You can get a waterproof capacitive touchscreen android or windows tablet for a fraction of the price (<$500) of a new MFD. Install a suite of navigation software and wirelessly connect to the OpenPlotter to have all your instruments visible at the helm. The only wire you may have to run would be a power cord depending on the length of your journey and the battery life of the device. With the proper mount you or another crew member can take the device to the foredeck or down below to perform any cartography, plotting, or piloting...or just to surf the Internet, Facebook, and take pictures of the adventure at hand. Then again why take the device assigned to the helm when any other device on board is equally capable.
Josh On Sep 23, 2016 2:51 PM, "Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List" < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: This is exactly why I am getting a chartplotter for the helm in addition to OpenCPN at the chart table. Joe Coquina *From:* CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] *On Behalf Of *Marek Dziedzic via CnC-List *Sent:* Friday, September 23, 2016 2:48 PM *To:* cnc-list@cnc-list.com *Cc:* Marek Dziedzic *Subject:* Re: Stus-List Open CPN If you are into it, you can get one of the ToughBooks (I think Panasonic makes them). They are reasonably priced, provided you get them from some surplus supply. If you have access to any of the “Computer for Schools” or similar outfit that collects used computers, refurbishes them for schools etc., it is quite likely that they would sell you one for around $200-$300. That would be probably , a 3-year old system, but the OpenCPN does not need much juice. Even better, if you cold run it under Linux. I had a really old one (I think it was a P4 and running Win XP); I used it for my weather station workstation (w/s w/s). It worked fine, but the earlier models were not so great in the sun. The later models are better. However, with all the advantages of the low cost system like that, I still think that nothing beats a dedicated chartplotter. You can see it in the sun; you don’t have to be concerned about splashing water, it (usually) has decent controls (I prefer buttons over touch screen); it has a substantially lower chance of crashing than any computer, tablet or smartphone. And it does not need constant maintenance (other than updating maps). It may not be the fastest or the prettiest device, but it chugs along pretty well. just my $0.02 Marek *From:* Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List *Sent:* Friday, September 23, 2016 13:43 *To:* cnc-list@cnc-list.com *Cc:* Della Barba, Joe *Subject:* Re: Stus-List Open CPN I cannot say enough good about it. If it were possible to buy daylight waterproof displays for less than a commercial chart plotter costs Raytheon, B&G, Sitex, etc. would all be unable to sell any plotters. The real downsides are the current demands of a PC and relative fragility of the hardware. I use an ancient IBM ThinkPad as my nav PC. It can run on straight 12 volts if need be (I have an 18 volt adapter that charges it and runs it) and is NEVER connected to any network EVER. It has nothing on it but OpenCPN and PSK-31 software for the SSB. Joe Coquina *From:* CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com <cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com>] *On Behalf Of *Fred Hazzard via CnC-List *Sent:* Friday, September 23, 2016 1:32 PM *To:* cnc-list@cnc-list.com *Cc:* Fred Hazzard *Subject:* Stus-List Open CPN I am looking for what others think about the open CPN navigation program. Fred Hazzard S/V Fury C&C 44 Portland, Or _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated!
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