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At 04:36 PM 1/29/01 -0500, Brian and Elaine Timmins wrote:<br>
<font face="arial" size=2><blockquote type=cite cite>Has anyone set up an
onboard Charting Program that you actually use while
sailing?</font><br>
I'm talking about the type that runs on a computer and displays charts
and your boat location (from GPS input) in real time. The type where the
charts resemble actual paper charts.<br>
If so, how and where do you have the computer mounted? Can you work the
program from the cockpit or do you have to go below to work or even see
it?[...]</blockquote><br>
<br>
Sure. There are several programs from free tp expensive. For free,
see:<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.sping.com/seaclear/" eudora="autourl">http://www.sping.com/seaclear/</a><br>
<br>
In addition, the ham radio people have several, and you can use one of
those as a non-ham if you're not going to transmit you position. There
are versions for Windows, DOS (crude maps but tiny - which I use) , &
Mac. A good one couples with Street Atlas maps.
See:<br>
<br>
<a href="http://tapr.org/" eudora="autourl">Http://tapr.org/</a><br>
<br>
Of course Garmin & Magellan sell their own very nice marine chart
oriented software at a fairly reasonable price. See their web
pages.<br>
<br>
I just remembered a site which does a good job of referencing these
programs and more:<br>
<br>
<a href="http://joe.mehaffey.com/" eudora="autourl">http://joe.mehaffey.com/</a><br>
<br>
So plotting your position on a moving map is a piece of cake; but the
downside is that it's inconvenient without a dedicated and expensive gps
chart plotter. A color laptop is lousy in the sun and it does not belong
anywhere around spray: i.e. in the cockpit. They do work wonderfully on a
well secured laptop donwn below. For myself I am a minimalist. I
use APRS Dos on an old handheld HP computer that I can keep in the
compass recess and glance at every once in a while. I sue it primarily to
broadcast my position course & speed in real time to the ham world
and Janet back at home (who never remembers to look at it.)<br>
<br>
Fortunately, I only need one digit to broadcast my speed.<br>
<br>
Bob Kirk<br>
Isobar #181<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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