Lap Top advice

[ppat324]

This is for the experts... Would like to take my laptop on the Yacht with us so we can stay in touch with the guys/gals from HOF. I supposedly have wireless capability but am always asked for a key or password for Wi-Fi spots....would like to get a network card for use during the summer months or if we have to for all year round..My question is who, what and how much? Being a neophyte to the wireless revolution need all info possible. How much time to purchase, will my laptop support this and on and on? ppat324

 

[Robby]

You need an air card.Bren has one for her laptop and she enjoys it.Check with your cellphone provider.I've been told that it will work on most of the ICW.Robby

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I use a verizon wireless card. They have one that is $40.00/month. If you sign up for a year, the card is only $10.00. They also have a more expensive one. The cheap one wirks fine. You will also want a bright screen laptop and a navigation program. All the charts are available online from the US govt.s NOAA website. They have been available for about 3 years, so don't thank Obama. It was on George's watch.

 

[MikeP]

Concur with Maynard re NOAA charts and program. I've been using MacEnc on my mac laptop for several years re nav. It's a much better nav system than my Garmin GPS unit. BUT it is not visible in bright daylight so it is not practical to use on the bridge during sunny days. What I really like about it is the ability to download Raster charts as well as the electronic charts. Rasters are identical to the published paper charts. The disadvantage of using rasters is that the map won't re-orient as you change course.

Re WiFi - It is fairly common in marina's and other communal areas to to find a wifi network that is not password protected but you can't guarantee that so some sort of card that will allow you to connect directly. I don't have one but several friends do and, as stated, they seem to work fine BUT, at least the ones I've seen are very slow compared to normal wifi internet and, IMHO, were not really suitable for web surfing though fine for email.

But that may simply have been because the users opted for a less expensive and slower card - I never asked - but it's worth checking on depending on what you think you need.

 

[Brenda]

I just purchased my second air card yesterday from AT&T -- without a contract it would have cost $300.00. With a two year contract $100.00 but they also gave me a $100.00 mail in rebate (actuale cost $0.00) The plan I have with AT&T cost me $59.00 a month-- This gives me unlimited time--check with your provider it just depends on how much time you would actually be online on your computer-- ME LOTS
Thanks Brenda --Mobile

 

[TopHattandTails]

Wifi at local marinas is he way to go for speed. But, if you want flexability get an air card from Verizon. Mine is ~60/month (unlimited) and I plug the card into a wifi router on the boat. Now multiple laptops can connect and surf. With the aircard-router, I don't need multiple air cards for each computer to have multiple computers hooked up to the web for email and internet. Any computer with the ability to work wireless can get on.

 

[GJH]

I see you are in Illinois. If so, I take it you will be boating on the Great Lakes? Or the rivers?

There are few wi fi network providers around the Great Lakes that serve multiple marinas and harbors. An example is:

http://www.air2access.com/3hotspotlocationsmap_3.php

But there are others. You subscribe for various lengths of time. If you are not a full timer, this may be more economical than buying a one year cellular plan, given your short season there.

I use an ATT USB air card. We have both an I-Mac and a MacBook on board, and just switch the card between the computers. You can get a special wireless router that you plug the card into and both machines can use it simultaneously, but speeds tend to be a little slower that way. Since we are on board full time and cruise up and down the east coast, this is the best solution for us. We also carry a cellular amplifier on board, which we use occasionally in fringe areas, mostly to increase speed. The beauty of the cell solution is that you can use it under way and at anchor. This has really come in handy on a number of occasions.

I am not a big advocate of Apple computers at all. One way or the other, that's what we ended up with. I would never advise someone to spend the extra money for one. I have the MacENC program as well, it is a great planning tool and they are a super company to do business with: fantastic and very patient customer support. However, for the reasons Mike mentions and others, I don't use it to run the boat, except as a back up to the Furunos.

We are anchored off Fleming Key in Key West as I write this.

 

[Pascal]

i also use an ATT aircard, works very well except in a small section in north carolina south of Coinjock. About $80/85 a month with taxes...

almost as fast as wifi, which is not reliable enough ssincea you dont' always get a signal.


as to charts i use the free noaa charts with free seaclearII and a delorme USB GPS as a back up nav system on a regular laptop. Works fine in a pilothouse or enclosed flybrdige altough sometimes hard to read when it's really bright out there

 

[MikeP]

Re the laptop/GPS...I would totally replace onboard dedicated GPS with MacEnc if I could manage the bright light limitation with computers. Hmmm, Maybe I should talk to Steve Jobs about a bright light screen, I'm buying a new Aluminum MacBook next week when I get to the States.

 

[thoward]

Concur with Maynard re NOAA charts and program. I've been using MacEnc on my mac laptop for several years re nav. It's a much better nav system than my Garmin GPS unit.

Which Garmin unit do you have? I loved mine on the Hatt and am installing another in addition to the Furuno. I used Offshore Navigator and while it was good for planing a trip it was not up to the task on the boat.

 

[MikeP]

Garmin 3010C. It's a good unit but it is not as flexible for Nav or as easy to use as the MacEnc program. Of course, the computer doesn't have depth, water temp, etc.

However, I am moving away from having depth/Nav in the same item anyway and will be installing a pair of stand alone depth finders on the boat...after having REMOVED the stand alone depth finders a couple of years back to incorporate depth into the Garmin.

Sometimes we learn the hard way...

 

[GJH]

Mike, there are any number of daylight viewable screens you could run your Mac through. They start with the Argonauts and run on up through the Comarks, to the VEI's and Furunos and many others. Gotta pay to play though. You might try just using higher brightness (say 400 nits or cd) non glare regular monitors for a 100 to 200 bucks and see how that works for you; they are almost disposable. I use an Acer up on the flying bridge with my Furuno black box, shade it a little and we have gotten by ok after 6000nm... ditto the ones in the pilot house.

I do hope to treat myself to the real deal some day, so am always looking. Right now I think the Comarks are the best overall value.
Apple makes some very bright screens, but use that GD glossy glass...
Use a laptop outdoors, gee, who'd ever want to do that?

 

[Boatsb]

I can not see having only a laptop for a GPS. It,s not built for the task and could be damaged beyond use.

Get a real GPS and the laptop interface with it's own antenna but never just the laptop.

 

[MikeP]

Frankly, I'd be perfectly comfortable with the computer instead of the GPS; the GPS failed in use several times last season and required multiple on/off cycles and over 20 minutes to come up again. My Powerbook G4 on the boat has never done that...

Besides, if you have a chart, binoculars, and a mag compass you can go anywhere in the world!

 

[Maynard Rupp]

You still need some sort of GPS as an input device to your navigation program. I use a "bright screen" Compaq laptop with windows XP and a Nobletech navigation program. Our GPS is a Navman, now Northstar, with a NMEA 0183 output and a serial to USB adapter. The new laptops do not have any serial ports. I have free charts loaded for any navigation for the great lakes, eastern seaboard, and the gulf of Mexico. My Nobletech program moves seamlessly from one chart to the next and brings up any detail chart when you do get in range of it. This system works good, is somewhat easily viewable from the bridge, and follows me closer than my own ears.

 

[MikeP]

All you really need for Computer GPS navigation (other than whatever mapping/charting program you like) is one of these. It plugs into the computer and automatically interfaces with the program. They cost less than 40 bucks and aren't much bigger around than a (real) silver dollar:

http://www.buygpsnow.com/bu-353-353...rf-stariii-usb-gps-water-bu-353-waas-455.aspx

We went from LI Sound to our marina in the Chesapeake without using the "real" GPS unit at all for nav. We operated at the lower helm for the trip so exterior light wasn't a problem. It really IS easier and faster to use, has more info and is also more easily updated from the NOAA charts. I don't plan to purchase another GPS unit at all.

HOWEVER, it doesn't interface with an autopilot so that's a disadvantage if having the nav interface with the AP is important. It's not to us so that aspect is not an issue at all.

 

[thoward]

Garmin 3010C. It's a good unit but it is not as flexible for Nav or as easy to use as the MacEnc program. Of course, the computer doesn't have depth, water temp, etc.

However, I am moving away from having depth/Nav in the same item anyway and will be installing a pair of stand alone depth finders on the boat...after having REMOVED the stand alone depth finders a couple of years back to incorporate depth into the Garmin.

Sometimes we learn the hard way...

I agree with the multiple units. My Furuno is great with radar and depth but the Garmin is much better for chartplotting. It is much better to be able to have at least 2 large screens to display the info you need at the same time. I guess it depends why and how you use your system. A laptop just would not work for serious fishing but it was fine for cruising. I like having specific quick keys and knobs with a streamlined program.

 

[Trojan]

I use a Verizon card in my gateway lap top. Any place you can use your phone you can use your laptop. It works broad band if its available. It is some times a little slow when your in the fringe signal area. Cost me $50. per month and the card was free. Check for deals they have them all the time, but they won't tell you unless you ask. They also have a card that excepts an antenna that makes it even better. My son has one of them. Same price.

BILL

 

[kemosabe421]

I use the Verizon usb air card with a Cradlepoint router. Plug the air card into the router and run multiple computers at the same time. I did away with my DSL at home and now use the air card at home and while traveling. Check www.3gstore.com. They have it all. If you have questions, call 3gstore and ask for Alex. Very knowledgeable.

 

[GJH]

Mike, MacENC will output to an autopilot; there is a "repeat" option on the GPS data box:

"To have the GPS Data repeated out to a port (i.e. one that is connected to an autopilot) select the "Repeat" check box and select the port and the rate. Any active waypoint will be created (once a second) in the repeated NMEA data ($GPAPB, $GPBOD, $GPBWC, $GPRMB, $GPXTE, $GPVTG and $GPWPL) sentences. This allows an autopilot to steer to the active waypoint (including those in a route). These created NMEA data will also be shown in the monitor drawer (highlighted in YELLOW text). Select "Autopilot Only" to restrict the repeated stream to the former NMEA data in addition to any GPS NMEA position sentence."

Kemosabe: The Cradlepoint will reduce your net speed compared to a direct connection. Run some speed tests, often it is as little as half. May not be a big deal to you in practice, but FWIW all the same