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06-15-2020, 10:57 PM
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#1
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Guru
City: Everett WA.
Vessel Name: Triton
Vessel Model: 48' Golden Egg Harbor
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 713
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What GPS to use?
I have a newer laptop and a Navionics account.
Currently using my I-phone but would like to swap over to the laptop screen.
Looking at the
GlobalSat BU-353-S4 USB GPS Receiver (Black)
Any issues with it?
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06-16-2020, 10:25 AM
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#2
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TF Site Team
City: Westerly, RI
Vessel Name: N/A
Vessel Model: 1999 Mainship 350 Trawler
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,154
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My concerns with a laptop are:
1) Is it adequately daylight viewable?
2) Can it be mounted securely in rough seas?
3) Can it be adequately protected from water?*
*NOTE: Not just rain. We've taken very heavy spray (buckets) on the upper bridge doing 8 kts in 8 foot seas. Enough that it was the equivalent of standing in the shower with your clothes on. Admittedly....very rare, but it would have taken out a laptop.
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06-16-2020, 10:37 AM
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#3
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Guru
City: Everett WA.
Vessel Name: Triton
Vessel Model: 48' Golden Egg Harbor
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 713
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shrew
My concerns with a laptop are:
1) Is it adequately daylight viewable?
2) Can it be mounted securely in rough seas?
3) Can it be adequately protected from water?*
*NOTE: Not just rain. We've taken very heavy spray (buckets) on the upper bridge doing 8 kts in 8 foot seas. Enough that it was the equivalent of standing in the shower with your clothes on. Admittedly....very rare, but it would have taken out a laptop.
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We mostly use a lower helm mounted Garmin that's a few years old. It has a small screen. But I wanted to bring the laptop this time with the Navionics. Not mounting it, just tossing it on the table so the wife/kids can also see where we are at, and headed to. Its not going to be a fixture in the boat as I agree it would be best mounted.
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06-16-2020, 11:03 AM
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#4
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Guru
City: Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island
Vessel Name: Capricorn
Vessel Model: Mariner 30 - Sedan Cruiser 1969
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 2,019
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Why not just purchase new or used tablet. I use a Samsung 10 inch, works fine on its own without a GPS receiver, it has one internally.
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06-16-2020, 11:50 AM
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#5
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Guru
City: Everett WA.
Vessel Name: Triton
Vessel Model: 48' Golden Egg Harbor
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 713
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rsn48
Why not just purchase new or used tablet. I use a Samsung 10 inch, works fine on its own without a GPS receiver, it has one internally.
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Probably not a bad idea.
But I was trying to use what I have. The laptop is new... I have an older I-pad but its wifi only and linking off a hot spot like our phones does not work very well.
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06-16-2020, 11:55 AM
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#6
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Sandpiper
Vessel Model: Bluewater 40 Pilothouse Trawler
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,315
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We've been using a laptop as our primary chart plotter in the pilothouse since the 90's. No flybridge so visibility and water are non issues.
It sits on a non skid mat on the chart table. We've been in some big seas and the laptop stays put.
We use a Furuno GPS.
If water getting on the laptop is a concern, have a boat top shop make a clear vinyl water resistant cover for it. We had one on our laptop when we had a flybridge boat and the cover saved the laptop on many occasions.
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06-16-2020, 01:04 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Cape May, NJ
Vessel Name: Irish Lady
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,947
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You didn't say what kind of laptop. The GPS must be compatible with the laptop operating system. I bought one of those GlobalSat GPS a few years ago and it would not work with my version of Windows.
__________________
Archie
Irish Lady
1984 Monk 36 Hull #46
Currently in Cape May, NJ
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06-16-2020, 01:15 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Saint Petersburg
Vessel Name: Weebles
Vessel Model: 1970 Willard 36 Trawler
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 7,166
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RonR
I have a newer laptop and a Navionics account.
Currently using my I-phone but would like to swap over to the laptop screen.
Looking at the
GlobalSat BU-353-S4 USB GPS Receiver (Black)
Any issues with it?
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I don't think Navionics runs on a PC. Tablet is your best option.
I use XGPS wireless with ability to support 5 concurrent devices. Very handy to be able to support more than one concurrent device, especially if you have guests aboard. Quite a bit more expensive ($129)
__________________
_______________________________________
Cruising our 1970 Willard 36 trawler from California to Florida
Join our Instagram page @MVWeebles to follow along
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06-16-2020, 01:54 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
City: Port Hope
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 149
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mvweebles
I don't think Navionics runs on a PC.
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Yes it does, using their Chartviewer. I use a laptop to plan a route, I find it easier when using a mouse. Routes entered there synch with all of your devices.
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06-16-2020, 02:19 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Huntersville NC
Vessel Name: Abeona
Vessel Model: Marine Trader 47’ Sundeck
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 898
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I use an iPad mini with a bad elf Bluetooth GPS receiver running aqua maps. Works really well. I use the same set up when flying little airplanes and use ForeFlight.
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06-16-2020, 02:41 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,818
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While it's different software, I run navigation software on my all in one computer with a simple GPS receiver that plugs into the usb port. I find it slightly more accurate than the Garmin GPS as it has a tighter overlay when running the same course past fixed marks. It was about $20 from Amazon
Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
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06-16-2020, 02:45 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: Annapolis
Vessel Name: Ranger
Vessel Model: 58' Sedan Bridge
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,068
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Our GPS puck for enabling the laptop is a GlobalSat BU-353-S4 USB unit. In early 2017 it was $36 from Amazon. Easy install. Works well inside the saloon.
-Chris
__________________
Chesapeake Bay, USA
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06-16-2020, 03:38 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Southport, FL near Panama City
Vessel Name: FROLIC
Vessel Model: Mainship 30 Pilot II since 2015. GB-42 1986-2015. Former Unlimited Tonnage Master
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,977
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I have a VFAN puck I had to do some instally things using their disk and another no-name puck I have had for many years which just runs on any old windows laptop. I don't think there are likely to be many pucks out there which are not compatible with Windoze. I don't go anywhere without my laptop and its Coastal Explorer sitting alongside whatever plotter is aboard the vessel.
__________________
Rich Gano
FROLIC (2005 MainShip 30 Pilot II)
Panama City area
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06-16-2020, 04:27 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Solomons, MD
Vessel Name: Branwen
Vessel Model: Hatteras 48 LRC
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 645
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I have a couple GlobalSat BU-353-S4 USB GPS Receivers and have great luck with them on laptops or micro-computers running OpenCPN. I recommend you confirm compatibility with the software you plan to use, either the OS or chartplotting software, but it's a basic GPS puck that provides standard messages that most software should expect.
Greg.
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06-16-2020, 04:45 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Saint Petersburg
Vessel Name: Weebles
Vessel Model: 1970 Willard 36 Trawler
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 7,166
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John R M
Yes it does, using their Chartviewer. I use a laptop to plan a route, I find it easier when using a mouse. Routes entered there synch with all of your devices.
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Thank you John! Great tip.
__________________
_______________________________________
Cruising our 1970 Willard 36 trawler from California to Florida
Join our Instagram page @MVWeebles to follow along
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06-16-2020, 04:49 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: Queensland
Vessel Model: Milkraft 60 converted timber prawn trawler
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 5,482
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I've been using the ublox gmouse ones on eBay for around $20
Using both Linux and win 10
Pick up GPS and glonass
4 years of faultless service
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06-16-2020, 04:59 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Bayfield, WI
Vessel Name: Gopher Broke
Vessel Model: Silverton 410 Sport Bridge
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 904
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John R M
Yes it does, using their Chartviewer. I use a laptop to plan a route, I find it easier when using a mouse. Routes entered there synch with all of your devices.
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Well.. sorta. I mean it's a website - it's not running on the PC. So it only works for you if you have an internet connection. The OP hasn't mentioned any other devices that he's synching with. I don't get the feeling that's what he's looking for since he wants a GPS. That implies that he's looking for live location chartplotting.
BD
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06-16-2020, 05:17 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Everett WA.
Vessel Name: Triton
Vessel Model: 48' Golden Egg Harbor
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 713
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BDofMSP
Well.. sorta. I mean it's a website - it's not running on the PC. So it only works for you if you have an internet connection. The OP hasn't mentioned any other devices that he's synching with. I don't get the feeling that's what he's looking for since he wants a GPS. That implies that he's looking for live location chartplotting.
BD
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Correct, I would like to have it live on the PC while under way so the wife/kids can look at it. While under way I use the same app on my phone/ and the Garmin/paper.
I use the Navionics a lot to plan routes/ expected time/ fuel use and yes I can share to other devices I have, my phone, the wife's, a few laptops around the house/office/car.
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06-16-2020, 08:06 PM
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#19
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Guru
City: Nanaimo
Vessel Name: former owner of "Pilitak"
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,703
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I use a laptop running Coastal Explorer using a USGlobalsat BU-353-S4 GPS puck (as one of the available GPs sources) and it works great. I also use the "non-skid" mat under it, and so far it has not moved an inch, even in some reasonably unsettled seas. I don't want to be out in much more than that. I also use an IPad running Navionics, using old Raymarine plotter as a backup. All told I have 4 separate GPS sources onboard, so good redundancy (unless GPS itself goes down).
__________________
Tom
Nanaimo, BC
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06-29-2020, 12:49 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
City: Punta Gorda
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 156
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Garmin and Aqua Map on an iPad Pro.
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