I also like the Tides and Currents module of the Capn. Was invaluable
when in the ICW. The bottom graph was helpful too. Just wish that
LCD screens suitable for mounting at the helm weren;t so expensive.
We use a NAVMAN for that. They (NAVMAN) wouldn;t give me
info on the exchange format though. I sent an email, they replied
asking for clarification o what I was asking and then I never heard
from them again. Would be nice to exchange waypoints and routes
between the two units.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Thanks. That was the type of comparision I was looking for, although not
what I wanted to hear.

I believe that Nautical Technology (The Capn), Nobeltec and Maptech have
an
agenda to lock the navigator into a chart format. And of course they
control
the market on these formats.

Not only do I have about five hundred buck invested in The Capn, but I
have
nearly a thousand invested in BSB and other raster formats that run on
Capn
and Maptech software.. Now I see each company introducing their new
formats/type of digital charts.. The money is not in the navigation
software, the money is in the charts. The race among the three leaders is
to
get the navigator locked into a format before he becomes aware of the ever
increasing number of vector charts being released for free..

Although I have been locked into BSB and The Capn for about 4 years, I
have
only sailed two seasons with this software and chart format. I am content
with the choice of chart format but I have lost confidence in Nautical
Technology since there fail to provide comprehensive interface with
external
devices. (subject of previous posts here and in rec.boats.electronics)..

For my present and future navigation requirements, I don't see any need
for
SoftCharts, Vector charts or enhanced video presentations with my charts.
I
just want my laptop screen to look like the paper charts that I have
laying
on the chart table.

One of the feature of The Capn that I would miss with a Fugawi change over
would be the Tides & Currents, however, I still will have their Tides and
Currents available though the Graphic representation, I just won't be able
to display this information on the chart.

I guess I have ranted enough (for now).

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
What is it about the user interface of Capn that you don;t like? I've been
using it for years and can't think of any major complaints. Taking
existing waypoints and incorporating them into a route used to
be a problem but has been fixed in the latest release. I downloaded the
Nobeltec demo several years ago and found it to be unreliable
and quirky so I walked away from it. Same situation with Maptech.
Haven't tried FUGAWI and OZI though.


My main problem is the fact that I can't run their latest version with my
existing Laptop.. Has to be a (i think) P3 or higher and 500 mhz.. Or
something like that.. I checked with them when I got the first notice for
upgrade..

Shortly there after I realized that if my GPS module was on the USB, I would
be screwed for Autopilot control from the computer.

Then I gave up on the GPS module and went to a Furuno GP32 which I could
operate on the serial port, however The Capn won't do uploads of waypoints
to the (any GPS).. The Capn just exports to a proprietory file set.

In the past year (after the latest version came out) I tried to contact them
by email and they wouldn't provide support because they claim they can't
find a record of me being a register owner of their software. Strange, I get
an upgrade offer every 6 months..

Even if I purchase the latest upgrade offer, I can't use it and I doubt I
will be able to get any tech support, since I'm still using 6.1

I have already orderd Figawi 3.x.x

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
What is it about the user interface of Capn that you don;t like? I've been
using it for years and can't think of any major complaints. Taking
existing waypoints and incorporating them into a route used to
be a problem but has been fixed in the latest release. I downloaded the
Nobeltec demo several years ago and found it to be unreliable
and quirky so I walked away from it. Same situation with Maptech.
Haven't tried FUGAWI and OZI though.


My main problem is the fact that I can't run their latest version with my
existing Laptop.. Has to be a (i think) P3 or higher and 500 mhz.. Or
something like that.. I checked with them when I got the first notice for
upgrade..

Shortly there after I realized that if my GPS module was on the USB, I would
be screwed for Autopilot control from the computer.

Then I gave up on the GPS module and went to a Furuno GP32 which I could
operate on the serial port, however The Capn won't do uploads of waypoints
to the (any GPS).. The Capn just exports to a proprietory file set.

In the past year (after the latest version came out) I tried to contact them
by email and they wouldn't provide support because they claim they can't
find a record of me being a register owner of their software. Strange, I get
an upgrade offer every 6 months..

Even if I purchase the latest upgrade offer, I can't use it and I doubt I
will be able to get any tech support, since I'm still using 6.1

I have already orderd Figawi 3.x.x

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

"Steve" wrote in message
...

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
What is it about the user interface of Capn that you don;t like? I've
been
using it for years and can't think of any major complaints. Taking
existing waypoints and incorporating them into a route used to
be a problem but has been fixed in the latest release. I downloaded the
Nobeltec demo several years ago and found it to be unreliable
and quirky so I walked away from it. Same situation with Maptech.
Haven't tried FUGAWI and OZI though.


My main problem is the fact that I can't run their latest version with my
existing Laptop.. Has to be a (i think) P3 or higher and 500 mhz.. Or
something like that.. I checked with them when I got the first notice for
upgrade..

The price of progress Not the fault of The Capn.

Shortly there after I realized that if my GPS module was on the USB, I
would
be screwed for Autopilot control from the computer.

Yes, that is a problem. I have that problem too.

Then I gave up on the GPS module and went to a Furuno GP32 which I could
operate on the serial port, however The Capn won't do uploads of waypoints
to the (any GPS).. The Capn just exports to a proprietory file set.

My solution also. I use the NAVMAN 5500 to drive the autopilot
directly. I have no problem with the format of Capn export files, but
the NAVMAN folks won't divulge their import format.

In the past year (after the latest version came out) I tried to contact
them
by email and they wouldn't provide support because they claim they can't
find a record of me being a register owner of their software. Strange, I
get
an upgrade offer every 6 months..

Haven't had that problem, I got the card, ordered the upgrade and installed
it.
One intetresting thing that did happen is that it never asked for the key.
No
problem contacted them via email.

Even if I purchase the latest upgrade offer, I can't use it and I doubt I
will be able to get any tech support, since I'm still using 6.1

Tech support for old version can't last forever. If your laptop is that old,
you have lost tech support for Windows 95 and 98 as well. Microsoft
dropped support for those recently.

I have already orderd Figawi 3.x.x

Let me know how it works. I mat be interested in looking at it. Do they
have an eval version? Won;t be able to eval it unto the boat is back in
the water though.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

"Steve" wrote in message
...

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
What is it about the user interface of Capn that you don;t like? I've
been
using it for years and can't think of any major complaints. Taking
existing waypoints and incorporating them into a route used to
be a problem but has been fixed in the latest release. I downloaded the
Nobeltec demo several years ago and found it to be unreliable
and quirky so I walked away from it. Same situation with Maptech.
Haven't tried FUGAWI and OZI though.


My main problem is the fact that I can't run their latest version with my
existing Laptop.. Has to be a (i think) P3 or higher and 500 mhz.. Or
something like that.. I checked with them when I got the first notice for
upgrade..

The price of progress Not the fault of The Capn.

Shortly there after I realized that if my GPS module was on the USB, I
would
be screwed for Autopilot control from the computer.

Yes, that is a problem. I have that problem too.

Then I gave up on the GPS module and went to a Furuno GP32 which I could
operate on the serial port, however The Capn won't do uploads of waypoints
to the (any GPS).. The Capn just exports to a proprietory file set.

My solution also. I use the NAVMAN 5500 to drive the autopilot
directly. I have no problem with the format of Capn export files, but
the NAVMAN folks won't divulge their import format.

In the past year (after the latest version came out) I tried to contact
them
by email and they wouldn't provide support because they claim they can't
find a record of me being a register owner of their software. Strange, I
get
an upgrade offer every 6 months..

Haven't had that problem, I got the card, ordered the upgrade and installed
it.
One intetresting thing that did happen is that it never asked for the key.
No
problem contacted them via email.

Even if I purchase the latest upgrade offer, I can't use it and I doubt I
will be able to get any tech support, since I'm still using 6.1

Tech support for old version can't last forever. If your laptop is that old,
you have lost tech support for Windows 95 and 98 as well. Microsoft
dropped support for those recently.

I have already orderd Figawi 3.x.x

Let me know how it works. I mat be interested in looking at it. Do they
have an eval version? Won;t be able to eval it unto the boat is back in
the water though.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
That would be "Where the FUGAWI!"

yep ya gotta keep in mind that Northport systems got its start doing this
stuff for the Canadian Army

Saltair

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
That would be "Where the FUGAWI!"

yep ya gotta keep in mind that Northport systems got its start doing this
stuff for the Canadian Army

Saltair

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...

In the past year (after the latest version came out) I tried to contact
them
by email and they wouldn't provide support because they claim they can't
find a record of me being a register owner of their software. Strange, I
get
an upgrade offer every 6 months..

Tech support for old version can't last forever. If your laptop is that
old,
you have lost tech support for Windows 95 and 98 as well. Microsoft
dropped support for those recently.


The Capn Mosaic only came out in the last year and I would expect them to
continue support the last version for a reasonable period.. It's not
unreasonable for customers to expect continued support for a short
transition period..

I know their priorities are to get everyone SUCKED into the Soft Chart
scheme since they will be the only ones providing them..

You have probably already heard that Maptech is phasing out regular BSB and
replaced it with something newer that can't be run in the older software..

I'll go with Fugawi or Ozi since they seem to be more in touch with the
customer/user needs..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...

In the past year (after the latest version came out) I tried to contact
them
by email and they wouldn't provide support because they claim they can't
find a record of me being a register owner of their software. Strange, I
get
an upgrade offer every 6 months..

Tech support for old version can't last forever. If your laptop is that
old,
you have lost tech support for Windows 95 and 98 as well. Microsoft
dropped support for those recently.


The Capn Mosaic only came out in the last year and I would expect them to
continue support the last version for a reasonable period.. It's not
unreasonable for customers to expect continued support for a short
transition period..

I know their priorities are to get everyone SUCKED into the Soft Chart
scheme since they will be the only ones providing them..

You have probably already heard that Maptech is phasing out regular BSB and
replaced it with something newer that can't be run in the older software..

I'll go with Fugawi or Ozi since they seem to be more in touch with the
customer/user needs..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

The Capn supports BSB charts as well so one isn't forced into
buying Softchart. And Softchart products are available through
many sources. So I don't see how Capn is locking one into one
particular format that they somehow control.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Steve" wrote in message
...

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...

In the past year (after the latest version came out) I tried to
contact
them
by email and they wouldn't provide support because they claim they
can't
find a record of me being a register owner of their software. Strange,
I
get
an upgrade offer every 6 months..

Tech support for old version can't last forever. If your laptop is that
old,
you have lost tech support for Windows 95 and 98 as well. Microsoft
dropped support for those recently.


The Capn Mosaic only came out in the last year and I would expect them to
continue support the last version for a reasonable period.. It's not
unreasonable for customers to expect continued support for a short
transition period..

I know their priorities are to get everyone SUCKED into the Soft Chart
scheme since they will be the only ones providing them..

You have probably already heard that Maptech is phasing out regular BSB
and
replaced it with something newer that can't be run in the older software..

I'll go with Fugawi or Ozi since they seem to be more in touch with the
customer/user needs..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions