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Free Computer navigation package

 
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merwin10
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Joined: 11 Oct 2006
Posts: 440
Location: Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts

PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 4:04 pm    Post subject: Free Computer navigation package Reply with quote

I have been playing with a lap top computer on my boat for a while and have come across a free navigation package that works great and uses current NOAA charts - so your charts are the latest versions - The computer ties into the NEMA 183 port of a GPS and will run just like any other package it also will display any other vessels around you if you have a AIS reciever and the boats arount you are transmitting AIS information - So far it has worked well and is extremely fast and accurate - It even automaticly selects the best chart for you. Say you are in a bay and using a 1:40000 chart and you go into a harbor that has a 1:2000 chart it will select the greater detail chart and show your position and route selected - It Zooms the charts in and out provides a future pointer to help you stay on course - It will also act as a repeater with a NEMA out to other instruments from calculated data -

Great little package and the best part it is FREE - Great addition to a helm - all you need is a computer - and a method of down loading from the net one time or everytime you want updates. Once loaded it is free standing.

If any one is interested let me know!

Mike - Cool
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merwin10
Site Admin
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Joined: 11 Oct 2006
Posts: 440
Location: Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts

PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 4:04 pm    Post subject: here is the info Reply with quote

OK! Here are the sites www.sping.com/seaclear and http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/Index.htm

Now one thing I will tell you is the software is sensitive to location on the hard disk - also you will need to run MapCal to enter the charts into the chart directory - Once that is done the program works like a charm - Be sure to hook it up to your NMEA 183 port form your GPS to really see the power of the program! The manual that comes with the software is a bit shakey but you can get thru it - Just follow the instuctions and play a bit - There are also some other free programs that will help in conversions and talking to other systems -

I found the program to be very accurate and quick in fact it beats my charting GPS as to the moving of the maps - and auto selecting of more detail charts - One thing I have not found yet is how to do course up navigation - it only does true north up - which is not that bad - I found myself looking at the computer for realitive location of the route I am on rather than the GPS - Might be because it is larger and faster -

Mike - Cool
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