Best PC-based Chart display software?
 

Lloyd wrote:
Hi,

I have Maptech Ocean Navigator software (came with the CD)to show
the NDI charts and my GPS-based position. I don't like it. It's too
big (takes FOREVER to load!), too complex, and for all the features,
I can't figure out simple things like getting it to auto-load a new
chart when my GPS-based boat goes off the display.

Any opinions on what I should look at? Fugawi? OziExplorer?
Something else? Note that it needs to read BSB *VERSION 4* charts
(which apparently are completely different from version 3 BSB :( )

Also, if anybody knows any program that runs on Linux that can
read the Ver 4 BSB charts, that would be good too (I only found ones
that read Ver 3)

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

You will gather from the replies that there isn't any "best", it simply
depends on the subjective opinions of the many users' preferences.

Dennis.

Best PC-based Chart display software?
 

"Glen "Wiley" Wilson" wrote in
message ...
On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 07:03:01 -0800, Lloyd Sumpter
wrote:


I'm not sure I want software from Microsoft at $400 US. Also, Both
Fugawi and OziExplorer CLAIM to do "chart quilting" (if that's what it's
called): Fugawi: "new maps are automatically loaded as you travel to new
areas", and OziEx: "When you leave a map OziExplorer automatically changes
to the next map or even better, OziExplorer can search out the most
detailed map for the area you are traversing."


I don't think that's actually quilting. It is switching fron one
chart to another. Quilting, if I understand it correctly, is where
the new map is opened and bjutted up against the old one. It is
probably useful, though it looks odd when charts of different scales
are manipulated to synch up with each other.

__________________________________________________ __________
Glen "Wiley" Wilson usenet1 SPAMNIX at world wide wiley 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 have the most recent Ozi and an older version of Nobeltech, 4.5.
Ozi displays only one chart at a time and switches your boat to the next
appropriate chart as you proceed.
Nobeltech stitches all available charts together (quilting). As Glen says,
it can be a bit difficult to understand what you are seeing at times due to
the different chart scales. Having said that I like this feature as I can
"travel" up a coastline using the arrow keys. If I get to an interesting
location I can zoom in for a more detailed look.