FREE Computer navigation software!

[merwin10]

If you have a laptop or dedicated computer on board there  is a free navigation program with free NOAA charts available - The program has the ability to sit on the NEMA port of a GPS and call up the best charts available for that area - It does display the boat movement on the chart and will even display AIS information of other targets (boats) so equiped - The software also is configurable as a output device to drive other equipment - The program allows for unlimited waypoint and route planning right on the charts and as more detail charts are called up the route and waypoints are desplayed - There is also a provision to up & down load waypoints to and from the GPS if available on the GPS - You can also update the charts as NOAA releases newer revisions or enter notices to mariniers - the program also makes a track that can be programmed as a route - There is even a automatic log book of your trip that can be turn on - It has the usually windows for navigation information and can handle wind, current, temperature, magnetic heading information if the boat has the sensors - The program can run in manual or fully automatic mode - You can work your route planning at home offline and then just plug the computer into the boat and off you go -

I just installed on my Dell laptop this week end tied it into the GPS and it worked the first time out I also wired the computer to the LCD TV down below and it displays a screen of what I am looking at - kind of neat - WOW what a picture - Basicilly anything I can do on the computer I can see on the TV - The function of a on board computer are limitless how about a window with the engine room cam - or what is going on in the cabin -

Best part of all it is FREE!

If anyone is interested let me know -

Mike -  

[Island Time]

Mike:

I would be interested. Just did some reconfiguring of the computers around the house and am purging some old equipment.

I have a Sony VAIO laptop that I was going to unload on E-Bay, but this sounds like a better use for it.

Where can I get it?

[Talon]

I have a laptop exclusivly for the boat - it stays aboard 100% of the time. I use several packages on it, including SeaClear and the free version of Raymarine's package.

[merwin10]

Island time check your PM for the site info -

Mike -

[Island Time]

Mike:

Got the info, thanks. Looks like I have a project for tonight...after my Fantasy Football draft...

[merwin10]

Island Time:

If you have any issues let me know perhaps talon or I have run into them already - Once set up properly it works great -

Mike -

[Island Time]

Mike:

Seems to be working great...thanks again...now I just need to figure out where to put the laptop while on the boat!

[merwin10]

Great did you tie it into the gps - If you have not you haven't seen anything yet in the auto mode it is just the neatest thing - best part it is free and I love the NOAA chart updates Free also -

Mike -  

[Island Time]

I tied it into my GPS on our trip up to East Lansing for the MSU game on Saturday, so I got it working, unfortunatly it was just showing the base US chart as there are no NOAA charts for I-96!  

Will put it to a real test this weekend when we head to the cottage and the boat.

[TonyJ]

I am also interested....

[Hop]

I am interested as well.  

Regards,

Hop

[Hank]

The 270 we just purchased came w/ Lowrance GlobalMap 3200... we haven't been in the water yet (it's going to snow again today) so have not had a chgance to play w/ it. Is this a good system, how complicated, can it be tied to the computer based system discussed here??? any and all thoughts would be appreciated....

[merwin10]

Hank -

All it needs from the GPS is a NEMA 183 port - Now I hope you understand that this software is a charting program - and will do just what your lowrance does - The benefit with it is that you can use the most updated electronic charts as soon as NOAA releases them - Whereas with third party units like Garmin, CMap, Lowrance and etc. it takes some time for them to format them, you can get the new charts at the same time the manufactures get's them - The other helpful thing is that the date points are limited by your disk space and you can program an entire trip at home! If your lab top has a PC Card slot you could install a GPS card so it could be a stand alone chart system -

In NO way will this software help you program the Lowrance GlobalMap 3200. The nice thing about this is that it is totally free! Well almost we have already paid for it thru our taxes -

Mike -  

[Hank]

Thanks Mike
Don't undestand most of it yet... I quess i need to see some of it in action... I have never used any GPS system yet... never had a need  but w/ this boat and where we plan to travel i think I will...

[Carrollina]

Sounds like just what I'm looking for. My DH can't read the screen on our portable Garmin. Please let me know how to download it when you get the chance!

Vickie