iPLOTTER
manual
Overview
========
iPLOTTER
is designed for quick and easy passage planning, and then as a real-time
navigation aid in conjunction with a GPS
Vectored
maps are generated by iPLOTTER, and some low-resolution public-domain maps are
supplied, but you can scan any map of your own, copy to your PocketPC platform,
and then after calibrating, use it as a moving map within the program.
Getting started
===============
Explanations for each menu commands(bold) mentioned in this
section are listed below
After
opening the application for the first time, you will prompted to select
a
navigation database.
The
default craft speed is set to 5kt. To change this select ‘Tools – Speed setup’
A
default blank plan called 'Passage1' is initially created
Use 'Edit - New sector' to plan the first
sector...
Plan
subsequent sectors using 'Edit - New
sector' as above.
You
can now view the plan in simulator mode
Select
'View - ARC', 'View - COMPASS' or 'View -
MAP'
then
select 'Tools - Start simulator'
The
planned passage will be displayed and updated as if you are actually sailing
it.
You
can change views between MAP, ARC or COMPASS at anytime during the simulation.
To
display in real-time...
Select
'Tools - Stop Simulation'
Connect
a GPS via the serial port
Select
'Tools - Connect to GPS'
Now
what you actually sail will be displayed.
Now follows a fuller explanation of all menu commands...
FILE
====
New Plan
Creates
a new blank passage plan and makes it active, while saving the current plan.
Enter
a name for the plan, which must not already exist.
Open Plan
Lists
all previously created plans.
Tap
one to make it the active plan.
Delete Plan
Lists
all previously created plans.
Tap
one to delete it. (must not be the active
plan)
Reverse Plan
Reverses
the current plan.
Exit
Closes
the program while saving the current state.
Edit
====
New Sector
Creates
a new sector.
If the
first sector of a plan...
Using
uppr/lwr case characters, tap in the name in the 'Depart' box. At the 2nd
character a drop down list will display. Add more characters to refine the list
and then make a selection.
When a
selection is made from list the lat/lon of the waypoint is displayed.
To
change your selection, re-open the list by tapping the arrow.
Tap
'OK' to confirm departure point.
The
departure/previous waypoint will be displayed.
Now
continue as above to select the first/next waypoint.
The
track (°t)
and distance of the sector is now calculated and displayed.
(iPLOTTER calculates rhumb lines for all true
tracks)
After
confirming the 'To' waypoint, a new screen is displayed.
After
tapping 'OK' the main screen will be updated with the new sector and totals.
Delete a sector
Deletes
the currently highlighted sector.
Insert a Sector
Inserts
a new sector after the currently highlighted sector.
View
====
Next Wpt
Use
this command while in ARC, COMPASS or MAP view to force the data display to
reference to the next sector. (not
available in Simulator mode)
Scale out, Scale in (in
MAP view only)
These
commands will load higher or lower resolution maps accordingly, if the current position of the simulator or GPS
is within the area range.
The
maps must have been previously calibrated
out -
lower resolution
in -
higher resolution
Use
the zoom in/zoom out buttons in the menu bar at bottom of display to zoom in
and out of the currently loaded map.
PLAN
Selects
PLAN view.
The
columns for each sector display: Crs(t)
(true course), Var (magnetic
variation), Crs(m) (magnetic
course), Dist (distance nm)
Tap on
a sector to display the ‘from’ and ‘to’ waypoints (above sector list)
The
plan totals are displayed below the sector list and the active database below
that.
MAP
Selects
MAP view for use with Simulator or GPS input.
Maps
that have been calibrated are available to be automatically loaded and
displayed. Use the Scale in/out commands to load/unload maps of higher/lower
resolution for the same area. When the craft moves out of the coverage of the
current loaded map, the next logical map will be loaded. If no user-scanned
maps are available, the supplied low-resolution maps are used.
Use
the zoom in/out buttons in menu bar to zoom in/out of current map.
When
both zoom buttons have a border, the map is displayed in its original scanned
resolution. In this state the loading and unloading of adjacent maps that have
been calibrated will be seamless. In other zoom settings, the map may be
scrolled to center screen before the next map is loaded.
Use
the pen to scroll the map around the screen. Use the ‘C’ button in menu bar to
centralize the map around current position.
The
boat position is depicted by the black cross, the planned track is superimposed
on the map.
Turn
on/off the lat/long position and Scale windows using the ‘Preferences’ menu
command.
Data
is displayed at the top and bottom of the screen…
(The data is relevant to the current sector waypoint, as the boat moves past the waypoint the data automatically refers to the next sector in the plan)
Sector
Waypoint and distance to run (nm)
ETE -
estimated time en-route to reach the waypoint (mins)
DTK –
direct track to sector waypoint from current position (degrees)
XTE –
cross track error from planned track (nm)
SOG –
speed over the ground (kt)
COMPASS
Selects
COMPASS view for use with Simulator or GPS input.
This
screen displays a compass rose updated to display the current magnetic track of
the craft.
The
waypoints and planned tracks are displayed relative to the current magnetic
track. (Track up)
The
white craft symbol depicts the actual position.
Use
the zoom buttons to zoom the display in and out.
Sector
data is displayed as described in MAP above.
Tap on
any symbol in the display to show further information and direct track(m) and
distance to the waypoints. Tap button to
initiate GOTO function.
Turn
on/off the lat/long position and Scale windows using the ‘Preferences’ menu
command.
ARC
Selects
ARC view for use with Simulator or GPS input
This
screen displays a compass arc updated to display the current magnetic track
The
waypoints and planned tracks are displayed relative to the current magnetic
track. (Track up)
The
white craft symbol depicts the actual position.
Use
the zoom buttons to zoom the display in and out.
Sector
data is displayed as described in MAP above.
Tap on
any symbol in the display to show further information and direct track(m) and
distance to the waypoint. Tap button to initiate GOTO function.
Turn
on/off the lat/long position and Scale windows using the ‘Preferences’ menu
command.
Utils
=====
Preferences
Select
preferences as required. These will be saved.
Conversions
Select
type of conversion required with radio buttons. Now enter the number to convert
in relevant box. The conversion will be updated automatically.
Sunrise/set
The
coordinates edit boxes will be seeded with the destination Lat/long of the current
plan, but can be edited if required. Tap ‘Calculate’ button to display the
Sunrise/sunset times.
Maps
====
Load
Loads
a bitmap to the screen for general viewing or calibrating
Use
the pen to scroll the map around the screen.
N.B. Once a map has been loaded and
calibrated, it will be automatically loaded as required when using the ‘MAP’
function.
Edit
Displays
a list of all previously calibrated maps
To
delete one, select and tap 'Remove from list' button
This
will not actually delete the bitmap but simply de-calibrate
It,
making it unavailable in the ‘MAP’ function.
Calibrate NE
Use
this command in conjunction with Load above.
After
scrolling the map using the pen so that your proposed NE calibration point is
in view, select the 'Calibrate NE' command...now the next tap you make on the
screen will be assumed to be the North-East calibration point and a dialog will
pop up for you to enter the lat/lon coordinates using degrees and minutes to 3
decimal places
Tap on
the 'N' box to change to 'S' for southern hemisphere coordinates
Tap on
the 'E' box to change to 'W' for western longitude coordinates
Calibrate SW
Use
this command in conjunction with Load above.
After
scrolling the map using the pen so that your proposed SW calibration point is
in view, select the 'Calibrate SW' command...now the next tap you make on the
screen will be assumed to be the South-West calibration point and a dialog will
pop up for you to enter the lat/lon coordinates using degrees and minutes to 3
decimal places.
Tap on
the 'N' box to change to 'S' for southern hemisphere coordinates.
Tap on
the 'E' box to change to 'W' for western longitude coordinates.
When
both NE and SW points have been successfully entered, a window will pop up that
will enable you to adjust the calibration to allow for a map that is not
referenced to WGS84 datum. Enter the differences of latitude and longitude (usually mentioned in map notes if applies),
or zero if no adjustment required. Now GPS positions will be accurately plotted
on the map.
Register
Displays
two edit boxes for ID and registration code in order to register the software
About
Displays
the version number of the software and the registration status
Tools
=====
Start simulation
Simulates
a GPS is connected and the craft is sailing the exact planned passage
Stop simulation
Stops
the simulation GPS data being generated.
Connect to GPS
Your
GPS must be set to NMEA0183 serial output.
If the
connection is faulty or the GPS signal is invalid, a warning will be displayed
on the screen.
Disconnect GPS
Closes
serial port.
GPS setup
Sets
the comm. Port and baud rate for GPS input. (for input via the serial port set to CoM1: (default), if using a
Compact Flash GPS card set to COM4: or COM5:, for bluetooth GPS - check user manual)
If
using the Navman 3000 sleeve, select Navman option. Ensure that your Pocket PC
has Navman driver 3.1.1 or higher installed
Dbase
=====
Add
Adds a
record to the active navigation database
Enter
the name in the appropriate box (using upper case characters)
Enter
the lat/long coordinates using degrees and minutes to 3 decimal places
Tap on
the 'N' box to change to 'S' for southern hemisphere coordinates
Tap on
the 'W' box to change to 'E' for eastern longitude coordinates
Enter
any notes in the large edit box
Tap
'OK' to save the record or 'X' to cancel.
Edit
Edits
an existing record in the active navigation database.
Use
the Name box to input a search clue.
(Using
upper/lower case characters)
Select
from dropdown list to display details
Edit
details as in 'Add' above
Select
OK to save changes or X to undo any changes
New
Creates
a new navigation database and activates it.
Enter
a name for the database, which must not already exist.
Open
Lists
all navigation databases...
Tap on
one to open it and make it the active database.
Delete
Lists
all navigation databases...
Tap on
one to delete it.
(Must not be the active database)
Scanning Maps for use within iPLOTTER
===================================
You
can scan in any map in any resolution for use with iPLOTTER, so long as you can
identify two points in terms of latitude/longitude for calibration, and that
the lines of latitude/longitude are reasonably parallel in the section scanned.
For
greatest accuracy, ensure the maps are scanned as straight as possible.
To
reduce map distortions it is better to scan several small areas than one big
area, iPLOTTER will automatically load the correct map for the craft position.
If the craft moves to an area that has not been scanned, a default
low-resolution map will be loaded.
Save
the bitmaps as .jpg files and reduce the number of colours to 256 to reduce the
size of the file.
Using
the explore function of 'Microsoft ActiveSync', copy the bitmaps to the folder
where you installed iPLOTTER... usually \Program Files\iplotter\ on the PocketPC
Now
you can load and calibrate the maps as described above.
For
desktop map calibration use our ‘MapCalib’ utility. A help file is supplied
with this software.
DISCLAIMER
==========
iPLOTTER should not be used as a primary navigational aid.
It is the sole responsibility of the skipper to verify all
outputs from this software
Navtech Software accepts no liability for any consequence as
a direct or indirect use
of this software
Copyright
(c) Navtech Software 2008
cp@navsoft.co.uk