Transas or Seapro?

N

Nick2

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In my continuing efforts to join the electronic age I have been looking at electronic PC navigation and route planning for my laptop.

Both the Transas and Seapro have been recommended to me by notable movers and shakers of this very forum but would be interested to find out how they actually compare and which would be best for me?

Thanks

Nick

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Nick,

I would also take a serious look at C-map. Derived from the CM93 standard that commercial shipping uses. You are likely to get greater compatibility across systems. Seems to be the "industry standard" if there is such a thing.

Getting the software is just the start. Integrating it all together with your existing instrumentation is the key..and where the problems are likely to be.
Ive just been through all this, and have now got the laptop on the helm hooked up to the GPS, autopilot, radar, and DSC Radio, as well as a second (cheap secondhand) LCD Monitor on the flybridge running off the laptop VGA port, and a mouse extension.
Its all do-able without too much specialist knowledge. Drop me a PM if you need any further info.

Steve.

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Can only comment on the Transas which as you know I find excellent. Have never seen Seapro in action

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.suncoastmarine.co.uk>Sun Coast Sea School & Charter</A>
 
You have to seperate out the software programme and the actual charts. There are 2 seperate chart types raster and vector. Raster are the equivalent of scanned charts and do not zoom in scale very well. The better (but more expensive ) is vector, where the features of the chart are coded in software and then displayed at whatever degree of detail is required. There is no problems with zoom (and detail is normally increased as you zoom). This makes it easy to correct/update. The best IMHO of these is C-Map. Software also will vary with the detail and techniques required, and some of the manufacturers will sell different levels of their product (i.e similar to a £5 word processor versus £400 MS Word). Again the best of these IMHO is winchart. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.chartwork.com/>http://www.chartwork.com/</A>
All of these manufacturers will provide demos and a lot of them will be at Excel. Beware that some of the cheaper ones , are cheaper because their charts are not as up-to-date as they should be.

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Theres a new one in MBM new gear section that looks quite good in that you can update the charts via the internet which sounds good (Digiyacht I think it was called.)

Being the time of year it is, it must be worth waiting for the show to see what you like there?

They all sound great on paper, but when you look at them and try to use them, some have really unfriendly menus etc.

Thats assuming you still get any Christmas presents out there in the doghouse!



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Thanks all for helpful advice - I will press some buttons at boat show but will heed what has been said.

Thanks

Nick

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