Chartplotting
 

Now we can download NOAA charts for free and/or buy a DVD from a third
party who downloads them and organizes them all for $29 - 45, meaning we
can hook up a GPS antenna to our laptop and get a "chartplotter" with
all these charts for a reasonable investment. (And it looks like that's
what the new Garmin products are going to do, but that's another issue.)

The problem is that these laptops really aren't as waterproof and
shockproof as a real chartplotter.

Why doesn't someone come up with an adapter cord that connects a cheap
DVD players loaded with those charts to a C Map NT+/BlueChart/Navionics
chip adapter thingy so those of us with chartplotters that use these
antiquated systems can access all those charts without buying all of the
individual chips?

I would buy one...

Capt. Jeff

Chartplotting
 

On Wed, 04 Jan 2006 00:42:33 -0800, Tamaroak
wrote:
Why doesn't someone come up with an adapter cord that connects a cheap
DVD players loaded with those charts to a C Map NT+/BlueChart/Navionics
chip adapter thingy so those of us with chartplotters that use these
antiquated systems can access all those charts without buying all of the
individual chips?

============================================

The electronics of creating your own C-Map chips is not all that
complicated so the real challenge would be to create some software
that would convert NOAAs ENC vector format charts (free) into C-Map
chips that you could plug into your chart plotter. I'd be surprised
if someone doesn't try to do it. There may be licensing issues
however since I believe the C-MAP format is proprietary.

Chartplotting
 

Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 04 Jan 2006 00:42:33 -0800, Tamaroak
wrote:

Why doesn't someone come up with an adapter cord that connects a cheap
DVD players loaded with those charts to a C Map NT+/BlueChart/Navionics
chip adapter thingy so those of us with chartplotters that use these
antiquated systems can access all those charts without buying all of the
individual chips?


============================================

The electronics of creating your own C-Map chips is not all that
complicated so the real challenge would be to create some software
that would convert NOAAs ENC vector format charts (free) into C-Map
chips that you could plug into your chart plotter. I'd be surprised
if someone doesn't try to do it. There may be licensing issues
however since I believe the C-MAP format is proprietary.

The charting info is also unreliable. It starts up with a disclaimer.
Use proper charts, digital or paper.

Chartplotting
 

On Wed, 04 Jan 2006 15:20:59 GMT, Gary wrote:

The charting info is also unreliable. It starts up with a disclaimer.
Use proper charts, digital or paper.

=================================

Which are you referring to, the NOAA ENCs or the CMAPs?

A lot of those disclaimers are just legal CYA and don't necessarily
reflect poorly on actual quality. Here in SWFL, all chart information
is suspect to one extent or another since things change after every
major storm.

The new, free NOAA RNCs (raster format) carry a certification notice
that they meet all legal charting requirements.

Chartplotting
 

On Wed, 04 Jan 2006 09:20:02 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

What's needed is a water-resistant laptop PC with a bright screen that
sells for about a grand. That'll be the kiss of death to the overpriced
"chartplotter" business.

================================

Probably not, although it might help to bring prices down. I have
both, and if one had to go, it would be the laptop. The chartplotter
integrates nicely with the RADAR which is a desirable thing. It also
has dedicated controls clearly labeled, and it will zoom in to a much
greater level of detail than the raster charts on the laptop.

There are two things the laptop does better which is why I use both.
The raster charts are very intuitive and easy to read since they look
just like the paper charts. My paticular software also does a good
job with trip planning and layout of routes, all of which can be done
below decks the night before.

Chartplotting
 

On Wed, 04 Jan 2006 16:07:44 GMT, Commodore Joe Redcloud©
wrote:

Not true! The R.O.I. on a "toy" may not manifest itself as cash, but
there is an R.O.I., regardless.

==========================

At least we agree on one thing. :-)

To me the ROI is speed and convenience, and at times that translates
to safety.

Chartplotting
 

Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 04 Jan 2006 15:20:59 GMT, Gary wrote:


The charting info is also unreliable. It starts up with a disclaimer.
Use proper charts, digital or paper.


=================================

Which are you referring to, the NOAA ENCs or the CMAPs?

A lot of those disclaimers are just legal CYA and don't necessarily
reflect poorly on actual quality. Here in SWFL, all chart information
is suspect to one extent or another since things change after every
major storm.

The new, free NOAA RNCs (raster format) carry a certification notice
that they meet all legal charting requirements.

CMAP and all the other proprietary stuff. The NOAA products are
warranteed, correctable and verifiable. The rest are just eye candy.

Chartplotting
 

On Wed, 04 Jan 2006 22:23:15 GMT, Gary wrote:

CMAP and all the other proprietary stuff. The NOAA products are
warranteed, correctable and verifiable. The rest are just eye candy.

======================================

That's a bit harsh in my opinion. Both the CMAP and NOAA products
serve a useful purpose. I have both. I've never found an error on
one of my CMAP charts that is not also on the NOAA product. Chart
errors are just a fact of life around here in south Florida but I've
been the entire length of the east coast this year, and back, with no
issues regarding CMAP charts. In many cases the CMAP charts were more
up to date than my somewhat older BSB/raster collection (NOAA images).

Chartplotting
 

Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 04 Jan 2006 22:23:15 GMT, Gary wrote:


CMAP and all the other proprietary stuff. The NOAA products are
warranteed, correctable and verifiable. The rest are just eye candy.


======================================

That's a bit harsh in my opinion. Both the CMAP and NOAA products
serve a useful purpose. I have both. I've never found an error on
one of my CMAP charts that is not also on the NOAA product. Chart
errors are just a fact of life around here in south Florida but I've
been the entire length of the east coast this year, and back, with no
issues regarding CMAP charts. In many cases the CMAP charts were more
up to date than my somewhat older BSB/raster collection (NOAA images).

Well you are lucky and wrong. CMAP, which I use every day on a Furuno
chart plotter, compared to real charts which I actually navigate on
every day is vastly different. It is very evident that the chart work
is done by geeks as opposed to cartographers. The single most commen
error that I see is when the cartographer marks the bottom with an R
indicatig a rocky bottom and the CMAP gek puts a rock there. Within 10
mile of where I live I can show you a dozen without trying. I even
talked to the vendors about it and they said they only do updates once
in a while and that stuff wasn't critical.

All CMAP is really good for is seeing where you are at a glance. You
can bet the bulk carriers full of some toxic sh*t aren't using CMAP to
find there way up the creek. In fact nobody but yachties us it because
they are the only folks who will trust it. It is not certified by any
independant body and not even legal to navigate with.

Ask them:http://www.c-map.com/default.asp

I see on their website that they have got some ISO approval for there
professional chart databases:

"The CM-93/3 and NT-Link databases consist of approximately 20,000
electronics charts with worldwide coverage, mostly used on ECDIS and ECS
on SOLAS-class ships, as an aid to navigation in addition to official
paper charts or ENCs. It is also widely used on naval vessels (in both
navigation and Command & Control systems) and Vessel Traffic Control
Centers."

Note the line "in addition to official paper charts or ENCs."

Don't be fooled. It is a lovely piece of eye candy, an aid, nothing more.

Gaz

Chartplotting
 

"Tamaroak" wrote in message
...
Now we can download NOAA charts for free and/or buy a DVD from a third
party who downloads them and organizes them all for $29 - 45, meaning we
can hook up a GPS antenna to our laptop and get a "chartplotter" with all
these charts for a reasonable investment. (And it looks like that's what
the new Garmin products are going to do, but that's another issue.)

The problem is that these laptops really aren't as waterproof and
shockproof as a real chartplotter.

Why doesn't someone come up with an adapter cord that connects a cheap DVD
players loaded with those charts to a C Map NT+/BlueChart/Navionics chip
adapter thingy so those of us with chartplotters that use these antiquated
systems can access all those charts without buying all of the individual
chips?

I would buy one...

Capt. Jeff

get the panasonic tough book