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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Maptech software - MS Vista

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/30/2008 : 09:58:01

We got around to trying to install MapTech's OAA chart viewer on our new Vista PC. Arrrrrgh! not vista compatable.

Went to maptech and it seems their free software is no longer available. Went to the NOAA site looking for other options, most seem to coat $350+

So any of you Vista users have any suggestions/alternatives?

TIA.

paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2008 : 11:55:36

Paul,
You can try to run your software in [url="http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/using-windows-vista-compatibility-mode/"]compatibility mode[/url]. Right click on the executable in Explorer > Properties > Compatibility > Run this program in compatibility mode for: > XP (probably).

Bear in mind that the instructions might be slightly different for Vista, I wrote them from an XP box. This might work for you.

Give this a shot and see if it'll work.

Edited by - delliottg on 03/30/2008 11:57:07

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2008 : 12:25:08

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2008 : 14:48:13

From what I found online, the software is no longer available (most of the docs found via google on mapqust have been deleted.)

I program linux systems for a living, and if it were not for Bill & Melinda Gates 2mil donation to Rotary International, I would curse Vista. Although as I get used to it, it does have some nice features. The big problem is Legacy software.

The problem I'm having with the maptech viewer is installation! It hangs.

Hence wondering if any of you guys use something else without paying $300 to $400 for the privelage of using NOAA charts.

We can view the charts online at NOASS site, but I really liked the option to mark up the maps in mapquest and then print them.

Paul

Edited by - on

DoubleD
1st Mate

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USA
61 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2008 : 15:36:06

I bought a Maptech chartbook for less than $100.00 and it came with a CD with the chartbook and viewing software on it for free. I have been downloading free charts ever since.

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2008 : 15:47:33

Paul
I've use this for 2 years...
http://coastalexplorer.net/

There is a Free Trial version that uses raster and vector maps plus Canadian maps and had #1 recommendation from Practical Sailor if that rings your bell.
I'm using the Beta version now on my home Vista and Xp on the boat top drawer.
There comes a time when you need a company that's in it for the long haul and stays competitive with new software features that is on the market.
Maybe I could transfer you my OziExplorer that I don't use anymore, I think Arlyn use it because it would accept Canadian maps.
I own stock in MS.

paulj

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2008 : 15:51:08

Paul,
You can also run the installation package in compatibility mode as in my first post. I had to do this just the other day to install some CAD software. I actually had to drop the compatibility mode back to NT4 to get it to run, but that solved the problem. Give it a shot.

Something else you could try is searching inside Google's cached pages. If the software hasn't been gone too long, the cache will still contain the pages you're looking for (maybe).

Edited by - delliottg on 03/30/2008 15:55:26

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2008 : 16:48:58

One step farther than Dave Bristol - MacEnc. About $100, free NOAA rasters and vectors, free Corp of Engineers inland waterways, you just need an old Mac with OSX. And of course, Linux runs well on OSX's unix underpinnings.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2008 : 20:48:11

Looking at NavGator option. (navgator.com)

Paul

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 01:17:35

I like SeaClearII. It's freeware, reads georeferenced charts in KAP or WCI format (NOAA's DRG charts are KAP format), and you can run it in realtime GPS mode with most GPS's that have serial NMEA-0183 capability. The only thing SeaClear doesn't have is S-57 ENC chart capability, but CARIS Easy ENC (also freeware) reads S-57 charts if you need that capability. SeaClear II comes with a tool, MapClear, that allows you to build your own georeferenced WCI charts from BMP images (for example Google Earth imagery).

I don't know if SeaClear is Vista compatible. When I bought my last new computer, a Dell Vostro 17" laptop, my first act upon removing it from the box and powering it up was to check Dell's Tech Support website for XP drivers. I then repartitioned the hard drive to remove all traces of Vista, and installed XP. Vista was unbelieveably slow - took almost a full 5 minutes for the machine to boot up, and almost as long to shut down. And Vista Home consumed more than 6 gigs of the hard disk, compared to 1.1 gigs for XP-Pro. Anyway, SeaClear can be found at: http://www.sping.com/seaclear/

Edited by - lcharlot on 03/31/2008 01:24:58

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 01:37:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by johnsonp
 Paul
I've use this for 2 years...
http://coastalexplorer.net/

There is a Free Trial version that uses raster and vector maps plus Canadian maps ...
paulj
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Have you found a source for free Canadian charts? I'd like to build a library of charts for the Strait of Georgia, Johnstone Strait, and Queen Charlotte Strait, but the only Canadian electronic charts I have found are from commercial suppliers and are very expensive: $350 for Raster charts and $1100 for S-57 ENC's. NOAA's charts for US waters are great; Kudos to NOAA for providing them free of charge. Nowadays it's pretty hard to find anything that's actually useful being provided free by a Government agency.

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 05:54:18

Larry,
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Nowadays it's pretty hard to find anything that's actually useful being provided free by a Government agency.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I know where you're coming from, but next time you turn on your GPS or browse through the imagery on google-earth, just remember where those technolgies and countless others we use daily came from.

Edited by - on

dreddick
Navigator

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117 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 09:38:59

Paul - if you were looking for the free Maptech Chart Navigator viewer I found it here...

http://www.maptech.com/support/doc.cfm?docid=123&plid=39

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 10:06:22

I installed my Maptech charts and the "Offshore Navigator Lite" reader on my laptop with Windows Vista, and it works fine. I located "Offshore Navigator Lite" in my list of "Programs," clicked on it, and it opened normally.

I didn't have to do the "compatibility mode" thing. I'd suggest you download it from David's link and try opening it from the program menu.
My "Offshore Navigator Lite" reader came free with the charts, and, although it says it requires Windows 2000 or XP, it doesn't seem to have any incompatibility with Vista.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 03/31/2008 10:22:22

Ed Cassidy
Captain

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USA
365 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 10:24:41

I've had good luck using SeaClear II. Its compatable with my old Garmin Emap, it uses NOAA charts and it is also free.
I think SeaClear was discussed here at some time in the past.
Ed

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britinusa
Web Editor

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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 13:03:48

David, do you have a link for the MapQuest sofware?

Still looking at NavGator and SeaClear.

Paul

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dreddick
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117 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 15:39:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 David, do you have a link for the MapQuest sofware?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sorry no, not for Mapquest. From your original post I thought you were looking for the free viewer from Maptech - that is what my post above has the link for. Many of their links to this do appear to have been removed.

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britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 16:59:01

Thanks David, that was a typo on my part, not MapQuest, but Maptech!
I had that link and that's the software that would not install.

Paul

Edited by - on

britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 17:25:59

David, et.al. thanks, Got maptech running in Vista. Just did as advised, ran the install as administrator (sucks as it then won't allow access to the dir where the charts are normally stored.) But it's running. Thanks.

Paul

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