Uploading routes to Raymarine ST80

[reeferjon]

I recently purchased Maptech charts of the south coast and am using them with the free Offshore Navigator Lite software that comes on the CD. I have to say that it's pretty good...

I'm interfacing the software with my RayMarine ST80 setup (GPS, depth, wind, log and various Multivew displays.) I've purchased the Seatalk to NMEA convertor, which is quite happily churning out NMEA data such as position and heading to Offshore Navigator Lite.

However what I really want to be able to do is upload the routes & waypoints that I enter into Offshore Navigator on to the ST80, so that I can use the GPS's interal navigation functions to track the route. However I can't seem to set the ST80 to receive waypoints and routes from an external system. Has anyone out there had any experience doing this?

I s'pose the other option is to go and buy RayTech 4.1 but I'd rather use what I've got.


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[steve28]

This was a problem for me up until recently, i have the Raymarine rn300 gps and the maptech software did not want to know, i emailed them on a regular basis requesting an update for the software (maptech), and low and behold they have produced it after 12 months of anoying them!
This does not help you though.
I was on the point of changing the software like you to the raymarine version, the thought of just pluging in the seatalk and being able to up and download the data was very appealing.

Their website in the us is worth checking: http://www.maptech.com/support/doc.cfm?docid=176&plid=50&CFID=2961136&CFTOKEN=3334390

steve

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[NYJohnB]

I don't know if this will help at all but...

I use Nobeltec software on my laptop and load routes and waypoints into a Northstar chartplotter. I map out all my routes and waypoints and then upload them into the boat.

I don't think I would have been able to get this to work on my own. I had a marine electronics vendor set it up and configure for me.

It does work, but is less than elegant in the process....

I have to change settings in the software and navigation system to do the upload.

The Nobeltec system allows waypoint and route names that are longer than the Northstar, so they need to be names carefully.

Additionally, the Nobeltec software does not create unique names for new waypoints. As I create a route I need to rename every waypoint before uploading and ensure those names are not duplicates of any waypoints I have previously created. If there are duplicates they will update existing ones in the Northstar on the boat.

I consider this pretty poor design on the software side.

From my limited experience, these solutions are anything but clean and while there appear to be standards, there are still issues.

I also have a Simrad system on the boat The electronics vendor was never able to get the uploads to work between the software and the Simrad, even though the Simrad is supposed to be a supported product.

The Simrad is used primarily for radar, and is effectively a back-up gps/chart plotter.

Each of these are duplicated at both of my helms. With regard to th edual helms, the Simrad is better because it has a repeated or slave set up and one chart cartridge will work for both stations. The Northstar however is two distinct units, all waypoints have to be synced and requires a cart cartridge for each station or you bring the cartridge with you if you change helms - FRUSTRATING.

Hope this is of some help

John B


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