USB GPS Dongle & Navigation software for laptop

[Conachair]

Surely it can't only be me having a problem

I have OpenCpn 2.5 and cm93 maps. Whenever I try adding the maps to OpenCpn I get two messages.
The first one:

opencpn message: Unexpected parameter 'C:/CM93MAPS\cm93_v2wkol_Jan2011.part1.rar'
Second message:

opencpn message: Usage: opencpn[/unit_test_1]/unit_test_1

Can anybody explain how I can solve this (without being too technical), please?

Looks like your charts are still in a *.rar zip file, you need to unzip them. Try just double clicking on the cm93_v2wkol_Jan2011.part1.rar file or right click and look for "open with" . Once the file has been unzipped point opencpn to that directory. Mine is in c:\cm93 . Your path has the slash the wrong way as well, should be "c:\..." not "c:/..." bit odd.

 

[chi-girl]

it says part1.rar, is there a part two as well, if there is you need to stitch the individual files together using winrar or similar

 

[Conachair]

it says part1.rar, is there a part two as well, if there is you need to stitch the individual files together using winrar or similar

Pretty sure you need to unzip the .rar file, opencpn can't see inside it but needs see the files themselves.

Heres another thread on the subject - http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243905

 

[no28]

Looks like your charts are still in a *.rar zip file, you need to unzip them. Try just double clicking on the cm93_v2wkol_Jan2011.part1.rar file or right click and look for "open with" . Once the file has been unzipped point opencpn to that directory. Mine is in c:\cm93 . Your path has the slash the wrong way as well, should be "c:\..." not "c:/..." bit odd.

Thanks for the reply. I've tried double clicking and right clicking to "open with" and that's when I get the two messages.

As for the the slash the wrong way - that was just my fault. I typed it in wrong. it is as it should be c:\

 

[chi-girl]

i think you need to try winrar and drag and drop the files into the winrar open window. that's what i did to unzip and then stitch all the parts together.

 

[Conachair]

Thanks for the reply. I've tried double clicking and right clicking to "open with" and that's when I get the two messages.

As for the the slash the wrong way - that was just my fault. I typed it in wrong. it is as it should be c:\

Try it again but in windows explorer, close opencpn then try. Not sure if windows has inbuilt software to unzip .rar files, I use http://www.izarc.org/

 

[V1701]

The Bluenext dongle works well with Open CPN & CM93 charts, picks up fine inside the boat as well. Winrar trial version (amongst others) will open the .rar files, the ones I have are 10 in number plus an update, all dated May 2010...

 

[no28]

Try it again but in windows explorer, close opencpn then try. Not sure if windows has inbuilt software to unzip .rar files, I use http://www.izarc.org/

Thanks again, tried that but no luck. I think I'm losing the will to live.

The Bluenext dongle works well with Open CPN & CM93 charts, picks up fine inside the boat as well. Winrar trial version (amongst others) will open the .rar files, the ones I have are 10 in number plus an update, all dated May 2010...

The charts I have are numbered 1 - 6 and dated Jan 2011. I'm going to delete the lot and start from scratch.

Maybe I'll stick with my ipad and navionics.

 

[Conachair]

Thanks again, tried that but no luck. I think I'm losing the will to live.



The charts I have are numbered 1 - 6 and dated Jan 2011. I'm going to delete the lot and start from scratch.

Maybe I'll stick with my ipad and navionics.

Don't give up. you'll get there in the end and feel good about it

My cm93 folder has a lot of folders inside, numbered from 00300000 to 04501020
Each of thoses folders contains more folders, typically "A", "B","C" and "Z" but they seem to differ in each 03000... folder. These are what opencpm wants to look at.

Have you got a folder called cm93 with something like that inside? If so then you *should* be in business.

View attachment 13561

 

[no28]

Don't give up. you'll get there in the end and feel good about it


Have you got a folder called cm93 with something like that inside? If so then you *should* be in business.

View attachment 13561

Yes got that, think i will be sorted thanks to a pm from "chi-girl"

Many thanks for your help.

 

[yoda]

I think you will find that your sailing area will determine which charts you buy and therefor the plotting software. Because I was unlikely to leave the English channel area but wanted the french coast charts in detail I went for the Imray software which has worked well for me. You do however need to be careful about some estuaries because for instance the upper Tamar is not covered well by Imray or Seapro.

Yoda

 

[sailorman]

I am in the process of buying a USB GPS dongle to plug to the computer and able to use the computer as chartplotter for navigation and to plan the passages from home. (I also have a SH 300 which stays on the boat)

I have found three dongles so far; Maplin, Ncom, Bluenext. The Bluenext is half the price (£15) of the Maplins (£30).

I have not purchased the navigation software as yet.

Have you used any of these GPS Dongles? Which navigation software to get for a laptop?

i have just bought one of these

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000PKX2KA/ref=oss_product

 

[VicMallows]

Because I was unlikely to leave the English channel area but wanted the french coast charts in detail I went for the Imray software which has worked well for me.

Yoda,
Does the current Imray plotter software include CPA/TCPA ? My (2008) version doesn't which was the biggest negative for me. I did enquire at the last LBS but the person on their stand didn't have a clue what I was talking about.

Vic