Blue Water Sailing Data via WinLink SMS

[sinbad7]

Blue Water Sailing Data,which is soon to be released,stores position
reports received via SMS over WinLink or other local SMS connections
and displays them on Google maps.

Import/Export of .gpx track files is another feature.

Testers are invited to send position reports via WinLink or normal SMS:
SMS: +16122940650 or EMAIL: info@bluewatersailingdata.com
FORMAT: -23.44#-45.08#Boat name#Any message up to 160 char

The Windows based program will shortly be available for download and
there is also an Android linking app available for Tablets.

More news later....

Tore

[sinbad7]

Before you leave for that ocean crossing,send this link to your family and friends so they can follow your tracks: BLUEWATERSAILINGDATA.COM

You can use a combination of WinLink,AirMail or RMS Express to send your position reports and messages up to 160 char.

Tore

[Jon Neely]

Ill do it once the android app comes!

Thanks,

Jon

[sinbad7]

Jon..

In the meantime try installing this app on your tab/phone:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3t9...it?usp=sharing

Tore

[sinbad7]

Jon..

Use this link instead,no restrictions:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3t9...it?usp=sharing

Tore

[sinbad7]

Here is a simple guide for the uninitiated who have not yet taken the step to get a ham radio license to be able to access WinLink and send your position reports to , BLUEWATERSAILINGDATA.COM for on-line display to family and friends.

WinLink's email is a system radio amateurs around the world have created and operate.
It has many stations (nodes) around the world that operates on shortwave, and on the radio amateur´s VHF-UHF connections, they are called PMBO´s. In addition, it can be accessed via Telnet client on the Internet.

All drives are connected to the servers where all the traffic is. When you connect up against a PMBO, you can use a laptop with RMS Express or Airmail, which in turn is connected to a modem. This modem is connected to a shortwave radio which transmits and receives signals in the form of audio signals. These audio signals are in two formats, Pactor or Winmore. If you are near a node with VHF-UHFI use a modem and an audio format called Packet.

As mentioned above, one can also connect to servers using Telnet when one has network connection. Both RMS Express and Airmail can be used for any of these formats.
Here is the format for position reporting of RMS Express:

Message ID: 4G3PWBY3TW8F
Date: 2013/03/11 08:54
From: LA5ZO
To: QTH
Cc: info@bluewatersailingdata.com
Source: LA5ZO
Subject: //WL2K Position Report

Time: 2013/03/11 08:51:17
Latitude: 58-06.09N
Longitude: 06-45.72E
Comment: Position via RMS Express. Laid up for the winter.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Here is a position report using AirMail:
TIME: 2013/03/09 09:35
LATITUDE: 58-06.09N
LONGITUDE: 006-45.72E
COMMENT: Laid up for the winter in Farsund, Norway.;

+++++++++++++++

See the actual entry boxes for position messages attached.

For those of you who are already licensed radio hams,welcome aboard!
Just connect to bluewatersailingdata.com and join for FREE.


Tore

[sinbad7]

Good news for the blue water sailors.

BlueWaterSailingData.com can now receive position messages via a great
number of message portals. Have a look at the attachment.
Soon also Globalstar SPOT and Delorme´s inReach portals will follow.

Tore

[sinbad7]

I am pleased to advice that BlueWaterSailingData now also polls SPOT data
for position display on Google Maps.

Time permitting,there is also a good possibility that Shane will create a BWSD (BlueWaterSailingData) for OpenCPN making it possible to transmit location
messages over a wide range of devices to the BWSD Google Map page from
any part of the world.

Tore

[sinbad7]

You can now access water sailing">Blue Water Sailing Data direct from OpenCPN, sending position messages to BWSD in a variety of ways using my Message upload POI.
You can download my POI's and many UserIcons from my Google cloud drive.

Tore

[sinbad7]

You can download the country POI´s including the Position Message POI,presently in the Brazil.gpx file,from here: https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B3t9JwGWh4c3OHl1MWtnNHg3MUk/edit

Just import the Brazil.gpx files into the Route Managers Waypoints area
and delete all the files except the red colored position message POI.

Move the red position message POI to a suitable location in YOUR area, then import the POI.gpx files for YOUR area and finally export everything to your C:/ProgramData/layers directory. When you re-set OpenCPN, the new message POI will be there,in YOUR area. This only works as long as you have internet connection.

For SSB radio and satellite phones there are different procedures using WinLink via
AirMail or RMS Express.

Anyone familiar with +++C could create a plugin to automate the position messaging depending on equipment available on board.


Tore

[sinbad7]

With the latest version of Blue Water Sailing data you can now additionally use YOUR boat registration to re-display your old tracks or someone elses track in .gpx format. In other words you can have SEVERAL different trips listed for the same boat and just select trip from the small window on the top-left of the Google map.


Any trip can also be displayed in Facebook by just copying the active URL displayed at the top of your map. All tracks can be edited or deleted by the boat owner.

Using the handy Upload Position Messenger listed in MY default ´layers´ directory makes it easy to report your position to Blue Water Sailing Data.

You can of course also independently send position reports by SMS using your smartphone or tablet. The smartphone uses it´s own SMS reporting tool and if you also have installed the FREE MightyText app on your phone and the accompanying Windows Mighty Text,your phone will be paired with your tablet,enabling you to also send the position reports by SMS on your tablet as well as your desktop PC.

In either case,this is the easy format of a position message:
-23.6548-45.3352#Your boat name#Your message (up to 160 char.)

Tore

[sinbad7]

BlueWaterSailingData, BWSD is turning into an interesting navigation aid to display received position messages for family and friends at home,as well as for the active boats sending the messages. There is a way to transmit position messages,no matter where you are!
The program is under development and many new and useful features will be added as time permits.

You can for example,presently follow the active and also predicted optimized route of
s.y. Rendezvous,en route from St.Martin to Australia.

Here is the link to on-line BWSD: BLUEWATERSAILINGDATA.COM

See examples attached... also displayed in OpenCPN.

Tore

[sinbad7]

There´s a little halt in the further developments of BWSD as Shane and his family prepares to move on board their sailboat in Duluth in preparation for their long sea voyage through the lakes,Caribbean and the Pacific.

Further developments will follow here asap.

In the meantime you can follow their tracks here: http://bluewatersailingdata.com/

Tore

[sinbad7]

You can now use the updated Position Reporting Manager either from your
PC, or from your Android devices.

Your PC: http://www.yachtmarine.com/DOCUMENTS/SENDPOS.html

Your Smartphone/tablet: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3t9...it?usp=sharing

Tore

[nhschneider]

There's probably no way to have that map appear on our blog, is there? I'd rather not have a link that would direct a visitor to another web site.

Sounds like a great app, though! I'm looking forward to trying it out. Thank you!

Fair winds and calm seas.