Just a 'final' personal comment on this subject from my side:
The first reason for me entering this discussion was, that I
recently bought a 'new/old' boat including a chartplotter (RC530+
integrated with the Raymarine instruments), built into the chart
table set up, but - unfortunately - is not visible from the
cockpit, and I don't want to move it. As I do find the Raymarine
Monitor pretty expensive, and as I have a notebook PC, and a PDA,
I was searching for ideas, solutions and experiences from members
in this group using these devices for navigation purposes. Some
like the PDA - some don't. That's fair enough. Based on the the
comments in this thread, my conclusion is to go for the
'cockpit-monitor-solution' - may be a touch screen - that can
stand the tough life in the cockpit ...
The other reason was, that I'm very often sailing single (which
means no crew member available - that's why the statement:
quoteback to my trusty laptop and a crew member to watch the
helm!unquote from Dennis is not valid in my case.
I was looking for at solution that could be integrated in the
existing Raymarine-SeaTalk-C-Map system including an integrated
auto pilot as well as providing continued support to my existing
electronic sea maps. Based on the input I've got from many of
you - thank you very much! - I have decided to go for the RNS
V5.0 and the hsb2 interface kit, in order to focus on an
integrated solution, that can be controlled from 1. the cockpit
and 2. the chart table 'down under'. I tested the
SmartController, and find it very useful in my situation ...
wherever I am on the boat, I can steer via the autopilot, and it
gives me acces to all kinds of data from the different
instruments. The display is small, but OK for the purpose.
With my notebook PC - well hidden in the cabin connected to the
existing GPS (via the serial port and a SeaTalk/NMEA-interface) -
and an external notebook monitor in the cockpit, I will have a
totally integrated solution based on the Raymarine instruments
and chartplotter, the C-Maps and my PC and the 'cockpit-monitor',
and - if and when - I should wish so, I can swith to my other
'non-compatible-applications' like DLSK and Maptech - (on CD-ROMs
or the HDD) and these applications will also be visible and
controlable from the cockpit based on my wireless mouse or the
touch screen ....
This is an initial investment somewhat larger, than I initially
had in mind, but I feel confident, that is is a better solution
in the long term. I have also learned, that I simply don't know
enough about systems integration, data communication, networking,
calibration of cards, ozi, vcn, 802.x, TCP/IP, PPC applications,
etc. etc. ... and I'm afraid, that starting to try to get to the
necessary knowledge level, will cost me too many hours from the
water ... debugging, asking silly questions in various
newsgroups, etc.
My PPC with GPS will, therefore, mainly stay in my car or pocket,
and in very good and stable weather, I may try to play with it
and The Pocket PC Navigator from Maptech, when I'm in waters
covered by these maps. But to be honest ... I don't think so ...
Let me thank all of you for your creative proposals and comments,
kind support and useful input. I have learned a lot, and I will
follow this newsgroup with great interest also in the future -
not with many comments, as I don't think a can contribute a lot
to this experienced group of sailors - but I certainly enjoy
reading about your different subjects, ideas, questions, advice,
solutions etc. ...
Let me wish you all a happy sailing season! (at least in the
northern hemisphere ...)
best regards
--
Flemming Torp
'Even the worst day sailing is better than the best day working'
....
--
Flemming Torp
'Even the worst day sailing is better than the best day working'
....
"Dennis Pogson" skrev i en
meddelelse ...
thuss wrote:
You don't necessarily need a hub. You can also network the
Pocket PC
to the laptop with 802.11 directly by creating an "ad-hoc"
network.
I'd recommend my company's marine wireless navigation server (
http://www.marinewireless.us ) but we don't currently ship to
the uk
and it's probably more money than you want to spend anyhow.
It sounds like a fun project but I think you'll find the
remote
desktop/vnc approach unsuitable for regular navigation. I
think you'll
want real pocket pc navigation software in the end (like the
Capn or
Oziexplorer offers) if you go the Pocket PC route. Then I
think you'll
get tired of the PocketPC and you'll want a real chart plotter
or
waterproof laptop in the cockpit.
-Todd
Snip
You never spoke a truer word!
Been there, done that, back to my trusty laptop and a crew
member to watch
the helm!
Dennis.