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Where can I find the ***BASICS*** of whats needed? Searched 15+ pages on this forum ..... and nada.
What services/subscriptions needed? Hardware needed? Can I download from SSB/Ham, etc. (without pactor modem, etc.)

Looking for ALL the means, 'toys' and gizmos, etc. needed to connect MacENC to get Wx when NOT 'online', etc. (.... and when online too).

thanks.

Hilton's Realtime-Navigator "Data Link" to iPhone, PC and Mac

Can this GPS be used with some kind of serial usb converter, and is there any special drivers or anything like that to make this work. I have not bought the software yet, just trying to figure out the best setup, and I already have the GPS unit mentioned above.

Also what is the difference between the MacENC and the GPS NavX

I trust others have spotted this Panbo item?

Article

Hi there,

Does anyone know if there is a way to adjust the power management settings in iNavX-- or on the iPhone for that matter? I love this product and use it for fishing, however I have to tap the screen constantly so the iPhone won't power off. Maybe I am missing something obvious

Thanks in advance

Rich

OK, thought I'd asked this before, but did a search and couldn't find it; also read through the help files (i.e. for once did my homework first javascript:void(0) )

How can I tell what units a grib file is displayed in? Wind is easy (knots), pressure is usually mb, but what about waves? Have been watching them for the west coast the past few weeks, and intuitively know they're probably feet (at least hope so!) but couldn't find it defined anywhere.

Scot

Hallo!

Has anybode managed to get comunication between an application running under CrossOver and an USB unit? I would be interested in the configuration as I'm trying to run Nexus NX2 in this way but cant get the my NX2 server to comunicate with the software.

/J

Hey Guys,

I have the Nexus NX2 server system on my Trimaran and can't get the NX2 to transmit data to the MacENC. I have the keyspan USB adapter. Data will come thru to the Nexus Nav suite if I run my version of XP thru Fusion.


I've researched the older post here on the forums, but nothing make sense?

Is it an output setting in the Nexus server? or the sequence of connections?

Thanks,

I've just returned from driving back and forth over a 1000 mile stretch of Alaska, virtually all of it using the nav setting of my autopilot with a data feed from MacENC. I've learned several caveats to its use, and one caveat should be easily addressed by a software upgrade.

So far I've identified three sources of nav error, and the error typically manifests itself while turning from one waypoint to the next when following a route. One error is a NMEA feedback loop, which I solved last year. Another error derives from the constantly changing magnetic environment around the steering compass. The third error is the difference between the local magnetic variation and that shown in the preferences window of MacENC.

When traveling north-south from Kodiak to the Aleutians, I go from approx 18°E variation to approx 5°E variation. It doesn't matter whether I turn the computer on and off, or pull the BU353 GPS unit that I normally use—the value set in preferences will remain the same until I check and then uncheck the box for manual variation. When I uncheck the box the value will instantly change to the correct local variation and the initial course error at the next waypoint shift will be somewhat reduced. Each time I do this the bearing displays also change from true to magnetic.

The error is not a caveat by itself, but it leads toward a rule: never trust the nav function to turn you within 0.1NM of any hazard. It may seem absurd that I would need to say something so obvious (prudent mariner, proper watch, blah, blah) but it gets to the heart of why you should be using nav in the first place. The nav function is incredibly accurate. You can have all sorts of steering errors and equipment issues, but if it is reasonably possible to steer a straight line, eventually all those errors get sorted out and the computer/autopilot will keep you generally within about 100 feet of where you want to be. Thus, when faced with a particularly tight passage, like a narrow channel between submerged rocks, I always try to make the computer steer through it.

On the other hand, I never know when there will be a very large error. These can be generated by sudden volcanic activity ( a big issue in the Aleutians) or by somebody setting a flashlight by the steering compass. I've seen the boat swing 90° when faced with a 5° course change. The computer will begin sending a strong correction at about 0.1NM of XTE. That's 51 seconds at 7kn of charging toward a big buoy before the system corrects the error. You can believe that you would never get distracted for 51 seconds on watch, or you can make sure that every waypoint on a route is more than 0.1NM away from any hard object.

If you use a USB plug in GPS on a Mac running both OSX and, say, Windows in Parallels, does the GPS service both, or do you have to, somehow, route the info?

And how many USB ports might be needed at a nav station with SSB email, printer (for the WXFax), GPS, etc.? Or do you simply use one at a time? I can only assume that two OSs would affect this number.

donal