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Some older info and newer info... and for the newbies out there.
These are all free and open source programs.
OPENCPN (Version 4.0 now available).
OpenCPN is a free software (GPLv2) project to create a concise chart plotter and navigation software, for use underway or as a planning tool. OpenCPN is developed by a team of active sailors using real world conditions for program testing and refinement.
http://opencpn.org/ocpn/
You download charts unzip them and load them into OpenCPN
Download charts from http://www.charts.noaa.gov ....
To get started you would select the chart you want from the graphical display
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/Interacti...log/nrnc.shtml
On the right hand side of webpage,,, under "Available Products"..
you would click the small "RNC" button.
After you get the hang of installing the charts in OpenCPN it's no big deal.
The cool thing is you can plan your trips on the charts, and then load the route in your GPS Fishfinder.
And vice-versa... put your trips you recorded on the charts. Waypoints etc.
You will need a file converter to change the formats of the data in your GPS FF.. to OpenCPN...
and then vice versa to get the routes you make from OpenCPN to the GPS FF
You can use GPSBabel (open source free).
http://www.gpsbabel.org/
GPSBabel converts waypoints, tracks, and routes between popular GPS receivers such as Lowrance (etc) Garmin or Magellan and mapping programs like Google Earth or Basecamp....
Once again.. after you get the hang of the process it's no big deal.
Something I have started experimenting with is Grib Data...
Grib Weather Plugin
OpenCPN has a grib weather file viewer plugin, aimed at being useful while under way.
The grib plugin is always distributed with OpenCPN, no separate download is required.
Infor about Grip and OpenCPN plugin..
http://opencpn.org/ocpn/grib_weather_plugin.
Unfortunately because you have to zoom out in OpenCPN to make the data more presentable..
Not very exciting to look at.. and there other options viewable in OpenCPN with Grib.. you might find it interesting.
You will need a program that grabs the data... which is actually a GRIB viewer.. the learning curve isn't too bad.
And produces really nice views.. mostly I have been using it for wind maps.. but there are many options.
Once again open source and free....
http://www.zygrib.org/
For Windows computers I suggest the file...
"With high resolution maps: zyGrib_win_withmaps2-7.0.0.zip (121.9 Mo)"
Once you have it setup... one click of the button and it downloads the data (from NOAA)...
and automatically creates the weather charts.
ONE NOTE... when you first start with zyGrib... you will see a large world map.
Zoom, then select (with the cross hairs) a small area.. for example the Chesapeake.
The selected area is the data collection area for the download data.
You can always make a bigger area once you get the hang of the program.
It actually downloads the data very quickly.
The maps are bit nicer than in OpenCPN
In OpenCPN... you point to the file that is most recently downloaded.
After you get over the learning curves.. it probably takes less than a minute to produce the weather maps.
If you enjoy Charts, plotting routes, exploring weather maps... I think you will enjoy these programs.
On the other hand... Windfinder... and your other favorite go-to's will probably be your choice.
And some quick "new" links of weather with lots of buttons and pretty neat weather maps...
NWS Marine Portal
http://preview.weather.gov/edd/index.php?t=marine
And...
NOWCoast GIS
http://nowcoast.noaa.gov/
These are all free and open source programs.
OPENCPN (Version 4.0 now available).
OpenCPN is a free software (GPLv2) project to create a concise chart plotter and navigation software, for use underway or as a planning tool. OpenCPN is developed by a team of active sailors using real world conditions for program testing and refinement.
http://opencpn.org/ocpn/
You download charts unzip them and load them into OpenCPN
Download charts from http://www.charts.noaa.gov ....
To get started you would select the chart you want from the graphical display
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/Interacti...log/nrnc.shtml
On the right hand side of webpage,,, under "Available Products"..
you would click the small "RNC" button.
After you get the hang of installing the charts in OpenCPN it's no big deal.
The cool thing is you can plan your trips on the charts, and then load the route in your GPS Fishfinder.
And vice-versa... put your trips you recorded on the charts. Waypoints etc.
You will need a file converter to change the formats of the data in your GPS FF.. to OpenCPN...
and then vice versa to get the routes you make from OpenCPN to the GPS FF
You can use GPSBabel (open source free).
http://www.gpsbabel.org/
GPSBabel converts waypoints, tracks, and routes between popular GPS receivers such as Lowrance (etc) Garmin or Magellan and mapping programs like Google Earth or Basecamp....
Once again.. after you get the hang of the process it's no big deal.
Something I have started experimenting with is Grib Data...
Grib Weather Plugin
OpenCPN has a grib weather file viewer plugin, aimed at being useful while under way.
The grib plugin is always distributed with OpenCPN, no separate download is required.
Infor about Grip and OpenCPN plugin..
http://opencpn.org/ocpn/grib_weather_plugin.
Unfortunately because you have to zoom out in OpenCPN to make the data more presentable..
Not very exciting to look at.. and there other options viewable in OpenCPN with Grib.. you might find it interesting.
You will need a program that grabs the data... which is actually a GRIB viewer.. the learning curve isn't too bad.
And produces really nice views.. mostly I have been using it for wind maps.. but there are many options.
Once again open source and free....
http://www.zygrib.org/
For Windows computers I suggest the file...
"With high resolution maps: zyGrib_win_withmaps2-7.0.0.zip (121.9 Mo)"
Once you have it setup... one click of the button and it downloads the data (from NOAA)...
and automatically creates the weather charts.
ONE NOTE... when you first start with zyGrib... you will see a large world map.
Zoom, then select (with the cross hairs) a small area.. for example the Chesapeake.
The selected area is the data collection area for the download data.
You can always make a bigger area once you get the hang of the program.
It actually downloads the data very quickly.
The maps are bit nicer than in OpenCPN
In OpenCPN... you point to the file that is most recently downloaded.
After you get over the learning curves.. it probably takes less than a minute to produce the weather maps.
If you enjoy Charts, plotting routes, exploring weather maps... I think you will enjoy these programs.
On the other hand... Windfinder... and your other favorite go-to's will probably be your choice.
And some quick "new" links of weather with lots of buttons and pretty neat weather maps...
NWS Marine Portal
http://preview.weather.gov/edd/index.php?t=marine
And...
NOWCoast GIS
http://nowcoast.noaa.gov/
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