laptops and sat navs

thegubner · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Karma :

I've heard it may be be possible to connect a laptop loaded with marine chart plotter software to a conventional satnav as the gps receiver, for use as....yep you guessed it a marine chart plotter.

I know the chart software is available but does anyone here know if the satnav thing is possible? And if so how to go about doing it?

boundy · Nearly there... Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Karma :

just buy a wired GPS reciver from Ebay or a bluetooth one with dongle, there cheap as chips

thegubner · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Karma :

wired as in would plug into a laptop? I've seen gps antennae on there but only for about £90.

edit....... and they're for use with actual chart plotters. Stuff like this baffles me.

boundy · Nearly there... Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Karma :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-GPS-RECEIVER-DONGLE-ADAPTOR-FOR-PC-NETBOOK-LAPTOP-/360185333941?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item53dcb808b5

That will do

thegubner · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Karma :

So if I'm reading that right its a case of installing chart plotting software, plugging that bad boy into the laptop and that'd work at sea?

Thanks for the info by the way.

boundy · Nearly there... Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Karma :

thegubner · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Karma :

Now there's an inexpensive alternative, I love bcf. Thanks a lot, would dish some karma but my phone won't let me.