Computers as a GPS in the boat
Submitted by Lucky Tim on Tue, 2011-03-15 14:33
Hey
Who has used or knows someone who uses a computer (laptop) in the boat as a GPS?
What mapping program do they use?
Are there splashproof computers? Do they use solid state drives?
Been giving it some thought but as you never see it in rec boats maybe it is all too hard.
Cheers
Tim
The_Wanderer
Posts: 735
Date Joined: 24/09/08
Hey Tim check Tony Holidays
Hey Tim check Tony Holidays posts I think he uses it in the Berty
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
Yes I used an old Dell 620
Yes I used an old Dell 620 laptop on a Planner touch screen, using blueNav Oceanics Maps. Loaded and ripped a beta version of Mapsend Light.
But the program is expensive, you looking at close to $500 or more for BlueNav, I bought it back in 2004 when I was foolish and cashed up...lol.
These days I'd not go that route again, as the PC gets huge corrosion issues and the hard disks don't like the pounding, unless they solid slate. also glare is bad on the screen and using a mouse on a small boat is a nightmare, that's why I tried the touch screen, that worked very well. For a GPS recviever, I use a Magellan Sports Track Pro, so it acts as stand alone back up with 12V or battery power.
If you been following the thread on the Ipad / Iphone ap on the other side in " fishing", then you will see I have gone to a Telstra T-touch Pad now as my back up / big screen GPS, at $275 for the T-Touch and under $20 for the Navionics application / charts for all Australia, that's a bargin.
BUT it only works on Android or Apple Ipad operating systems and not Windows.
I'd not go the PC route again unless you can marinise the pc and use solid state hard disks ( expensive route).
I would look at the Apple Ipad2 if it's costs come down, but again it has no USB or SD card slot, so hard to back up. Also costly.
cheers
Tony
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
The Panasonic Toughbook is
The Panasonic Toughbook is certainly the longest player in the market ... they sure aint cheap though; Panasonic Toughbook.
The CF-U1 looks pretty ace; IP65, 5.6" daylight-viewable touchscreen, 64GB SSD, designed for vehicle mounting, just it costs $3500AU
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
I thought that said $350 and
I thought that said $350 and thought "that's not too bad...", then I re-read it.
Might keep the Lowrance at that price.
Where's Tony???
Hansie
Posts: 162
Date Joined: 27/03/07
computer is only one aspect..
plenty of guys dont need a splash proof computer... are there some tips on software to run?
very interested if you can plug an antenna into a usb port of an old laptop... and while we at it, can you plug a transducer into a power source and usb to computer then use software for echo sounder?
hmmmmm, would have thought there would be a good chance of some pretty speccy results for the (smallish) cost of a transducer and whatever the software costs.
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
In a word...No
can you plug a transducer into a power source and usb to computer then use software for echo sounder?
I have searched for a long time on the net to be able to do this I think there is commercial software available but it's very expensive
dodgy
Posts: 4571
Date Joined: 01/02/10
How about the Furuno Black
How about the Furuno Black Box?
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
I think the software is the problem
not so much the hardware
mungus
Posts: 60
Date Joined: 15/03/11
I know of a few that use an
I know of a few that use an iPad, with the Navionics app. I'm thinking about going down that path. I use the Navionics app on the iPhone, and find it brilliant. Apparently it loads a bit quicker on the iPad.
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
I do
I use a net book with 10" solid state hard drive so it dosent get affected by the bumps as a hdd would, I use memory map with quick charts maps a little gps receiver for about 40 bucks off ebay a marble track mouse from logitech and an inverter for the power supply all up it cost about 900 bucks and now the net books are a lot cheaper, the charts are the dpi charts plus the navy charts. I'm very impressed.
strike_zone
Posts: 403
Date Joined: 09/09/10
stick to the proper units
lap tops and sea water = trouble think i will stick to the units that are purpose made for fitting to your boat instead of making some bastardised contraption think about it thats why they make them isnt it
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
I've been using mine for over a year
and I havent got a drop on it yet. I's not some bastardised contraption and works very well. show me a 10" gps screen for under a grand. even if it lasts only two or three years a new netbook these days costs about 250 bucks
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
There some cheap epc that ibm
There some cheap epc that ibm made that was splashproof for kids and cost under $500. I bet a lot of those ended up on boats before they discontinued them.
crasny1
Posts: 6990
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Can I please ask a dumb question?
Why would you want to? If I am worng tell me, but I would have thought that the designated units for boats does the trick, can store waypoints etc, and in mine act as a combo.
Is there any advantage with a laptop?
I am just a little confused about why you would take a perfectly functioning unit out of the boat and replace it with something not designed for it, like putting a Tom Tom in the boat eg.
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
It's simple
BIG screen for low cost!
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
I'm just thinking options but
I'm just thinking options but a laptop allows easier backing up and managing spots, when you're in have phone range they allow internet access which means live weather, sea temps, Google Earth, tidal programs etc. I believe the mapping programs are more flexible too.
Ofcousre they aren't splash resistant or built for boats but you get a hell of a lot more for the $$$ than what a plotter offers.
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
if you run a remote screen
if you run a remote screen and put the laptop in a sealed box with a cooling fan, then you can have a dispaly on the dash. I went that route and used a touch screen monitor to allow a virtual keyboard and mouse.
Remember your laptop draws in loads of air to cool the processor and mother board, with sea air, it will always be wet with salt water and corrossion happens very fast in a laptop. I KNOW!!!! as my first one died after 6 months. Second one I put into the cabin and sealed in a container, then put a Pelter Heat sink fan on the side to cool the inside. ( same type of cooling fan with heat sink you find in these little car beer fridges, you get them at JayCay Electrical)
The touch screen unit I used is water proof to splash conditions and is used often on ATM type operations.
One other thing you learn fast is a keyboard is almost impossible to use at sea and when it gets rough goes smashing all over the place. Another reason to go touch screen monitor.
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
always late
Posts: 33
Date Joined: 17/01/11
because
Some lucky people get a hold of loads of way points from commercial fishermen, cray fishermen etc. These are loaded onto a program and there are hundereds as the skipper will press ENTER on any lump they see while driving. There is no point in sitting on your front lawn entering in the waypoints if they don't produce. So you use the laptop which has the waypoints and connect up a sat reciever via USB, drive over/around and see what comes up on your sounder, if it produces you have a good mark, if not keep looking.
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
http://fishwrecked.com/forum/
http://fishwrecked.com/forum/doing-new-berty-25
read my thread here and
http://fishwrecked.com/forum/free-chart-app-iphone
here for Iphone app talk we been doing.
if you have a wheel house and waterproof area, then you could consider it.
If you not totaly clsoed in, then you asking for trouble in my view.
ps if you want a 14 inch Plannar touch screen, water proof and with touch screen function etc, Medical grade, pm me, as I will sell mine now that I have a Furuno GPS and use the T-touch as a back up.
I may even consider selling the Sports Track Magellan GPS, plus Blue Nav software and maps + Plannar screen for $500 if some one was interested. I don't use the Sports Track anymore either, it comes with Discover Ozz tracks & trails software for PC as well.
cheers
Tony
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)