$150 Chart Plotter

[thomm225]

So after putting this thing together a while back and loading up some OpenCPN Charts, I have found that it's probably worth the $150 to pay for a chart plotter.

My Raspberry Pi 4 provides the platform to feed in GPS and AIS NMEA 0183 data from my SH GX2200, (with a GPS USB Dongle backup) and free downloaded OpenCPN Charts to be displayed on the monitor of your choice which is basically whatever you have lying around unused.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TOdSCDHb2s

[tkeithlu]

That's about what I have invested in a refurbished school kid's laptop and OpenCPN. And, the laptop does other stuff as well.

[lateral]

I have an old Cf-52 toughbook, ($150), but the current draw of the Pi looks attractive.
I do have a plotter at helm, tho. TB is really for backup.
Then there's the B&G app with chart on my phone thats just arrived for free. I doubt that will work out of internet range tho.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

That's about what I have invested in a refurbished school kid's laptop and OpenCPN. And, the laptop does other stuff as well.

Nice.

I have a Lenovo ThinkPad Laptop onboard as well with Windows 10 loaded with OpenCPN and can hook it up to the VHF and the USB GPS Dongle if needed.

Makes a nice backup.