PC Navigation Systems

B

Bess-C

New member
I'm looking at changing out the chart plotter and adding radar. I had myself convinced to go with Garmin 4212's and the Garmin 24" 4 kw dome until I went to the Seattle boat show.

I saw the demo of Rose Point's Coastal Explorer software and Big Bay Technologies marinized PC based systems and was really impressed. They appear to offer some real advantages for approximately the same cost.

I know some of you here have used Coastal Explorer on laptop systems. Can you give me your impressions? I tried to do a look up of old discussions about this and I couldn't find them.

Have any of you used a PC (other than a laptop) for your nav systems?
Lyle
 
I can't tell you how it will work out, but I just purchased CE 09 from Big Bay at the boat show.

I also purchased a new computer to run the program. The computer is a Compaq 15 inch notebook and was about the same price as the program.

The computer will be dedicated to Coastal Explorer and will never be used on the internet.

Next step is learning the program and getting a GPS signal to the computer.
 
Larry H":hyawkxjy said:
The computer will be dedicated to Coastal Explorer and will never be used on the internet.
Click to expand...

I hope everyone is paying attention to what Larry said. Incredibly important, IMHO. Once you get the drivers working (the weak link in Windows computers) with your hardware, don't touch it again, don't use it for anything else. Do that and you have a fighting chance to have a stable nav PC-based nav system.

Warren
 
Yeah, I have CE 2009 (free upgrade for those of us who bought it a long time ago), and that is the reason I re-installed Windoze on my Acer Aspire One netbook. Have not used it on the water yet, but I have it working with the GPS puck, so it should be good.

On the downside, CE I learned (along with everyone else who has tried) does not run under WINE on Linux...

So the Acer is set up to run Windoze on the little 8 gb SSD to run CE, and to run Ubuntu 9.10 Netbook Remix on the 8 gb USB SD card all the rest of the time.

Maybe the best of both worlds...
 
We still like Tiki Navigator, stable and always works. We have the new Tiki Gold that runs with navionics and have been very happy.

Tryed Fugawi and nothing but freeze ups and system crashes.

We don't have a dedicated computer, just an inexpensive laptop that travels with us.

CE has a great reputation as well.

Eric
 
I have used CE on a Dell tablet PC for the last two years and wouldn't go back to a conventional chart plotter. I have used two interfaces for GPS data, one from my Lowrance using a USB to serial converter for NMEA 183 and the other through a USB connection from a Delorme PN-40. It can use both interfaces at the same time, but I normally just use the PN-40. The interface is very stable using the USB port, and CE sells some USB GPS pucks that work pretty well. Route planning is very quick and easy compared to using a chart plotter. I use a track ball to control the computer while underway and found it is much easier to use than pushing the keys on a chartplotter in rough water. I fold the tablet PC flat and mount it on a RAM mount at the helm with the trackball just to the right. The Lowrance is my back up and is normally run in the sonar mode.

The con on this arrangement is power. You should get a 12v power supply rather than use an inverter, it's consumes a little less power. In addition, I don't leave it on at night because of the power consumption. I use the anchor alarm on the Lowrance.

Overall system stability is pretty good. Yes I have crashed CE, I think 3 times all last summer. The crashes were all due to Windows confusing the GPS input with a mouse/trackball. Recovery is generally pretty simple. Shut it down if you can or power it off and restart. I can drop back to the Lowrance very quickly or to the Delorme if I have to.

We just bought a Netbook and plan to take that along also. The CE license allows you load it on to two different systems, so I will load it on the Netbook so my wife can follow along in the passenger seat. It also gives us more redundancy. We were thinking with the new Spot text service using the Delorme PN-60, we would maybe tie that to the netbook.

The one caution on using CE or any PC based program, you need some basic knowledge of the Windows operating system and USB devices so if you have to call CE for help, you know how to get into the control panel.
 
I would want to see what navigation programs surface for the i pad. So far there are several, and rumors of variations of some of the more popular programs to be had down the line. One of the advantages of any of the PC/Mac based programs is that a large screen can be used. Unfortunately on the C Dory line that is not as much as an advantage as on a 46 footer with an inside helm.

I still prefer the dedicated chart plotters on the small boats.
 
I wonder why iPad was selected instead of iTab
It is a tablet
Where is the multi-tasking? That is the advantage of using a netbook
 
We bought apps for our iPhone (for very little) that give us navionics charts for both North American coasts and the iPhone has GPS location. The GPS is not accurate enough, under many circumstances, for cruising, but the iPhone is now an important back-up system for us - as well as many other uses, as mentioned on another thread on this site.
 
Nobeltec has been one of the best additions to my boat, this nav program is very detailed and the computer has no problems running it. :thup Wondering how many others are running this excellent program?
 
We are looking at the Coastal Explorer program as a backup to our chart plotters. My Garmin 76c will talk to Explorer on USB and give position on PC chart. Also, they have a radar that works with CE program. We already use the computer for internet, DVD, CD, email, and etc. Why not have the Coastal Explorer program on the PC? We are planning to go up the Tenn-Tom to Nashville starting August 15, 2010 return November or December. I already have downloaded free the Corps river maps and all of Florida/ Alabama coastal maps into the free trial version of Coastal Explorer. It works great for planning and I am sure better with the purchased version.
 
Pat,

Could you let us know what GPS puck you are using with CE?

Carl,

If you use your navigation PC for email and web surfing, you have a chance of getting a virus or other mal-ware that could disrupt or crash your CE program while navigating.

I am going to use an older laptop for email, web surfing, and for games. The PC used for navigation will be dedicated to running Coastal Explorer only.

Larry H
 
Thanks for all of the input. I have a copy of CE coming. Even if I don't use it as my main system, I will use it as a backup on my laptop. The license allows for it being installed on 3 PC's. That means you can have it on a home computer, laptop and a dedicated boat system. If I use it for the main nav system, I will keep it up on the laptop as a backup.

Some of the concerns that I have include power supply and usage. I'm not a techie, but our company does create some custom software that controls production lines using PC based systems. PC's with Windows have become more stable, but they still have some issues. Power source and consistent supply seems to create the most problems. Another concern is how a PC will react to being bounced around a boat in a salt air environment. Big Bay's are supposed to be built for that, but it is still a concern. I'm also concerned with radar. The only radar at this point that works with the CE is Koden. I don't know much about Koden or the reliability of the interface.

One plus is that Big Bay is located in the Puget Sound area. The owner comes highly recommended by some folks that I know, and he is coming to the boat to look at the potential installation.

Bob, one of the reasons I'm looking at this is the ability to have a large screen (17"-19") at the lower helm.
Lyle
 
I have 3 GPS chart plotters. The older models use 0183 to talk to PC ( Garmin -GPS 276c, GPS 498c, GPS 76C). CE explains this in its support section. I do not use a puck but the GPS 76c is our puck. Garmin's new models may not or can be used as a puck because of the Garmin's new exclusive software coding. CE will only be our backup and I will work really hard not to have viruses. You can only do so much. Keep antivirus software updated daily. I also own Garmin inland charts, nroute and mapsource for use with Garmin. As you see no lack of navigation info. Paper charts never get viruses. Verzion wireless access manager does a good job for internet and gmail helps also.
 
dutch123":19f6yfp2 said:
Nobeltec has been one of the best additions to my boat, this nav program is very detailed and the computer has no problems running it. :thup Wondering how many others are running this excellent program?
Click to expand...

Have been running the nobeltec since 2003 when we bought the boat from Gordon Lamont in Vancouver, BC. With us having virtually no boating experience using any charts other than a little hand held Garmin E Map for explorations in the RIB asked him for recommendation for gps and electronic charts. We sure didn't go wrong on his advice about Nobeltec. Had zero previous computer experience. Had to learn Nobletec, windows and computers in general during the spring before our first Alaska and Yukon trip. Now for back up have a Garmin 276C and Garmin 545 which we just purchased this year. On our last extended Alaska wilderness cruise in 2007 had problems with the nobletec computer and the garmin 276C. Both of them went down at different times fortunately never a the same time. I'm a firm believer in there can't be to many back up gps chart systems in the boat after our Terror's Ford incident in 2004 and problems with both both Garmin and computer in 2007.

The computer with Nobletec is great, but does take up room and restricts access to the forward sleeping storage berth. This year for Prince William Sound cruise plan on using only the Garmins and will use the Nobletech again when we feel the need for a large screen and the other advantages of the Nobletec system back down on the Inland passage.

Jay
 
I've been using Rose Point's Coastal Explorer 2009 for a year or so, and I love it. I run it in parallel with my Raymarine C-80.

Since the C-80 is already installed on the boat, it's my primary chartplotter/radar/depth/autopilot tool. But I run the laptop at the same time, either on the dinette table or the galley. If I have somebody else aboard, they can drive while I navigate, or vice-versa. In fog last summer, actually, this worked extremely well. I had the helm and focussed on watching the fog and the radar (full screen on the C-80, zoomed in), letting the autopilot steer. My friend was able to keep a second watch and let me know when we were approaching waypoints. Having two chartplotters on board didn't seem extravagant at all in those conditions.

On trips where I don't bring the laptop, I REALLY MISS Rose Point's presentation, interface, and navigation options. But as others have said, I would be a little nervous about relying on a PC-based solution exclusively.
 
We've used standard Toshiba laptops for years in a salt water environment. They are not out in the open but are kept in the cabin. No problems.

They make great chartplotters, especially the last one with a 15" screen. Try that with a Raymarine/Garman. In addition the same computers have been used for e-mail and internet access. We run Norton anti-virus, and so far have never been infected. I think it's not where you access the internet, it's what sites you visit.

In addition, if you have a dedicated chartplotter, such as the JRC in Journey On, you have to use charts in a proprietary format, C-Map for example. They will not handle the FREE charts one can download from NOAA. The PC programs can run those charts as well as the proprietary charts one may have.

PPC navigation is wonderful.

Boris
 
Bess-C":1rqleey1 said:
I'm looking at changing out the chart plotter and adding radar. I had myself convinced to go with Garmin 4212's and the Garmin 24" 4 kw dome until I went to the Seattle boat show.

I saw the demo of Rose Point's Coastal Explorer software and Big Bay Technologies marinized PC based systems and was really impressed. They appear to offer some real advantages for approximately the same cost.

I know some of you here have used Coastal Explorer on laptop systems. Can you give me your impressions? I tried to do a look up of old discussions about this and I couldn't find them.

Have any of you used a PC (other than a laptop) for your nav systems?
Lyle
Click to expand...

What will you use for radar?
 
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