NSW
826 posts
Gday all
I hope you are all having a good day and want to ask the experienced throng about a very slight dilemma I am having.
My Garmin 128 GPS has a dead screen. I really like the simple old style GPS with the road you steer down, the course setting like a compass and the MOB function. I have a tablet running Navionics and a computer running OpenCPN but the old GPS would act as a log and compass and never had any computer issues - it was either on or off.
I can't replace the trusty thing. They don't make stand alone GPS any more. I don't need a plotter and I don't want to depend on a complex computer - I love Navionics and OpenCPN but they run on slightly untrustworthy computers (My computers are fine - just sometimes the computers I know will decide to go on strike - sometimes at inopportune times) . I was thinking of just putting a handheld unit in the space where the 128 sits and plugging it into the 12 volt system. Any advice as to the merits of this?
cheers
Phil
NSW
826 posts
Thanks for the advice. It seems like I have to pay as much for an old type GPS as a small plotter. Oh well, probably back to using the handheld in the cockpit with the tablet on the bulkhead and computer inside (I can see inside the catamaran's cabin fine from the helm, and who is on the helm for long anyway offshore?")
cheers
Phil
NSW
826 posts
Thanks Bob - that would be just the ticket but it is discontinued! Uggh. I would have thought I could get a simple GPS for less than a plotter. Maybe there is a GME GPS lurking somewhere but I can't find one.
QLD
363 posts
Stand alone GPS get a BU-353, plug into your PC with OpenCPN, use a Wifi router to Output to your tablet to save battery usage on Tablet.
With on board PC's, use for Navigation and nothing else, no surfing net etc, and don't load updates, it should remain stable. I use a little mini PC from Kogan, 12v, 1.5A Win10, and small, works like a dream.
NSW
826 posts
Thanks for the tips I will follow them up. The handheld idea is probably not going to fly - because I am 53 and I sometimes need glasses. I checked with my Garmin 72 handheld and it is pretty small.
I like the idea of getting a dedicated tablet and not using it for anything for anything but navigation - no updates - they drive me mad. I am a teacher and have sat in front of a class doing some rapping at the class whilst the PC decides to do an update for 15 minutes. Quite aggravating.
NSW
826 posts
Thanks Cisco - I was thinking of one - I have a Garmin 72 - but I would rather not need glasses to read the numbers and I can't see the handheld's numbers that well in poor light.
NSW
7756 posts
The other option is to update your VHF to one of the fully featured items with AIS and GPS. The downside is the numbers are small and these units have a surprisingly heavy current draw. Could plug in a USB to a larger screen though.
The ideal though is to find a secondhand Furuno GP-32
