ken_23434
05-03-2010, 08:54 PM
Anyone on here use an application called SeaClear II?
I downloaded it the end of last summer and "played" with it a few times out on the Nanesmond River. It seemed to work fairly well for me, although I have never used any of the commercial applications so I cannot really compare how it works compared to them.
For those that have not heard of it, you can get more info at http://www.sping.com/seaclear/index.htm
It's a free application that does not have a "free" version and another full featured "pay" version. The author just has it posted for anyone to use.
It will support the raster maps from NOAA (also free downloads), so it can possibly be a really cheap marine GPS for some of you.
I have a netbook I picked up from Craig's List. I have loaded the SeaClear program on it along with some of the local maps. Even though the netbooks drive is only 16 megs, I was still able to get the program and local maps to fit. The netbook was $125 off craig's list. I have a blue-tooth GPS receiver from Ebay that cost me another $20. So, I am in for under $150, plus the netbook can be used for anything else a laptop computer could be used for.
My only complaint is that I do not have a mount to hold my netbook and the screen is not meant for direct sun exposure, so it does suffer a little from glare. I thought about getting a couple screens that are meant for use in car entertainment systems that have the "sun proof" monitors and mounting that monitor in some sort of pedistal mount on my helm. Then I could put the netbook some place more secure up under the helm so it will be sheltered from any spray etc...
It will also support other NEMA devices for Depth, Wind, Compass and AIS.
Over all, I think it is a pretty decent application that is perfect for a part time boater like me.
I downloaded it the end of last summer and "played" with it a few times out on the Nanesmond River. It seemed to work fairly well for me, although I have never used any of the commercial applications so I cannot really compare how it works compared to them.
For those that have not heard of it, you can get more info at http://www.sping.com/seaclear/index.htm
It's a free application that does not have a "free" version and another full featured "pay" version. The author just has it posted for anyone to use.
It will support the raster maps from NOAA (also free downloads), so it can possibly be a really cheap marine GPS for some of you.
I have a netbook I picked up from Craig's List. I have loaded the SeaClear program on it along with some of the local maps. Even though the netbooks drive is only 16 megs, I was still able to get the program and local maps to fit. The netbook was $125 off craig's list. I have a blue-tooth GPS receiver from Ebay that cost me another $20. So, I am in for under $150, plus the netbook can be used for anything else a laptop computer could be used for.
My only complaint is that I do not have a mount to hold my netbook and the screen is not meant for direct sun exposure, so it does suffer a little from glare. I thought about getting a couple screens that are meant for use in car entertainment systems that have the "sun proof" monitors and mounting that monitor in some sort of pedistal mount on my helm. Then I could put the netbook some place more secure up under the helm so it will be sheltered from any spray etc...
It will also support other NEMA devices for Depth, Wind, Compass and AIS.
Over all, I think it is a pretty decent application that is perfect for a part time boater like me.