Earlier this year I tried to use the Garmin GPS10, a small, bluetooth enabled wireless GPS receiver, to connect directly to the Bluechart software on my Vaio UX subnotebook.
Although establishing the bluetooth connection was easy (I seem to remember I was even able to make the Bluetooth software "see" the GPS10, but it is a while ago alas and the flashdrive in my brain does not seem to retain this type of information very well ) I was unable to get any kind of live connection where vessel position was continuously updated.
Garmin clearly tries to do everything possible to prevent sailors from using cheaper non-marine GPS units and displays with the Bluechart software and data.
However, just as I was ready to throw in the towel, I discovered more or less by accident that they had left one small vulnerability in their impressive suit of armor: when going into GPS simulation mode using the last bluechart screen image, lo and behold there was the position transmitted by the Garmin GPS10 right on top of the colorful marine chart on my computer screen!
So, in principle at least, I could have used the GPS10 but I would have had to update our position every time by switching in and out of simulation mode. Maybe someone on this board is computer savvy enough to write a smalll macro??
I hope Garmin does not read this, though, or even that tiny vulnerability might soon be plugged......
Have fun,
Flying Dutchman
