Where can I get a cable that will allow me to connect my laptop to my nmea bus preferably with some sort of isolator protection
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 Maplins seem to have cables to connect most things (and assistants who have a better understanding of these things than I do!). They provided me with a serial port adapter (my laptap only has USB ports) to connect my handheld (NMEA) GPS to my laptop. Could this be what you need?
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I will have a look in maplins
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I have found a cable from actisense which will go from the nmea bus to a usb port via an opto isolator which is egactly what I want
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Excellent. What info are you taking from the nmea to the laptop?
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Could someone please tell me which software is best ,ie navionics or C-map to run on my laptop and also where to buy a reasonably cheap GPS antena for the purpose of using this as a chartplotter.I already have a Garmin 76 with external antena can this be used?
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I am plugging in to the usb port to actual wires which will read data from and to the nmea bus (chocholate block )
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 | TMS Poloshirt winner |
17/02/08 18:12
 The Garmin 76 is fine for the job - why invest in unnecessary extra's ? As to Navionics or CMap ... that's individual taste.
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| TMS Poloshirt winner |
17/02/08 18:16
Norman .... I've been playing with NMEA and GPs for years ... and I have not seen a USB cable able to chocolate block direct yet. The protocol on USB is completely different to RS232. Look at a USB cable for a GPS or other item - it usually has a small square block in the cable that is the "changer". To choc block a USB cable - I would suggest you use a USN to RS232 conversion cable between USB and block. I do this for feeding a PDA GPS data NMEA from my eTrex or Lowrance - whichever is in use.
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Try the actisense with opto isolator it needs a disc with it to do the serial conversion but I am about to go for it or at least get the data needed Success of failure I will post my results
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 Paul, I am using SeaClear II, it is a free program that works with some of the more common electronic chart formats. It definately doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the high end programs but it is very usable. I even got a big bonus as the good old US of A, in a moment of weakness allowed NOAA to post all of the US charts as a free download. So far I have spent $0 on the program, $0 on the charts, $64US for the GPS antenna and use the work laptop. I realize you probably don't have access to free charts to download but there are some basic world charts that come with SeaClear so you can at least get an idea what the progam offer. PS I have no connection with anyone except my ex wife so use this info at your own risk.
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| TMS Poloshirt winner |
20/02/08 10:34
 NOAA charts are free to anyone-rasta charts being regularly updated-considered a safety issue in US hence free charts. Phil
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| TMS Poloshirt winner |
20/02/08 11:04
Everyone take a look-its good-can read all US free rastar charts-just checked it out Wow! Phil
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| TMS Poloshirt winner |
20/02/08 16:48
Just had time this aft. to fully check some of this out-you can if you want download a complete zip of NOAA charts-thats the full USA and dependancies set ie all US charts-350mb zip-1gb open!-then programme works auto.You have to upload files using MapCal which doesnt automatically provide a desk top link-you will find it in Sea Clear programme file folder.One you have it you can auto zoom in anywhere where there is US coverage. You can also download from NOAA an auto update programme as most of these charts are always being updated. And so much for Fugawi-£150 or so software! All we need now is for admiralty to release its data base as oppose to currently paying an annual licence fee!!-chance would be a fine thing-but data is probably out there in some Research facility/Uni.dept??!! But for anyone planning travels to USA-great Phil
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Phil, for a free program it has some cool features. My favorite is the fuel estimate part, you set your estimated fuel useage at various speeds and it will calculate how much fuel used. Also you can scan a paper chart and calibrate it with Mapcal and you have converted your paper to electronic. I haven't tried that yet since the US charts are free but it sounds simple enough.
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| TMS Poloshirt winner |
21/02/08 10:55
I did have a similar programme from late 1990s but it was primarily in DOS not windows-did not have any mapping facility other than general coastlines-but did other things-distance etc. When I have time Im going to try the scanning/calibration programme to test its accuracy as after all thats all these charts are. Noticed that some of the US charts origional paper versions were still using late 19th/early 20thC printing plates certainly on margins and were dated 1900 ish(revised) Origional British Admiralty Charts c 1860s are beautiful bits of engraving work including as they do shaded 3d imagery of coastal topography-(sadly officially no more)but can be found. Phil
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OK I have managed to get my USB/serial converter working and using the laptop everything works very well I have been crusing W Scotland for the last two weeks and the availability of almost any scale of chart on a 15" screen was a real bonus and a significant safty factor as a mistake in plotting is eliminated I can now change to any chart for the price of the electronic chart admittedly on a CD is the simplest way of loading them NP
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| TMS Poloshirt winner |
09/08/08 14:38
 Norman Is the Actisense device you have used quite literally a cable or is it the Actisense USG-1? (which just happens to get a brief review in Sailing Today magazine this month on page 67). This looks like just what is required to provide an isolated connection between laptop and NMEA as it uses light to transfer data instead of an electrical signal. The RRP is £79.95 but a quick search on the web has already brought this down to £59.00. Just interested to know!
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Yes that is the one Since most laptops do not have a serial port these days this is a reasonable way to go I think I saw that review I have some knoledge of interfacing units ( I am an Instrument technician and work offshore) The complete job was easy enough but a lot of thought of exactly what you were needed
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| TMS Poloshirt winner |
06/09/08 19:01
Seaclear - was the first PC chart plotting program to include AIS .... It is a free gift with Nasa AIS engine Olle the author is a keen yachtsman himself and wrote Seaclear specifically for his own use. Once you master Mapcal2 (install charts) and also the passthrough (autopilot / other instrument) - you are laughing all the way to the bank !
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