Current or Potential SeaClear or Open CPN Users...

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Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
If you are a current or potential user of SeaClear, Open CPN or another computer based chart plotter and have regretted that you didn't have a cockpit display what follows might be a solution for you and one that costs just a little over $100. It gives you a 7" daylight display that with SeaClear will display up to about a 7 mile wide chart area with detail good enough to see water depths and other needed detail. If you zoom the chart all of the way in you can see sharp detail at SeaClear's maximum chart resolution. Running SeaClear in the "AUTOMATIC" mode SeaClear will keep your boat centered on the screen and move the chart under it.

You don't have to be a computer guru to make this work and you just need 12 volts to the display along with a cheap coax cable that can be run over almost any distance. If this interests you then here is the mod...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-navigation/Comp-ChartPlot-5.html

...and a picture....



.... of SeaClear running on the display out in full sun and ....



....one outside, but just in the shade similar to under the Bimini.

I think this is going to be a good deal for us and make SeaClear just that much better,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
A

alexco38

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Sep 25, 2008
1,096
CS 30 Toronto
http://www.amazon.ca/Pan-TC-970-9-7...MFG2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323108551&sr=8-1

Got one of this Le Pan 9.7 inches Android tablet for Xmas. Yes, it is cheaper at $169 in Canada than $249 in US. ;-) Battery lasts for 8 hours even with a camera.

Running a Remote Desktop app on the Android tablet controlling a Windows XP pro laptop in the Nav table. Seaclear, AIS and when WiFi is available in a marina, even Sailflow and weather forecast. No application to install on the laptop.

No wire no converter. Has mouse and keyboard control. Yes Le Pan is very bright even under direct sun light. Connect to the Laptop via WiFi or Bluetooth.

Yes the tablet is in a waterproof pouch. Touch screen does work over the plastic cover.

It should work with iPhone, iPad, and any Android devices.
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
kpgraci said:
..I don't want to say for sure, but I believe that once you get the VGA signal to RCA (via a converter box), all you need is an adaptor like this:

http://www.amazon.com/RCA-Coax-Cable-Video-Adapter/dp/B0028MXOF6

to mate the RCA to the coax - I think the RCA signal is the same format as the Coax, just need to change the resistance to 75ohm. Could be wrong.
Click to expand
Thanks, that might work, but that box also converts the A/V To RF Channels 3 Or 4 so I don't know how the TV would see the signal if that didn't take place. Your link did take me to some other converters, but so far the ones I've found also need the 9 volt input and I'd like 12 volts as that would simplify things some,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
kpgraci

kpgraci

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Jun 12, 2010
936
Oday 22 Orleans Marina, NOLA
Sumner said:
Thanks, that might work, but that box also converts the A/V To RF Channels 3 Or 4 so I don't know how the TV would see the signal if that didn't take place. Your link did take me to some other converters, but so far the ones I've found also need the 9 volt input and I'd like 12 volts as that would simplify things some
Click to expand
Oh, you may be right on that. The fist box puts it into a PAL (or whatever) TV format - but that's for use with a video-in mode of the TV? So to input it as a cable TV type signal it needs to be a Ch 3/4. Yeah, I suppose that's right.
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
alexco38 said:
TV resolution is no where near a PC or tablet.
Click to expand
True, but if I can see a couple miles off to the side and ahead of the boat that is all I need.

This is also an alternative to those that don't want to go the tablet route. We have a tablet for Ruth, but I'm not going to use it in the cockpit.

This is an alternative that is only about $100 and I hope others will post other alternatives that might be in that price range. I don't mind plugging it into 12 volts as that is handy at the helm and then I never have to worry about battery charge state.

If something bad happens we are out about $80.

I realize that this isn't a solution that 'everyone' is going to be happy with, but just wanted to share it for others that might be in a similar situation as us,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Very nice.
I'm thinking a port to bluetooth and an ipod/android solution would be a little less wire bound.
Most computer can do bluetooth or have a bluetooth PCMCIA card solution and all the mobile devices can so ...........
 
A

alexco38

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Sep 25, 2008
1,096
CS 30 Toronto
why all these technlogy

Because my pedestal guard is full of wires inside and the GPS doesn't show AIS. I don't need AIS during the day. But night racing is scary with freighters around. You can't tell if you are in collection course.

I use Seaclear at night with AIS only. Now i leave the laptop in the Nav table with Seaclear and AIS alarm on. The tablet in a water proof pouch in the cockit enable the helm to view AIS. The tablet keyboard and mouse let him zoom and control Seaclear.

I am thinking of a night vision wifi web cam at the bow at night. Looking for one that can remote control zoom. Pan and til plus water proof.
 
Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,204
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Very Creative!

I use SeaClear and Open CPN both, on my netbook below on the chart table. I really rarely need an above deck nav aid other than my radar and waypoint info. Still, this is a terrific application on the cheap! Thanks for posting.
 
kpgraci

kpgraci

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Jun 12, 2010
936
Oday 22 Orleans Marina, NOLA
Or just go with something like this, a small 7" computer monitor. One cable (USB in this case), no boxes, computer resolution...similar small monitors use a step down transformer to provide 9 or 12VDC for power.

The only issue would be viewing in sunlight, would need to see one up close or talk to someone that owned one.

http://www.amazon.com/7IN-LCD-800X480-350-DS-70U/dp/B002Q0WNOS
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
kpgraci said:
Or just go with something like this, a small 7" computer monitor. One cable (USB in this case), no boxes, computer resolution...similar small monitors use a step down transformer to provide 9 or 12VDC for power.

The only issue would be viewing in sunlight, would need to see one up close or talk to someone that owned one.

http://www.amazon.com/7IN-LCD-800X480-350-DS-70U/dp/B002Q0WNOS
Click to expand
That only has a brightness of 375 cd/m2. We have three 12volt monitors that are as bright or brighter than that. None of them will work in daylight conditions. One is a 20 watt 22 inch that we will take to the Endeavour for movies and for Ruth to use with her laptop.

A 10 watt 10 inch....



...that we use on the Mac for SeaClear..



...and a 10 watt 16 inch that I'll use with SeaClear on the Endeavour. These are all bright screens, but just not bright enough out in the sun.

The main objective was something that we could see in daylight and that was also inexpensive, under $100, so that if it was hurt it could be thrown away and replaced. The RCA screen at under $80 meets all of that, so I think we will be happy, but thanks for the input,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
kenn

kenn

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Apr 18, 2009
1,271
CL Sandpiper 565 Toronto
Another cool idea Sumner... and I also like the tablet suggestions.
 
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