Maptech & NOAA charts for your PC

Post by **Dubble Trubble** » July 21st, 2006, 11:26 am

In some earlier posts, we were discussing Maptech, and I just thought I would remind everybody that you can now download for free the Maptech viewer, and download the latest NOAA charts for it for free. I will include the links to Maptech and NOAA here.

The depths and resolutions are great.

NOAA chart downloads:
http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/download.htm

Note: Go straight to bottom of web page and click download button.

--------
Maptech:

http://www.maptech.com/products/index.cfm

Go to Downloads at top of page, then choose Chart navigator 5.07 with NO maps.

-------

I will try to explain it easily from what I learned setting it up.
First, download Chart Navigator, and install it.

Then, you will go to the NOAA site and chose what charts you want. (One note here is it will help if you know thw chart #, because the graphical interface can be Slooooowwww at times)

NOAA will package the charts as .Zip files. You have to extract these zip files to the chart directory. Then Chart navigator will automatically recognize them.

Good Luck. I know some (like Chalk) already have it running, so we can help if you have problems. The main problem I see people having is they do not have the charts in the right directory .

You will love it once you get it running.

You can even print out chart areas to a color printer if you want.

Hooked

Post by **Sea Dawg** » July 21st, 2006, 3:18 pm

i NEED Help ...I went and downloaded meptech and it did fine... BUT i guess i just a country guy when it comes to computers i went to Nooa and could even find what map chart i wanted much less find how to down load it so can any one help maybe step by step hahha

Post by **Dubble Trubble** » July 21st, 2006, 6:19 pm

Ok, go to the NOAA link I posted, then at bottom of page click the "BSB download" button. Lets start by choosing "Textual", not the graphical page. To the right of the first chart shown, put a check mark. (This will be Key West to Mississippi I think). Then at top right choose "Review Selection".
When the page comes up, choose "Order Selection", then it will bring up a Zip file. Just select "Download" it and it will download to your PC.

If you have XP, you can extract it by right clicking, if not, you will need to download and install Winzip.

I hope this helps you....

I can give you the chart numbers you want if you tell me what area it is you want to have.

Like I said, the "graphical" page can be really slow, but you can try it also.

Hooked

Post by **MudDucker** » July 21st, 2006, 10:21 pm

Now this stuff looks super! Thanks

Post by **Rainman** » July 21st, 2006, 10:22 pm

Thank you. I planned tomorrow mornings trip off the charts gps.

Post by **MudDucker** » July 22nd, 2006, 7:34 am

Okay, guess I need a little more help. What subdirectory do you put the downloaded NOAA charts. I've put them in several places, including the data subdirectory where the world map is, but the program doesn't recognize them.

Post by **Tidedancer** » July 22nd, 2006, 8:10 am

I am having the same problem. HELP!!

Post by **Dubble Trubble** » July 22nd, 2006, 9:18 am

After Loading Maptec, go to menu on top and select Charts, then Chart list, then Advanced management.

That should show you where they need to be. You can also add a directory if you wish. Mine is C:/Charkit/Bsbchart. That is what they default to.

Hooked

PS: I also ASSUME you have extracted the charts from the downloaded .zip file, and not just copied the zip file to the directory, right?