Navionics NavPlanner

F

flapbreaker

New member
This isn't news to some of you but this is the first "official" news I've heard coming from Navionics regarding the upcomming PC software -NavPlanner. Sounds like a good price too.

http://www.navionics.com/News.asp?ID=215




February 16, 2006

Navionics New NavPlanner Provides PC-Based Planning

NAVIONICS NEW NAVPLANNER PROVIDES PC-BASED PLANNING CAPABILITY FOR WORLD LEADING CHARTS

Easy-to-use Utility Offers Convenient Editing Capabilities for Platinum, Gold+, Silver and HotMaps Cartography

Wareham, Mass. – Navionics, the leader in electronic charting and navigation data, announced today, its new PC-based tool, NavPlanner. Allowing boaters to conveniently plan routes and waypoints on a home PC or laptop, NavPlanner is compatible with Navionics “Good, Better, Best” Silver, Gold+ and Platinum marine cartography line-up; as well as Gold and its two fresh water charting products, HotMaps Premium and HotMaps USA. Complete with Navionics exclusive Multi Card Reader, NavPlanner is compatible with all Navionics hardware partners’ cartography card formats.

The NavPlanner hardware and software solution allows boaters to load, edit, save and transfer routes and waypoints from a plotter to a PC, and back again. This flexibility allows boaters to plan their next cruise or fishing expedition from the comfort of their home or office. The product provides tidal and current flow, direction and velocity details, a port locator; and Navionics XplainTM with full descriptions of all navaids and other chart objects. In addition, navigators can plan stops, measure distances, bearing, fuel autonomy and much more. Whether planning a winter cruising expedition to the eastern Caribbean; Marlin fishing off of San Jose de Cabo, Mexico; or a trophy Walleye excursion to Manitoba, Canada; NavPlanner gives boaters the information they need to plan every detail of their trip ahead of departure.

“NavPlanner is an easy and inexpensive way for Navionics owners to make the most of their boating excursions,” said Bob Moshiri, vice president of sales and marketing, Navionics. “With the convenience of planning at home and our renowned accuracy and detail, Navionics and NavPlanner reduce the surprises and improve boaters’ experiences on the water.”

The NavPlanner all-purpose Multi Card Reader accepts MultiMedia Card (MMC), CompactFlash (CF) and SecureDigital (SD) cards. Supporting twenty-three storage formats, the Multi Card Reader doubles as a convenient tool to copy data and media files between a PC and a multitude of devices that use memory cards such as handheld computers, digital cameras, PDAs and more.

Pricing and Availability:
Navionics NavPlanner has a $129.00 suggested retail price and will be available soon at marine and sporting goods stores throughout the United States and Canada. For more information on NavPlanner, Navionics compatible chartplotters, or to learn more about Navionics and its entire product line, contact 800-848-5896 (toll-free) or visit www.navionics.com.


 
flapbreaker":16t19pt6 said:


The NavPlanner all-purpose Multi Card Reader accepts MultiMedia Card (MMC), CompactFlash (CF) and SecureDigital (SD) cards. Supporting twenty-three storage formats, the Multi Card Reader doubles as a convenient tool to copy data and media files between a PC and a multitude of devices that use memory cards such as handheld computers, digital cameras, PDAs and more.
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A major concern for me is whether Navionics has built in a proprietary scheme that forces us to use only the "approved" card reader. Lowrance did that with their version and it's a real PIA. My laptop, like most today, already has a built in card reader though few have Compact Flash capability. The scuttlebutt on other sites is that Navionics is still dragging it's feet on a product that was originally scheduled for market in February though I'll probably be like the rest of us Raymarine sheep and submit an order soon as it's available. :amgry

Don
 
I just got notice that my pre-ordered NavPlanner was shipped. UPS tracking number and all.

So it really isn't just Vaporware!!!!!

Don
 
Of course it's 6 days in a UPS truck first. :sad What interests me most is if it will work with the CF card reader built into my laptop or if, like Lowrance MapCreate software, it will only work with the supplied "proprietary USB card reader."

I'll play with it fer sure and let ya know.

Don
 
Just out of curiosity, how many boat bucks is this going to set me back? I still haven't decided on my main GPS but I'm now heavily leaning towards Lowrance, especially since I purchased their H2Oc handheld along with the Navionics Chip for the sound and BC.
 
I think the list price for NavPlanner is $129...


gljjr":lfmjpnyi said:
Just out of curiosity, how many boat bucks is this going to set me back? I still haven't decided on my main GPS but I'm now heavily leaning towards Lowrance, especially since I purchased their H2Oc handheld along with the Navionics Chip for the sound and BC.
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Well, first reports from the Right Coast Navplanner users are pretty disappointing. Quotes are from posters at THT

CANNOT import your present C80 waypoints into Navplanner!
Click to expand...

One user is doing it with a kluge using an Xcel file

One other feature that is missing is waypoint symbols. Everything in the planner is a circle with an X in it. No wreck, rocks, diamonds, etc...

The panning feature is not good. It moves one screen N, S, E, W at a time. Needs to have click and drag and/or screen scroll bars

Needs "find or show" a waypoint function. Currently if you look it up on the list you have to read lat/lon and find it on the chart manually. You should be able to right click and choose "show waypoint"
Click to expand...

It appears that NavPlanner ain't ready for prime time. If you haven't ordered it yet, I suggest waiting a bit.

:amgry

Don
 
Thanks, Uncle Don...guess I'll save that $129 for gas...no question that Coastal Explorer IS ready for prime time - any volunteers to make me a serial cable to go from computer to the C80 NMEA IN?


Sneaks":2gsvyigx said:
It appears that NavPlanner ain't ready for prime time. If you haven't ordered it yet, I suggest waiting a bit.

:amgry

Don
Click to expand...
 
Pat Anderson":16yek8zr said:
Thanks, Uncle Don...guess I'll save that $129 for gas...no question that Coastal Explorer IS ready for prime time - any volunteers to make me a serial cable to go from computer to the C80 NMEA IN?
Click to expand...

If you really want to read much frustration, some excellent observations and a little background re: the probable source of Navplanner's failings, go here and be amazed.

Mine is due via UPS on the 26th. I will refuse to accept delivery....

A USB to NMEA is pretty easy, Pat. Buy a cable, cut off the correct end, strip out the two wires listed at Gary's site, connect the end to your NMEA183 cable and go. If it doesn't go, swap the two wires and try again. Just don't hook the red wire up to anything at all!!!!!!!!

Don
 
Gary - where would I find the pinout? I looked at the USB site, how do I know what signal Coastal Explorer puts on what wire? I would have to cut one end off the cable and use a bus or splices to connect up to the Raymarine NMEA wires, wouldn't I?

gljjr":1oe9a5ja said:
Pat,

That should be a fairly simple task to do. Do you have the pinout you need for that? BTW: I found this site for doing it with a USB cable.

http://www.connectworld.net/usb.html

I would assume that you need to use the +Data and either VCC or ground to give you the signal you need.
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Yes that sounds correct Pat. I would send an email to Coastal Explorer tech support. They are pretty responsive and I'm sure they would be more than happy to help you set up your system.
 
Well, it looks like Ray Marine is stepping in to help us out. The following is a RM email found on THT. It looks like if we wait a few weeks and just order the Navionics card reader (through Raymarine) we can use the Raymarine PC Planner software rather than NavPlanner. The price is right on PC Planner for nav purposes as well.

Decent!

Raymarine is currently in the final stages of testing RayTech RNS 6.0 (currently scheduled to be available in mid-May), a product designed to permit customers to integrate their PC's with their onboard marine electronics. When released, Raymarine will post the FREE RayTech 6.0 Planner software for customers to download from Raymarine's website. RayTech Planner 6.0 is essentially an unlicensed copy of RayTech RNS 6.0 which will permit customers to plan waypoints and routes at home and bring a memory card to the boat containing their waypoints and routes. RayTech 6.0 Planner and RayTech RNS 6.0 are designed to support BSB formatted raster (see free NOAA RNCs or freeboatingcharts.com), Maptech topographic, Maptech photo, C-Map NT+, and Navionics Silver, Gold, Platinum, and HotMaps cartography. Should you desire to use your Navionics cartography with RayTech 6.0 Planner or RayTech RNS 6.0, Raymarine will offer the E86026 Navionics MultiCard Reader may be purchased through Raymarine or an authorized Raymarine dealer. The Navionics MultiCard Reader purchased with NavPlanner will also function with RayTech 6.0 Planner and RayTech RNS 6.0 software.
Click to expand...


Don
 
The RayMarine RNS 6.0 is a totally different software. From what I found out at the SBS it is basically a fully functional "Emulator" of the E-series systems. IE: It allows you to do everything on your PC that you can do with the E-Series and it works on the Seatalk2 bus. There was a guy at the show that had been using the Beta that I talked with for quite some time. I've been waiting for it to come out so that I could take a look at it since then. He indicated that while it was OK he liked Nobeltec better as it was more of a Windows product. I find it facinating that Raymarine is now talking about making this a free download! That is way cool!

BTW: You can download a trial version of RNS 5.x from RayMarine.
 
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