On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 16:22:07 -0400, "peter"
wrote:

I have a dual helm trawler, 40', and plan to add electronic charting with a
good GPS with an external arial. I want to view this on a lap top
independent of input wiring so I can go to either helm whenever so ....... I
want to install a Local Area Network (all new to me but sounds reasonable).

Has anyone tried to do this? Sounds so practical. I have yet to buy
anything yet so any advice would be a help! Guess I need a GPS, laptop
with plotting software and LAN module, and the where-with-all to get the
data out to the LAN from the GPS.

Thanks all!





I don't think you need to deal with a LAN for this - see
http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/seaspray_nmea.pdf for the
GPS/NMEA/autpoilot/computer wiring on my boat. I actually have two
connection points for the computer - one at the lower helm, and one on
the flybridge.

I have to make some changes to what is shown on that drawing, I think
- I bought Garmin Mapsource, and a 240 Blue sounder this year - I
think I'll use the 168 with MapSource as a plotter at the upper helm,
and leave the computer below, with the 240 sounder, but getting NMEA
data from the 168 at all times (therefore, retiring the 12XL or saving
it for backup.) At present, I have to take the 168 to the lower helm
to update the Mapsource maps in it.


--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
new newsgroup users info : http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca