Seaclear from scratch

[25yearslater]

Here we go. I have little tolerance for the technical self agrandizing aspects of computer jargon. I would like to set up my laptop (Dell Inspiron 1525) as a basic chartplotter. I have looked at Seaclear and Raster charts which thus far seem to open in Malay. Would someone be willing to provide a basic setup tutorial for someone who wants a GPS system that provides location on a chart. I have the receiver. (Globolsat BU353) Thus far this has provided hours of iritation to the point a chart, compass, dividers, pencil and a set of triangles look mighty superior.:cussing:

 

[Bill1565]

Spend the $ for a nav program like Navionics.

 

[Delezynski]

If you want to use free nav software, DUMP Seaclear and get OpenCPN. Seaclear is OLD and has not been updated in a long time. OpenCPN can use the free US charts and works GREAT without a lot of fuss.

Greg

 

[25yearslater]

Thanks D. It sure looks like a no fuss, put a point on a chart. I am going to give it a try. I'll look into Navionics as a backup option Bill. I had the college kids working on Seaclear with no results so anything has to be better for me.

 

[Squidd]

Sea Clear disc is like 9 bucks on e bay (without the gps puck)

It's practily self loading including the charts (which take the most time) and a simple system to opperate..

 

[Chuckbear]

I would add my voice to OpenCPN. We have been using it for months and like it a lot, especially using the free NOAA charts. We have SeaclearII also but don't use it much. For anyone that wants to use Seaclear, there is a Yahoo Group for Seaclear with lots of knowledgeable folks. Help and support for OpenCPN can be found on cruisersforum. Chuck

 

[Charles Erwin]

Seems there are a couple of frustrations afoot.

First - can't tell for sure - but seems the original posting says he has no charts excepting the one default world chart that is part of the Seaclear downloaded version. Problem solved by read/follow SeaClear operator manual which discusses obtaining and installing charts at p 19. Also try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duUTJatNows showing how to obtain US charts.

Second -- seems the GPS puck does not talk to Seaclear. GPS puck should have come with CD so one can install GPS puck software Once installed Windows will automatiocally see to it GPS puck talks to Seaclear but you need to plug the GPS puck into the same physical USB plugin each time.

SeaClear operates just fine without GPS puck input- so first get things working then add the GPS puck receiving feature.

Charles

p.s. As others have said -- SeaClear is not being kept up and it is not likely it will be. Open CPN is probably the better "open source" nav program. It is the same price as SeaClear and is constantly being kept after.

ce

 

[kenn]

Seaclear's OK, but another vote for OpenCPN, it's more current and there is a great community on CF to help out.

One painless possibility - if your laptop can boot off of a USB stick or a SDHC card, and you're willing to step briefly outside of the windows comfort zone, there's a complete boating distribution called Navigatrix, which has the OS (Linux) and several boating apps, including OpenCPN installed and ready to go (except for charts).

http://navigatrix.net/

 

[soldier1964]

I run seaclear with a holux gps on my laptop and havenot had a problem with it. have not tried this other one, but I pleased with the one I have. bought it off of ebay years ago, and just re-installed the newer one. hope you find what works for you...

 

[finding41]

I just looked on YouTube for OpenCPN. There is a bunch of videos that explain allot. I had a heck of a time getting either SeaClear or OpenCPN to find the charts I knew/thought/second guessed I had installed. It's all starting to make much more sense now.

Ken, what do you use for Canadian charts? I just downloaded the NOAA ones that cover Lake Erie, Ont, Huron. Do you know if this is good enough? Or are they lacking in any way? (I have paper charts for these too.)

 

[Charles Erwin]

I am not Kenn but -- SeaClear will not be successful with present electronic Canadian Charts. They are encrypted. OpenCPN will work with present Canadian charts with a plug in. By the way - there are few (if any) remaining overlaps between NOAA and CHS charts after the treaty discussions in which Canada protested US charting overlaps of Canadian space along border waters.

From NOAA:
To comply with internationally agreed practices, Canada and the United States have agreed to eliminate overlapping coverage of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs).

The first area affected by the changes, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Haro Strait and Boundary Pass, was implemented December 15, 2011. The United States and Canada will continue to resolve ENC overlaps in the Atlantic and Great Lakes regions. This new ENC coverage scheme will result in each country changing their areas of coverage, so that only one country’s ENC would be available for any given area

If you find present NOAA charts still overlap fully the Great Lakes please let us know.

 

[alexco38]

Canadian charts - NOAA cover Lake Erie, Ont, Huron. Seaclear-II also let you scan paper charts especially strip charts like Trent Severn waterway and Rideau canal and digitally stitch them together.

There is a manual and instruction to do scanning and converting charts.

I use a GPS puck and USB AIS receiver.

I haven't gone over to OpenCPN. No time! Seaclear is good enough for me.

USB doesn't map back to the same COM port every time you reboot. But you can use ControlPanel->System->Hardware and find the Comm ports that the USB devices use. Seaclear allow you to change the ports. It has 1 x TX/RX and 2 x RX port. TX/RX is used for autopilot and RX for anything that doesn't read input like GPS, AIS etc.

I use an Android tablet to remote control the laptop in the cabin. Works for me.

 

[geehaw]

I had a hard time getting Seaclear to work also. I never was able to get a gps to work with it. Got Open CPN and it was pretty much plug and play. Hooked Garmin MAp76csx into laptop and it gave my position. Maps are much easier to load. Yeah dump Seaclear and save yourself frustration. Greg

 

[25yearslater]

Today is the day. I will be working on installing OpenCPN. Soon as the college boys get the hell up we can begin. I will be reading the manual and consulting on the desktop and working through the process on the laptop. If I'm never heard from again send a search party to find my rotting corpse. It's do or die time. Wish me luck.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Yeah 25 Years, I'm real anxious to hear how you made out. I too get easily frustrated by the techno talk, simply because I don't understand it. (Bear in mind I'm still stuck on my sextant). But I've got an old Garmin 182C I would like to try this on, so keep us posted man.

 

[25yearslater]

Thank you guys. The system is up and running. I had some help from the college boy. The boat is currently sitting next to my porch 5 miles from the water which it is. Don't understand why it's moving, must be a strong wind or something. Other than that it doesn't seem too terrible. I too am of the sextant/sight reduction era. Once I get the hang of it I should be fine. The hardest part is getting through the jargon. And I thought he was only handy with the restoration work. Guess I got me a navigator too.

 

[25yearslater]

So for payback for the help, boy wonder can help others configure their laptops to set up their systems click by click. He is not on SBO so if you are interested connect through private message and we can find interactive means to get the job done.

 

[Delezynski]

GLAD you are up and running!

I also like all the hard copy stuff, but electronic is so easy. Just don't loose the "old world" skills!!

Greg

 

[Stu Jackson]

www.cruisersforum.com has OpenCPM, scroll through the headings, they have a whole section devoted to it.

 

[WayneH]

OpenCPN is great. It will run both ENC and RNC charts. I'm not 100% happy with the way ENCs load but they do make it easier for the Admiral to pick out lights and other objects. I've got a note to remind me to download new charts every three months so that my charts are fairly accurate. Although accuracy doesn't mean what it used to. http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/06/world/asia/philippines-stranded-navy-ship/index.html