Topic: chartplotter for SAR

[pmburesh]

We are looking to purchase a new chartplotter to compliment our 1197. What unit should we buy with a price between $500.00 and $600.00. Will interlink with 1197

[Jolly Roger]

Hi PMBURESH,
no recommendation, but a different idea I had the other day and discussed it with Chuck (Sonar2000) concerning SAR and wreck hunting:

Why not use a laptop as a chartplotter?

I use Touratech's "QUO VADIS" as my navigation soft ware for years now
http://www.ttqv.de/english.html?PHPSESSID=79537e792cb061422cffaeb78e5e9c9e.
I'm used to it and it is capable of GPS online use in combination with a GPS mouse.
You can import maps from different (if not all) suppliers to work with.
So I came up to the idea to use a laptop on board for navigation.
Why?

1. bigger screen
2. better maps for my lake
3. direct review and analyzing of the recordings via SD card on board

At the moment I'm thinking to buy a used PANASONIC "Toughbook CF-18" for this purpose. They are offered on EBAY for around 400.- Euros and look perfect for this purpose (even cheaper in the States as I just found out: http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1311&_nkw=panasonic+toughbook+cf-18&_sacat=See-All-Categories ).

Check TOURATECH's website and download a test version to try it out. I'm sure you'll like it.


My two cents / Harry

[RGecy]

I think HB has actually done away with Chartplotter ONLY units.  I would recommend a 700 series unit at a minimum.  Larger screens are always better, but the 785c2 has worked nicely for me.  You certainly also want a unit that can be interlinked so that when waypoints are marked on the Side Imaging unit, you will be able to see them automatically on the Chartplotter.  A laptop would not do this.

Now, the laptop would be the ultimate solution for viewing and recording during SAR.  The SI data can be viewed at higher resolution.  But this option is not available yet.  But I have been told it is in the works for the near future.

Robert

[Jolly Roger]

But I have been told it is in the works for the near future.

Robert

 
Is this this ethernet thing the new units now have??

Regards / Harry

[sonar2000]

Chart plotter capabilities on a laptop would be the icing on the cake.  especially on S&R.  I am sure the Fishin community would be eager to have this also.  Harry and I have talked abut this and see a need for a laptop viewing.    Technology being what it is now with viewers, NEMA output, laptop connections, we are pushing envelopes but with good needs. HB has a chance to put lowrance in the dark ages. I hope HB steps up to this.   I also know that everything costs, but lets put HB in the front.  Look at the latest postings for Humviewer and  Humview.  We are into technology big time and as Robert has said.  the proof is in the pudding. (pictures)  I for one am chomping at the bit to get on the water.  Thanks to this forum we have an excellent opportuity to be the leaders.  Chuck

[keizerh]

I had a XPLORE IX104 C2 Dual mode for this purpose including a port replicator and dock.
This ideal for this situation.
For sale round and about 500 to 600 US on ebay

In combination with an actisense or maretron nmea0183 and/or nmea2000 interface to usb
great toy's

hendrik

[diver651]

Interesting thread.

I use a laptop computer running Global Mapper mapping software and have made a serial connector to allow me to connect a Humminbird AS GRHA GPS puck directly to the laptop serial port with a seperate 12v DC connection to power the puck.

The great thing about the Global Mapper software is that it allows you to download free aerial imagery for the area you are interested in directly into the file you have created, so it is like live google earth without an internet connection. I can also draw search grids and save waypoints with very high accuracy.

Mike

[keizerh]

It's getting more interesting by the day.
Nice stuf for long winters.

Have to be quick now, because temperatures are rising.

Dow you make mappings with the bird sonar files?

Hendrik

[Jolly Roger]

Indeed Hendrik,
the longer the winter the better the ideas. But the winter is long enough now and we need to get out and do some practical work with the units. Otherwise we will come out with star wars technology no one can pay  .

That's what I like about this forum: People come up with different ideas and everbody throws in his thoughts and "Bang!", another good project to work on.

Hm, is this what is called a "Brain Pool"?


Regards / Harry

[diver651]

I have "mapped" humminbird SI data using output from the sontoXTF converter, (or SIview - I can't remember) but because of the way the converter worked it botched the coordinates a bit  (the left and right side coordinates at the beginning and end of the scan were based on distance on the lat or lon axis, and not perpendicular to the track), but it did allow me to lay the HB image onto the aerial imagery.

If I can output the information from something as a georeferenced image it is a piece of cake. If the record (track) is a straight line I can re-reference any image file. Unfortunately, until one of the software programs allows us to "remove" the water column, you have to cut and paste to produce a true bottom image.

I had started to try the procedures written up by Barb, but got too busy with work to carry it through.

Mike