GPS / MacBook

[robert dros]

Perhaps there are sailors who are able to help me out.

I have a dedicated Garmin Chart Plotter and plan trips on my Macbook using Homeport and Software.

I would like to use my Macbook as a back up using the same Garmin maps / Homeport and a GPS receiver with USB plug.
What's available and what works best?

Rob

 

[robert dros]

I think I found what I needed and this looks very good, would like to share it with others
and see what they think of it, the guy who worked it out is ACE!

http://yachtarabella.blogspot.com.au/2008/02/laptop-navigation-with-mac.html

Rob

 

[robert dros]

I think I found what I needed and this looks very good, would like to share it with others
and see what they think of it, the guy who worked it out is ACE!

http://yachtarabella.blogspot.com.au/2008/02/laptop-navigation-with-mac.html

Rob

Installed the Passage Plus program without difficulties and running fine, the NZ Raster charts are very easy to install,and are free! Purchased Australian Seafarer RNC Charts , indeed they needed the Pin and Permit that's supplied when buying Passage Plus.

The charts and unlock key on a CD! Not such a problem I transferred the CD information to a USB Memory stick using my wife's laptop , actually one CD at the time to follow the prompting sequence, and that worked!

I have all the charts installed and use a Globalsat BU GPS apart from inexpensive (45 bucks on Ebay) very easy to operate, The GPS test utility doesn't seem to operate, but GPS works fine with the charts , that's the main thing.
I am also looking at a Smart Radio SR161 AIS receiver to complete the set up.

The beauty of the set up is, that I have all in one place, Laptop, Charts, GPS, email, the lot!and at a very reasonable cost, also fitted an adapter so I can run the laptop off 12V DC as well.

Personally I love Raster charts, the Vector doesn't do it for me, there is a possibility that critical information is not showing, not so with Raster.
At the end of he day it is a personal choice.
Must say that in the professional arena, the ECDIS leans more towards the Vector charts.

I love Passage Plus, it doesn't show all the pop ups, easy to operate.

 

[dparilla]

Nice setup. I have found numerous gps test routines that do not work because of bad "sentence" construction. I figure the real test is whether it drives the charts or not.

 

[robert dros]

Nice setup. I have found numerous gps test routines that do not work because of bad "sentence" construction. I figure the real test is whether it drives the charts or not.

That's something (driving the charts) I will find out Dan in due course, however when I press the 'Red Button' in the right top corner 'Find Boat' it will show the present position on the appropriate chart.

When I do my planning, courses will show up on all the charts, so it must!
I found this program very easy to operate and uncluttered, for me it is a winner, and I can plan my voyages at home.

 

[RichH]

There's only ONE choice for a nav. program for a MAC

www.macenc.com uses NOAA raster or preferebly NOAA ENC (S57) charting ... best of all you can download all NOAA charts for free.
MacENC is written for macs and therefore needs no 'emulation/translator' to decode from WinDOZE dopey OS, etc.
MacENC also serves as a 'hub' for peripheral navigation and can be easily integrated to AIS, Radar, Masthead Wind instruments (need NEMA 083 decoder) for VMG calculation/optimization, depth, rpm, etc, etc. etc. Theres also a very active forum for other integrations, etc. - http://macsailing.net/fbb/ which highlights MacENC and other Mac 'friendly' stuff.

You can download a 'trial'/demo to see if you like it - above website. I would also suggest that you use an independent 'hockey puck' GPS receiver and mount it on your coachroof, etc. rather than using a 'clunky' serial port connection to Garmin, etc. GPS, chartplotters, etc. A bluetooth enabled GPS is perhaps a better alternative to a 'hockey puck'. Someday Garmin and the other GPS manufacturers will realize that 'serial ports' on computers became obsolete about 10-12 years ago.
MacENC one of THE very best nav. programs on the market, and naturally it runs on a 'mac' .... so you get the best of all worlds.

Ive been using MacENC as my 'hub' for long distance cruising for about 7 years ... it is OUTSTAND5TANDING.

 

[robert dros]

www.macenc.com uses NOAA raster or preferebly NOAA ENC (S57) charting ... best of all you can download all NOAA charts for free.
MacENC is written for macs and therefore needs no 'emulation/translator' to decode from WinDOZE dopey OS, etc.
MacENC also serves as a 'hub' for peripheral navigation and can be easily integrated to AIS, Radar, Masthead Wind instruments (need NEMA 083 decoder) for VMG calculation/optimization, depth, rpm, etc, etc. etc. Theres also a very active forum for other integrations, etc. - http://macsailing.net/fbb/ which highlights MacENC and other Mac 'friendly' stuff.

You can download a 'trial'/demo to see if you like it - above website. I would also suggest that you use an independent 'hockey puck' GPS receiver and mount it on your coachroof, etc. rather than using a 'clunky' serial port connection to Garmin, etc. GPS, chartplotters, etc. A bluetooth enabled GPS is perhaps a better alternative to a 'hockey puck'. Someday Garmin and the other GPS manufacturers will realize that 'serial ports' on computers became obsolete about 10-12 years ago.
MacENC one of THE very best nav. programs on the market, and naturally it runs on a 'mac' .... so you get the best of all worlds.

Ive been using MacENC as my 'hub' for long distance cruising for about 7 years ... it is OUTSTAND5TANDING.

What you forgot to mention they are Vector charts, not Raster, sure there are other products available like Avionics but all based on Vector ( ECDIS) , not all free though.
If you prefer Raster charts, Passage Plus is a real winner, easy to use, it will accept British Admiralty,Aus. NZ raster charts without any fuss, and GlobalSat BU-353 using USB ports on the laptop, very easy to use.

I have been searching and scanning for a decent product that will give me world coverage at a reasonable cost using a Macbook and use Raster instead of Vector, well this is it!

 

[robert dros]

Passage Plus Raster Chart on my Macbook Air

 

[robert dros]

Installed the Passage Plus program without difficulties and running fine, the NZ Raster charts are very easy to install,and are free! Purchased Australian Seafarer RNC Charts , indeed they needed the Pin and Permit that's supplied when buying Passage Plus.

The charts and unlock key on a CD! Not such a problem I transferred the CD information to a USB Memory stick using my wife's laptop , actually one CD at the time to follow the prompting sequence, and that worked!

I have all the charts installed and use a Globalsat BU GPS apart from inexpensive (45 bucks on Ebay) very easy to operate, The GPS test utility doesn't seem to operate, but GPS works fine with the charts , that's the main thing.
I am also looking at a Smart Radio SR161 AIS receiver to complete the set up.

The beauty of the set up is, that I have all in one place, Laptop, Charts, GPS, email, the lot!and at a very reasonable cost, also fitted an adapter so I can run the laptop off 12V DC as well.

Personally I love Raster charts, the Vector doesn't do it for me, there is a possibility that critical information is not showing, not so with Raster.
At the end of he day it is a personal choice.
Must say that in the professional arena, the ECDIS leans more towards the Vector charts.

I love Passage Plus, it doesn't show all the pop ups, easy to operate.

sample screen shot

 

[RichH]

What you forgot to mention they are Vector charts, not Raster, sure there are other products available like Avionics but all based on Vector ( ECDIS) , not all free though.
If you prefer Raster charts, Passage Plus is a real winner, easy to use, it will accept British Admiralty,Aus. NZ raster charts without any fuss, and GlobalSat BU-353 using USB ports on the laptop, very easy to use.

I have been searching and scanning for a decent product that will give me world coverage at a reasonable cost using a Macbook and use Raster instead of Vector, well this is it!

MacENC handles BOTH vector and Raster charts.

 

[robert dros]

MacENC handles BOTH vector and Raster charts.

Thanks RichH for your input, yes MacENC is a great program, however it mainly caters for the US/ Canadian market,so it sort of excludes us Down Under I am afraid, I had a look at that earlier on before hooked on Passage Plus I have to admit.
MacENC is capable of downloading Vector UKHO Electronic Navigational Charts only I believe, a pity, US Charts are not for us.
MacENC is more expensive to purchase, Passage Plus a mere $70 and will accept ARCS, NZMariner and Seafarer RNC charts.

 

[RichH]

Rob - check out www.macsailing.com forum for S57 charting for Oz and NZ. Just pose your direct question on the forum site. If S57 vector charts are available for those areas they will probably be compatible with MacENC.