Software like Navionics but for a regular computer?

[Bob Quinn]

Hi I have been playing with Navionics and it has a really cool Auto Routing function that will chart a path from point A to point B automatically.

I am using it mainly to just see how far boats for sale are away from me and if there is a waterway to get to it. It is however only available on an tablet.

Just wondering if anyone knows of any auto-routing software available for a PC?

Thanks!

Bob

 

[miboatnutz]

You may actually be able to use the Navionics app on your Windows 10 pc using an Android emulator. Bluestacks is a very common emulator which would allow you to run a whole bunch of Android apps on a PC.

Also Microsoft just announced that they're integrating an Android emulator directly into Windows 10 so depending on your hardware and operating systems, you can run Android apps on a PC without the need for third party software.

https://www.androidauthority.com/best-android-emulators-for-pc-655308/

https://betanews.com/2020/08/05/run-android-apps-in-windows-10/

Just an FYI. Navionics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Garmin. They used to sell a PC version of Navionics but it has since been discontinued. Draw your own conclusions.........

 

[Bob Quinn]

You may actually be able to use the Navionics app on your Windows 10 pc using an Android emulator. Bluestacks is a very common emulator which would allow you to run a whole bunch of Android apps on a PC.

Also Microsoft just announced that they're integrating an Android emulator directly into Windows 10 so depending on your hardware and operating systems, you can run Android apps on a PC without the need for third party software.

https://www.androidauthority.com/best-android-emulators-for-pc-655308/

https://betanews.com/2020/08/05/run-android-apps-in-windows-10/

Just an FYI. Navionics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Garmin. They used to sell a PC version of Navionics but it has since been discontinued. Draw your own conclusions.........

Cool thank you. I tried the bluestacks emulator and couldn't get it to work, I will check on the windows 10 emulator!
Thanks!

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Not a computer guru. Have Navionics Platinum charts for the boat, and it comes with ChartViewer that does what you want on my MacBook. I would have thought it would have also been available on PCs.

 

[Photolomy]

You can also use Navionics for free on the web to auto route, if all you are after is the distance and a view of the route.

 

[miboatnutz]

Not a computer guru. Have Navionics Platinum charts for the boat, and it comes with ChartViewer that does what you want on my MacBook. I would have thought it would have also been available on PCs.

Navionics stopped selling PC based (that's both Mac & Windows OS) versions of their software roughly two years ago, shortly after they were bought out by Garmin. You can use their online Chartviewer but that's about it.

 

[Bob Quinn]

Thanks guys, I will check out the online version as well.

The android version is soooooo sloowwwwwww.....
Maybe I need a better tablet, I don't know.

I just know it's way faster to work on a computer generally!

Thanks for the input!

Bob

 

[miboatnutz]

Very likely that if you've got Navionics running on a PC or mac it's no longer supported by Garmin

Also interesting info on their online navigation services including Chartviewer. Apparently they were the victim of a cyber attack last month that shut down some of their maritime apps.

https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/news/garmin-outage-how-safe-is-online-navigation-73671

 

[Captain Ralph]

Is Active Captain still available for the PC?

 

[miboatnutz]

Is Active Captain still available for the PC?

Mobile Apps only.

Per their website:
[h=3]Operating System[/h]

Updates are available provided the device is updated with:
- Apple iOS 10.0 or higher
- Android OS 5.0 or higher​

 

[Photolomy]

Is Active Captain still available for the PC?

Active captain, like most PC apps is pretty much a cloud app (online) now. With all of its marina information and marina review from other users, I don't think there is anything comparable. It is very useful when planning a trip. Garmin really cornered the market when they bought Active Captain and Navionics.

 

[miboatnutz]

Active captain, like most PC apps is pretty much a cloud app (online) now. With all of its marina information and marina review from other users, I don't think there is anything comparable. It is very useful when planning a trip. Garmin really cornered the market when they bought Active Captain and Navionics.

I'm sure that's true assuming you can get an internet connection and the Garmin site isn't being hacked by who I can only assume to be "Foreign Actors".

These are the same guys who are going to spoof our GPS signals in years to come.

Ok, now I'll go put on my tin hat, sit in the basement and read more about Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories.......

 

[jap201]

Bob

Checkout opencpn, i can't post the link because i haven't posed enough yet. just google it and you'll find it. its freeware, runs on linux, windows, mac and i think raspberries. i used to use it on my last boat, but that was 5yrs ago.

Joe

 

[krush]

TimeZero is the furuno program, and it is available for computers. https://mytimezero.com/

 

[Boatsb]

If memory serves it integrates with a small dome radar. Nothing like the real stuff.

 

[Boatsb]

They have a brilliant adapter available for it too.

 

[krush]

If memory serves it integrates with a small dome radar. Nothing like the real stuff.

What are you referring to? The free software people mentioned above or TimeZero?

Furuno is completely real and top of the line. I've never seen a single piece of Garmin hardware on a ship, it's been almost exclusively Furuno.

 

[Dan Mapes]

If you have an android, down load DEX. If you have a Galaxy S9 or newer it will allow you to run the phone's display on your PC. I have used to stream motogp races in remote areas that have low signal strength. Not sure which tablets support DEX but you have to be careful. Some do but require a docking station.

https://www.samsung.com/us/explore/dex/

 

[Boatsb]

What are you referring to? The free software people mentioned above or TimeZero?

Furuno is completely real and top of the line. I've never seen a single piece of Garmin hardware on a ship, it's been almost exclusively Furuno.

There's different gear from simrad and furuno for commercial vessels.

The software for the tablets is not the same.

Commercial systems do not use NMEA 2000. Its a different product and a completely separate contract.