Received email from CHS stating that S charts are NOT encrypted.
Who will be the first to test the $600.00 investment?
The S57 ENC's are not encrypted, however your software would have to support the S57 format.
You can register for S57 updates by doing the following: http://www.charts.gc.ca/charts-cartes/regist-enregist-eng.asp?step=3&by=s57#reg57 ( you will have to specify a functional email address in order to receive notifications.
Once registered, you will receive an email containing a Username, Password and URL where you can pick up the updates for the CD(s) you purchased.
It is up to the you to keep track of which updates you have downloaded.
Updates for each CD are published weekly an a weekly basis, usually on Monday morning
If the PC used to download the updates is not the PC where the files will be used, then its up to the you to copy the files from the Internet connected PC to the offline PC using a memory stick, CD or DVD.
I just may test $600,- investment. If it is not encrypted then doesn't need special plugin for Open CPN like Canadian BSBcharts. One of my friends from South Africa used them during his crossing Canadian Northwest Passage in 2011 and he said they were OK using it on Polar View.