There are a number of chart, GPS, tide & current, planning, etc integrated software packages on the market. Does anyone know where I can find an objective comparative evaluation of them?
ekelliher@NSES.com
Evaluation of navigation software
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Ken Coit
Re: Evaluation of navigation software
Ed,
Practical Sailor has reviewed many navigation products. You can see a list at the web page below. They will now sell you an article as well as a back issue, making it more obvious that they care about their copyrights.
I'd be interested in what you pick and why.
Ken
parfait@nc.rr.com
Practical Sailor has reviewed many navigation products. You can see a list at the web page below. They will now sell you an article as well as a back issue, making it more obvious that they care about their copyrights.
I'd be interested in what you pick and why.
Ken
Ed Kelliher wrote: There are a number of chart, GPS, tide & current, planning, etc integrated software packages on the market. Does anyone know where I can find an objective comparative evaluation of them?
parfait@nc.rr.com
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Ed Kelliher
Re: Evaluation of navigation software
Practical Sailor does not seem to have done any reviews of the PC S/W packages like the Nobeltec and ChartView packages and their competition.
Has anyone seen a comparative evaluation of these?
ekelliher@NSES.com
Has anyone seen a comparative evaluation of these?
Ken Coit wrote: Ed,
Practical Sailor has reviewed many navigation products. You can see a list at the web page below. They will now sell you an article as well as a back issue, making it more obvious that they care about their copyrights.
I'd be interested in what you pick and why.
Ken
Ed Kelliher wrote: There are a number of chart, GPS, tide & current, planning, etc integrated software packages on the market. Does anyone know where I can find an objective comparative evaluation of them?
ekelliher@NSES.com
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Ken Coit
Re: Evaluation of navigation software
Ed,
Practical Sailor has done reviews of ChartView, MaxSea, Jeppesen's Marine Map, The Cap'n and at least one other; these are all PC software packages. The earlier report was Feb. 15, 1999 issue and the most recent in the August 1, 1999 issue. It may be time for an update, but there is some info there.
Ken
parfait@nc.rr.com
Practical Sailor has done reviews of ChartView, MaxSea, Jeppesen's Marine Map, The Cap'n and at least one other; these are all PC software packages. The earlier report was Feb. 15, 1999 issue and the most recent in the August 1, 1999 issue. It may be time for an update, but there is some info there.
Ken
Ed Kelliher wrote: Practical Sailor does not seem to have done any reviews of the PC S/W packages like the Nobeltec and ChartView packages and their competition.
Has anyone seen a comparative evaluation of these?Ken Coit wrote: Ed,
Practical Sailor has reviewed many navigation products. You can see a list at the web page below. They will now sell you an article as well as a back issue, making it more obvious that they care about their copyrights.
I'd be interested in what you pick and why.
Ken
Ed Kelliher wrote: There are a number of chart, GPS, tide & current, planning, etc integrated software packages on the market. Does anyone know where I can find an objective comparative evaluation of them?
parfait@nc.rr.com
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Dale W.
Re: Nav Software
The setup I have used since last summer is the Fugawi software. I am very happy. I visited several stores until I found people who would 'let me play' with the programs on machines. I tried out at least 4 different programs. I really am convinced that there is no one 'best' program. In the end I chose Fugawi because at the discount price of $85.00:
a) it loaded faster and worked faster
b) it was (for me) more intuitive about how to do things (I guess the programmer thinks more like me?)
c) accepted every type of digital input available (including stuff from my scanner).
d) provided moving interface with the GPS.
e) includes a nautical planning chart CD that will allow planning of for anywhere in the N. America and surrounding waters
f) includes a 'killer' U.S. Streets CD that will allow you to put your cursor on your house.
I have a Toshiba laptop, Garmin 48, a Radio Shack 12V laptop power supply, and I'm good to go!
I've downloaded some local area charts from the noaa site, calibrated them for the program, and I think I'm home free. (The downloaded charts say stuff about low resolution, and non-navigation, etc, but I've got the same paper chart and . . . I fail to see the difference.)
This whole process is fun. I unexpectedly enjoy setting it up in the car. Watch that arrow move down the road! Two places that really know their stuff and will put you, not the product first are: http://www.thegpsstore.com/site/ and http://www.bluewaterweb.com/
And Fugawi info is at http://www.fugawi.com/
Good Luck, Dale
majortest@earthlink.net
a) it loaded faster and worked faster
b) it was (for me) more intuitive about how to do things (I guess the programmer thinks more like me?)
c) accepted every type of digital input available (including stuff from my scanner).
d) provided moving interface with the GPS.
e) includes a nautical planning chart CD that will allow planning of for anywhere in the N. America and surrounding waters
f) includes a 'killer' U.S. Streets CD that will allow you to put your cursor on your house.
I have a Toshiba laptop, Garmin 48, a Radio Shack 12V laptop power supply, and I'm good to go!
I've downloaded some local area charts from the noaa site, calibrated them for the program, and I think I'm home free. (The downloaded charts say stuff about low resolution, and non-navigation, etc, but I've got the same paper chart and . . . I fail to see the difference.)
This whole process is fun. I unexpectedly enjoy setting it up in the car. Watch that arrow move down the road! Two places that really know their stuff and will put you, not the product first are: http://www.thegpsstore.com/site/ and http://www.bluewaterweb.com/
And Fugawi info is at http://www.fugawi.com/
Good Luck, Dale
majortest@earthlink.net
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Murray Glue
Re: Evaluation of navigation software
I work in the navigation industry, using some very good differential GPS systems and software to position things offshore for the oil and cable companies.Our stuff is used all year round in all locations in the world, on contracts where mistakes can cost millions.
My advice....stick to interpreting GPS positions and navigational data derived from traditonal navigation methods onto the paper chart.
Murray Glue
CD30 Dayspring
Nelson
New Zealand
m_glue@hotmail.com
My advice....stick to interpreting GPS positions and navigational data derived from traditonal navigation methods onto the paper chart.
Murray Glue
CD30 Dayspring
Nelson
New Zealand
m_glue@hotmail.com
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Richard Stephens
Memory-Map Navigator
Ed,
Why not try a package that was developed by a CD owner?
My company has developed a product called Memory-Map Navigator that runs on Windows and also on PocketPC / Windows CE.
About a year ago I posted a message on this bulletin board offering a free copy of the software to any CD owner willing to give feedback on the beta release. I received about 60 responses, including some very helpful feedback. The software is now in a production release, and is available for download from <a href=http://www.memory-map.com> http://www.memory-map.com</a>.
Memory-Map Navigator is compatible with all Maptech data (charts, photos, aero, topos) and with the USGS topo maps, which you can download free. It is designed as a simple to use system that plots your position and records you track log. You can plot waypoints and plan routes, and program these into a GPS, and you can retrieve the tracklog from the GPS after your voyage.
Running on the PocketPC, it is practical to use this technology in smaller boats, such as my Typhoon.
The price is $176, which includes both the Windows and PocketPC versions.
Regards,
Richard Stephens.
Memory-Map, Inc.
(Walt, I hope this is not too commercial, but I felt compelled to respond)
richard@memory-map.com
Why not try a package that was developed by a CD owner?
My company has developed a product called Memory-Map Navigator that runs on Windows and also on PocketPC / Windows CE.
About a year ago I posted a message on this bulletin board offering a free copy of the software to any CD owner willing to give feedback on the beta release. I received about 60 responses, including some very helpful feedback. The software is now in a production release, and is available for download from <a href=http://www.memory-map.com> http://www.memory-map.com</a>.
Memory-Map Navigator is compatible with all Maptech data (charts, photos, aero, topos) and with the USGS topo maps, which you can download free. It is designed as a simple to use system that plots your position and records you track log. You can plot waypoints and plan routes, and program these into a GPS, and you can retrieve the tracklog from the GPS after your voyage.
Running on the PocketPC, it is practical to use this technology in smaller boats, such as my Typhoon.
The price is $176, which includes both the Windows and PocketPC versions.
Regards,
Richard Stephens.
Memory-Map, Inc.
(Walt, I hope this is not too commercial, but I felt compelled to respond)
richard@memory-map.com