I have always used paper charts and have now decided to buy a PC-based software package. I sail in Canadian waters off the west coast. Any ideas?
PC-Based Navigation Software
- Thread starter Tsehum Pete
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I Use The Fugawi System
I have a mini tower desktop mounted in a locker in the aft cabin. I ran a 50 foot video cable to the cockpit and mounted a 15 inch LCD. I got the US ENC charts with the software and I understand that you can get the Canadian ENC charts for a fee. We feed the PC with a Magellen GPS and have found that the the system gives us virtually perfect location. If the system says there is a buoy just to the starboard side, and it will be there. Another thing that is needed is a mouse connection. I have used two different systems. I first tried a wireless mouse that had the receiver on the inside of the boat near the spot where we used the mouse in the cockpit. That worked fairly well but last year I ran a USB connection to the cockpit which is a more reliable solution. You also need an inverter and reasonable battery power. The only downside is that the monitor is not a transreflective unit. Not at $3000 for a real one. We use an glare shield and rotate it so it is not in direct sun. It works really well at least 95% of the time.
I have a mini tower desktop mounted in a locker in the aft cabin. I ran a 50 foot video cable to the cockpit and mounted a 15 inch LCD. I got the US ENC charts with the software and I understand that you can get the Canadian ENC charts for a fee. We feed the PC with a Magellen GPS and have found that the the system gives us virtually perfect location. If the system says there is a buoy just to the starboard side, and it will be there. Another thing that is needed is a mouse connection. I have used two different systems. I first tried a wireless mouse that had the receiver on the inside of the boat near the spot where we used the mouse in the cockpit. That worked fairly well but last year I ran a USB connection to the cockpit which is a more reliable solution. You also need an inverter and reasonable battery power. The only downside is that the monitor is not a transreflective unit. Not at $3000 for a real one. We use an glare shield and rotate it so it is not in direct sun. It works really well at least 95% of the time.
try something that's free?
I've been using some freeware and free nautical charts. The freeware comes from SeaClear and the charts from the (U.S.) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency NOAA. All you need is a handheld gps with an NMEA port capable of transmitting NMEA 0183 formatted data and a cable to link to your pc (laptop in my case). The software is available at http://204.202.14.119/seaclear/ and the charts are at http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/download.htm. It appears the charts cover a significant portion of the Canadian non-Artic east and west coasts. Although the charts are raster based (not vector) they are surprisingly detailed. Rich
I've been using some freeware and free nautical charts. The freeware comes from SeaClear and the charts from the (U.S.) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency NOAA. All you need is a handheld gps with an NMEA port capable of transmitting NMEA 0183 formatted data and a cable to link to your pc (laptop in my case). The software is available at http://204.202.14.119/seaclear/ and the charts are at http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/download.htm. It appears the charts cover a significant portion of the Canadian non-Artic east and west coasts. Although the charts are raster based (not vector) they are surprisingly detailed. Rich
Rish, your 2nd link
for the charts did not work. Can you please try to place it again. Thanks George
for the charts did not work. Can you please try to place it again. Thanks George
link to raster charts
There were problems with the second link, to the charts...here it is again http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/download.htm
There were problems with the second link, to the charts...here it is again http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/download.htm
Help a Mac guy
I came upon a windows lap top and am trying to set it up for navigation. Being a mac user, I am not not familiar with the the steps one needs to use for a windows computer. On my windows computer: I downloaded the Sea Clear II I also downlaoded some raster charts from NOAA I cannot get Sea Clear to load the charts. What steps must I go through for this to happen?
I came upon a windows lap top and am trying to set it up for navigation. Being a mac user, I am not not familiar with the the steps one needs to use for a windows computer. On my windows computer: I downloaded the Sea Clear II I also downlaoded some raster charts from NOAA I cannot get Sea Clear to load the charts. What steps must I go through for this to happen?
JB
I am still a paper chart guy. I am not sure the free veiwer will support the GPS inputs but you can use it to print chart segments and for planning. I imagine all of the plotting programs are pretty much the same just a matter of which one makes you comfortable.
I am still a paper chart guy. I am not sure the free veiwer will support the GPS inputs but you can use it to print chart segments and for planning. I imagine all of the plotting programs are pretty much the same just a matter of which one makes you comfortable.
JB
I am still a paper chart guy. I am not sure the free veiwer will support the GPS inputs but you can use it to print chart segments and for planning. I imagine all of the plotting programs are pretty much the same just a matter of which one makes you comfortable.
I am still a paper chart guy. I am not sure the free veiwer will support the GPS inputs but you can use it to print chart segments and for planning. I imagine all of the plotting programs are pretty much the same just a matter of which one makes you comfortable.
Umm, if you mean me,
then the answer to your question is that the USB thingy IS a GPS receiver. It just doesn't have a screen or buttons and stuff which is how it can be powered through the USB cable alone and only uses milliamps. It outputs a standard NMEA 0183 signal that pretty much any charting program will recognize (it was designed specifically for this purpose) through the USB connection. It's about the size of a half-dollar and I think I paid about $70 for mine. It comes with a CD that contains the drivers and instructions. Plug it in and your computer becomes a plotter. Hope that answers your question. If you meant me, that is...
then the answer to your question is that the USB thingy IS a GPS receiver. It just doesn't have a screen or buttons and stuff which is how it can be powered through the USB cable alone and only uses milliamps. It outputs a standard NMEA 0183 signal that pretty much any charting program will recognize (it was designed specifically for this purpose) through the USB connection. It's about the size of a half-dollar and I think I paid about $70 for mine. It comes with a CD that contains the drivers and instructions. Plug it in and your computer becomes a plotter. Hope that answers your question. If you meant me, that is...
Umm, if you mean me,
then the answer to your question is that the USB thingy IS a GPS receiver. It just doesn't have a screen or buttons and stuff which is how it can be powered through the USB cable alone and only uses milliamps. It outputs a standard NMEA 0183 signal that pretty much any charting program will recognize (it was designed specifically for this purpose) through the USB connection. It's about the size of a half-dollar and I think I paid about $70 for mine. It comes with a CD that contains the drivers and instructions. Plug it in and your computer becomes a plotter. Hope that answers your question. If you meant me, that is...
then the answer to your question is that the USB thingy IS a GPS receiver. It just doesn't have a screen or buttons and stuff which is how it can be powered through the USB cable alone and only uses milliamps. It outputs a standard NMEA 0183 signal that pretty much any charting program will recognize (it was designed specifically for this purpose) through the USB connection. It's about the size of a half-dollar and I think I paid about $70 for mine. It comes with a CD that contains the drivers and instructions. Plug it in and your computer becomes a plotter. Hope that answers your question. If you meant me, that is...
Let me get this straight
SO there is no need for any software when you purchase this half-dollar sized GPS reciever? Sorry if I am slow on the uptake, I haven't herd of anything like this.
SO there is no need for any software when you purchase this half-dollar sized GPS reciever? Sorry if I am slow on the uptake, I haven't herd of anything like this.
Let me get this straight
SO there is no need for any software when you purchase this half-dollar sized GPS reciever? Sorry if I am slow on the uptake, I haven't herd of anything like this.
SO there is no need for any software when you purchase this half-dollar sized GPS reciever? Sorry if I am slow on the uptake, I haven't herd of anything like this.
Still Need Software, David
The device Rick S. refers to is just the GPS engine (i.e. antenna) which attaches to your computer via USB port. If the charting (or mapping) software permits, it will allow you to track your position on the chart (or map). I have one also. Paid a bit less, but it isn't WAAS enabled. Rick D.
The device Rick S. refers to is just the GPS engine (i.e. antenna) which attaches to your computer via USB port. If the charting (or mapping) software permits, it will allow you to track your position on the chart (or map). I have one also. Paid a bit less, but it isn't WAAS enabled. Rick D.
Still Need Software, David
The device Rick S. refers to is just the GPS engine (i.e. antenna) which attaches to your computer via USB port. If the charting (or mapping) software permits, it will allow you to track your position on the chart (or map). I have one also. Paid a bit less, but it isn't WAAS enabled. Rick D.
The device Rick S. refers to is just the GPS engine (i.e. antenna) which attaches to your computer via USB port. If the charting (or mapping) software permits, it will allow you to track your position on the chart (or map). I have one also. Paid a bit less, but it isn't WAAS enabled. Rick D.
Who's on first?
Thanks to both Rick's for responses. Sounded like an Abbot and Costello routine there for a second. Rick W. I'm a paper chart guy myself with GPS plotter for secondary. I've always been resistant to change, but it this deal works like Rick S. is talking about, I just might go ahead and put a lap top on my boat. Something that I've been resisting so far. I'm going to check into it anyway. With all of this free stuff floating around, it seems like almost a shame not to take advantage of it. Thanks again guys!!
Thanks to both Rick's for responses. Sounded like an Abbot and Costello routine there for a second. Rick W. I'm a paper chart guy myself with GPS plotter for secondary. I've always been resistant to change, but it this deal works like Rick S. is talking about, I just might go ahead and put a lap top on my boat. Something that I've been resisting so far. I'm going to check into it anyway. With all of this free stuff floating around, it seems like almost a shame not to take advantage of it. Thanks again guys!!
Who's on first?
Thanks to both Rick's for responses. Sounded like an Abbot and Costello routine there for a second. Rick W. I'm a paper chart guy myself with GPS plotter for secondary. I've always been resistant to change, but it this deal works like Rick S. is talking about, I just might go ahead and put a lap top on my boat. Something that I've been resisting so far. I'm going to check into it anyway. With all of this free stuff floating around, it seems like almost a shame not to take advantage of it. Thanks again guys!!
Thanks to both Rick's for responses. Sounded like an Abbot and Costello routine there for a second. Rick W. I'm a paper chart guy myself with GPS plotter for secondary. I've always been resistant to change, but it this deal works like Rick S. is talking about, I just might go ahead and put a lap top on my boat. Something that I've been resisting so far. I'm going to check into it anyway. With all of this free stuff floating around, it seems like almost a shame not to take advantage of it. Thanks again guys!!
what software
What software works the best and is the cheapest? Or so those links at the bottem of the conversation work?
What software works the best and is the cheapest? Or so those links at the bottem of the conversation work?
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