gps puck and soft wear?

[welderxman1]

okay i was on here a while ago, and wanted to ask some one where i could find a puck and soft wear for my laptop? can't seem to find it in a store.
any one have an idea where i might be able to find info on that????

 

[Buck420]

okay i was on here a while ago, and wanted to ask some one where i could find a puck and soft wear for my laptop? can't seem to find it in a store.
any one have an idea where i might be able to find info on that????

http://www.milltechmarine.com/GlobalSat-BU-353-USB-WAAS-SiRF-Star-III-GPS-Receiver_p_146.html

This is just one of many sources for GPS pucks.
Milltech also offers chartplotter software, however,
software like "Seaclear", http://www.sping.com/seaclear/ is "free".
Google "chart plotter software" , etc. You should find something that you can use.

 

[Steve W]

You could call Maptech. When I loaded their nav software into my laptop they sent me to a website (not theirs) where I was able to order what I needed. Another source could be Landfall Navigation. They carry every major navigation program plus laptops, etc., and probably have them in stock.

 

[Tally Ho]

I am using OpenCPN, which I found easier to use than SeaClear. Installation, adding maps, etc seemed very intuitive. The program is free, open source and available for Windows and some Linux flavors. I think they are working on an Apple Mac version now.

There is reportedly a bug when using OpenCPN on a Windows 7 64-bit system (which is what I am running). The program runs fine, but would not recognize the USB GPS. It worked fine on my Windows XP machine, but not on my Win 7 64-bit.

I found this program ($12) that fixed the problem. http://gpsgate.com/products/gpsgate_client
Not sure exactly what it does, but once I installed it,OpenCPN say several COM ports that were not there before, and viola ! I had my GPS connection.

I am not using a puck style GPS. I borrowed a hand-held Garmin GPS that has a USB interface, just to test things out. My boat has GPS, so I am hoping to eventually pull the GPS signal from the SeaTalk network and use my laptop as the chart plotter.

I put some of the links I used (for the OpenCPN program, NOAA charts) on my website :

http://www.wcwebs.net/johnson/Hunter280/links.htm

 

[robertsapp]

Go to www.opencpn.org to download their terrific free chartplotter software. Go to www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov to download up to date raster and vector electronic charts for free. Tell OpenCPN what directory you've downloaded them to and it will automatically install them. Go to Amazon to buy a USB GPS receiver. You'll find dozens to choose from, many people use the BU-353, but there is supposed to be an issue with it and Windows 7 that the poster above has apparantly found a fix for. I believe the program he addresses keeps seriel ports open when they appear to be idle.

 

[Steve W]

I'm not sure what charting software you're using om your laptop but Defender carries what I use with my laptop running Offshore Navigator (Maptech). Google (without the quotes) "Zenstar III GPS Receiver With USB Connector" and it will bring you right there.