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"Jack Erbes" skrev i en meddelelse
... Flemming Torp wrote: snip As I do not want to make physical changes to this set up, and as I do have a notebook and a PPC with a GPS (a little RoyalTek RGM 2000-thing), I'm looking for a cheap solution to my 'cockpit-chartplotter-problem' ... Since you have a PPC and a GPS receiver for it (the RGM-2000) you might want to look at trying out a trial version of an application like Ozi-CE (http://www.oziexplorer.com/). Ozi-CE may be able to use the Maptech BSB charts you have now if they are on CD-ROMs. The BSB chart files require some conversion for use by Ozi-CE, that can be done using the trial version of Ozi Explorer PC (Ozi-PC). Thank you Jack for a very thorough, relevant, and solid input! As I understand from the Maptech site, they have an application, that can run on my PPC. Have not yet tried, as I do not have a lot of Maptech Maps. But my Maptech maps are on paper and on a CD (BSB-format) with the Navigator Lite program, so the ozi-application could also be tested. I have never tried it, just read about it. Will have to look into this. You may also be able to use your DLSK charts if you can import them into Ozi-PC and calibrate them for use. Once those are converted and calibrated they can be used with either Ozi-PC or Ozi-CE. Another possible avenue for using the DLSK charts is that if you can export or save bit mapped images of the chart files, those can be imported and calibrated with Ozi-PC (and a number of other applications that get frequent mention here). This is exactly, what I want! But - unfortunately - this is a 'world' I've never been into ... I have been told, that the maps in DLSK are stored in a xxx.it - format, that is not compatible with anything else in the world ... and I'm not in a position to challenge this statement ... I will have to study this whole subject in more details. I will go to the library. Maybe you have some relevant references? I do not really know what calibration - in this context means - so I feel I'm pretty far from the target .... To get the most flexibility with Ozi-CE the Ozi Explorer developer recommends also buying Ozi-Explorer for the PC. But you may be able to get along without buying it. I purchased Ozi-CE to use on an iPAQ 3630 and am managing fine without having bought Ozi-PC also. I'm using Maptech BSB charts and USGS topo maps (both come with calibration data files) and those can be converted for use with Ozi-CE by using the trial version of Ozi-PC. What cannot be done with the trial version of Ozi-PC is to import and calibrate map images or edit a map image. Compared to my 'long term solution' or alternatives, I do not find the prices of the two ozi-programmes prohibitive. A nice piece of freeware that you may want to look at that also has good capabilities for importing and calibrating map images is SeaClear II (http://www.sping.com/seaclear/). The process is a little convoluted but I have been able to create routes on SeaClear II (using Maptech BSB charts) and upload those to my handheld GPS (which was being used with SeaClear for NMEA input). Sounds as a very practical solution. I will look into this. Thank you for the link! I could then download the routes and waypoints from the GPS using GPS Utility (www.gpsu.co.uk/) and then import the routes and waypoints into Ozi-CE. Once you sort through the details of the various file formats and the like, you'll find there are a number of GPS utilities that data to be migrated from one platform to another. I may understand this, when I start working with it ... My feeling is that the iPAQ screen size is okay for navigation in the sense that you just glance at it occasionally to see if you're still on track, in the same place you that your think you are, and are just looking at the various details of data like course, speed, etc. Exactly - just as a kind of 'easy reminder' --- 'are we on the right track'? Route planning can be done on the iPAQ but it is much better done on a laptop or other PC with a larger screen, a mouse, full sized keyboard, and the other bells and whistles that make it easier and more pleasant. Jep, I fully agree - that's why I'm after a PPC-program, that can 'run' my notebook, on which I have entered routes and waypoints before starting etc. If your PPC has removable media (my iPAQ uses CF cards) you can more easily store chart files and move data around between the PPC and PC. I can store the Ozi-CE program and data files and hundreds of BSB charts on a 1GB CF card. That's a nice solution. My PPC supports MMC and SD memory cards. I have started with 256MB, but can see, that prices on memory cards are going in the right direction ... My primary challenge - I understand - is to learn how to 'calibrate and convert' my DLSK-maps into a format, that ozi-CE can read ... As the boat is still packed in ice, I may have some time during the coming weeks to study map-calibration, different map formats, conversion programmes etc. It's a completely new world for me - but fascinating - and a little frightening ... That's why I was searching for at solution, where my PPC is just a 'screen' to my notebook, where I do know the applications will run ... AnywayJack: Thank you so much for your comprehensive input. It has given me a lot of inspiration - not to mention quite a few challenges ... but "to learn what one doesn't know - is also a kind of wisdom" ... -- Flemming Torp 'Even the worst day sailing is better than the best day working' .... |
#2
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Flemming Torp wrote:
"Jack Erbes" skrev i en meddelelse ... Flemming Torp wrote: snip As I do not want to make physical changes to this set up, and as I do have a notebook and a PPC with a GPS (a little RoyalTek RGM 2000-thing), I'm looking for a cheap solution to my 'cockpit-chartplotter-problem' ... Since you have a PPC and a GPS receiver for it (the RGM-2000) you might want to look at trying out a trial version of an application like Ozi-CE (http://www.oziexplorer.com/). Ozi-CE may be able to use the Maptech BSB charts you have now if they are on CD-ROMs. The BSB chart files require some conversion for use by Ozi-CE, that can be done using the trial version of Ozi Explorer PC (Ozi-PC). Thank you Jack for a very thorough, relevant, and solid input! As I understand from the Maptech site, they have an application, that can run on my PPC. Have not yet tried, as I do not have a lot of Maptech Maps. But my Maptech maps are on paper and on a CD (BSB-format) with the Navigator Lite program, so the ozi-application could also be tested. I have never tried it, just read about it. Will have to look into this. You may also be able to use your DLSK charts if you can import them into Ozi-PC and calibrate them for use. Once those are converted and calibrated they can be used with either Ozi-PC or Ozi-CE. Another possible avenue for using the DLSK charts is that if you can export or save bit mapped images of the chart files, those can be imported and calibrated with Ozi-PC (and a number of other applications that get frequent mention here). This is exactly, what I want! But - unfortunately - this is a 'world' I've never been into ... I have been told, that the maps in DLSK are stored in a xxx.it - format, that is not compatible with anything else in the world ... and I'm not in a position to challenge this statement ... I will have to study this whole subject in more details. I will go to the library. Maybe you have some relevant references? I do not really know what calibration - in this context means - so I feel I'm pretty far from the target ... To get the most flexibility with Ozi-CE the Ozi Explorer developer recommends also buying Ozi-Explorer for the PC. But you may be able to get along without buying it. I purchased Ozi-CE to use on an iPAQ 3630 and am managing fine without having bought Ozi-PC also. I'm using Maptech BSB charts and USGS topo maps (both come with calibration data files) and those can be converted for use with Ozi-CE by using the trial version of Ozi-PC. What cannot be done with the trial version of Ozi-PC is to import and calibrate map images or edit a map image. Compared to my 'long term solution' or alternatives, I do not find the prices of the two ozi-programmes prohibitive. A nice piece of freeware that you may want to look at that also has good capabilities for importing and calibrating map images is SeaClear II (http://www.sping.com/seaclear/). The process is a little convoluted but I have been able to create routes on SeaClear II (using Maptech BSB charts) and upload those to my handheld GPS (which was being used with SeaClear for NMEA input). Sounds as a very practical solution. I will look into this. Thank you for the link! I could then download the routes and waypoints from the GPS using GPS Utility (www.gpsu.co.uk/) and then import the routes and waypoints into Ozi-CE. Once you sort through the details of the various file formats and the like, you'll find there are a number of GPS utilities that data to be migrated from one platform to another. I may understand this, when I start working with it ... My feeling is that the iPAQ screen size is okay for navigation in the sense that you just glance at it occasionally to see if you're still on track, in the same place you that your think you are, and are just looking at the various details of data like course, speed, etc. Exactly - just as a kind of 'easy reminder' --- 'are we on the right track'? Route planning can be done on the iPAQ but it is much better done on a laptop or other PC with a larger screen, a mouse, full sized keyboard, and the other bells and whistles that make it easier and more pleasant. Jep, I fully agree - that's why I'm after a PPC-program, that can 'run' my notebook, on which I have entered routes and waypoints before starting etc. If your PPC has removable media (my iPAQ uses CF cards) you can more easily store chart files and move data around between the PPC and PC. I can store the Ozi-CE program and data files and hundreds of BSB charts on a 1GB CF card. That's a nice solution. My PPC supports MMC and SD memory cards. I have started with 256MB, but can see, that prices on memory cards are going in the right direction ... My primary challenge - I understand - is to learn how to 'calibrate and convert' my DLSK-maps into a format, that ozi-CE can read ... As the boat is still packed in ice, I may have some time during the coming weeks to study map-calibration, different map formats, conversion programmes etc. It's a completely new world for me - but fascinating - and a little frightening ... That's why I was searching for at solution, where my PPC is just a 'screen' to my notebook, where I do know the applications will run ... AnywayJack: Thank you so much for your comprehensive input. It has given me a lot of inspiration - not to mention quite a few challenges ... but "to learn what one doesn't know - is also a kind of wisdom" ... -- Flemming Torp 'Even the worst day sailing is better than the best day working' ... There is a lot of stuff about chartplotting on a PDA on the Oziexplorer website under Oziexplorer CE. I used their stuff on my Ipaq a couple of years ago, but I'm afraid the 1400 by 1050 screen on my laptop simply made the PDA look stupid, so I sold the Ipaq! I know your problem, but so far only a high-intensity screen in the cockpit, connected to the laptop either wirelessly on by cable, would be satisfactory, and as you could also use a wireless mouse (most chartplotting is done by mouse anyway), you would have almost complete control. These waterproof daylight screens are unbelievably expensive. The last time I checked them out they were around $5000, so I would advise a good surf around to see whether they have come down. My wireless mouse is a Silver Crest, and it's a real cracker. Dennis. -- Satellite photocharts of the UK & Ireland available, excellent detail and accurate calibration using Oziexplorer. Remove *nospam* to reply. |
#3
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"Dennis Pogson" skrev i en
meddelelse ... Flemming Torp wrote: snip "Jack Erbes" skrev i en meddelelse ... Flemming Torp wrote: 'unsnip' My primary challenge - I understand - is to learn how to 'calibrate and convert' my DLSK-maps into a format, that ozi-CE can read ... As the boat is still packed in ice, I may have some time during the coming weeks to study map-calibration, different map formats, conversion programmes etc. It's a completely new world for me - but fascinating - and a little frightening ... That's why I was searching for at solution, where my PPC is just a 'screen' to my notebook, where I do know the applications will run ... AnywayJack: Thank you so much for your comprehensive input. It has given me a lot of inspiration - not to mention quite a few challenges ... but "to learn what one doesn't know - is also a kind of wisdom" ... -- Flemming Torp 'Even the worst day sailing is better than the best day working' ... There is a lot of stuff about chartplotting on a PDA on the Oziexplorer website under Oziexplorer CE. Thanks, I will start my 'study tour' in the 'ozi-world' I used their stuff on my Ipaq a couple of years ago, but I'm afraid the 1400 by 1050 screen on my laptop simply made the PDA look stupid, so I sold the Ipaq! I know your problem, but so far only a high-intensity screen in the cockpit, connected to the laptop either wirelessly on by cable, would be satisfactory, and as you could also use a wireless mouse (most chartplotting is done by mouse anyway), you would have almost complete control. These waterproof daylight screens are unbelievably expensive. The last time I checked them out they were around $5000, so I would advise a good surf around to see whether they have come down. My wireless mouse is a Silver Crest, and it's a real cracker. I agree - and right now, I'm after a short term solution, with the hardware I have, and under al circumstances will have on the boat anyway ... you know mail, internet surf, calender etc. And I want to keep my notebook free from the salt water, that is hard to avoid in the cockpit ... As to 'daylight monitors', I can give you an example: In Denmark the RayMarine Monitor - M 1500 - is priced at DKK 52.000,-. Five years ago, I bought a swedish 30' sailboat - 3,5t - called Albin Ballad - http://ballad.dk/ - with 13 sails, ready to sail for DKK 150.000,-! A monitor at one third of a half tonner boat ... ... Today one U$ equals DKK 5,70 ... ... Dennis. -- Satellite photocharts of the UK & Ireland available, excellent detail and accurate calibration using Oziexplorer. Remove *nospam* to reply. Dennis, thank you for your advice! -- Flemming Torp 'Even the worst day sailing is better than the best day working' .... |
#4
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Flemming Torp wrote:
snip Thank you Jack for a very thorough, relevant, and solid input! You're welcome, I'm seeing this on rec.boats.electronics and it is a group that knows a lot and will share it helpfully. I've learned a lot here too. Another newsgroup that may be a little more focused on gps, navigation, and some of the details of your questions here is sci.geo.satellite-nav. I think there is more discussion there of the specific devices and processes you want to do. snip This is exactly, what I want! But - unfortunately - this is a 'world' I've never been into ... I have been told, that the maps in DLSK are stored in a xxx.it - format, that is not compatible with anything else in the world ... and I'm not in a position to challenge this statement ... I will have to study this whole subject in more details. I will go to the library. Maybe you have some relevant references? I don't really have any library references, what I know has been learned through experience, newsgroups, web pages, and just playing around with it. I do not really know what calibration - in this context means - so I feel I'm pretty far from the target .... It is not that complicated, after all I think I get it. :) If you download SeaClear II and look around on that web site, there are several documentation files that will give you the basics of calibration and how to do it. The Ozi-PC trial version also has a good explanation of it. I am getting more comfortable with map calibration but am far from an expert and have not used it much. Basically it is mapping the x,y pixels in a map image file to a geographical reference system. You tell the program the lat/long postion of a number of specific pixels that are at known geographic points and the program then maps all the other pixels to that geographical reference system. That is a simplistic explanation and maybe not even quite correct. Compared to my 'long term solution' or alternatives, I do not find the prices of the two ozi-programmes prohibitive. That was my feeling when I bought it, I consider it a real bargain at the price. snip I may understand this, when I start working with it ... I think you will, I felt the same way when I started but wanting to do it and being stubborn will overcome a lot of ignorance. snip That's a nice solution. My PPC supports MMC and SD memory cards. I have started with 256MB, but can see, that prices on memory cards are going in the right direction ... My primary challenge - I understand - is to learn how to 'calibrate and convert' my DLSK-maps into a format, that ozi-CE can read ... As the boat is still packed in ice, I may have some time during the coming weeks to study map-calibration, different map formats, conversion programmes etc. It's a completely new world for me - but fascinating - and a little frightening ... By it being mentioned on these groups, I would be surprised if someone who has already done it does not speak up. There is a image file format called tiff/it that may have something in common with your DLSK files. It may be that you already have a bit mapped image file but that it does not have a common name. It may just need to be "figured out". If you familiarize yourself with map calibration with Ozi and SeaClear and have more questions, I recommend you try asking them on the sci.geo.satellite-nav newsgroup. I think you'll hit a little better audience for the question there. Good luck, feel free to email me off the group also if you think I can be helpful. Jack -- Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net (also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com) |
#5
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"Jack Erbes" skrev i en meddelelse
... snip Another newsgroup that may be a little more focused on gps, navigation, and some of the details of your questions here is sci.geo.satellite-nav. I think there is more discussion there of the specific devices and processes you want to do. I'm aware of that group too. The reason for 'entering' boats' is that the first input came from a sailor using this newgroup, be I'm afraid, that he does not use it regularly ... snip If you download SeaClear II and look around on that web site, there are several documentation files that will give you the basics of calibration and how to do it. snip Yes - I will try to be patient and take the time ... By it being mentioned on these groups, I would be surprised if someone who has already done it does not speak up. snip Very recently, I received an answer in the Danish newsgroup about the possibility og converting the format of DLSK til some kind of ozi-readable format. The answer is no - it is a 'very' proprietary format! Good luck, feel free to email me off the group also if you think I can be helpful. Jack -- Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net (also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com) Thank you very much for your support. -- Flemming Torp 'Even the worst day sailing is better than the best day working' .... |
#6
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Flemming Torp wrote:
snip Thank you Jack for a very thorough, relevant, and solid input! You're welcome, I'm seeing this on rec.boats.electronics and it is a group that knows a lot and will share it helpfully. I've learned a lot here too. Another newsgroup that may be a little more focused on gps, navigation, and some of the details of your questions here is sci.geo.satellite-nav. I think there is more discussion there of the specific devices and processes you want to do. snip This is exactly, what I want! But - unfortunately - this is a 'world' I've never been into ... I have been told, that the maps in DLSK are stored in a xxx.it - format, that is not compatible with anything else in the world ... and I'm not in a position to challenge this statement ... I will have to study this whole subject in more details. I will go to the library. Maybe you have some relevant references? I don't really have any library references, what I know has been learned through experience, newsgroups, web pages, and just playing around with it. I do not really know what calibration - in this context means - so I feel I'm pretty far from the target .... It is not that complicated, after all I think I get it. :) If you download SeaClear II and look around on that web site, there are several documentation files that will give you the basics of calibration and how to do it. The Ozi-PC trial version also has a good explanation of it. I am getting more comfortable with map calibration but am far from an expert and have not used it much. Basically it is mapping the x,y pixels in a map image file to a geographical reference system. You tell the program the lat/long postion of a number of specific pixels that are at known geographic points and the program then maps all the other pixels to that geographical reference system. That is a simplistic explanation and maybe not even quite correct. Compared to my 'long term solution' or alternatives, I do not find the prices of the two ozi-programmes prohibitive. That was my feeling when I bought it, I consider it a real bargain at the price. snip I may understand this, when I start working with it ... I think you will, I felt the same way when I started but wanting to do it and being stubborn will overcome a lot of ignorance. snip That's a nice solution. My PPC supports MMC and SD memory cards. I have started with 256MB, but can see, that prices on memory cards are going in the right direction ... My primary challenge - I understand - is to learn how to 'calibrate and convert' my DLSK-maps into a format, that ozi-CE can read ... As the boat is still packed in ice, I may have some time during the coming weeks to study map-calibration, different map formats, conversion programmes etc. It's a completely new world for me - but fascinating - and a little frightening ... By it being mentioned on these groups, I would be surprised if someone who has already done it does not speak up. There is a image file format called tiff/it that may have something in common with your DLSK files. It may be that you already have a bit mapped image file but that it does not have a common name. It may just need to be "figured out". If you familiarize yourself with map calibration with Ozi and SeaClear and have more questions, I recommend you try asking them on the sci.geo.satellite-nav newsgroup. I think you'll hit a little better audience for the question there. Good luck, feel free to email me off the group also if you think I can be helpful. Jack -- Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net (also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com) |
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