Delorme sells a GPS reciever that plugs into the USB port of a laptop computer. It also sells street maps and topo maps. Their software will show your position as you drive around town or back on a logging road. But it dooesn't say anything about nautical charts. Are there compatible nautical charts available with the Delorme system??? I suspect that the big boys have made deals to extract the maximum amount of money from consumers. At $140 for the reciever, street atlas and eastern topo's it is a good deal even if I can't get nautical charts that will work. Even on the boat it will help to know what roads etc are nearby. Coming up the Tenn-tom I often wondered where we were in relation to the surrounding towns. The strip chart did a pretty good job of letting me know where I was on the water but relating that to a state road map was not easy or accurate. We basically used bridges with highway numbers but didn't go under that many bridges.
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Delorme
I use a Delorme GPS on my laptop running Fugawi Marine software. The GPS just plugs into the USB port. Sometimes there is an error locating the GPS. I just reboot and it solves the problem.
I use a Delorme GPS on my laptop running Fugawi Marine software. The GPS just plugs into the USB port. Sometimes there is an error locating the GPS. I just reboot and it solves the problem.
Programs out there
There are a lot of gps units out for a PC and handheld just do a search and you will find them. The programs I like to use with the PC are: Memory-Map Navigator http://www.memory-map.com/ works with my Magellen gps and any device that uses NMEA 0183 output, which is fairly standard. The good thing about Memory-Map is that you can use free NOAA raster charts with it http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov/. Another program I like is 7c's map programs http://www.sevencs.com/ They use the free NOAA ENC charts, which are better than raster but do not have the same coverage.
There are a lot of gps units out for a PC and handheld just do a search and you will find them. The programs I like to use with the PC are: Memory-Map Navigator http://www.memory-map.com/ works with my Magellen gps and any device that uses NMEA 0183 output, which is fairly standard. The good thing about Memory-Map is that you can use free NOAA raster charts with it http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov/. Another program I like is 7c's map programs http://www.sevencs.com/ They use the free NOAA ENC charts, which are better than raster but do not have the same coverage.
No.
The deLorme "Street Atlas" series do not allow you to load other maps, they are an integrated package. The company has a very protective proprietary posture about EVERYTHING, right down to the pinouts on their GPS cables. I don't know any packages that show detailed marine charts AND land areas. Although, the Esso road maps used to be very useful because they showed yacht club locations.<G>
The deLorme "Street Atlas" series do not allow you to load other maps, they are an integrated package. The company has a very protective proprietary posture about EVERYTHING, right down to the pinouts on their GPS cables. I don't know any packages that show detailed marine charts AND land areas. Although, the Esso road maps used to be very useful because they showed yacht club locations.<G>
It works for me
You have to have a separete chart/program reader. You have to download a serail port usb simulator from Delorme and maybe the driver. You also have to let the Delormo Atlass program that you want to use the GPS both for Delormo and non-Delormo applications, this allows the USB Serial port simulator to chose a comm port. The GPS emulator is the NEMA 183 from the GPS installer on your chart reade/program (I am using Ocean Navigator Lite) and figure out which com port the simulator is attached to, mine was comm 2. Call/email the Delormo CS, they were vey helpful, but I figured it out before they emailed me witht he procedure. velero
You have to have a separete chart/program reader. You have to download a serail port usb simulator from Delorme and maybe the driver. You also have to let the Delormo Atlass program that you want to use the GPS both for Delormo and non-Delormo applications, this allows the USB Serial port simulator to chose a comm port. The GPS emulator is the NEMA 183 from the GPS installer on your chart reade/program (I am using Ocean Navigator Lite) and figure out which com port the simulator is attached to, mine was comm 2. Call/email the Delormo CS, they were vey helpful, but I figured it out before they emailed me witht he procedure. velero
Maptech sells real time navigation
software that comes with a set of NOAA charts as well as Army Corps river charts on CD for $50. The charts can be downloaded for free, but having them handy on a disk might be worth the extra cost. The Delorme usb gps can be bought seperately for about $50, or you could pick up a Garmin GPS 18, which is the same type of unit. I have the Garmin and it works really well, plus is came with street navigation software.
software that comes with a set of NOAA charts as well as Army Corps river charts on CD for $50. The charts can be downloaded for free, but having them handy on a disk might be worth the extra cost. The Delorme usb gps can be bought seperately for about $50, or you could pick up a Garmin GPS 18, which is the same type of unit. I have the Garmin and it works really well, plus is came with street navigation software.
ditto Larry's comment about SeaClear II
SeaClear II is free and chart upgrades are free as well. NOAA maintains the charts...download for free from them...contact me for more info. With an onboard, low cost PC (used laptop), an equally inexpensive handheld gps, and a $30 interconnect cable from WestMarine, you're ready. SeaClear is easy to use...easy to plan trips with gui/mouse interface. rich
SeaClear II is free and chart upgrades are free as well. NOAA maintains the charts...download for free from them...contact me for more info. With an onboard, low cost PC (used laptop), an equally inexpensive handheld gps, and a $30 interconnect cable from WestMarine, you're ready. SeaClear is easy to use...easy to plan trips with gui/mouse interface. rich
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