Garmin GPS - 76CSx and Nobletec marine charting?

Author

76CSx and Nobletec marine charting?

Paul Heraty

2008-02-21, 10:33 pm

Newbie to the group, so apologies if this has been covered before...
and relative newbie to GPS ...
I'm impressed by the expertise shown by some of the posts, and hoping to
benefit from it.

Last summer I borrowed an Etrex (personal navigator -- the most basic
model -- could save 1 route, max of 50 waypoints?) for a kayak trip.
Used an older version of Nobeltec (marine charting software) on a PC to
set up great route on the west coast. Was able to export this route to
the Etrex via serial port. And it worked great.

Was so impressed with the GPS (esp in fog) that I bought a 76CSx, and
have been trying to play around a bit. But Nobeltec will not recognize
the 76CSx via supplied USB cable. Should I try to buy a serial cable and
see if that works?

Does anyone have any experience with this fairly specialized topic? and
suggestions? workarounds?

Am I going to have to buy Garmin BlueChart to get the same
functionality? It's a shame, when I already have charts for the whole
coast, to have to pay $80 a pop for each of three or four unlock codes.
(Though I would presume BlueChart 9.5 charts would be more recent than
what I have.)

As you can tell, my focus is marine (though guess I could do city
navigation and topos someday). I like the 76CSx, and it feels like I
will spend this season just working out all its capabilities.

But I really like what you can do with Nobeltec, and have no experience
with the interface for Trip and Waypoint Manager, and Mapsource
BlueChart.

Any glowing reviews from sailors/kayakers out there for these two
products?

thanks for any advice.

paul

Dick

2008-02-22, 7:33 am

"Paul Heraty" <pheraty@telus.net> wrote in message
news:pheraty-5A7160.18445421022008@news.telus.net...
> Newbie to the group, so apologies if this has been covered before...
> and relative newbie to GPS ...
> I'm impressed by the expertise shown by some of the posts, and hoping to
> benefit from it.
>
> Last summer I borrowed an Etrex (personal navigator -- the most basic
> model -- could save 1 route, max of 50 waypoints?) for a kayak trip.
> Used an older version of Nobeltec (marine charting software) on a PC to
> set up great route on the west coast. Was able to export this route to
> the Etrex via serial port. And it worked great.
>
> Was so impressed with the GPS (esp in fog) that I bought a 76CSx, and
> have been trying to play around a bit. But Nobeltec will not recognize
> the 76CSx via supplied USB cable. Should I try to buy a serial cable and
> see if that works?
>
> Does anyone have any experience with this fairly specialized topic? and
> suggestions? workarounds?
>
> Am I going to have to buy Garmin BlueChart to get the same
> functionality? It's a shame, when I already have charts for the whole
> coast, to have to pay $80 a pop for each of three or four unlock codes.
> (Though I would presume BlueChart 9.5 charts would be more recent than
> what I have.)
>
> As you can tell, my focus is marine (though guess I could do city
> navigation and topos someday). I like the 76CSx, and it feels like I
> will spend this season just working out all its capabilities.
>
> But I really like what you can do with Nobeltec, and have no experience
> with the interface for Trip and Waypoint Manager, and Mapsource
> BlueChart.
>
> Any glowing reviews from sailors/kayakers out there for these two
> products?
>
> thanks for any advice.
>
> paul

I have no experience of Nobeltec but I do have an older mapping program
(Anquet UK OS maps v1) and this can not use the USB link to my 76CSx but the
serial link works just fine so guess it will with your program noting that
it previously worked with the Etrex.

Jack Erbes

2008-02-22, 7:33 am

Paul Heraty wrote:

<snip>
> Was so impressed with the GPS (esp in fog) that I bought a 76CSx, and
> have been trying to play around a bit. But Nobeltec will not recognize
> the 76CSx via supplied USB cable. Should I try to buy a serial cable and
> see if that works?
>
> Does anyone have any experience with this fairly specialized topic? and
> suggestions? workarounds?

An application (the Nobletech software in this case) would have to be
written to use the Garmin USB input and it appears that was not done in
this case. So the program is simply not looking for the NMEA data from
a USB port.

But using a serial cable is your other option. The round, four pin
power and data connector on the back of the 76CSx has the RS-232 serial
or COM port output. If you get the Garmin power/data cable that has a
DB-9P connector on it, you can connect that to a hardware COM port if
you have one.

If you do do not have a DB-9S connector on your PC (typically, most
modern PCs will not have one) you'll need to use a serial to USB
adapter. That will create a virtual COM port, take the RS-232 data from
the 76CSx, and the PC will get the data from that port.

Yet another choice would be to buy a software like Franson's GPSGate:

http://franson.com/gpsgate/

That will read the Garmin USB NMEA data input and create one or more
virtual COM ports for programs (the Nobletech software for example) that
need a RS-232 input. You can test GPSGate in a trial version before you
buy it.

> Am I going to have to buy Garmin BlueChart to get the same
> functionality? It's a shame, when I already have charts for the whole
> coast, to have to pay $80 a pop for each of three or four unlock codes.
> (Though I would presume BlueChart 9.5 charts would be more recent than
> what I have.)

I use the BlueChart charts and it is very good charting. I use
Navionics and MapTech charting in the course of doing boat deliveries
and find that the BlueChart charts are as good as or better than any
thing else on the market. I use a 76Cx for my deliveries as it travels
with me easily and serves as the repository for all my routes.

If you want to try something interesting for planning routes, give the
Coastal Explorer a trial:

http://rosepointnav.com/CoastalExpl...ial/default.htm

That will let you use free downloads of any or all of the most recent
NOAA RNC (raster or BSB) and ENC (vector or S-57) charts. You can plan
your routes using the trial version of Coastal Explorer and upload them
to the 76CSx.

Jack

> As you can tell, my focus is marine (though guess I could do city
> navigation and topos someday). I like the 76CSx, and it feels like I
> will spend this season just working out all its capabilities.

I use my 76Cx with City Navigator North America to find and get to and
from my boat deliveries. And I also like to stumble around in the Maine
woods occasionally using topo mapping on the same receiver. I have all
that mapping on the 76Cx all the time and can simply change from one to
another on the fly.

The 76Cx makes an excellent in car, over the road, navigation receiver.
It does not have a large display but it compensates for that with a
couple of excellent, easily read, navigation screens (the Route Detail
and Turn Preview screens). You can see that in action now on the roads
that are on your base as those will autoroute too. When you add City
Navigator you get more street level detail.

> But I really like what you can do with Nobeltec, and have no experience
> with the interface for Trip and Waypoint Manager, and Mapsource
> BlueChart.

MapSource is not a great piece of software but it is good enough once
you get familiar with it. If you have several different Garmin mapping
products, it lets you look at them all (one at a time) in a common
software window and gives you a lot of capability for creating and
managing waypoints and routes.

If the Nobletech software will export your data to *.gpx files also
upload and download to and from your receiver, you'll find you'll be
able to migrate data from one to another fairly easily. As always there
will be some minor differences in flavors and dialects and stuff but it
is all doable enough.

> Any glowing reviews from sailors/kayakers out there for these two
> products?

Feel free to email me for more details.

Jack

Rip Curl

2008-02-22, 3:33 pm

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:00:58 -0000, "Dick"
< richard@bellchambers
.org.uk> wrote:

>
>"Paul Heraty" <pheraty@telus.net> wrote in message
>news:pheraty-5A7160.18445421022008@news.telus.net...
>
>I have no experience of Nobeltec but I do have an older mapping program
>(Anquet UK OS maps v1) and this can not use the USB link to my 76CSx but the
>serial link works just fine so guess it will with your program noting that
>it previously worked with the Etrex.
>

I use Nobleltec frequently and a GPSMAP 76 CSx and will try answer
your questions.

1. Nobeltec does not work with Garmin products over USB but does work
flawlessly via serial cable. You will need to purchase the serial to
DIN connector cable from Garmin to achieve this. You can also
probably find this cable on EBay.

2. Nobeltec Passport charts will NOT transfer to the GPS but routes,
tracks and waypoints can be transferred in either direction. If you
want to see the hydrology and accurate soundings, marks and shoreline
detail on your handheld you will have to purchase Garmin Blue Charts.
I don't know where you are going to get Blue Charts for $80 a pop but
if you do please let us all know where. The last licence I purchased
was $125 for the Bermuda Islands.

3. Nobeltec makes you transfer each route one at a time - a somewhat
tedious process. I often use Nobleltec to build a route, then
transfer it to my GPS and then back load it into Mapsource. Mapsource
will transfer ALL routes, tracks, charts and waypoints to or from a
handheld in single pass. The user can select any or all of these for
transfer from Mapsource.

4. If you transfer charts in an upload to the GPS it will delete the
current charts on the handheld and over-write with the newly selected
set. However, you can upload routes and waypoints without
over-writing the current chart set in the handheld.

5. I always write both the Nobeltec data and the Mapsource data to a
USB thumb drive and carry that to the boat when I am going sailing. It
is easier and faster to just copy that data over to the on-board nav
system then it would be trying to connect the cables etc. If your
kayaking then I suspect you don't have on-board nav computers and
plotters. :-)

6. You can build routes in Mapsource but I find the interface somewhat
clunky. Nobeltec is far superior in the route building and route
management process, which is why I transfer data between the two
programs.

Hope this helps you.

Rip

Max Lynn

2008-02-22, 10:33 pm

"Paul Heraty" <pheraty@telus.net> wrote in message
news:pheraty-5A7160.18445421022008@news.telus.net...
> Newbie to the group, so apologies if this has been covered before...
> and relative newbie to GPS ...
> I'm impressed by the expertise shown by some of the posts, and hoping to
> benefit from it.
>
> Last summer I borrowed an Etrex (personal navigator -- the most basic
> model -- could save 1 route, max of 50 waypoints?) for a kayak trip.
> Used an older version of Nobeltec (marine charting software) on a PC to
> set up great route on the west coast. Was able to export this route to
> the Etrex via serial port. And it worked great.
>
> Was so impressed with the GPS (esp in fog) that I bought a 76CSx, and
> have been trying to play around a bit. But Nobeltec will not recognize
> the 76CSx via supplied USB cable. Should I try to buy a serial cable and
> see if that works?
>
> Does anyone have any experience with this fairly specialized topic? and
> suggestions? workarounds?
>
> Am I going to have to buy Garmin BlueChart to get the same
> functionality? It's a shame, when I already have charts for the whole
> coast, to have to pay $80 a pop for each of three or four unlock codes.
> (Though I would presume BlueChart 9.5 charts would be more recent than
> what I have.)
>
> As you can tell, my focus is marine (though guess I could do city
> navigation and topos someday). I like the 76CSx, and it feels like I
> will spend this season just working out all its capabilities.
>
> But I really like what you can do with Nobeltec, and have no experience
> with the interface for Trip and Waypoint Manager, and Mapsource
> BlueChart.
>
> Any glowing reviews from sailors/kayakers out there for these two
> products?
>
> thanks for any advice.
>
> paul

A very poorly documented piece of software available for download from
Garmin is a little application called "Spanner". It is available only (so
far as I can find) under the support section for the GPS 18. The link is
http://www8.garmin.com/support/coll...ct=010-00321-00

It creates virtual serial ports from the USB inputs from a number of Garmin
receivers. I have been using it on a 60CSX and it works very well.

I don't know why Garmin does not make it available on the other USB-enabled
device support pages.

Max Lynn

2008-02-22, 10:33 pm

"Paul Heraty" <pheraty@telus.net> wrote in message
news:pheraty-5A7160.18445421022008@news.telus.net...
> Newbie to the group, so apologies if this has been covered before...
> and relative newbie to GPS ...
> I'm impressed by the expertise shown by some of the posts, and hoping to
> benefit from it.
>
> Last summer I borrowed an Etrex (personal navigator -- the most basic
> model -- could save 1 route, max of 50 waypoints?) for a kayak trip.
> Used an older version of Nobeltec (marine charting software) on a PC to
> set up great route on the west coast. Was able to export this route to
> the Etrex via serial port. And it worked great.
>
> Was so impressed with the GPS (esp in fog) that I bought a 76CSx, and
> have been trying to play around a bit. But Nobeltec will not recognize
> the 76CSx via supplied USB cable. Should I try to buy a serial cable and
> see if that works?
>
> Does anyone have any experience with this fairly specialized topic? and
> suggestions? workarounds?
>
> Am I going to have to buy Garmin BlueChart to get the same
> functionality? It's a shame, when I already have charts for the whole
> coast, to have to pay $80 a pop for each of three or four unlock codes.
> (Though I would presume BlueChart 9.5 charts would be more recent than
> what I have.)
>
> As you can tell, my focus is marine (though guess I could do city
> navigation and topos someday). I like the 76CSx, and it feels like I
> will spend this season just working out all its capabilities.
>
> But I really like what you can do with Nobeltec, and have no experience
> with the interface for Trip and Waypoint Manager, and Mapsource
> BlueChart.
>
> Any glowing reviews from sailors/kayakers out there for these two
> products?
>
> thanks for any advice.
>
> paul

I may have misunderstood your question in my previous post. I understood
that you just wanted to interface your 76CSX to your Nobeltec in order to
provide GPS inputs to the Nobeltec. If you are seeking to download maps
from Nobeltec to Garmin for display on the Garmin, that is not possible. In
order to get marine charts displayed on your GPS, you must purchase the
appropriate Garmin Blue Chart map product for your area. You will note that
the latest version of Nobeltec has reversed the favor by making it
impossible to use anything but Nobeltec Passport charts.

Be all that as it may, the 76csx or 60csx are great pieces of gear. You
will find it very useful for a number of applications. If you like to
evaluate your sailing performance or just see where you were last, check out
a piece of freeware called GPSAR.

Paul Heraty

2008-02-23, 4:33 am

Thanks all.
Great advice from everyone (Jack, Max, Dick, ripcurl et al)
That gives me some options to try in the coming weeks.

Clearly a lot to be learned from this group.

paul

article < 56dur3pti517avgkug7a
uqp07dacoh4hmc@4ax.com>,
Rip Curl <surfi@thebeach.com> wrote:

> On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:00:58 -0000, "Dick"
> < richard@bellchambers
.org.uk> wrote:
>
>
> I use Nobleltec frequently and a GPSMAP 76 CSx and will try answer
> your questions.
>
> 1. Nobeltec does not work with Garmin products over USB but does work
> flawlessly via serial cable. You will need to purchase the serial to
> DIN connector cable from Garmin to achieve this. You can also
> probably find this cable on EBay.
>
> 2. Nobeltec Passport charts will NOT transfer to the GPS but routes,
> tracks and waypoints can be transferred in either direction. If you
> want to see the hydrology and accurate soundings, marks and shoreline
> detail on your handheld you will have to purchase Garmin Blue Charts.
> I don't know where you are going to get Blue Charts for $80 a pop but
> if you do please let us all know where. The last licence I purchased
> was $125 for the Bermuda Islands.
>
> 3. Nobeltec makes you transfer each route one at a time - a somewhat
> tedious process. I often use Nobleltec to build a route, then
> transfer it to my GPS and then back load it into Mapsource. Mapsource
> will transfer ALL routes, tracks, charts and waypoints to or from a
> handheld in single pass. The user can select any or all of these for
> transfer from Mapsource.
>
> 4. If you transfer charts in an upload to the GPS it will delete the
> current charts on the handheld and over-write with the newly selected
> set. However, you can upload routes and waypoints without
> over-writing the current chart set in the handheld.
>
> 5. I always write both the Nobeltec data and the Mapsource data to a
> USB thumb drive and carry that to the boat when I am going sailing. It
> is easier and faster to just copy that data over to the on-board nav
> system then it would be trying to connect the cables etc. If your
> kayaking then I suspect you don't have on-board nav computers and
> plotters. :-)
>
> 6. You can build routes in Mapsource but I find the interface somewhat
> clunky. Nobeltec is far superior in the route building and route
> management process, which is why I transfer data between the two
> programs.
>
> Hope this helps you.
>
> Rip
>

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