Marine Navigation
andrew wilkinson
plotting software with a PDA and GPS?
I'm interested in using my my Bluetooth GPS with my Ipaq for basic marine
navigation, maybe with 'memory-map' charts and navigator by Maptech???
This has got to be a cheaper option than forking out for a dedicated unit.
Sailor
back up - the screen is too small for navigation, it isn't waterproof and
the battery life is pretty poor but its handy as a backup and better than
nothing.
I use the same Memory Map system with an old PC from work - good machine but
its first user had worn the letters of most of the keys! - linked to a
Garmin GPS with a USB Cable - the PC is velcroed to the Nav table.
This system has been used for thousands of miles under all sorts of
conditions and has performed flawlessly.
The Memory Map programme is easy to get to grips with and does everything I
have ever wanted it to do.
If you need more info email me.
"andrew wilkinson" <storm...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:FLI_b.495$lj3.324@newsfe1-win...
sded
you like it. I have the PC version, but haven't tried it with a PDA.
Richard Faulkner
e.g. C-Map, Arc, etc.
Also, will it accept the proprietary charts from say Garmin & Magellan.
It strikes me that you have to rely on your own scanned charts,
(although how you scan a chart sized piece of paper, beats me, or on
those created by others in Ozi format.
I hope I'm wrong.
Regds
Richard
In message <0com30td3acs8jpr9...@4ax.com>, sded
<sd...@dslextreme.com> writes
sded
DRG
BSB (Maptech)
NOS/GEO (Softcharts)
Maptech RML, PCX, 024, AER
QuoVadis
ECW
plus some other image formats
and there is a utility on the Ozi site to convert them to the OZF2 files
actually used by OziExplorer CE. I tried the conversion for a BSB and a NOS/GEO
chart but don't have a PDA so couldn't try them out. But the site says the
demos will support all this, so you can see for yourself by downloading Ozi and
the CE addon, plus the img2ozf conversion program. But not vector charts.
martin <m...@privacy.net> wrote:
>On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 17:28:43 +0000, Richard Faulkner
><faulkner...@compuserve.com> wrote:
>
>>Will Oziexplorer accept the various types of electronic chart
>>
>>e.g. C-Map, Arc, etc.
>>
>>Also, will it accept the proprietary charts from say Garmin & Magellan.
>>
>>It strikes me that you have to rely on your own scanned charts,
>
>not really. It's quite happy with the Dutch Hydrographer's charts.
>
>>(although how you scan a chart sized piece of paper,
>
>You scan a section at a time and stitch it together seamlessly with
>software. I think there's a link on the Ozi Explorer website to a
>place that tells you how to do it.
>
>>beats me, or on
>>those created by others in Ozi format.
>>
>>I hope I'm wrong.
>
>You are :-)
Jeff Richards
commercial electronic charts. Choose between free, worldwide coastal
outline maps that you can edit and improve yourself, or your own scanned
chart images (This site describes the PC model, but there is a page of
information about the PocketPC model).
http://www.users.bigpond.com/MSN/jrichard/
--
Jeff Richards
"andrew wilkinson" <storm...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:FLI_b.495$lj3.324@newsfe1-win...
Dennis Pogson
Iv'e used Ozi for about 4 years now. Far and away the best program, but you
do need a good source of charts to display. The Maptech charts are digitised
British Admiralty charts, and Ozi can convert and run them. They used to
cost £99 for an area covering for example the whole West of Scotland, or the
South Coast of England, about 40 charts in all, on one CD. Maptech however
quickly realised that once converted the charts could be copied and passed
on ad infinitum, and early last year changed the format so that you had to
use their own software and a software dongle.
These new Maptech charts are still good value however, and several of my
friends have switched to Maptech from Oziexplorer. The Cd's are still £99
each from Kelvin Hughes, but I believe the Maptech PDA program is an extra.
I use Ozi still, as I have a huge collection of charts for my own personal
use, and Ozi is still the king of all nav. programs, as it allows infinite
self-editing, plus all the facilitiies that most of the more expensive
programs allow, plus the fact that the authors are themselves navigators,
and are always bringing out new versions with extra facilities that the "big
boys" at this game simply cannot match. Their anchor-watch is the best there
is, full stop. After 4 years of intensive use, I am still discovering things
the program will do which I didn't know about. That is GOOD software!
I used a Compaq Ipaq PDA for about a year, but frankly, this is toy stuff. I
now have a massive 17" TFT screen at the nav. station (£299 from Comet)
linked to an IBM Thinkpad which is sited away from the position where any
harm could come to it (a bulkhead protects it from any splashing etc.
The tiny PDA screens are a bit like the GPS Plotter screens, they are
absolute crap compared to a large TFT running at 1400 by 1050 with a
brightness control allowing use in full daylight.
Now, all these brilliant guys who sail around our coats in yachts will
immediateley scream out "flat batteries", and tell you horrendous stories
about how to abandon ship when you get a "complete power failure". Well, it
ain't happened yet pal, and how I have avoided this life-threatening mishap
for the past 40 years sailing is another story! SIZE DOES COUNT!
Use your PDA for a season, you will soon learn it's limitaions as I did.
Then sell it and buy a real navigation system.
Remove "nospam" from return address.
Richard Faulkner
<dennisnos...@ntlworld.com> writes
>I use Ozi still, as I have a huge collection of charts for my own personal
>use, and Ozi is still the king of all nav. programs, as it allows infinite
>self-editing, plus all the facilitiies that most of the more expensive
>programs allow, plus the fact that the authors are themselves navigators,
>and are always bringing out new versions with extra facilities that the "big
>boys" at this game simply cannot match. Their anchor-watch is the best there
>is, full stop. After 4 years of intensive use, I am still discovering things
>the program will do which I didn't know about. That is GOOD software!
Where would an ordinary mortal, starting from scratch, get the charts
for Ozi.
I am thinking of living aboard in the Med for a few years, and want to
try and get this right first time <g>
I'm also always conscious of the adage "Buy Cheap, Buy Twice!">
Rgds
--
Richard Faulkner
Faulkner & Faulkner
Tel: 0161 881 6087 Fax: 0161 861 7636 web: www.estate.demon.co.uk
JnJ
faulkner...@compuserve.com says...
> Where would an ordinary mortal, starting from scratch, get the charts
> for Ozi.
>
> I am thinking of living aboard in the Med for a few years, and want to
> try and get this right first time <g>
>
iPAQ 3870 with Maptech Charts and Oziexplorer on at least two occasions
last summer to aid navigation in thick fog on the West Coast of
Scotland. By the way, you need two Maptech CDs to cover all of the West
Coast ie., £99 twice. It was perfectly possible to see on the PDA screen
(in the cockpit) the progress of my boat around Ardnamurchan Point
(Sanna Bay to Kilchoan) in thick fog with absolutely no view of the land
using a 20 metre contour - just the menacing sound of the fog signal.
Very reassuring and a great aid to chartwork. OK a laptop or large
screen will give a clearer view, but the above is a cheap and very
effective way of using electronic navigation.
I also have Memory Map software which came with a series of Ordnance
Survey maps. Compared with Oziexplorer, it is much easier to convert
charts to PDA format and the charts are of slightly higher quality.
However, Oziexplorer is by far the better navigation software.
--
Jim
Sailor
poster that you need 2 CD's to cover the West Coast of Scotland - the other
thing I meant to mention was that the Memory Map charts of two potentially
tricky areas are at a scale that makes them virtually impossible to read and
certainly useless for navigation namely Torran Rocks/Sound of Iona and the
Kerrera Sound.
"JnJ" <nos...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1aa868e13...@news.individual.net...
JnJ
skipper...@msn.com says...
> I agree with most of your comments - I forgot to mention to the original
> poster that you need 2 CD's to cover the West Coast of Scotland - the other
> thing I meant to mention was that the Memory Map charts of two potentially
> tricky areas are at a scale that makes them virtually impossible to read and
> certainly useless for navigation namely Torran Rocks/Sound of Iona and the
> Kerrera Sound.
Thanks for the Maptech chart tips. I can see the point about the Torran
Rocks but is Kerrera Sound really tricky? The scores of times that I've
been up and down it have been, thankfully, plain sailing. To be honest,
I don't suppose many of us usually use anything but paper charts, saving
the electronic stuff for really tricky conditions. However I have had
some success in making my own large scale charts and importing them into
Oziexplorer - from Goat Rock to the head of Loch Ailort for instance.
You are obviously a regular West Coaster - so am I, based in Loch
Creran. Might bump into you in Kerrera Sound :-).
--
Jim
Dennis Pogson
> In article <403f0fd5$0$9757$cc9e...@news.dial.pipex.com>,
> skipper...@msn.com says...
>> I agree with most of your comments - I forgot to mention to the
>> original poster that you need 2 CD's to cover the West Coast of
>> Scotland - the other thing I meant to mention was that the Memory
>> Map charts of two potentially tricky areas are at a scale that makes
>> them virtually impossible to read and certainly useless for
>> navigation namely Torran Rocks/Sound of Iona and the Kerrera Sound.
>
gives adequate, if not large scale coverage of the Torran Rocks, and the
south end of the Sound of Iona. Best way to navigate the Torran Rocks is to
avoid the area completely!
Kerrera Sound is really only tricky at the Ferry Rocks buoys.
Tony of Judicious
Surely they are nothing compared to Torran Rocks (IMO)
Dennis Pogson
You can say that again! Iv'e seen the Atlantic swell thrown up thirty feet
or more in the air on a bad day S of Iona!
JnJ
dennisnos...@ntlworld.com says...
Lorne" and it is, as you say, perfectly adequate for the Torran Rocks
etc. Mind you, I would not be round the south coast of Mull in the
conditions you describe. Leave that for you adventurous types :-).
--
Jim
Sailor
it is the middle of the sound of Iona (just north of the South Cardinal
Buoy) that's dodgy - its got very poor/confusing detail and if you are
there at low water and a bit iffy on depth it isn't brilliant and two charts
join half way up the sound - I wouldn't like to try getting into Bull Hole
with those charts alone!
The Kerrera sound isn't difficult as long as you know about the dog leg in
the bouyage half way up - may don't and get confused and the level of detail
isn't great - I have seen too many go straight on and stop rather
suddenly!!!!!!!!
Having said all that it isn't a moan - I think the Memory Map system is
fantastic and supported by a full set of CCC books I have managed to find my
way safely in and out of everywhere I have wanted to go and some have been
quite tricky - leaving Loch Moidart low water springs - no moon - 3 am -
pitch black - entering Loch na Droma Buidhe again at night etc etc
Now if I were a technical type I would get a more detailed chart and scan it
and have that to look at but alas I am not technically minded, haven't got
the chart, haven't got a scanner and don't know how to do it - but apart
from that its a brilliant idea!!!!!!
In fact is someone does know how to do it I would buy the electronic version
off you for 3 areas - the sound of Iona, Kerrera Sound and the entrance to
Loch Etive as far up as Connel i.e. the entrance to Dunstaffnage bay. Any
takers?????
"JnJ" <nos...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1aa96fa6...@news.individual.net...
andrew wilkinson
Gives us all an idea of finding our way in this fast paced world of marine
navigation. Whether your a techhead or just a newbie to the sport of
sailing I for one have got a better idea from recomendations offered.
I use tomtom for in car nagivation and find that works spot on with my
setup. Obviously the sea has a lot more hidden perils, especially for a
novice like myself.
Now the task is to find some of these programs that are 'competively'
priced??
Any ideas on top of the suggestions already given?
Thanks again!
Tony of Judicious
I would not be round the south coast of Mull in the
> conditions you describe. Leave that for you adventurous types :-).
I'm not adventurous, I'm a wimp. It's J which is. I just let her go where
she's going to enjoy herself. Otherwise she sulks.
Guy Fawkes
who was that fella that wrote a (supposedly true) story about a duff boat
that he bought in newfoundland? I remember reading it about 20 years ago,
he claimed it would only sail on teh starboard tack or something, very
funny read.
--
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Cable server http://80.235.132.38:800/
EoF
Dennis Pogson
> Sorry I should have been more specific - the charts are OK for Torran
> Rocks it is the middle of the sound of Iona (just north of the South
> Cardinal Buoy) that's dodgy - its got very poor/confusing detail and
> if you are there at low water and a bit iffy on depth it isn't
> brilliant and two charts join half way up the sound - I wouldn't like
> to try getting into Bull Hole with those charts alone!
>
> The Kerrera sound isn't difficult as long as you know about the dog
> leg in the bouyage half way up - may don't and get confused and the
> level of detail isn't great - I have seen too many go straight on and
> stop rather suddenly!!!!!!!!
If you head for the Wee Free church from a point south of the south
cardnl.(going north), the depths are OK. The line from here is to keep about
2 cables off the shore until abreast of the Cathedral, then bear away
towards the middle of the Sound. This is the worst part of the n'bound
passage as there are 1 or 2 patches with less than 2 metres at chart datum.
I have a scan of the relevant official chart which I use with Ozi.
In Kererra Sound most yachts seem to ignore the port-hand mark at Ferry
Rocks and go straight on up the Kererra shore. I guess ignorance is bliss,
but bear in mind these buoys were laid for the ferries, so it should be
possible to make the passage in a yacht. We came up the Sound last year in a
fifty-footer, without mishap. I should have looked at the sounder, but we
were too busy discussing the port-hand buoy we had ignored!
--
Sandy Morton
<skipper...@msn.com> wrote:
> In fact is someone does know how to do it I would buy the
> electronic version off you for 3 areas - the sound of Iona, Kerrera
> Sound and the entrance to Loch Etive as far up as Connel i.e. the
> entrance to Dunstaffnage bay. Any takers?????
I would suspect that the Marine Biology place at Dunstaffnage will
probably have these electronically and would be worth an approach.
But I could be wrong:-)
--
A T (Sandy) Morton
on the Bicycle Island
In the Global Village
http://www.millport.net
Sandy Morton
<storm...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> Now the task is to find some of these programs that are
> 'competively' priced??
Boats - marine - price :-(((
Alisdair Gurney
"Sailor" <skipper...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:403f694d$0$3932$cc9e...@news.dial.pipex.com...
> In fact is someone does know how to do it I would buy the electronic
version
> off you for 3 areas - the sound of Iona, Kerrera Sound and the entrance to
> Loch Etive as far up as Connel i.e. the entrance to Dunstaffnage bay. Any
> takers?????
Chart 2617 (sound of Iona):
http://www.nls.uk/digitallibrary/map/early/scotland.cfm?id=1296
2476 (Inner Channel: Sound of Seil to the Sound of Mull)
http://www.nls.uk/digitallibrary/map/early/scotland.cfm?id=1271
Chart 2814b (Lochs Etive and Creran)
http://www.nls.uk/digitallibrary/map/early/scotland.cfm?id=1320
index:
http://www.nls.uk/digitallibrary/map/early/admiralty_charts_index.html
:)
Alisdair
Sailor
very useful.
Thanks again
D.
"Alisdair Gurney" <ne...@agurney.com> wrote in message
news:c1o9td$mde$1$8302...@news.demon.co.uk...
PyroJames
Guy Fawkes <lo...@my.sig> wrote in message
news:RoL%b.54479$s81....@fe04.usenetserver.com...
> Tony of Judicious wrote:
>
> > JnJ wrote:
> > I would not be round the south coast of Mull in the
> >> conditions you describe. Leave that for you adventurous types :-).
> >
> > I'm not adventurous, I'm a wimp. It's J which is. I just let her go
where
> > she's going to enjoy herself. Otherwise she sulks.
>
> who was that fella that wrote a (supposedly true) story about a duff boat
> that he bought in newfoundland? I remember reading it about 20 years ago,
> he claimed it would only sail on teh starboard tack or something, very
> funny read.
This one perhaps?
The Boat Who Wouldn't Float
by Farley Mowat
I read it years ago, and it seems vaguely to ring some bells about
Newfoundland. I don't remember the starboard tack bit though....
--
PyroJames
Anything burns if you soak it in liquid oxygen first.