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

Another option will be available soon (2nd quarter of 2004)... Coastal
Explorer is a brand new program that can use Maptech and SoftChart
raster charts as well as S-57 vector charts. It is made by a new
company, Rose Point Navigation Systems, that does not make any money
selling charts, so they are not trying to lock you into their own
format.

Coastal Explorer will be officially announced at the Seattle Boat
Show, January 16-25. If you'll be at that show, stop by booth 2010 on
the upper concourse.

Check out http://rosepointnav.com/ for more information...

Brad Christian
(Yes, I work for them...)

Another option will be available soon (2nd quarter of 2004)... Coastal
Explorer is a brand new program that can use Maptech and SoftChart
raster charts as well as S-57 vector charts. It is made by a new
company, Rose Point Navigation Systems, that does not make any money
selling charts, so they are not trying to lock you into their own
format.

Coastal Explorer will be officially announced at the Seattle Boat
Show, January 16-25. If you'll be at that show, stop by booth 2010 on
the upper concourse.

Check out http://rosepointnav.com/ for more information...

Brad Christian
(Yes, I work for them...)

On Wed, 7 Jan 2004 14:36:38 -0500, "Doug Dotson"
wrote:

The only beef I have woth Capn is that the port used for GPS in
and autopilot out must be the same. Does OZI allow different ports be
specified for in and out?

Yes, it does allow this. I haven't done much testing with the
autopilot function, though. I'd recommend giving it a good test with
the trial version before licensing.

Maptech ON is really good in the configuration department. You can
choose input port, passthru port, and autopilot port. You can
configure what autopilot sentences are generated and what talker ID
they have. Really nice. But it only supports Maptech charts. They
have a new product they're announcing soon; but I know nothing about
it as yet.

__________________________________________________ __________
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/

On Wed, 7 Jan 2004 14:36:38 -0500, "Doug Dotson"
wrote:

The only beef I have woth Capn is that the port used for GPS in
and autopilot out must be the same. Does OZI allow different ports be
specified for in and out?

Yes, it does allow this. I haven't done much testing with the
autopilot function, though. I'd recommend giving it a good test with
the trial version before licensing.

Maptech ON is really good in the configuration department. You can
choose input port, passthru port, and autopilot port. You can
configure what autopilot sentences are generated and what talker ID
they have. Really nice. But it only supports Maptech charts. They
have a new product they're announcing soon; but I know nothing about
it as yet.

__________________________________________________ __________
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/

On 8 Jan 2004 12:56:10 -0800, wrote:

Another option will be available soon (2nd quarter of 2004)... Coastal
Explorer is a brand new program that can use Maptech and SoftChart
raster charts as well as S-57 vector charts.
Hubba hubba! How much?


__________________________________________________ __________
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/

On 8 Jan 2004 12:56:10 -0800, wrote:

Another option will be available soon (2nd quarter of 2004)... Coastal
Explorer is a brand new program that can use Maptech and SoftChart
raster charts as well as S-57 vector charts.
Hubba hubba! How much?


__________________________________________________ __________
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/

So I don't see how Capn is locking one into one
particular format that they somehow control.


Isn't it common knowledge that the company that owns The Capn also owns
Softchart and the online retailer Captain Jacks? Ever wonder why Captain
Jacks doesn't sell Maptech charts any longer?

So I don't see how Capn is locking one into one
particular format that they somehow control.


Isn't it common knowledge that the company that owns The Capn also owns
Softchart and the online retailer Captain Jacks? Ever wonder why Captain
Jacks doesn't sell Maptech charts any longer?

Pricing for Coastal Explorer is not yet set in stone, but I expect it
to be about $300. While this is more expensive than Fugawi's products
and The Capn First Mate, it is significantly less expensive than The
Capn Voyager, Nobeltec VNS, and RayTech Navigator. Yet Coastal
Explorer includes most of the useful features found in the more
expensive programs, and even a few that they don't. We feel that
Coastal Explorer has the best feature set and the most reasonable
price of any navigation software available, especially when you
consider that most of your charts will be free in the US!

Brad Christian
Rose Point Navigation Systems, LLC
http://rosepointnav.com/