On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 14:51:17 -0800, "Steve" wrote:

I've been a contented user of The Capn since ver. 4.3 up to 6.1 (upgrading
each time the card comes).

However, the latest upgrade would require that I move to a more power full
laptop computer (I suspect, because of the Mosaic crap and SoftCharts). Now
I'm finding it difficult to get product support for Capn Voyager.

Rather than spend the $49 for an upgrade that I can't use (recent marked dwn
special), I'm considering crossing over to Fugawi 3 for $99.

I looked over the Demo and read about all the features and conclude that
although it isn't as 'slick' as The Capn, it is more flexible (in chart
formats), more capable and user friendly.. It also can be used with the
street/highway (land based) map data bases. Allows you to scan and register
your own charts. The list goes on, while the basic navigation program seems
simple and user friendly..

With an upgrade, I could also be using the ENC vector charts.

So, Why am I here?? I would like the hear from others who might have been
exposed to either Fugawi and/or The Capn.

Thanks for any comments on actual usage.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions


Just to add to the religious war that's brewing, you might want to
add OziExplorer to your list. It's downright frugal with your
computer resources, and will read dang near any raster map format. I
think it will do just about anything Fugawi does. It does not support
any vector charts, though. In my experience, the autopilot support is
a bt dodgy, but I haven't really tried to resolve those issues. It
might be my problem. It's not primarily desgned for boaters, but it
is definitely useable.

Unlike the other packages I've messed with, Ozi has a published API
that lets third parties develop stuff that interfaces with the main
package. One of them sends water depth data to OziExplorer, which
integrates it wth the position data for display and logging. My own
little program can exchange position and waypoint data with Ozi. I've
been a Maptech fan for awhile, but I find myself using Ozi more and
more.

I've always disliked CAPN for its inflexible setup. I haven't tried
FUGAWI, but you have to respect people who name their product after a
bad joke.

__________________________________________________ __________
Glen "Wiley" Wilson usenet1 SPAMNIX at worldwidewiley dot com
To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.

Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/

I've used them all:

The Capn - really poor user interface. Bad feel. The only people who like
it are the ones who've been using it for many years and don't know any
better.

Fugawi - very basic stuff. Not the best and certainly not the most
reliable.

OziExplorer - buy software from an American company or else support will be
a nightmare. OziExplorer is very similar to Fugawi in my experiments.
Again, not the most reliable.

Nobeltec VNS, etc. - the best. Best features and user-interface. It is
reliable. Also the most expensive. I don't think that their product
justifies the $500 - $1,000 cost any longer.

Maptech - good compromise between everything. Excellent support. Features
are good enough for most uses. User interface is pretty good. It is
reliable.

Transas, Raymarine, and all the others - not ready for prime time.


If you can afford it, Nobeltec is the way to do. For a more reasonably
priced product with great features and excellent support, you would be very
happy with the Maptech products.

Safety is the most important thing. Don't forget that!

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

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

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

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

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.

Doug
s/v Callista

"spdevel" wrote in message
...
I've used them all:

The Capn - really poor user interface. Bad feel. The only people who
like
it are the ones who've been using it for many years and don't know any
better.

Fugawi - very basic stuff. Not the best and certainly not the most
reliable.

OziExplorer - buy software from an American company or else support will
be
a nightmare. OziExplorer is very similar to Fugawi in my experiments.
Again, not the most reliable.

Nobeltec VNS, etc. - the best. Best features and user-interface. It is
reliable. Also the most expensive. I don't think that their product
justifies the $500 - $1,000 cost any longer.

Maptech - good compromise between everything. Excellent support.
Features
are good enough for most uses. User interface is pretty good. It is
reliable.

Transas, Raymarine, and all the others - not ready for prime time.


If you can afford it, Nobeltec is the way to do. For a more reasonably
priced product with great features and excellent support, you would be
very
happy with the Maptech products.

Safety is the most important thing. Don't forget that!

"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

"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