Alternative to Fugawi & OziExplorer?
Jack
The software and trial charts can be downloaded free. There is also a dealer
on ebay offering fully functional software along with a set of charts for
$39.95 - Examples are complete east Coast of USA or Great Lakes East or West
etc.
Has anyone tried this software? It does not seem to have attained the
acceptance of the others, so is there some problem?
Odd
I have scanned a lot of maps and used Fugawi to calibrate them for use
together with the GPS and a laptop PC. Works fine, and can be reccomended.
A problem is that the calibrated maps can not be uploaded to a GPSMAP.
"Jack" <Ja...@noknownaddress.com> skrev i melding
news:dRXB9.16593$L47.1...@read2.cgocable.net...
Jack
I have heard good things about Fugawi and OziExplorer. However, what I was
interested in is why the Waterworld Charts Software as advertised on
www.worldwidewaypoints.com is practically unmentioned on the software review
sites I have visited. I downloaded the demo and it seems to be similar in
function.
The eBay offers of Waterworld software and a major set of charts at $39.95
is what got me interested :) Better than $99 for Fugawi with only street
maps. Not sure of OziExplorer price.
I would be interested in comparison of all three and in particular
availability of charts for US East Coast, Bahamas and Great Lakes for each.
Also interested in capability of each for street mapping, although this is
less important. This would use gps/laptop initially so no need to upload
charts to mapping GPS.
"Odd" <okn...@online.no> wrote in message
news:_z0C9.1497$8E1....@news4.e.nsc.no...
Jockel
On Sun, 17 Nov 2002 20:59:50 -0500, "Jack" <Ja...@noknownaddress.com>
wrote:
>Has anyone tried this software? It does not seem to have attained the
>acceptance of the others, so is there some problem?
some possible reasons:
a) why should there be a price for this software ? You can not do
anything if you do not purchase proprietary maps, the maps supposed to
be free for download have a broken link.
b) compared to Ozi and FUGAWI there, seems to be no use of your own
scanned or individual free maps, there is no upload/download of
waypoints/routes/tracks to GPS Receivers, no exchange with other
software.
So there is nothing that brings this software near Ozi or FUGAWI
Jo
Jack
You ask - Why should there be a price for this software? Actually, it is
free and can be downloaded. You do have to buy at least one chart set to get
the GPS functionality but at $39.95 on ebay for software and 200+ charts, it
seems like a good deal? It is also possible to buy individual charts for
$15.00.
I checked their site and they do have upload/download of waypoints to/from
GPS once you get the full version. Your position from the GPS displays and
the chart moves along with it. The boat icon is a bit micky mouse though!
(There is a simulation mode)
I think you are right about not being able to used scanned charts, but what
attracted me, was the availability of complete sets of charts for large
areas - For example, complete US east coast, Great Lakes , Caribbean, etc
for $39.95 for each 200+ chart set including the nav software. These are
fully functional sets. I would only ever use two of these and I could sail
several thousand of miles and still be within their range. The charts are
quite clear - at least on my desktop screen!
I have downloaded the trial version and most of the large scale FREE
charts - There was no problem with the link, but their web site is a mess -
very hard to navigate and they mix up their two main programs - Vault and
Waterworld Charts - Perhaps they should be just one product. (Vault seems to
be a waypoint database with upload/download capability). I did find that
installation of the charts did not work unless I installed everything in the
default directories. They need someone to come in and get them organized!
I am tempted to buy at least one chart set from eBay, but perhaps I will
look at Ozi & Fugawi in more detail first.
By the way, is there some place where people exchange Ozi or Fugawi charts -
The ones on CD are also expensive and scanning requires buying paper charts
first. How is this more economical?
Jack T.
>"Jockel" Wrote:
>>Jack Wrote
> >Has anyone tried this software? It does not seem to have attained the
> >acceptance of the others, so is there some problem?
> Hello Jack,
Steve Wark
news:CggC9.16821$L47.2...@read2.cgocable.net:
>>>> stuff snipped <<<<
>
> Jack T.
>
>
The problem I saw, looking at the web page, was that the charts
shown are incomplete coverage. The 'entire east coast' set
only includes the large area charts, none of the coastal
detail charts. If the charts are in fact the NOAA charts that
match the numbers, then there is no harbor detail (for example)
anywhere in the set... You could get to Maine if you stayed
several miles offshore and then turned around and went back.
If that's all you need, fine. Without complete chart
coverage it isn't very useful to me. It looks like they have
better coverage for Florida, so if that's where you are, it
might work out.
As to prices, their east coast set contains 20 charts for $100 (on
there web site, sounds like eBay has a more realistic price).
The Maptech region 2 (Block Island to Canadian border) Chart Kit
is $200 for over 100 charts. Pretty much all the NOAA charts
for the area. And it includes a comparable viewer.
I think most of us would compare it to other viewers that
come bundled with charts and work only with those charts.
And for that comparison, the available chart coverage just
isn't good enough. Now, if the charts they sell can be
imported into Ozi or Fugawi, they might be a good buy for partial
coverage.
Steve Wark
Jack
I think you may be right about why the Waterworld software is not more
popular - At the full prices, it is not much cheaper than the better known
products and the charts available are limited, depend on where you are.
Nevertheless, the product does seem to work well and the charts are
apparently standard NOAA and are good.
Just for fun, I ordered the Lake Ontario set on eBay for about $40.00 - Have
not received it yet. I looked at the Maptech equivalent and it listed at
$124.95. Both have problem that they only cover the US side of Lake
Ontario.
I tried opening the free planning charts with Corel Photopaint - No problem
and they can be saved in any of the popular formats!
What more will Fugawi or OziExplorer do for me , other than to allow input
of scanned charts (that I would have to buy?) - I have read all the
raves about these products but don't see what they offer if all I want is to
view charts at home and on boat, upload GPS waypoints, and track position
while sailing.
Bear with me - Just learning the ropes re this electronic stuff!
JT
Steve Wark
news:w0BC9.16960$L47.2...@read2.cgocable.net:
> Thanks Steve,
>
>>> snip <<<
>
> Just for fun, I ordered the Lake Ontario set on eBay for about
$40.00
> - Have not received it yet. I looked at the Maptech equivalent and
it
> listed at $124.95. Both have problem that they only cover the US
side
> of Lake Ontario.
Actually Maptech also sells Canadian Lake Ontario charts in
their international section. And that's the rub. Waterworld
isn't selling charting software that competes with Ozi, etc,
they are selling charts to compete with Maptech. It looks
like they are building up their coverage, but for me, for
example, sailing in New England, they don't have useful
coverage. And how often do they update their charts? Can
you apply Local Notice to Mariners to them somehow? etc.
>
> I tried opening the free planning charts with Corel Photopaint - No
> problem and they can be saved in any of the popular formats!
>
> What more will Fugawi or OziExplorer do for me , other than to
allow
> input of scanned charts (that I would have to buy?) - I have
read
> all the raves about these products but don't see what they offer if
> all I want is to view charts at home and on boat, upload GPS
> waypoints, and track position while sailing.
Well, I use OziExplorer and the Maptech Region 2 charts. I was
using the free unregistered Ozi and the free to download charts
until I got a very good buy on the Maptech set at a boat show.
I don't keep them up to date, because I acutally use the charts
in the Garmin chart plotter on baord for navigation.
I use Ozi to create waypoints and routes at home, and to save
tracks from the Garmin. Note, that isn't real time tracking
mode, I upload the Garmin tracks to the PC later. I then
use Ozi's ability to split the large track covering several
days cruising into individual tracks which I can replay
over the winter, or reload into the Garmin to get the
'breadcrumbs' for a specific trip. I find this useful, but
others don't. But then others find Ozi's 3D stuff useful,
and I don't.
>
> Bear with me - Just learning the ropes re this electronic stuff!
>
> JT
>
Good luck...
Steve Wark
Jack
"Steve Wark" <wind...@hotpop.com> wrote
> And how often do they update their charts? Can
> you apply Local Notice to Mariners to them somehow? etc.
>
could not find anything specific on adding notices to mariners, but it is
easy to add a waypoint with a unique icon along with notes that appear in a
pop-up window. So this should work quite well.
> I was using the free unregistered Ozi and the free to download charts
> until I got a very good buy on the Maptech set at a boat show.
I have not downloaded the trial version of Ozi yet - mainly because I could
not find the charts - where do I find free to download charts for Ozi or
Fugawi?
I have been thinking about buying Fugawi, mainly because the Canadian
version comes with a number or marine planning charts plus Canadian and USA
streetmaps - something I could use in the car but at C$159, I am not rushing
into it until I learn more.
Actually, the more I play with the Waterworld product, the better it looks.
Once I have a good feel, I will try Ozi as a comparison.
JT
Steve Wark
news:o1EC9.22250$lj.5...@read1.cgocable.net:
>
> I have not downloaded the trial version of Ozi yet - mainly because
I
> could not find the charts - where do I find free to download charts
> for Ozi or Fugawi?
Ozi doesn't include charts... It works with most commercial raster
nautical charts, and many other maps/charts... Topo's, mrSID, etc.
For free nautical charts (low resolution, marked not for
navigation, but fine for planning)
http://mapfinder.nos.noaa.gov/
The interface is confusing at best... Make sure you always
check 'Nautical charts' if it's on the screen... Once you
see a map with NOAA chart numbers on it, check the 'list
products', select a distance and click on the map... You
should get a list of charts with some icons (GIF and BUY
being the significant ones) The GIF icon brings up the
free low resolution one. SAve it, convert it to BMP, load
it in Ozi and calibrate it. You may find that the
unregistered (free) version of Ozi is all you need...
Other interesting sources for Ozi:
mrSid image server (free downloads):
http://zulu.ssc.nasa.gov/mrsid/mrsid.pl
GIS Data Depot (mostly not free, $25 for
first 150MB downloads, I think)
Also check out the Yahoo Groups oziexplorer group for more
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OziUsers-L/
Steve Wark
>
> JT
>
>
>
>
Jack
"Steve Wark" wrote in message
You may find that the unregistered (free) version of Ozi is all you
need...
You may be right! With your instructions, I was able to find all the NOAA
charts that I just ordered from Waterworld :( it will be interesting to
compare the resolution.
>
> Other interesting sources for Ozi:
>
> http://zulu.ssc.nasa.gov/mrsid/mrsid.pl
I couldn't figure this one out - How does this work?
> GIS Data Depot (mostly not free, $25 for
> first 150MB downloads, I think)
>
> http://data.geocomm.com/
I didn't try any downloads but figured out that the green arrows were free
downloads - But what are the files? Topographical? Any Marine or street
maps?
> Also check out the Yahoo Groups oziexplorer group for more
I registered and had a quick look.
Jack
www.softcharts.com
They have packs of charts - Quite complete pack for Great Lakes was $49.95.
Charts can be used in Oziexplorer.
Steve Wark
news:9AXC9.17347$L47.2...@read2.cgocable.net:
>
> "Steve Wark" wrote in message
>
> You may find that the unregistered (free) version of Ozi is all
you
> need...
>
> You may be right! With your instructions, I was able to find all
the
> NOAA charts that I just ordered from Waterworld :( it will be
> interesting to compare the resolution.
The Waterworld ones looked like higher resolution...
>>
>> Other interesting sources for Ozi:
>>
>> http://zulu.ssc.nasa.gov/mrsid/mrsid.pl
>
> I couldn't figure this one out - How does this work?
>
Click on the map for the area you want the image for...
Once you get in close, and can see the image numbers,
check the 'Select image' box and click on the image
number you want... That will bring up a box showing
the image and giving you the option to download it...
You'll need to register OziExplorer before you can use
the image. What I like to do is show routes and playback
tracks against the satellite pictures as well as the
charts... It's an interesting comparison...
Steve Wark
Michael MB
alt.satellite.gps.binaries
just ask for a map and someone might have it already
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Mark Weaver
Where for $49.95? I saw 'SC-22 Lake Superior & Huron' for $149.00 and
'SC-13 Lake Michigan' also for $149.00. And then, if you sail in Canadian
waters at times (as we do), you get to fork over more dough for the Canadian
charts.
Mark
Bob Fritz
--
Bob Fritz
Compass Rose Yacht Delivery
Milwaukee
S&S Pilot 35
"Jupiter"
"Mark Weaver" <wea...@nospam-corvusdev.com> wrote in message
news:k-OdnW71aof...@comcast.com...
Mark Weaver
Appears to be a good source for individual, downloaded charts, but no CDs
for $49.95.
Mark
Jack
Erie) with chart viewing software for US$39.00.
The source is http://www.worldwidewaypoints.com/ (a badly organized website,
if ever there is one!) where the same thing is listed for US$99.00. The
trick is to buy the charts/software on eBay - there appears to be a reseller
and the chart sets go for $39 to $41.00.
The software is quite good - it has gps support as well as the normal
waypoints, routes etc and it is free. The charts are raster charts exactly
same as paper charts. They cover most of USA & Caribbean with best coverage
in Florida.
The interesting thing, is that by loading them into Corel Photopaint or any
other graphics software, and then saving in whatever format you want, you
can load and use these charts in Fugawi or Ozi.
"Mark Weaver" <wea...@nospam-corvusdev.com> wrote in message
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