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The GPS Simulator can be useful in situations where one does not have a GPS connected or is stationary. To use the GPS Simulator select "Simulator" on the "GPS" menu.

The Simulator will use the last GPS position. The simulator allows lat/lon to be selected or a waypoint to be selected to set the starting lat/lon. Speed and heading can also be selected. To get an exact heading select the heading dial, then drag (mouse button down) outwards about 1/2" to give fine control.

Once the simulator is in use, all navigation functions work as if a real GPS receiver is connected. For example waypoints and routes can be activated. This is a good way to get an estimated time to a waypoint or a route.

Notes: The simulator does not automatically choose a heading or speed. Speed must be greater than 0.4 knots before a heading can be selected. The simulator includes instruments (wind, depth, heading) and RADAR (target, cursor). If "Use GPS Port" is selected in the Instruments and AIS/RADAR Settings drawer these panels will show simulated values.

http://www.yachtingmagazine.com/article....1000081898

I love using the nav setting on my autopilot, which normally keeps the boat within .02NM of the proper course to the active waypoint. In the past I had some wild course swings on nav that were finally traced to a NMEA feedback loop.

I still have one situation where I get wild course swings. Many times (but not always) when following a route, I will reach a waypoint, and the boat will make a dramatic turn way off course before correcting itself and coming back to the proper track line. I thought it was due to the large error in the steering compass.

A few days ago I fixed the compass error. I used nav to go to one waypoint, then canceled and selected a route in MacENC before switching back to nav on the autopilot. When I reached the next waypoint I should have turned from roughly 110° COG to 90° COG but the heading on the autopilot was at 31° by the time I switched from nav. After putting the boat back on the proper course I switched to nav again and the autopilot display instantly started dropping. I gave up on nav for a while.

About 10 minutes later, I tried switching to nav again. This time it steered the boat almost perfectly along the route, through a sharp turn of more than 100° and finally into the harbor channel to the point that .02NM was too much error to let it stay on nav. While doing the sharp 100° turn the boat overshot the track line, spun around almost 160° to starboard, then quickly corrected back to port to settle onto the new track line. The overshoot went to .07NM XTE, but when the boat corrected back to port it only went to .02NM XTE. Other than the one sharp turn, all of the waypoint turns occurred almost exactly as one would hope.

What could possibly be wrong to make the boat turn dramatically off course at one waypoint, yet 15 minutes later allow the laptop/autopilot to steer the boat almost all the way to its harbor stall? This behavior occurs at a different time than it did with the NMEA feedback loop. The feedback loop caused sudden swings while traveling in a straight line and this problem only occurs when advancing to the next waypoint on a route. I thought it was related to the large discrepancy between the steering compass and the calculated course, but now the steering compass is within a few degrees of MacENC's magnetic COG.

The April 2010 issue of Practical Sailor has a full comparison of iNavX, Memory-Map, and Navionics marine navigation products. They did a pretty good job of comparing the products (I have all 3 also) - Practical Sailor often does a good job.

The bottom line of the article - Memory-Map got a "Recommended" selection and Navionics got a "Best Choice" selection.

We have a motor boat with windows all sides plus above. Result being I find viewing the screen very difficult in strong sunlight.

Any suggestions as to what I might do to improve matters?

Philip

Just so I have this correct.

I can use PolarView for planning but if I want live GPS and other features mentioned (AIS, ect) then I need to buy one license of Polar NS for only $33?

The PolarView shows no live GPS tracking, correct?

If I have this correct this is about the cheapest quality ENC system out there, correct? It has all the features I need for basic Great Lakes cruising.

I've just had an email from Peio Elissalde of GeoGarage Marine. These guys have launched a new subscription-based site that gives full access to international nautical charts from any web browser.

The site provides subscribed users with access to New Zealand (LINZ), UK (UKHO) and Brazilian charts overlaid onto Google Maps.
Apparently there's some talk of future support for live AIS streams and S57 vector cartography.

Watch with interest!

[image]http://www.macsailing.net/fbb/fbbuploads/1269783272-geogarage.jpg[/image]

I recently emailed Navionics who makes the app for the iphone asking if they have an app for the iPad or if it was in the works. I received a short email back stating that the app for the iPhone will work on the iPad (something I knew already...by just touching the "double pixel" button, it then fills the screen of the iPad.)

Does anyone have any info on current apps for navigation while using the iPad yet?

I'll email FUGAWI and see what they say...

Thanks,
Mike

If you had to start again with a completely blank boat how would you kit it out?

I am planning on buying a boat soon and it would be good to see what the state of the art laptop based equipment entails.

Budget considerations should be moderate but should include all systems, AIS transmitter, weather system, SSB communication, instrumentation, etc. Go for it!

Might be useful for someone.

Andy