OpenCpn for Android

For anyone that is using this; If you do this download, then do you have to download the charts separately? Is there some kind of a tutorial that shows how to use it? Where?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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OK, I did that and this is what I found. Looks like the "free version" is a bootleg version and I'm stuck with buying the Open Captain ap in order to get the new update and have it work.


OpenCPN App for Android is a premium App found only on Google Play.

Version 1.0.9 is a free upgrade for those who already purchased the app.

google-play-badge)
Your purchase includes

Free upgrades whenever they are released. (Don’t worry, Google Play will remember your purchase.)

Full support at the OpenCPN Android Forum. *


* Note: The cloned and altered “free” app is the handy work of the unknown Maison Automatique, who is not an OpenCPN Team coder. We provide no support for his “free” versions.
Click to expand...

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Is anybody using the Open Captain? Especially in the BC waters? How well does it work, (accuracy for tides and currents etc.) are they in the ball park?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I use MX Mariner for my Android tablets. It has Active Captain markers and info and does everything I need. Uses NOAA charts among others. Unfortunately does not seem to do Canadian charts (last time I checked).
 
I use Open CPN in Canadian waters on a laptop with some older raster charts (I think they are a digitised version of the official Canadian charts).
Its my first chart plotter so I dont have much to compare it to, but it works fine, seamlessly (ish) quilting the charts as you cross from one to the next.
I dont get any chart updates though.
My favourite feature of the set up is the 17'' screen!!!
 
I am trying to figure out:
1. With Active Captain do I need to have a chart already on the tablet and then the ap works over/with that chart?
2. With Open Captain, do I need to have a separate chart on the tablet first?
3. Mx mariner, from what I could learn it does not work to go north of the USA/Canada boarder -- not charts from Canada.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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Harvey,

Canada does not share navigation charts in the public domain. Thus, neither opencpn nor mxmariner offers them for download. Both opencpn (for pc) and mxmariner (for android) offer U.S. public domain charts for download. Their online manuals describe the process in detail.

jd
 
Harvey

I'm going to finesse this question, since my android device isn't in daily use. It's not being used at all, in fact. But I did review the OpenCpn Users Manual. Addendum: I checked and whit is sail below is true.

So the idea is to run OpenCpn and tell the program where you've stored the charts. And OpenCpn doesn't care how or where you get the charts as long as they're in the correct format (BSB or vector). For the USA, NOAA has them for free over the Internet. For Canada, see your friends or pay Canada. You can download OpenCpn or the charts first, but you have to tell OpenCpn where thay are.

OpenCpn runs and initially doesn't have access to any charts, just as you have found. It expects you to tell it where the charts are, both for windows and android. So, open OpenCpn, go to the toolbar at the top, click on the crescent wrench icon, click on the chart icon and you'll see a tab labeled "chart files". you have to have downloaded charts, if your in the USA I hope you'll use NOAA charts, and put them in a file holder on the tablet. Assuming you've already done that, click on the place where they are or click on "add directory." Then check the box that says "Scan charts and update database" and finally click on OK" or "Apply"

That should work. I do most of the downloading on the PC and then transfer the data to the tablet. Works for me.
 
I don't know about Opencpn or the Canadian charts. But with MX Mariner, you download the charts via the MX Mariner app. The only thing you have to tell it is if you want the charts stored on the internal memory or on the SD card.

MX Mariner lets you download from various sources (usually one source per country). Charts from NOAA are free. Some others too. Others you have to pay for. MX Mariner has a mechanism for checking that you have bought the charts you are trying to download (e.g. UK charts.). MX Mariner also can download charts from 3rd party chart vendors (e.g. Waveyline). MX Mariner also intends to add more sources as time allows (e.g. ACoE inland waters).

Perhaps there is a 3rd party vendor of Canadian charts that could hook up with the MX Mariner folks.
 
Jay from Journey On said:

"OpenCpn runs and initially doesn't have access to any charts, just as you have found. It expects you to tell it where the charts are, both for windows and android. So, open OpenCpn, go to the toolbar at the top, click on the crescent wrench icon, click on the chart icon and you'll see a tab labeled "chart files". you have to have downloaded charts, if your in the USA I hope you'll use NOAA charts, and put them in a file holder on the tablet. Assuming you've already done that, click on the place where they are or click on "add directory." Then check the box that says "Scan charts and update database" and finally click on OK" or "Apply"

That should work. I do most of the downloading on the PC and then transfer the data to the tablet. Works for me."
Click to expand...

Thank you Jay. I am going to try and get this onto my Samsung tablet. Last weekend I had a chance to see Active Captain and it was pretty cool. Also talked to some of Pat Andersons buddies at Rose Point and their Canadian charts and nav system was also pretty cool. (Kudos Pat.)

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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