree.info/ is an exception).
 
I use Belfield. Dead easy to use and works a treat on a laptop.

http://www.chartsandtides.co.uk/tideplotter

I have checked it's accuracy against other sources - 'official' port tide tables etc. there is often a bit of a variance but not enough to worry about - especialy as the experts will tell you atmospheric pressure changes the tide height etc.........

even the official sites disagree with each other - my Crouch tidetables aren't exactly the same as UKHO EAsytide. But in this case a few centimeters and a minute or so is hardly worth bothering with
 
Burnham Bob said:
I use Belfield. Dead easy to use and works a treat on a laptop.

http://www.chartsandtides.co.uk/tideplotter

I have checked it's accuracy against other sources - 'official' port tide tables etc. there is often a bit of a variance but not enough to worry about - especialy as the experts will tell you atmospheric pressure changes the tide height etc.........

even the official sites disagree with each other - my Crouch tidetables aren't exactly the same as UKHO EAsytide. But in this case a few centimeters and a minute or so is hardly worth bothering with
Click to expand...

+1
 
I find all this loading up difficult and never know what to trust and not trust.

My computer is not saying 'EUTidalcurrents_pi.dll' is not commonly downloaded and could harm my PC. this is in red text with a big shield, has anyone successfully downloaded these files?

Thanks in advance.

Toby
 
Ribtecer said:
I find all this loading up difficult and never know what to trust and not trust.

My computer is not saying 'EUTidalcurrents_pi.dll' is not commonly downloaded and could harm my PC. this is in red text with a big shield, has anyone successfully downloaded these files?

Thanks in advance.

Toby
Click to expand...

Toby

I have downloaded them and installed them.

I think in general you are unlikely to get a virus if you download stuff from a website that is owned by somebody you trust. I have even given up with virus software on one laptop as it interferes with everything.

I think the guy who invented macafee (who is an interesting character to say the least) is on record as saying that macafee is now just a virus like all others as they try and push expensive updates, make it impossible to remove etc etc!
 
Look up Neptune tides. Really good, solid and dependable. Runs happily,locally, on your laptop (so no need for an internet connection) and predicts into perpetuity. It's a one-time fee only of about £25. Produces a tidal curve for your chosen tide station that you can move along with the mouse, to tell the predicted height at whatever time you need, or vice-versa. The guy who owns it provides superb assistance, even by telephone, if you need it. No connection, just happy user, etc....
 
WXTide has always worked fine for me. Its only problem for UK users was that Droggy decided that tidal information, even though gathered at the expense of the public purse, wasn't thereby public data and hence would not be made available for public use to WXTide or other users.

Bureaucratic bumph.

There are ways around it however....

Here's a screenshot for today showing high and low tide, day and night, moon-phase, tidal height, range, and even for what period Sanderling would be afloat in her mud berth --

wxtide-sample.jpg

Mike
ETA This version is now 11 years old. I've had no reason to update it as it works fine, but later versions may look different.
 
KAL said:
Look up Neptune tides. Really good, solid and dependable. Runs happily,locally, on your laptop (so no need for an internet connection) and predicts into perpetuity. It's a one-time fee only of about £25. Produces a tidal curve for your chosen tide station that you can move along with the mouse, to tell the predicted height at whatever time you need, or vice-versa. The guy who owns it provides superb assistance, even by telephone, if you need it. No connection, just happy user, etc....
Click to expand...

uk tides is s free app
 
+1

Easy to use and clear, licence allows it to be put on 2 machines. still pick up local booklets as well for their local extras
 
sailorman said:
open cpn
Click to expand...
Interested. OpenCPN can display tidal info very well, but I couldn't find a way of getting legit UKHO data into it. I got a lot of advice of the form "person x has data that can be used", but being a fusspot, I want data with unambiguous provenance. Now.. don't get me wrong, this is no criticism of OpenCPN, which is a great program; it is a criticism of of the failure to make the data available. This means that there are two issues: getting the right data, and the tools to display predictions. OpenCPN seems to me to do the latter fine, but leaves the former to the user. Have I misunderstood?
 
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