Opencpn Mac Manual

Size: 42.2MB

License: FREEWARE

Dec 14, 2018  To create a.mobileconfig-based profile, open the iPhone Configuration utility, go to the File menu, and select 'New Configuration Profile' (note that these directions were tested with version 3.5 of the iPhone Configuration utility on a Mac tethered to an iPad Air running iOS 7.0.4). Next, edit the newly created Configuration Profile. Videos on various navigation subjects that use OpenCPN. Play all Share. OpenCPN, How to load hi-res base map, Mac and PC by David. OpenCPN charts: 3. Manual download by David.

Publisher:Publisher | Listed Programs

Release Date: 2019-03-24

Submit Date: 2019-03-24

OS: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10 (32-Bit/64-Bit)

Downloads: 5263

Popularity:


Editor's Rating
Reviewed on September 11, 2017

Opencpn Mac Manual Pdf

Set to sail soon? You might want to take a look at OpenCPN.

Basically, it is a powerful navigation and plotting software. You can use it on your laptop with low specs.

Manual

OpenCPN is first of all - free. The software is a chart plotter with many useful features perfect when on a course at sea. The software was created by sailors and is being continuously improved by them. It functions just as well as expensive chart plotters.

You can take advantage of OpenCPN with a laptop connected to a GPS receiver. You must also download and install US and NOAA charts. This will allow you to navigate your course in actual time with standard chart plotting functions.

Boaters can benefits from this because they would not have to purchase a dedicated chart plotter which is rather expensive. To delve further into the details, let's talk about OpenCPN's features and functions.

OpenCPN Features and Functions

OpenCPN offers an impressive range of features that can compete with paid and expensive programs such as:

  • Use plotter functions or check boat location in actual time using a laptop and GPS receiver,
  • Allows display adjustment for tracking your boat,
  • Plot waypoints with ease and make routes,
  • Join separate charts with the same scale in the feature called Automatic Chart Quilting,
  • User interface allows panning, zooming and scrolling,
  • Check currents and tide levels on demand,
  • Has automatic return course in case of man-overboard,
  • Brightness and color are adjustable depending on daylight or nighttime schemes,
  • Instruction manual is easy to understand, well-detailed with help screens included,
  • Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems,
  • Will soon be available for Android OS.
  • Advanced functions of OpenCPN include:
    • Functions with raster charts from NOAA,
    • Display modes include north-up, look-ahead and course-up,
    • Alerts and alarms for anchor,
    • With import/export function for information on other devices,
    • Automatic Indentification System plots the position/location of large ships and gives collision alerts and alarms,
    • Has measuring function that determines distance between points easily.

Conclusion

OpenCPN brings forward features that are not available in hundred-dollar priced software packages. Although it is a free program, features and functions show us that it was made with incredible effort by a dedicated team.

The long/lat, SOG/COG, and other information at the bottom part of the screen is colored gray and has small fonts that are difficult to read. The functions can be quite advanced, so expect that they can be complicated. Thankfully, the manual is easy to understand.

OpenCPN actually has more useful features than a paid chart plotting software. It has all you need for navigation on a moving ship or boat. Saves you time and money too.

OpenCPN is a free chartplotter software program for PCs that offers a wide range of features rivaling those of expensive software packages. With a laptop coupled with a GPS receiver, and using free American charts from NOAA, OpenCPN allows real-time navigation with standard chartplotter functions. OpenCPN was built by sailors and is a gift of surprising value to boaters preferring to use a laptop for navigation rather than an expensive dedicated chartplotter.

If you are unfamiliar with what chartplotters are and what they do, it is helpful to read this introductory article first.

Version reviewed: 2.4.620 running on an inexpensive netbook with Atom processor

Opencpn Mac Manual Downloads

Key Features of OpenCPN

  • Use easily installed free NOAA charts for US coasts and some other international electronic charts
  • Connect your laptop to a GPS receiver such as the Dual XGPS150 Bluetooth GPS Receiver to see the boat in real time on the chart and use all plotter functions
  • Adjustable ship-tracking options for display
  • Easily plot waypoints and make routes (photo 1 above)
  • Automatic chart quilting (joining separate charts of the same scale)
  • Zoom in an out, scroll and pan, or scale in and out of different charts
  • Shows tide levels and currents (built-in and offline) on demand (photo 2 above)
  • Instant man-overboard marker with automatic return course, distance, etc.
  • Change color/brightness schemes for daylight/nighttime conditions
  • Detailed and well-written (offline) instruction manual and help screens included
  • Full route management
  • Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems - Android app coming

Advanced Features of OpenCPN

  • Mouse and keyboard functions make features easy to use with toolbar buttons or hot keys
  • Works with raster charts or ENC vector charts from NOAA
  • North-up, course-up, and look-ahead chart display modes
  • Set audible anchor alarms in case the anchor pulls or the boat swings too close to shore or an obstruction
  • Import and export waypoints, routes, and other information from other programs and devices
  • When connected to an AIS receiver, plots positions of large ships required to emit Automatic Identification System signals - with collision alerts and alarms
  • Includes a measuring function to quickly determine distances between points without having to build a route
  • Status bar makes it easy to switch among different scale charts for the area
  • Plug-in to display GRIB wind data overlaid on chart
  • Output to autopilot

Some of these features are not available in software packages costing hundreds of dollars - but are included in this free product. You can tell OpenCPN was developed - and is continually improved - by sailors.

The Downside

In my testing everything worked extremely well, even running on a low-power netbook. Chartplotter functions were excellent, and the software proved very responsive with the boat in motion. Given that this is a free program and shows an incredible effort of a dedicated team, I hesitate to even mention a couple little things that could be improved (and perhaps will be in the future):

Opencpn manual pdf
  • The bar at the bottom of the screen showing long/lat, SOG/COG, and other information is very tiny and difficult to read on a smaller laptop screen or on a moving boat - and difficult to read black type against dark gray.
  • I ran into one bug that may have occurred partially as a result of my own fiddling around with the controls. At one point my chart display got, well, a bit goofy - perhaps when I tried to use the look-ahead mode (showing what the chart looked like ahead of my movement) without having auto-follow activated (an illogical thing to do, it would seem).
  • While the program is mostly intuitive to use, some advanced functions are more complicated and require consulting the manual step by step. For example, I love the anchor alarm feature (see photo 3 above), but several steps must be performed precisely to make it work - requiring consulting the manual back and forth with the chart screen. First drop a mark, then go to mark properties and change the mark icon to an anchor and the name to a numeral (in meters) for the diameter of the anchor circle, click OK, right click again and click Set Anchor Watch. There must be an easier way? And be sure to delete that anchor mark later on, or next time you set an anchor watch somewhere else, you may start getting alarm bells because you're away from that earlier watch zone!

Macbook Manual

Conclusions

While many navigation apps are now available for smart phones and other devices, they lack many of the features available in a larger software package - making a laptop better for many navigation purposes.

Apple Mac Manual

OpenCPN has many more features than Sea Clear II, the other free PC navigation program, and OpenCPN is much easier to use. Sea Clear provided a valuable free program for many years, but now there's really no comparison.

OpenCPN also compares very well with several commercial packages that cost hundreds. If expense is not a factor, you might prefer a different program with features like integrated ActiveCaptain Interactive Cruising Guidebook or advanced weather information or radar overlay.

Opencpn Mac Manual Download

But if you're looking for very solid chartplotter software with terrific features and that is easy to use, look no further than OpenCPN. That it is free is a bonus. Consider its only downside its unwieldy name!

Opencpn Mac Manual Downloads

For more screenshots and to download, visit the OpenCPN site.

For a laptop navigation and plotting program with more powerful features, do a test drive of the inexpensive Polar Navy program.

Opencpn User Manual

Navigatrix is a free full suite of software programs running under Linux that can be run on a PC or Mac laptop, including chartplotter, weather data, and much, much more.