"markvictor" wrote in
oups.com:

He will also STILL need a male dsub 9 connector to plug into one of
those hundreds of converters you referenced, as well as driver software
for proper operation if he has no serial port...
r

http://www.stayonline.com/detail~ID~2370.html

Here's what I use, Webfoot. You plug your NMEA serial port off the NMEA
multiplexer that's supposed to go to the computer into its 9-pin port.
Then, you plug the Ethernet port into one of the ports on your NETGEAR
wireless router. No internet connection is necessary..(c;

The Webfoot receives all its DHCP data, just like your computer, from the
router's DHCP server, configuring it automatically to send out NMEA data
as TCP/IP packets to whatever LAN computers are connected to it, even
more than one, up to 253 on most routers.

Inside the laptop computer, you run a piece of software called a "virtual
serial port" or "Serial Port Redirector", which comes with the Webfoot,
by the way. Tell the SPR what COM port it should redirect and hook it to
the webfoot's LAN address over the wireless LAN. No wires, no fuss, no
tripping over wires in a busy cockpit.

Boot your favorite nav software, we use The Cap'n, and tell the nav
software to look on COM3 or whatever port the SPR is spoofing. The SPR,
router and Webfoot handle all the interfacing. The Cap'n thinks it has
found a live COM3 port with NMEA data on it, in both directions. (We
don't tell The Cap'n it's on the air for fear of embarrassing it.)

Take the laptop up to your favorite beanbag under the jib. Don't forget
the beer. Hollar back orders on your Family Radio Service walkie to the
slaves in the cockpit handling sheets and you're ready for sea!....(c;

Click on that waypoint and press the GOTO button and watch the helm
follow your commands.....

Life is GOOD.....

When you get back to the dock, be sure to plug in the cable TV line so
the cable router, also hooked to the WAN port of the wireless router, can
get your laptop on broadband. We're tired of looking at the movies we
took to sea and will need more from alt.binaries.movies.divx newsgroup...
(c;

Larry
Now with 1TB of storage online.