Anybody tried OpenCPN

[MadMacX]

Hi Guys,

I tried to search for this one but I came up empty, so here goes. Has anyone tried OpenCPN, it is a free PC based chartplotter/navigator? I just happened upon it and thought I'd give it a look. It claims to work with RNC, ENC & S57 charts. If anyone has tried it I'd appreciate their thoughts. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, you get what you pay for, but I just wanted to give it a spin. It can be found at:

http://www.bigdumboat.com/cpnindex.html

(It's a freebe so I don't know if I can or cannot post the link. If the mods don't think it's appropriate, please delete).

Pat

[Oskar 26M]

I tried a download of OpenCPN, but haven't been able to get it to run on Win XP yet - it keeps crashing

You could also try OziExporer as an alternative no-cost or low-cost alternative. It is available in a free version which works OK, although the one you pay for (about US$100) is a lot more versatile.
I use OziExplorer a fair bit and really like some of its features. I interface mine with a bluetooth GPS device and use it on either a laptop or (in its CE version) on my on my WM5 PDA.
If you are interested you can take a look at it here:http://www.oziexplorer.com/

[SailDog]

I've been playing with this,

http://www.maptech.com/support/doc.cfm? ... N=67195671


and these...

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/

-Pat

[MadMacX]

I tried a download of OpenCPN, but haven't been able to get it to run on Win XP yet - it keeps crashing

You could also try OziExporer as an alternative no-cost or low-cost alternative. It is available in a free version which works OK, although the one you pay for (about US$100) is a lot more versatile.
I use OziExplorer a fair bit and really like some of its features. I interface mine with a bluetooth GPS device and use it on either a laptop or (in its CE version) on my on my WM5 PDA.
If you are interested you can take a look at it here:http://www.oziexplorer.com/

I've heard of OziExplorer but have not yet tried it. I'll give it a try. BTW, I have OpenCPN up and running on my XP system and so far no crashes. I'll keep playing with it.

I've been playing with this,

http://www.maptech.com/support/doc.cfm? ... N=67195671


and these...

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/

-Pat

I was going to buy Maptech, but I thought that they were sold to a new company and they were not going to support the product anymore. Did I get bad info? As far as charts, I think the NOAA site has some problems right now as I have been unable to get any new charts for at least the last five days. I'll have to give it a try later, right now I have to change the water pump in the Yamaha.

Pat

[SailDog]

I was going to buy Maptech, but I thought that they were sold to a new company and they were not going to support the product anymore. Did I get bad info? As far as charts, I think the NOAA site has some problems right now as I have been unable to get any new charts for at least the last five days. I'll have to give it a try later, right now I have to change the water pump in the Yamaha.

I haven't heard about Maptech getting sold, I just followed the NOAA links and found the free Chart Navigator Viewer. Got it working with my Triton500. Downloaded all of the Coast Guard District 1 RNC and ENC charts from NOAA in two zip files last night. Works Great. I was playing with OpenCPN too. It took all the "01 CGD" RNC and ENC charts no problem. I was able to make OpenCPN work with the Explorist500 but, so far, no luck with the Triton.