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Hi folks:

I've just discovered this site and am most impressed. The information is proving invaluable. I have a G4 PowerBook 17" which I will be trying out later this year aboard my Shannon 38 Ketch, "Moonlight Maid".

I noticed on the GPSNavX website that they are coming up with MacWX, which should prove most interesting.

Does anyone know of a Radar interface with the Mac? (or am I asking too much?)

Happy New Year!

Alan Uren

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Dear All,
please can someone tell me what's the best chart to download
to navigate in Port Phillip Bay Melbourne Australia.
I'am just new to the GpsNavX just installed it.
Kind regards,

Luckily I found this excellent forum on the net as I just started using my Powerbook with GPSNavX. I got everything installed including the Maptech maps
Everything was working fine until I bought a HAICOM HI-204E USB GPS and connected it to the Powerbook. I followed the instructions on the help page downloading the drivers and everything, and connected the GPS to the machine. Everything looked fine and I got the green light, and the satellites started to turn green as well - GREAT! Due to my location I only got 4 satellites at the time, but that should be sufficient to get a position fix, but no. Satellites are green, and the only message I get is: "No position data received from GPS within last 1.5 minutes"
My settings are:
Type: SiRF USB (tried the others as well with no luck)
Port: /dev/cu.usbserial
Rate: 4800
No LAT/LON /COG/SOG are showing, but INVALID - NO FIX is showing in red.
Are there anybody out there with the same problem that can help me? Do I need to install additional software for the GPS itself? (Only windows software is in the box).

Greetings,
I've been sailing for several years on a daysailor and am moving up to a real cruising sailboat (Bristol 24). The boat was abandoned and I'm working with a yard to restore her. I've been browsing around for electronics and would appreciate our comments on how I plan to set it up.
I have a powerbook and just purchased MacENC (very cool!). I have a handheld GPS (Garmin eTrex) that I plan to use in the cockpit. I envision using MacENC to layout a series of waypoints for the day's sailing and transfer them to the eTrex. Periodically (hourly?) I envision transferring fixes back to MacENC so I can double check and record my progress. Does this make sense? I'm also thinking of permanently mounting a GPS antenna (a Garmin 17-HVS) to continuously update our position on MacENC. Has anyone successfully connected one of these (or the 17-N version it replaced) to a Mac? I would welcome any comments on suggestions (especially, anything I might be overlooking).

Thanks,
Andy

Hi... Love this forum and thanks to those helping with the GPS NAVx ENC...This is great!...

I just received an email from Patrick Cannon from Barcosoft.com

He tells me there is a soon to be released hardware to make MAC's into a fishfinder...http://www.barcosoft.com/fishfinder.html

I don't know how this will implement with GPS NavX ENC but I can't wait to try....

I avoided the GARMIN trap! GPS NavX ENC did a better job than the proprietary Blue Chart, much less expenses and I still have internet dockside and a killer DVD and I Tunes player!! I love this mac mini solution...


Now I just need a radar system for Mac and life would be perfect!! Any ideas? I've got a Furuno 1731 mark 3 in my Grady White... I'm looking for any help or just the radar hits.!

Thanks and I'll post pics as I add!

Thanks again... smooth seas...

Rob

Hi

Do GPSNavX work with Magellan eXplorist series in general and with XL in particular?

Have anyone tested any of the eXplorist GPSrs with MacOSX and/or GPSNavX?

I'm agonize over the decision to buy either the old Meridian Platinum, the new eXplorist XL or the (even) newer Garmin 76cx. I'll mainly be using the device while sailing as a backup for my paper charts (have not bought the GPSNavX yet, to afraid to destroy my PowerBook while sailing) and to be able to know my exact position while sailing between southern part of Sweden and Denmark during the summer season.

What I have heard, it's especially useful to have a GPS when caught in dense fog at sea. Could be a lifesaver I have been told.

If you are using a USB GPS like those from USGlobalSat then just install the OS X driver and plug the GPS in.

If you are using a handheld GPS like those from Garmin the continue reading.

Most will use a Keyspan USB to serial adapter and a PC interface cable (provided by GPS manufacturer).

If the PC interface cable does not terminate in a female DB-9 connector you will need to add one using this diagram..




Some Garmin models also include a USB cable with them. This cable only supports the Garmin transfer protocol and not NMEA data. Both GPSNavX and MacENC use the NMEA data. As such you must have a serial connection through a Keyspan adapter or a Multiplexor.

contact gpsnavx@mac.com if you need further assistance with a GPS connection.

I am thinking of running GPSNAVX on my mac mini system on board here in Holland.
Is there any way you can make your own charts from photoshop documents and calibrate them or convert DKW2 type raster charts?

Coastal waters are no problem since they are widely available in BSB. Dutch inland waters are, as far as I know, only available in paper or DKW2 format which, as far as I know, isn't supported by GPSNAVX.

Is there a work around?

www.shipmodul.com has introduced a new small multiplexer to directly connect to the USB of your computer and NMEA ports of up to 3 devices.



Read about it here: http://www.shipmodul.com/en/miniplex-lite.html

I think that's the multiplexer I want to buy at the coming "BOOT 2006" fair in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Shipmodul states that it works with Windows and Macs and drivers are provided.

There a special feature which needs Hardware Flow Control enabled, but my question is is this possible with GPSNavX or MACenc?

Has anyone already done experiences with this multiplexer?

Thx a lot.

Manou

Hello,

I have a question about properly updating ENCs. I understand the procedure of downloading NOAA's "All updates..." and then installing the updated cells while being careful not to replace the Catalog file. But my confusion lies with how the Catalog file works. Lets say the latest NOAA update was to include an entirely new cell, not just an updated one. How would MacENC recognize this new cell if if wasn't listed in the older Catalog file?

Wendell