You said that you have an older Android tablet as well as the Windows machine.
I have been experimenting with an Android tablet that has LTE/4G cell network access built in (a 10" Samsung Tab2), which means that it also has an integral GPS. So far I have been able to download all of the NOAA charts and a free but limited app that displays the charts, the boat's position, and a few other things. There are many apps available, and I have only scratched the surface, but it seems that most are stripped down versions of apps-for-profit. I have found nothing remotely approaching the capability of something like Open CPN, that is available as freeware in Google app store. That said, if all you want to see is your position on a chart, it does work and it will work for quite a long time between charges. It would also work for just about any old smart phone, especially if you have one that is no longer on a service. You only need to be online to download the charts and apps, and wifi will work for that. I wanted a tablet to get a bigger display, and I figured that since cooling was not much of an issue, that I could get away with putting it in a Ziploc bag. Anyway, to summarize: I have not used it much yet, but it does work, it has a large display, and low power consumption. The software and the charts were free. I am certain that it will work better if I put more time into it. As for Windows, I have used OpenCPN on a Windows laptop, it handles AIS inputs, will generate alarms, and in general it did everything that we wanted, but it was more or less permanently attached to the boat's power. It is worth remembering that it is all too easy to get dependent on chart plotters and that they can and do die instantly. A boat that I was crewing on a few years ago was returning from a Pacific trip and entering Haro Strait and the Gulf Islands at about 04:00 when the laptop quit. We had hand held gps devices but they did not contain charts, so we had to make an instant switch to paper charts and a stop watch to identify flashing aids to navigation. There are pointy rocky things everywhere in the area with lights on them, and the navy was wrapping up a military exercise (Trident Fury) and had their boats parked all over the place just to make it more complicated. Bottom line is it takes a LOT more attention and a completely different mind set to navigate even with a GPS position available than it does with the easy assurance of watching one's position advance on a chart plotter. It is at least unsettling to have to make the switch instantly, especially at night, and for that reason I think that if an electronic chart plotter is to be used that there should also be a back up available. I have a Garmin GPS 78 hand held, and it works fine. My only complaint with it is the cost of the charts. Steve Thomas C&C27 MKIII Port Stanley, ON ----- Original Message ----- From: Danny Haughey via CnC-List To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Danny Haughey Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2015 17:03 Subject: Stus-List Windows laptop for chartplotter? Hi Guys, The boat I'm in the process of buying does not currently have chartplotter. Instead of rushing into the purchase of a new one for the delivery home I was thinking to use a windows tablet with an external GPS antennae/dongle and charts loaded from someplace to be determined. I think I'd get a cheap handheld garmin as well. GPS store has one for $169. I have windows tablet with the specs of a laptop. i5 processor and 4gb ram and I have an older android tablet with decent specs for it age. Is this a viable option to at least get the boat home and try and find a good deal on a plotter over the off season? It would also be a carry on and use and alleviate the need to install anything before the trip. Any and all advice is always appreciated! Danny Still headed toward a closing Massachusetts ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Email address: CnC-List@cnc-list.com To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com
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