Laptop and Marine navigation
Gregg Hales
chasing information, advice and suggestions. (...be nice)
I am actually a computer tech, and am trying to help someone out, who
has asked me if it is possible to set up a laptop to assist with
navigation.
I don't know anything about yachts or boating in general, but said I
would see if I can source some information to give him a head start.
I know this chap has a very old laptop at home in good working
condition, I think a 486 or early pentium, and on his yacht is a gps
device, while he uses physical paper marine charts while yachting.
Does anyone know of free software that would:
1) put marine charts on the laptop
2) allow conection to a gps device
3) have any other suggestions regarding navagation and the use of
laptops and free software etc.
4) waterproofing a laptop (I remember reading some time ago about
a spray on compound used to waterproof the inner workings of a
laptop to be used in a marine situation. Unfortuneately I did not
take notes at the time, as I never thought I would be asked for
advice in this particular area.)
5) links to schematics for the creation of any cables if
required.
What he actually wanted was to plot courses at home, and print them
out to take with him, but surely there is a way to waterproof the
laptop, load free software on it, and take the whole lot with him, to
run and reference live.
I know it is a multi faceted question, but I thought someone out there
has probably done this all before, and there is no point in
re-inventing the wheel.
I am in Australia, but I am sure marine charts are available on the
internet somewhere, that would cover Australian waters too.
Thanks in advance for any assistance anyone can give.
best regards
Tropicaltech
Cairns, Far North Queensland, Australia
up top down under
Dave Patton
news:d4a139c.03071...@posting.google.com:
> Hi,
> chasing information, advice and suggestions. (...be nice)
While not free, I'd suggest looking at OziExplorer,
which you can try out for free. There are lots of Aussies
on the Ozi users mailing list, so they may have specific
Oz-related info, and the list in general is very helpfull
with ideas, suggestions, etc.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OziUsers-L/
--
Dave Patton
Canadian Coordinator, the Degree Confluence Project
http://www.confluence.org dpatton at confluence dot org
My website: http://members.shaw.ca/davepatton/
Vancouver/Whistler - host of the 2010 Winter Olympics
Glendon
"Gregg Hales" <t...@kiss.com.au> wrote in message
news:d4a139c.03071...@posting.google.com...
> Hi,
> chasing information, advice and suggestions. (...be nice)
>
website, decided otherwise.
Your questions are so broad that they can't be addressed in simple terms.
All that you are looking for is readily available...there are many, many,
many GPS-laptop/PDA-chart marine navigation solutions available...the most
simple of internet searches will show that. Very little of the software is
free. Australian charts,readily available in electronic format at
http://www.hydro.gov.au/ or other distributors, are very expensive because
of licencing arrangements. Also, because of licencing restrictions, Ozi will
not work with them...see their site (Austn version). (Having examined the
costs, you may care to write to your local member comparing and contrasting
the US and Australian government approaches to electronic maritime chart
costs.)
One relatively cheap solution is to buy/use paper charts, scan them in and
buy Ozi for navigation......remembering that you should always have paper
backup to any electronic navigation system on board. You can scan charts in
reasonably adequately using a home scanner and stitching software
Waterproof computers? Cables?All sorts of solutions. Look up Mini-ITX for
some exciting new technology that may have spinoffs for yacht use for
computertechs who build their own computers..
Do your searches. Google on rec.boats. Try
http://www.boat-links.com/boatlink.html as a starting point...electronics,
communication and navigation sections