Need plotter recommendation

Zelpha · Guest

Thanks Cmiii,
I bought the GPS 18 to feed my laptop directly thru a USB connector which leaves no accessibility to wires between the Sensor and USB male end. Plug it into the computer with "Inland Lakes" Garmin software and all works great on the laptop screen. My problem is how to get from the computer to the S1000 input wires. Wonder about coming out the 2nd USB port with another UBS connector with wires. Maybe it cannot be done. Thanks for your help. Zelpha

flrockytop · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:52 am Post subject:

Zelpha · Guest

Thanks Roger, I think you are right. I do have a second USB port and a RS232 dongel but from what I also read on the Garmin site I think the protocol is different from that the S1000 requires. Oh well, I guess I will have to use an old, old Garmin 176C. Has a very small screen but still works well and has a cable with the required NEMA output wires. We are so spoiled; once they only had a sextant. Thanks for your help The S1000 is worth the hassle. Zelpha

cemiii · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:53 pm Post subject:

now i'm really confused by all the different software options. Zelpha, does Garmin Inland lakes include navigation software? Because I really like the depth of the lake charts it provides. If I can just keep my existing gps for the ocean/bay and use a laptop for lakes, that may be the best of all worlds.

Chris

Zelpha · Guest

Hi Chris, I have an older Garmin 2006C Chartplotter on another boat and I run Inland Lakes on a chip in it (which I dowloaded using a USB chip programmer from a Windows computer programed with Inland Lakes but I think you can buy the chip already programmed). It functions a a good big screen plotter with Inland Lakes (and you can buy or download other Garmin programs and also feeds my S1000 via wires and has a 12 volt set of input wires. You can set waypoint etc on the system. I think this is common with Garmin programs if you have a way to send the correct NEMA signals to the S1000. I believe most of their chartlplotters do. My problem is I have no RS232 port on my laptop so I can only receive USB to the computer but then cannot resend to the S1000. The Garmin Software (Inland Lakes etc is not the problem I do not think). The Garmin USB Data Card Programmer is great in that you can choose the smaller map areas you want to use and later go back and reprogram the same chip to a different area for your next trip. I guess I can always move the Chartplotter from boat to boat but it does not have all the capabilities of a laptop. Least I seem biased to Garmin, the S1000 is Raymarine. As is usual, I guess I can buy another set of cables from my GPS18 that have a RS232 output and then buy a RS232/USB adapter. Perhaps cheaper to buy another Chartplotter and carry both the laptop and new Chartplatter on the boat at the same time. Whatever works if you have the money. Best to you, Zelpha

Zelpha · Guest

Chris, above rather longwinded. Inland lakes works great on only a Windows computer if you have the puck/sensor to feed it. Zelpha

gljjr · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject:

flrockytop,

I would check out NewEgg.com before buying from TigerDirect. It looks like they have several of the Asus Eee notebooks with the SSD HDD and their prices are better. Plus NewEgg has always had good customer service.

Jack in Alaska · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:37 am Post subject:

WHHHHEEEEEUU................you guys are typing in English aren't you???? Obviously technology has passed me by.

RJD Wannabe · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 3:14 am Post subject:

ahhhhhhhh, the days of "plug and pay" or KISS

Byrdman · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:03 am Post subject:

Not a real fan of laptops for navigation in our small boats.... Leave the top off the blender one time and oh it ain't nice... but...if yall are headed that way...and it looks that many are interested or have started the journey...... I would have to look in the photo album of C-Eagle in AL on Richard and Cheryle's boat, and they have a neat set up on a swing table for the laptop .....using the aft wall of the V-Berth it seems. It has been a bit over a year since I saw it at one of the Cumberland River gatherings....but, I do recall it was set up to be very flexible...with...or without a laptop on the table.

Worked real good for wine and cheese!! Thumbs Up

Byrdman

dotnmarty · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:54 am Post subject:

marvin4239 · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:08 am Post subject: Re: Need plotter recommendation

cemiii · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:38 pm Post subject:

yes, it would be just like me to go out and buy the newest greatest gps, from someplace that i couldn't return it, and then find out it couldn't communicate with my auto-pilot. some day i'm gonna learn.

chris

gljjr · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject:

Check with Maretron. They have several different items for the NMEA2000 bus. Especially interesting for this topic is the USB100 that converst NMEA 2000 to 0183.

cemiii · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject:

found this in the albums on pc use

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=2ndByte&id=Computer_Mount_up_and_running&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

toggle to his next photo and see the swivel mount. As well, I love the clean look of the snap on wiring cover in the berth. Mine looks like a birds nest.

Wow tons of other great mod ideas and some phenominal pics. Thanks 3rd Byte. If you're out there where did you find the great swivel setup?

chris