Google Earth to BSB / KAP

[SoggyPaws]

Re: Putting kap charts on an iPad.

This doesn't work for my iPad 1, but the 2's and above, my understanding is that the free or almost free navigation app SeaIQ supports loading kap files. The developer was beta testing that early in 2013, so I would assume it should be working now.

I have also used an app called AirDisplay to turn my iPad into a remote monitor for my computer down below.

You could also do what we do--mount a cheap (used/eBay) LCD screen that can swing out into the cockpit (but stay dry inside when you don't need it), and use a presentation mouse to control the computer.

S/V Soggy Paws - CSY 44 - Onboard Electronics

If you haven't found them yet, we have a fairly complete set of GoogleEarth charts for Fiji on our website

http://svsoggypaws.com/gecharts/

Good luck,
Sherry

[phiggins]

I used the Marine Navigator program on an Android tablet on my latest "cruise" and found it worked well.

For an area I first used GE2Kap to produce a small scale overview chart of an area then then without moving GE I used the tile feature of GE2KAP to tile the area into larger scale charts with more detail. I then zipped all the charts together and copied it to the android. Marine Navigator accepts the zip file and creates its version of the charts. It unfortunately doesn't quilt the charts together but does automatically move from one tiled chart to the other as the boat moves.

[BRaley]

Thank you all for your various suggestions. After trying everything, it seems that SoggyPaws suggestion of using the iPad as a "slave" to the main computer using the AirDisplay app has worked best of all. Thank you all once again for your very kind assistance. It is very much appreciated and I hope others might benefit from your advice too.

All the best

Bob

[phiggins]

A user has discovered a problem creating a chart from the russian
sotware SASPlanet using a .map calibration file. I have corrected it and have uploaded a new test version of GE2KAP.

You can download it by using this link: www.gdayii.ca/Downloads and then click on GE2KAP.V10.0.4.3.exe

[phiggins]

BTW: SasPlanet seems like the Russian version of Google earth. Its an alternative to getting a picture of someplace that GE doesn't have a good picture. It uses a variety of sources and somehow ( I haven't figured that out yet ) it can create a jpg file with .map calibration data file. GE2KAP can use the jpg and map files to create a chart.

For more information see:

Google Translate

[sailorF54]

Re SAS planet.
Beware of the Navionics marine charts. I've found that these charts are displaced about 70 m in a general north direction re GE, Bing etc...

[phiggins]

New Version of GE2KAP.

I have promoted the last test version to the stable version. It has updated French and Turkish messages and updated French Help.

You can get it at my website: www.gdayii.ca go to the Downloads page then click on GE2KAP.V10.0.5.exe

[colemj]

Paul, the file in the downloads section is labeled 10.0.4 - is it really .5?

Mark

[phiggins]

Just checking to see if anyone noticed (yeah right).

Corrected it. Thanks

[AilesEtIles]

Hello,

I very much appreciate the work done by Paul and would like to give a few examples of my personal experience using GE2KAP.

Before sailing in the Tuamotu, I noticed that coral patches in the atolls' interior were not specified for some of the atolls in the CM93 set of charts I had, so that I previously made .kap images of the atolls I planned to visit (sometime using the GE historical images that can evidence coral patches better than the last images). Having checked the good correspondence between the patches distributions in both the chart and the GE image (not considering the overall possible shift in the latitude and/or longitude of the charts, in particular for remote islands), I have been able to enter and cross atolls mainly relying on charts created from GE images using GE2KAP … and a careful eye watching!

I have also been able to plan and make specific trips, with as much safety as possible, such as visiting the Minerva riff, signed by only one rock emerging at high tide, or the Chesterfields Islands that have a very low relief.

Anchoring in sandy places away from any coral patches has always been done, in particular in the whole Pacific, relying on GE charts created by GE2KAP inserted in OpenCPN. Now sailing in the Mediterranean, I continue using GE images to choose anchorages and avoid anchoring in posidonia fields, which are very fragile flowering plants, or on rocks.

Another interest I personally have, as a physical oceanographer but also since I am sailing offshore always trawling fishing lines, is about using the sea surface temperature (SST) distribution now available online in near real time. For example, with MyOcean interactive catalogue - MyOcean or MyOcean Viewer for the Mediterranean Sea (then choosing the data set ultra high resolution, zooming on your area of interest, and auto-adjusting the color range), you can open the displayed SST data in GE before building a .kap with GE2KAP, which will allow you to sail looking for fronts where pelagic fishes such as tuna and maï-maï might concentrate!

Note that surface currents can almost easily be inferred from such SST fields (currents are generally parallel to the isotherms, in fact isopycnals, due to the Coriolis effect), and that racers and cruisers as well can take advantage of this information to adjust their route, be it along the coast or across an ocean.

Enjoy using GE2KAP!

Claude
SY "Ailes et Iles", France

[phiggins]

Thanks for the feedback AilesEtIles. Nice to hear how GE2KAP is being used.

[phiggins]

A faster GE2KAP.

Occasionally some users have received errors from GE2KAP when it tries to find other windows. Sometimes they have to reboot to fix it.

I found that the method I was using to find a window was not recommended anymore so I rewrote the procedure in C++ and put in my dll. The result is its a lot faster, especially noticeable when it starts up.

As this affects almost every part of GE2KAP I would appreciate a few people testing it before I release it.

If you would like to test it you can find it here:

www.gdayii.ca/Downloads then click on GE2KAP.V10.0.6.exe . Use this whole link, you won't find it by going to the Downloads page on my website.

This also changed the way the image editor works so if you edit images and use some other editor like GIMP or MSPaint to modify the images please try it.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[sailorF54]

A few GE/opencpn charlets with 06...
No problem
The output image opens fine for editing with xnview; same when using 'view chart'.

[phiggins]

SailorF54, Thanks for testing.

[ventdefolie]

Hi Paul,
Just tested with my poor connexion. Awesome !
The speed dramatically increased and all works well.
Thanks for the job,
Remy