GPS/chartplotters/PCs NOAA downloads

Bob L · Post by **Bob L** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:19 pm

I reaching the point with my boat where I need to start thinking about elecronics. I have looked at the popular GPS and chartplotters from Raymarine, Furuno, Navman, Garmin, etc. and it seems to me they all use proprietary map cards. I can see me shucking out $1000 or more for the hardware, and then getting stuck for $100s more each year for cartridges. Is there a system out there that uses compact flash or other similar digital camera media? It seems that one should be able to download free charts (and repeated updates) from NOAA, burn them onto a CF or SD card, and then stick it into a commercial unit. Or does someone make a writeable proprietary card (like a blank C-Map NT+) to do the same, then stick it into a Raymarine or Garmin unit? I am starting to think a PC based system might be better (because PC based programs take downloads), but the power drain of a PC is a lot higher than a chartplotter.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:35 pm

Bob,
I use an older laptop,Memory Map Pro (with A.I.S.), and a Garmin 76 GPSMAP handheld. Although digital charts are not free in Canada, I use the free NOAA charts that overlap into this area, as we are right on the border.
I run the laptop from a 12 volt adapter/charger and, with two batteries, a good alternator, and a solar panel, find power consumption is not an issue. The gps and A.I.S. receiver also run off the main batteries. The system works very well for me.
I agree with you on the downside of using a proprietry system and charts.
Besides, you can't send email or play Solitaire on a chartplotter!

DPTrainor · Post by **DPTrainor** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:11 pm

Bob,

The answer is no. The use of proprietray cartography - chart cartidges / CDs by GPS chartplotter vendors is a significant aspect of thier business model. It is very similiar to PC Printers - most of $ is made from sales of printer ink cartridges - you have to buy them from the printer manufactuer that sold you the unit - a constant revenue stream for them. On the positive side GPS Chartplotter vendors can create cartography that (althought may be based upon basic NOAA data) far exceeds the functionality of free goverment charts. They can provide new innovations and differentiate thier products from competitors. This is not a bad thing, since we now see incrediable advances in marine cartography - most notably the overlaying of marine chart data over satelitte and high-res photo images. Overlaying of weather, radar and AIS data on same display. Display is 3D views and "birds eye" and "mariner eyes" "fishes eyes" viewpoints, etc. etc. So marine charts have become very advanced and getting more so - well beyond the standard RNC (raster) and ENC (vector) charts that are now standard and available free from NOAA.

Having said that, the downside is cost to us and continual "planned obsolesence". If you you wish to keep up with the latest technology, it would cost you thousands every year, with dimishing returns in terms of what you really need for basic electronic navigation.

So, some of us, rather than chasing the technology use a PC laptop and low cost (or free) navigation programs, free RNC or ENC charts and a cheap(er) GPS chatplotter and link them togther. Using the basic GPS Chartplotter (mine is an older Garmin 182C) at the helm which is the best place for a GPS display to me IMO and connect it to a PC laptop which is located inside at the Nav station. Now, you can alteast have latest marine charts on PC- without dishing out more $ for a cartridge every other year. With the GPS Chartplotter at helm (primary) and laptop at Nav station (sencondary), you can pre-plan routes / waypoints on laptop and upload them to GPS and you can also track your boats location on PC display - realtime.

Thats the way it is - I wish it were different.

Best Regards,

Dan
SeaBiscuit - Sabre 32

Mark.Wilme · Post by **Mark.Wilme** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:27 pm

Try SeaClear II on a laptop with free charts from NOAA to begin with or a trial version of Coastal Explorer from Rose Point software. Both with interface with a $100 handheld GPS (like a Garmin) via a serial port.

I have installed both products on an old Pentium II laptop with some success.

Mark

Robert The Gray · Post by **Robert The Gray** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:15 pm

there was a long thread on the yahoo triton group about this topic. It started around dec 14 2006.

r

Bob L · Post by **Bob L** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:08 pm

Thanks for all of the replies. That's what I figured. How about another 2 cents? I have seen the AIS system. Now I also learn that the DSC VHFs can also overlay position on a display. Is there a reciever that does both? Then I could see the big um's and little guys.

Mark.Wilme · Post by **Mark.Wilme** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:02 pm

I recently ordered a new Uniden DSCF VHF which will do exactly that. I emailed the supplier tonight to get an ETA on delivery. Supposedly it talks the same protocol as my Raymarine RL70C and it's a couple of wires to hook it up, so I guess by the end of this month I should be able to tell you first hand.

If you can wait this long.