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gps navigation

4K views 27 replies 12 participants last post by  Donna_F 
#1 ·
hi,i just bought a oregon 400c handheld and after playing with it for a couple of days i'm sure i can navigate ok using the preloaded coastal charts,i also just downloaded the seaclear program into my laptop,what can this progarm[seaclear do for me]i'm very navigational and brain challenged!if i plug in my gps device what will happen?in other words i need someone to take me by my grubby little hand and walk me thru the basics.thanks,[someone needs to look after fools]
 
#2 ·
I don't have the details because I don't have SeaClear, but I'm guessing tethering the handheld gps to the laptop running SeaClear will allow SeaClear to plot your position on a highly detailed nautical chart on the laptop screen. This gives you a bigger and more detailed picture than you'll get on the handheld. You'll also be able to create routes and edit data more conveinently.

I've used a similar set up with my Garmin GPSMAP 76cs and OpenCPN on my laptop. It worked great. I've now migrated to navigation with Navionics on iPad2 and the Garmin as a backup.
 
#3 ·
I have a Garmin chartplotter and an old Garmin handheld which both work for the GPS input using Sailcruiser, Seaclear, or Open Cpn. Just make sure you go into the gps setup screen to tell the software that you are using Garmin USB protocol. The only problem with using computers is getting them in a good position to see and manipulate on deck. A non-waterproof computer won't survive long after the first wave breaks over the rail. They also don't have the daylight viewable screens that chartplotters do. I bought a refurbed Panasonic Toughbook which is splashproof, has a daylight viewable screen and is pretty rugged but still prefer the little Garmin 376C chartplotter although the screen is small.
 
#7 ·
I prefer OpenCPN to SeaClear. Great bit of kit to have aboard on the laptop.

Also, are the Oregon units waterproof? I actually spent about the same for a 76CsX (with no onboard chart and a worse screen) so that I could get a GPS that floated and was waterproof.
 
#8 ·
Glare is the enemy. We have Open CPN (used to be MaxSea but that doesn't work on Linux) on Linux notebook at chart table. Combined efforts of Omatako and BentSailor helped me to get it all set up and it works faultlessly but useless in the cockpit on a sunny day. Maybe that is not such a bad thing cos I'm sure the wee Dell would soon move on to Silicon Heaven if it had to endure the open air.
 
#9 ·
maybe i can navigate huddled under a blanket or just use the gps unit in the cockpit...nightowl i don't know if its waterproof or not but hey its wonderfully made in taiwan with only the highest grade materials and the worlds best craftsmen "i worky for u longy time joe"
 
#11 ·
The Oregon 400c is waterproof, but you need to be careful because it does not float. You need to mount the thing if you're going to use it in the cockpit.

A RAM mount is nice, but may be overkill. Garmin has a $9 bicycle handlebar mount that is perfect if you have a pedestal guard. If you have a tiller instead, I'd use the handlebar mount to fix it to the tiller. For $9 it can't hurt to try.


I've also used SeaClear and OpenCPN. They will work off of the Garmin's USB connection, although there's some other software needed to convert the USB signal, and to move routes and tracks into and out of the GPS. There are a bunch of posts on this in the Electronics subforum. Do some searching.

A dealer at a boat show claimed that Garmin discontinued the 400c (and all Oregons with preloaded charts) because their profit margin on them was too small. According to him, that's why you now have to buy the successor models without the charts and buy the charts on a separate card for additional cost.

 
#12 ·
That's a good point about transferring routes and waypoints. In order to use your routes from other software on a Garmin unit, you need to convert them to .gpx format which Garmin units will read. I've been using EasyGPS EasyGPS - Download free GPS software free to download. It works very well to convert and input multiple waypoints (routes) into a Garmin so that the unit can be used for routes even when you don't have the REALLY EXPENSIVE charts.
 
#17 ·
That's exactly what I did on cabin top next to the hatch. Even put a couple of pad eyes so I can tie the laptop down. This works pretty well but if the dodger needs to come down because of a really bad blow, the laptop is gone too. In that situation, which I've yet to encounter, the Garmin would have to suffice. I searched for waterproof, sunlight viewable external touch screen monitor that I could mount right on the pedestal but the price on these is astronomical. Would be nice if someone would make a non-proprietary plotter so that Garmin, NOAA, Jeppesen, raster format, etc. charts could be used interchangeably.

I will not be sorry for these companies, who get their chart data from public, taxpayer funded efforts and then stick it up our @#$ reselling it at ridiculous prices to sailors in proprietary formats, when crowd-sourcing finally makes all charts free. This data has come from government research: NOAA, Admiralty, etc., paid by you, me and our ancestors. They should all be totally free as NOAA, Brazilian, and NZ charts. Our NSA has all these charts in raster format like NOAA charts but refuses to release them for public use for some unjustified reasons. Sorry for the politics but this is a sailing safety issue.
 
#18 ·
i finally got the time to experi9ment with connecting my gps to my laptop last night,as soon as i pluged it in the gps screen showed that i was connected to the pc and became unfunctional,the easygps screen doesn't tell me anything can anyone help a poor dummy out,thanks
 
#21 ·
It's not only you. I found Sea Clear EXTREMELY hard to use and annoying. I switched to OpenCPN (free) and Polar Navy (free for planning). I use Polar Navy on board.
 
#20 ·
Look in divice manger tree for anything with an yellow exclaimation piont next to it ... first disconnect your gps unit ...then uninstall the yellow flag ....reboot , then plug back in your gps unit then a pop up should ask you if you want to find drivers for this equip you just plugged inj & say yes ... follow the pop up.

Good luck .....try this when all else fails with anything plugged in doesn't work .

windows should allways want to find drivers , if it can't find drivers then you have to go searching for them your self download them to MY Documents then run them.....
 
#26 ·
wow i can see that this is way over my head,your saying i need to buy or get my own seperate charts,download them onto my pc or gps before sea clear or any other program will be of benifit,like i said before i'm sure i can navigate using only the 400c's built in charts at least u.s. coastal areas
 
#28 ·
Go to NOAA, choose RNC or ENC, download into the Chartkit folder that sea clear points to and you're done. Every week or so the charts are updated. The update usually comes out after the Tuesday LNM is posted.
 
#27 ·
The entire set of NOAA charts, in raster format which work with SeaClear, are available for free from the NOAA website. There are some folks selling CDs of these as well on EBay, etc. for a few bucks along with other public domain documents like pilots. I originally bought one of these for $15. Well worth the money because my old dial-up service would have taken 2 1/2 years to download all those charts. They are also nicely filed and accessible.

As far as your hardware connection goes, they all have their own little problems. As I mentioned above, make sure you specify "Garmin USB" protocol when you select the GPS. My version of SeaClear works with no problems with both Garmin GPS units but I can remember having to wrestle with Open CPN and Sailcruiser. You just need to fiddle around until you get the right configuration with your hardware. Make sure your computer is seeing the GPS before even trying to use it with the software. You may need to download the latest driver that will work on your machine.
 
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