Comparison with TidePlan original

The program uses similar processes to the original TidePlan program. The main differences are in the area covered and in the degree of accuracy. The mapping of tidal flows is finer grained giving greater precision and the logic of the tidal engine has been improved to give a faster and more accurate course calculation.

Multileg passages can be calculated and the arrival time, rather than the departure time, can be specified.

 

Available features

Departure and destination points and intermediate “via” points may be entered manually by clicking on the minichart, or by selecting from a list of user defined waypoints. If your GPS receiver is connected to a serial port on your PC it can be used to set your current position and time as the starting point. There is a facility for importing the departure point and/or destination point from the shareware OziExplorer chart program.

Once a route has been calculated there is a facility for optimisation of the start time. This will find the start time, within 6 hours of the initial start time, that produces the fastest passage. The recalculated route is then displayed.

The list of trackpoints produced by the program can be viewed, printed, saved and exported to the OziExplorer program, the Chart Navigator Pro program, the SeaClear II program or to your GPS receiver. They can also be exported in formats suitable for  the G7ToWin and Waypoint+ GPS management programs.

Waypoints can be created, imported, edited and used to define passage start, end and “via” points. Waypoints already defined using the original TidePlan program can be imported. The display of waypoints can be toggled off and on.

 

Disclaimers  

• Many of the features listed above are unavailable with the 10 day trial version of the program. They are enabled when the program has been registered.
• Importing the departure point from your GPS is dependant on a satisfactory connection between the NMEA output from the GPS and a serial port on the PC.
• The export of trackpoints as waypoints  to GPS is dependant on the above and on the ability of the GPS to receive the standard NMEA "WPL" message. Check this with the GPS manufacturer's specification.
• This program should only be used as an aid to navigation and does not obviate the need for good seamanship practices.