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Old 10-04-2012, 09:51   #1
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Another Mac/Nav Thread

I'm still debating which software to actually buy and I'm trying to decide based not only on the software and price point but also on chart availability/prices and compatibility with which gps unit(s)?

I know this topic has been covered but I have read through a lot of it and found no one talking about usb gps units and which ones are compatible with which software or which are better than the other.

Any takers?

Thanks
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Old 10-04-2012, 09:57   #2
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

if you are on a mac iNavx is pretty tough to beat. They also sell a usb puck on their site which is pretty good
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Old 10-04-2012, 10:02   #3
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

Isn't Inavx for iphone?
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Old 10-04-2012, 10:03   #4
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

For me, I've had excellent results from the following:

PolarView from PolarNavy for software.

GlobalSat BU-353 usb gps puck.

GlobalSat BT-359 bluetooth gps.

NOAA charts in raster and vector versions.


PolarView has excellent graphics performance and the color scheme is more bold and readable than others in my opinion. It's also set up well for touch screen on the Ipad. The purchase allows multiple downloads to different devices as well.

An added plus is that everything listed is in the neighborhood of $100 US.

My use is on a mid 2010 MacBook Pro and a mid 2011 MacBook Air, with Snow Leopard on the former and Lion on the latter.
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Old 10-04-2012, 10:08   #5
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

Nice, yes I read the other thread you were posting to about Polarview and I've downloaded the trial version. Of course I haven't bought the full version or a gps unit yet so I'm still wondering if, when you are underway, do the charts update automatically? As in when you come to the edge of a chart?
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Old 10-04-2012, 10:12   #6
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

Yes they do. As long as the charts have been loaded into PolarView, they are quilted on screen.

There are options to view raster or vector or both.
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Old 10-04-2012, 10:16   #7
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

I don't see an anchor alarm on polarview
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Old 10-04-2012, 10:25   #8
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

It's there, but hard to locate at first.

Notice the circular symbol in the top right of the screen.

Clicking once brings up several options, and clicking on it twice brings up other options.

The anchor symbol is for the alarm, though greyed out if no gps is connected.

There is another path to this function that escapes my at the moment.

edit,.... the other path is through the configuration of PolarCom, which must be downloaded and used for gps integration. This provides the onscreen "dashboard" for speed, position, etc.
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Old 10-04-2012, 10:30   #9
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

By the way, another function of PolarView, that is very useful, is the ability to integrate Active Captain data directly into the charts.
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Old 10-04-2012, 10:32   #10
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

yeah, inavx is iPhone. Gps navx is the mac version
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Old 10-04-2012, 13:26   #11
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

MacENC works with the Navionics Gold charts from X-Traverse. Often they are lower cost than other charts and include one year of updates.
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Old 10-04-2012, 14:29   #12
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

I got MacENC awhile back and absolutely love it. It is FULL featured and easy to use. No big learning curve for me. They seem to update it often and MacSailing is the web site where you can get help when you need it. The folks at MacENC answer all questions in a matter of minutes rather than days or weeks. The customer seems to be a main emphises. I got the full featured version and am really impressed with the GRIB file interface. I got PV also but I don't think that the NOAA weather GRIB service is as well done. You will be impressed I am sure. Hats off to the guys at MacENC.
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Old 11-04-2012, 04:42   #13
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

I was almost going to pull the trigger and buy mac enc yesterday but then thought I should do a little more research, hence this thread. I didn't realize that he grib service was different between PV and Mac Enc. How is the nooa grib service inferior and are there other important differences between the programs as well that I should be aware of?
Thanks for all the responses.
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Old 11-04-2012, 07:31   #14
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

I didn't say that the services were different. I said that I was "impressed" with the interface on MacENC. If you are a coastal cruiser then that feature might not be of importance to you as you can tune in the nightly news or weather channel on your TV for an update. So, continue on with your research and see which you like better. One mans food is another mans poison.
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Old 11-04-2012, 07:42   #15
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Re: Another Mac/Nav Thread

Sorry Misty, "I got PV also but I don't think that the NOAA weather GRIB service is as well done." Was the confusing part of your post. No worries though I gotcha now. Thanks eh!
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