New Nobeltec Patch 9.3.2240

[RaptorDance]

Nobeltec released a new patch for Admiral and VNS.

Apparently they had some problems with some data not appearing properly.

To quote their update:

Certain Nobeltec Passport chart features (including but not limited to buoys, markers, contours, underwater obstructions, etc.) may not display correctly, or at all, when used in conjunction with certain Nobeltec navigation software packages and OEM plotter solutions.

See their website for more info:
http://www.nobeltec.com/support/bulletin.htm

Unfortunately, Nobeltec is also removing S-57 support under the guise of safety.

Personally, I believe that this is BS. They go into a lot of long winded verbiage about how they verify all updates before incorporating them.

To me that's more BS...

Down here in Mexico, if you're not in a major port, all their (and everybody else's, including paper) charts are 1 to 3 miles off!

I think this will badly hurt their market share in the future.

Regards,
Bill

[Agility]

I saw this also, but immediately thought that they were being sued by some litigous entity.

I used their passport charts all over the MED and Caribbean and found their charts to be accurate to within a meter or two everywhere.

[RaptorDance]

I'm not a lawyer, but I doubt that some one would sue them over allowing "Official NOAA Charts" (which happen to be free) to be used - which are what most of the S-57 format charts are.

My guess is a more likely scenario is that some marketing guy realized that their chart revenue base was being eroded by NOAA's free S-57s and they decided to muddy the waters.

They also have all kinds of warnings about update your charts at least yearly to reduce the risk of problems.

For us in Mexico - it's total BS as the charts are so far off. Some of the land masses don't even match the satellite photos.

They could fix it if they wanted by using Google Earth and/or the Mexican Topo maps which are spot on!

When you ask them - they give the inverse BS answer "We have to use official sources to avoid liability"

I've used Nobeltec for over a decade and am considering abandoning... If only someone had decent charts for Mexico!

Regards,
Bill

[Agility]

I think you mis-understood my comments. Whey they say "Certain Nobeltec Passport chart features (including but not limited to buoys, markers, contours, underwater obstructions, etc.) may not display correctly" I think they should have some liability. I suspect the software update to correct this problem is independent of Non Passport Chart support.


But it sure does seem they make more money from the charts than the software.

Just my $.02

[RaptorDance]

I agree - I think they're using the problem as an excuse to pimp their own charts, which are approved by no one.

[allegedly]

What software and/or charts would you use for south of Mexico, such as Belize?

[RaptorDance]

I don't have any firsthand experience/knowledge about that area (Belize). I'd start with copies of the official gov't charts or admiralty charts.

Belize used to be British Honduras, so I'm guessing the charts are better. The electronic charts typically are about as good as the official government charts so any program you like may have decent charts available for the area.

Can someone with first hand experience comment?

Regards,
Bill

[allegedly]

The newest paper charts that I've found are based on mid 1900 surveys.

[ronbo1]

Re: 9.3.2240 Update


Hmmm...just tried to update online, Nobeltec responds with: 'you have the latest updates', though my version is 9.2.2218. Guess the marketing people got ahead of the technical folks.

[Beausoleil]

Here's what I asked them:

"Just one question: are all your competitors going to disable S-57/ENC support in their products because of this data issue, or is the problem with your implementation of S-57 support?"

I don't use Nobeltec software anymore - right now I'm using a Raymarine E120 chartplotter, supplemented with Maptech's Chart Navigator Pro (Rose Point Software) with BSB and ENC charts, and good ol' paper charts.

I'm waiting for a response - if any...

[Beausoleil]

Originally Posted by Beausoleil

I'm waiting for a response - if any...

Funny - I haven't gotten a reply yet. It seems from reading around here and on other boards that Nobeltec grunts are extremely unhappy, as this "patch" was ordered by fiat and customer service was unable to convince management of the potential egg to the face...