Chart plotter, gps, sonar suggestions

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Normanskier

Smart phones require either a cell signal or WiFi to engage their gps.

No, they do not.


b.

[john manning]

Hi,
Having tried to find cheap navigation sources for many years I have concluded that they do not exist. The most economical system I have used is OpenCPN on a laptop. BUT you still need charts. Earlier versions of OpenCPN were easy to add charts to, but I have found the latest version useless in that respect.

If you already own a laptop then adding a USB GPS dongle is cheap. OpenCPN is free. That leaves cash available for a second hand Iridium phone which will allow you to download GRIB files and add a weather overlay to your OpenCPN chart.

The only useful addition to this level of chart plotter is to be able to overlay a radar image onto the chart. I have never tried that with OpenCPN but routinely use it on my Raymarine plotter. The value of this is being able to correct the chart position. Electronic charts are not always on the correct datum. Moving the chart under the radar image usually corrects chart errors.

Sonar has various forms, cruising requires depth information up to 100m. This can then double as a way of finding a position line on a chart when around coasts. A useful backup if your GPS signal is lost.

Being old I still think paper charts are the most reliable nav information source. I always carry them and haven't used one for over 10 years.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Normanskier

Smart phones require either a cell signal or WiFi to engage their gps.

You can always just use a $17.00 GPS USB puck with your Raspberry Pi or Windows laptop for your homemade chart plotter with OpenCPN.

No need for the smart phone bill either.....

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by john manning

Hi,
Having tried to find cheap navigation sources for many years I have concluded that they do not exist. The most economical system I have used is OpenCPN on a laptop. BUT you still need charts. Earlier versions of OpenCPN were easy to add charts to, but I have found the latest version useless in that respect.

The latest version is much easier that the others to add charts.....

I loaded up my Thinkpad laptop in about 15 minutes with the whole East Coast USA plus the entire Chesapeake Bay

[Mr B]

My 5 inch Garmin GPS is out dated and I cant get maps for it,
Maps are about $300-00 each if I could get get them,
And I need glasses to read it,

So after searching around, Looking at reviews, Etc,

I bought an 8 Inch ONWA GPS with remote antenna from China,
Their head office is in Hong Kong,
I bought it off Fleabay.com
It cost the same as two Garmin Maps, Delivered,
Running both together, ONWA and Garmin, They are identical,
Its also Identical to a Navionics map downloaded on a smart phone,
It came with world wide maps included, Free updates for ever,

The ONWA with an internal Antenna can have problems if your under the Boom or have a Bimini over it, It blocks the signal from the satellites,

It can also be loaded with Opencpn, Navionics, C charts, onto a Micro card from a PC or laptop,
I made a swivel bracket for it, So I can sit in the salon in comfort while my Autopilot drives the boat,
And I dont need glasses to read it,
I do have a good depth sounder as well,

It may be more than you want to pay for it,
But I needed good maps to sail with, and this one more than meets my needs,


Cheers Brian,

[CarinaPDX]

I wonder what source they are using for their world charts?

The KP-32 is just about a perfect knock-off of an old Furuno GPS. They are pretty good at this...

Greg

[NorthCoastJoe]

Are you doing this in your V-25?

[killyourguitar]

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