SeaClear PC Chart plotter and GPS Navigation software.

Would appreciate hearing about anyone's experience with SeaClear, pro and
con.

Thanks.

Len

--
Eliminate "ns" for email address.

Dave wrote:
On Tue, 17 Jan 2006 15:19:33 -0500, "Len Krauss"
said:


Would appreciate hearing about anyone's experience with SeaClear,
pro and con.

I've been messing around with it for only a couple of weeks, so take
it for what it's worth.

The only negatives I've found (given that it's a free program) are
that the documentation is a bit Spartan, and that in using the route
function in DR mode you have to enter your DR course in true, rather
than magnetic, even if you have set the options to show headings in
magnetic. That can get a bit confusing, since if you're in magnetic
you have to mentally add your local variation in order to actually
steer the course you've entered.

I'm sufficiently impressed to plan on using it for navigation next
summer. I would be interested in a comparison of the relative merits
of SeaClear and the shareware program from Oz (the name of which
escapes me at the moment.)

I switched to Oziexplorer from Seaclear about 4 years ago and haven't
regretted it.

Ozi's functionality and many more useful options swung it for me, but if you
want a simple basic nav. program you can learn in a couple of hours, go for
Seaclear.

I have, in the past couple of years, downloaded the latest versions of
Seaclear and tried them, but it just doesn't compare with Ozi.

Dennis.

Len Krauss wrote:

SeaClear PC Chart plotter and GPS Navigation software.

Would appreciate hearing about anyone's experience with SeaClear, pro and
con.


Great piece of freeware (Seaclear II that is). It is a trifle technical
as far as getting maps into the library and stuff but if you read the
included documentation, that will get you through it.

The keyboard commands for zooming are a little obscure to some that have
never used their keyboards much. If you have a system with a mouse with
a scroll wheel though it is one of the most convenient of all the nav
programs to use as as far as panning or zooming.

It uses g7towin for communications with your GPS and that is also a no
brainer if you read the docs.

Now that NOAA is providing free online downloads for DNC (same as
MapTech BSB raster charts) raster charts you can get every chart for
U.S. waters for free, something like a thousand or more charts.

http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/index.htm

Seaclear does not use vector charts like the BSB4 and S-57 series.

I use it at home on a PC for placing waypoints and building routes for
uploading to my Meridian GPS. I've used it with a GPS attached but I've
not used it at sea on a boat. But it looks like it would work well. On
the Meridian, used for a nav backup during boat deliveries, I use the
MapSend BlueNav charts and have never had any problems with routes
working, waypoint locations, etc.

Seaclear II is a generous gesture to the public domain.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

Thanks Jack for those very helpful comments!

Is there a tutorial of any kind? Can you comment on content quality of the
"help" screens?

I myself use Cap'n at home and in realtime underway. I'm trying to get a
none too PC-literate pal introduced to nav software which he may or may not
ever use in future. So the freeware aspect is great. On the other hand, I
would hope it's not so arcane as to be a turn off.

Len

--
Eliminate "ns" for email address.
Len Krauss wrote:

SeaClear PC Chart plotter and GPS Navigation software.

Would appreciate hearing about anyone's experience with SeaClear, pro
and
con.


Great piece of freeware (Seaclear II that is). It is a trifle technical
as far as getting maps into the library and stuff but if you read the
included documentation, that will get you through it.

The keyboard commands for zooming are a little obscure to some that have
never used their keyboards much. If you have a system with a mouse with
a scroll wheel though it is one of the most convenient of all the nav
programs to use as as far as panning or zooming.

It uses g7towin for communications with your GPS and that is also a no
brainer if you read the docs.

Now that NOAA is providing free online downloads for DNC (same as
MapTech BSB raster charts) raster charts you can get every chart for
U.S. waters for free, something like a thousand or more charts.

http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/index.htm

Seaclear does not use vector charts like the BSB4 and S-57 series.

I use it at home on a PC for placing waypoints and building routes for
uploading to my Meridian GPS. I've used it with a GPS attached but I've
not used it at sea on a boat. But it looks like it would work well. On
the Meridian, used for a nav backup during boat deliveries, I use the
MapSend BlueNav charts and have never had any problems with routes
working, waypoint locations, etc.

Seaclear II is a generous gesture to the public domain.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

Dave wrote:
On Tue, 17 Jan 2006 21:12:07 GMT, "Dennis Pogson"
said:

Ozi's functionality and many more useful options swung it for me

Can you identify the ones you found significant?

I use a vast number of navigation icons, all self-designed and sized
appropriately, using the Ozi 17 by 17 pixel grid with transparent
backgrounds.

The separate calibration application in Seaclear is a pain, and there are
not enough projection, datum or calibration point options to cover a large
range of different maps/charts. Ozi is unique in this respect. I have found
no other program to compare with it.

The "vessel" icon in Seaclear makes my tiny yacht look more like the Oriana.
It's scale is not editable, and the shape is fixed, unlike Ozi's fantastic
choice of icons, all of which are scale-able.

I can display hundreds of photographs of lighthouses, anchorages, beauty
spots, etc., etc., in addition to navigation warnings not on the "paper"
charts, cruise narratives, recommended tracks, anchoring advice, etc. etc.,
which in Ozi are a very simple and quick function to utilise.

Ozi has an excellent anchor-watch facility incorporated.

Ozi can display an unbelievable number of different file formats, and can
import BSB, Maptech PCX, and a host of proprietary formats at lightning
speed.

Ozi's moving-map data panel is second to none, and many of it's menu
functions are duplicated in the various data panels, enabling swift
amendments to course, track, and plotting functions.

The helpfile in Ozi is extremely comprehensive and relatively user-friendly,
unlike many other nav. programs.

Most of my sailing friends have tried other nav. programs, and after
extensive learning/usage experiences, have always come back to Oziexplorer,
despite using vector chart applications such as Mapsource and Tsunami etc.,
this is sufficient proof to me that Ozi contains virtually anything that the
other programs can offer, although it does not, for the moment, incorporate
a "track-up" display facility, which I can live without, thankyou.

I accept that all of us are more appreciative of software that we have used
almost exclusively for a long time, and tend to reject "interlopers" because
we simply have not the time or patience to learn the new software. The
latest versions of Seaclear may well have many of the attributes mentioned
above, and I stand corrected if that is the case, but I truly believe that
if you take the time and trouble to master Ozi, (it is not a two-hour
experience!), your patience will be rewarded.

The above summary is nowhere near comprehensive, just a few quick thoughts
designed to stir up a little controversy. If you can't be bothered to work
with a program like Oziexplorer for a long time, and learn it's many
facilities, or if you are in a hurry to put your newly-acquired digital
charts to use, then choose something less demanding. Seaclear is an
excellent program, and does have some new facilities, such as AIS, but don't
expect too much of it.

Hope this is enough to get you started.


Dennis.

On Wed, 18 Jan 2006 10:06:20 GMT, "Dennis Pogson"
wrote:

Dave wrote:
On Tue, 17 Jan 2006 21:12:07 GMT, "Dennis Pogson"
said:

Ozi's functionality and many more useful options swung it for me

Can you identify the ones you found significant?

I use a vast number of navigation icons, all self-designed and sized
appropriately, using the Ozi 17 by 17 pixel grid with transparent
backgrounds.

The separate calibration application in Seaclear is a pain, and there are
not enough projection, datum or calibration point options to cover a large
range of different maps/charts. Ozi is unique in this respect. I have found
no other program to compare with it.

The "vessel" icon in Seaclear makes my tiny yacht look more like the Oriana.
It's scale is not editable, and the shape is fixed, unlike Ozi's fantastic
choice of icons, all of which are scale-able.

I can display hundreds of photographs of lighthouses, anchorages, beauty
spots, etc., etc., in addition to navigation warnings not on the "paper"
charts, cruise narratives, recommended tracks, anchoring advice, etc. etc.,
which in Ozi are a very simple and quick function to utilise.

Ozi has an excellent anchor-watch facility incorporated.

Ozi can display an unbelievable number of different file formats, and can
import BSB, Maptech PCX, and a host of proprietary formats at lightning
speed.

Ozi's moving-map data panel is second to none, and many of it's menu
functions are duplicated in the various data panels, enabling swift
amendments to course, track, and plotting functions.

The helpfile in Ozi is extremely comprehensive and relatively user-friendly,
unlike many other nav. programs.

Most of my sailing friends have tried other nav. programs, and after
extensive learning/usage experiences, have always come back to Oziexplorer,
despite using vector chart applications such as Mapsource and Tsunami etc.,
this is sufficient proof to me that Ozi contains virtually anything that the
other programs can offer, although it does not, for the moment, incorporate
a "track-up" display facility, which I can live without, thankyou.

I accept that all of us are more appreciative of software that we have used
almost exclusively for a long time, and tend to reject "interlopers" because
we simply have not the time or patience to learn the new software. The
latest versions of Seaclear may well have many of the attributes mentioned
above, and I stand corrected if that is the case, but I truly believe that
if you take the time and trouble to master Ozi, (it is not a two-hour
experience!), your patience will be rewarded.

The above summary is nowhere near comprehensive, just a few quick thoughts
designed to stir up a little controversy. If you can't be bothered to work
with a program like Oziexplorer for a long time, and learn it's many
facilities, or if you are in a hurry to put your newly-acquired digital
charts to use, then choose something less demanding. Seaclear is an
excellent program, and does have some new facilities, such as AIS, but don't
expect too much of it.

Hope this is enough to get you started.


Dennis.

I have nothing against SeaClear, but I'm a fan of Ozi as well. One
thing you didn't mention is the OziAPI which allows other programs to
communicate with Ozi to do various things. For instance, I have
written a program that uses NMEA data. I can use OziAPI to pass the
data straight to Ozi when I'm done with it, or I can extract position
data from Ozi directly. There are a few free and shareware programs
out there that do some nice things with Ozi. Another example: you
can write comments onto the moving map display through through the
API. I've used this to implement a survey function that writes depth
data on the chart in real time. You can feel your way into an
uncharted cove and come out with an updated chart. Ozi is smart enogh
to apply the comments to any other chart that covers the same area, if
you like. There is also a very active user community on Yahoo that is
very helpful and knowledgeable. The author has been very responsive
to user requests for new functions and bug fixes. In my opinion,
OziExplorer is a terrific example of the right way to do shareware.

Glen
__________________________________________________ __________
Glen "Wiley" Wilson usenet1 SPAMNIX at world wide wiley dot com
To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.

Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/

On Tue, 17 Jan 2006 15:19:33 -0500, "Len Krauss"
wrote:

SeaClear PC Chart plotter and GPS Navigation software.

Would appreciate hearing about anyone's experience with SeaClear, pro and
con.

Thanks.

Len

I'm a long-time Ozi Explorer user, but tried SeaClear briefly last
summer. One annoyance I found was that I couldn't do a simple "GoTo
Waypoint" - SeaClear would only do "follow route".


--
Peter Bennett VE7CEI
email: peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
GPS and NMEA info and programs: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/index.html
Newsgroup new user info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq

Thanks Peter. The "go to" would seem to be such a basic feature. Were you
using SeaClear II?
--
Eliminate "ns" for email address.

I'm a long-time Ozi Explorer user, but tried SeaClear briefly last
summer. One annoyance I found was that I couldn't do a simple "GoTo
Waypoint" - SeaClear would only do "follow route".


--
Peter Bennett VE7CEI
email: peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
GPS and NMEA info and programs:
http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/index.html
Newsgroup new user info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq

Glen "Wiley" Wilson wrote:
On Wed, 18 Jan 2006 10:06:20 GMT, "Dennis Pogson"
wrote:

Dave wrote:
On Tue, 17 Jan 2006 21:12:07 GMT, "Dennis Pogson"
said:

Ozi's functionality and many more useful options swung it for me

Can you identify the ones you found significant?

I use a vast number of navigation icons, all self-designed and sized
appropriately, using the Ozi 17 by 17 pixel grid with transparent
backgrounds.

The separate calibration application in Seaclear is a pain, and
there are not enough projection, datum or calibration point options
to cover a large range of different maps/charts. Ozi is unique in
this respect. I have found no other program to compare with it.

The "vessel" icon in Seaclear makes my tiny yacht look more like the
Oriana. It's scale is not editable, and the shape is fixed, unlike
Ozi's fantastic choice of icons, all of which are scale-able.

I can display hundreds of photographs of lighthouses, anchorages,
beauty spots, etc., etc., in addition to navigation warnings not on
the "paper" charts, cruise narratives, recommended tracks, anchoring
advice, etc. etc., which in Ozi are a very simple and quick function
to utilise.

Ozi has an excellent anchor-watch facility incorporated.

Ozi can display an unbelievable number of different file formats,
and can import BSB, Maptech PCX, and a host of proprietary formats
at lightning speed.

Ozi's moving-map data panel is second to none, and many of it's menu
functions are duplicated in the various data panels, enabling swift
amendments to course, track, and plotting functions.

The helpfile in Ozi is extremely comprehensive and relatively
user-friendly, unlike many other nav. programs.

Most of my sailing friends have tried other nav. programs, and after
extensive learning/usage experiences, have always come back to
Oziexplorer, despite using vector chart applications such as
Mapsource and Tsunami etc., this is sufficient proof to me that Ozi
contains virtually anything that the other programs can offer,
although it does not, for the moment, incorporate a "track-up"
display facility, which I can live without, thankyou.

I accept that all of us are more appreciative of software that we
have used almost exclusively for a long time, and tend to reject
"interlopers" because we simply have not the time or patience to
learn the new software. The latest versions of Seaclear may well
have many of the attributes mentioned above, and I stand corrected
if that is the case, but I truly believe that if you take the time
and trouble to master Ozi, (it is not a two-hour experience!), your
patience will be rewarded.

The above summary is nowhere near comprehensive, just a few quick
thoughts designed to stir up a little controversy. If you can't be
bothered to work with a program like Oziexplorer for a long time,
and learn it's many facilities, or if you are in a hurry to put your
newly-acquired digital charts to use, then choose something less
demanding. Seaclear is an excellent program, and does have some new
facilities, such as AIS, but don't expect too much of it.

Hope this is enough to get you started.


Dennis.

I have nothing against SeaClear, but I'm a fan of Ozi as well. One
thing you didn't mention is the OziAPI which allows other programs to
communicate with Ozi to do various things. For instance, I have
written a program that uses NMEA data. I can use OziAPI to pass the
data straight to Ozi when I'm done with it, or I can extract position
data from Ozi directly. There are a few free and shareware programs
out there that do some nice things with Ozi. Another example: you
can write comments onto the moving map display through through the
API. I've used this to implement a survey function that writes depth
data on the chart in real time. You can feel your way into an
uncharted cove and come out with an updated chart. Ozi is smart enogh
to apply the comments to any other chart that covers the same area, if
you like. There is also a very active user community on Yahoo that is
very helpful and knowledgeable. The author has been very responsive
to user requests for new functions and bug fixes. In my opinion,
OziExplorer is a terrific example of the right way to do shareware.

Glen

Glen,

I agree with all your comments. Trouble with Ozi is there are so many
functions you can't remember them all! Particularly in the winter when you
are not using it on a daily basis.

I have used the depth plug-on to good effect and am most impressed with it.

Maybe the next add-on will be AIS? The sailing community seem to think this
is the next "must have".

Dennis.

On Wed, 18 Jan 2006 17:10:02 -0500, "Len Krauss"
wrote:

Thanks Peter. The "go to" would seem to be such a basic feature. Were you
using SeaClear II?

I think so - I downloaded it last spring/early summer.


--
Peter Bennett VE7CEI
email: peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
GPS and NMEA info and programs: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/index.html
Newsgroup new user info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq