UK Charts on Android - oeSENC+Open CPN?

[Mark-1]

Is oeSENC+Open CPN on Android worth it for UK Charts or is it false economy and better to stick with Navionics?

The thing that really bugs me about Navionics is the 1yr contract but oeSENC isn't much better since phones change pretty regularly.

Opinions?

 

[Moodysailor]

I'm no expert, and am commenting here as much to follow this post (as I'm sure someone out there will know more that I).
I run OpenCPN and splashed out on both the raster charts and vector. Raster from Visitmyharbour, and oeSENC vector.
I've given up using the raster charts as I find them, tbh, far too "faffy" to setup - once they work they are good, but I'm a big believer in the "just works" mantra, and these don't for me - though I fully accept it is probably user error.
With any vector chart I just accept that there is an annual subscription - it seems to be the business model for most types. I'm also using Navionics on the tablet/phone but the total cost of both runs small in the bigger overall cost of boating so I'm going to run with it for the foreseeable.
Sorry for not really adding much other than to sympathise with you - the only thing I did hear that I am interested in is that Imray apparently were trying to get their charts on OpenCPN. Now that would be of interest to me.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Is oeSENC+Open CPN on Android worth it for UK Charts or is it false economy and better to stick with Navionics?

The thing that really bugs me about Navionics is the 1yr contract but oeSENC isn't much better since phones change pretty regularly.

Opinions?

Works fine for me. You need the paid version of OpenCPN for Android & the oeSENC 4.0 plugin installed. You pay for your charts on the website then download & install them within OpenCPN.

You get two licenses. You might lose a license when you change phone, but they are a lot cheaper then Navionics.

 

[Mark-1]

Works fine for me. You need the paid version of OpenCPN for Android & the oeSENC 4.0 plugin installed. You pay for your charts on the website then download & install them within OpenCPN.

You get two licenses. You might lose a license when you change phone, but they are a lot cheaper then Navionics.

From what I can see UK Charts are £18.50, Paid OpenCPN is £7 and that's the total cost, which (with two licenses) will last me for my ownership of current phone, plus the next phone. I'm not a regular phone upgrader so based on past use that would be over five years. (Or I could drop two phones under the law mower in quick succession.)

Whereas Navionics is over £30 a year forever whatever happens.

It does seem like oeSENC is the way to go for me.

Thanks to both, useful contributions.

 

[dunedin]

I have a full set of UK Admiralty charts running in Memory Map on Android. Cost about £30 and no need to pay annual subscription

 

[Mark-1]

I have a full set of UK Admiralty charts running in Memory Map on Android. Cost about £30 and no need to pay annual subscription

That sound's more like it. I presume they're raster? Do they work ok? From VMH?

EDIT: From here? UK & Ireland Marine Charts – Memory-Map Outdoor Navigation Apps | Ordnance Survey | Hema Maps Looks like 1 year subscription?

EDIT2: Yeah, downloaded memory map and it does appear to be a one year subscription. Charts seem to be viewable on any device. And cheaper than Navionics. Pretty sure they're raster though. Not sure how I feel about that.

 

[Telstar26]

I'd suggest the Marine Navigator app with VisitMyHarbour raster charts as probably the best budget solution. Works well, with no annual subs, unless you want chart updates.

 

[Mark-1]

I'd suggest the Marine Navigator app with VisitMyHarbour raster charts as probably the best budget solution. Works well, with no annual subs, unless you want chart updates.

Thanks, that's pretty much where I started looking but Marine Navigator is no longer in Playstore.

 

[dunedin]

That sound's more like it. I presume they're raster? Do they work ok? From VMH?

EDIT: From here? UK & Ireland Marine Charts – Memory-Map Outdoor Navigation Apps | Ordnance Survey | Hema Maps Looks like 1 year subscription?

EDIT2: Yeah, downloaded memory map and it does appear to be a one year subscription. Charts seem to be viewable on any device. And cheaper than Navionics. Pretty sure they're raster though. Not sure how I feel about that.

MemoryMap charts are indeed raster - which I like to complement the vector ones on my chart plotter.
They do seem to have been messing around with the pricing model. Generally they have had a winter sale with full UK price around £25, which can use as long as want - but they may be trying to push subscription now

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I'd suggest the Marine Navigator app with VisitMyHarbour raster charts as probably the best budget solution. Works well, with no annual subs, unless you want chart updates.

There's no annual fee with oeSENC charts other than for updates.

 

[fifer]

I'm using navionics on a tablet for day to day navigation, but also have opencpn installed with antares for when I need the larger scale charts.

FWIW I found opencpn just a bit too laggy on the tablet for use as the go to solution

 

[Mark-1]

WIW I found opencpn just a bit too laggy on the tablet for use as the go to solution

Is that with Raster or Vector Charts?

 

[Sea-Fever]

Is the calculation people are using (annual subscription) the right one? Surely it depends on whether you are happy using slightly out of date charts. If you mainly sail familiar waters a chart is more likely to be used at a glance to check on progress or maybe the progress of an AIS target. The exact position of AtoN marks or other stuff that may change from last year is probably less important to you.

I have both Navionics on the phones/tablets and openCPN with OEsenc charts and I dont get too bothered with annual updates. If I were to go further afield I would get up to date charts at that stage.

 

[Mark-1]

Is the calculation people are using (annual subscription) the right one? Surely it depends on whether you are happy using slightly out of date charts. If you mainly sail familiar waters a chart is more likely to be used at a glance to check on progress or maybe the progress of an AIS target. The exact position of AtoN marks or other stuff that may change from last year is probably less important to you.

I have both Navionics on the phones/tablets and openCPN with OEsenc charts and I dont get too bothered with annual updates. If I were to go further afield I would get up to date charts at that stage.

I'd be delighted to sail with out of date charts. If you can point me at a source that allows me to keep the charts forever, just without updates, I'd jump at that.

As far as I can see oeSENC is the only one that does that. (Ownership is limited by the lifetime of the two devices you put it on.)

 

[RobbieW]

I'd be delighted to sail with out of date charts. If you can point me at a source that allows me to keep the charts forever, just without updates, I'd jump at that.

As far as I can see oeSENC is the only one that does that. (Ownership is limited by the lifetime of the two devices you put it on.)

I'm curious about you saying you no longer have access to out of date charts with Navionics. On my phone I havent updated anything since November '19 but I still have all the chart areas I had downloaded within the subscriptions I had

 

[Mark-1]

I'm curious about you saying you no longer have access to out of date charts with Navionics. On my phone I havent updated anything since November '19 but I still have all the chart areas I had downloaded within the subscriptions I had

New information, Blackadder.... Thanks. That would work for me fine. Albeit I doubt I could then install my out date charts on a new phone, but I could handle that.

 

[Bristolfashion]

All of these solutions are so cheap compared to paper charts, a tin of antifoul or a " proper" chart Plotter, just get a few. I do navionics plus the Marine Navigator solution and that seem great. Compared to hitting something, updates & all other sources of information are cheap as chips.

 

[Telstar26]

Thanks, that's pretty much where I started looking but Marine Navigator is no longer in Playstore.

So I see - I hadn't realised that. According to the developer, that's temporary... I do hope so!

 

[JNKScot]

Works fine for me. You need the paid version of OpenCPN for Android & the oeSENC 4.0 plugin installed. You pay for your charts on the website then download & install them within OpenCPN.

You get two licenses. You might lose a license when you change phone, but they are a lot cheaper then Navionics.

Just a question; when you change your phone and restore settings etc. from the backup of the previous one, do the licences not transfer across as well?

 

[CJ13]

Once you’ve bought a Navionics Chart its yours. They don’t take them away after a year. You only need a subscription if you want updates or some routing features.
I’ve transfered Navionics to new devices without any difficult.