Craig Winnerman
Contributor
I saw someones post about GPS settings and the mention of MapTech. Below are instructions on how to download the MapTech Chart Navigator viewer and how to install free charts from the NOAA to use with the viewer.
It is awesome as you can plan routes, measure distance, mark points, etc. You can also download from your GPS to MapTech and visa versa. Great to find new dive sites or check out numbers from other sources.
ENJOY!
Go here Maptech : Topo Maps Charts Navigation Software GPS and Online MapServer and download and install MapTech Chart Navigator for free.
Then go to http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/ChartServerV2.0/jsp/index.jsp?type=BSB to download free charts and follow the directions below to use with MapTech chart Navigator. The following charts are available for our area.
Chart
No
11385 WEST BAY TO SANTA ROSA SOUND 27 2007-02-01 2009-03-14 110
11388 CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY 17 2004-02-01 2009-03-14 55
11389 ST JOSEPH AND ST ANDREW BAYS 33 2005-07-01 2009-03-14 174
11390 EAST BAY TO WEST BAY FLORIDA SIDE A 24 2007-08-01 2009-03-14 72
11391 ST ANDREW BAY 24 2005-12-01 2009-03-14 154
11392 NAVAL COASTAL SYSTEMS CENTER SAINT ANDREW BAY 7 2005-11-01 2009-03-14 148
11400 TAMPA BAY TO CAPE SAN BLAS 36 2006-01-01 2009-03-14 70
11408 CRYSTAL RIVER TO HORSESHOE PT 29 2008-07-01 2009-03-14 28
11409 ANCLOTE KEYS TO CRYSTAL RIVER 29 2007-11-01 2009-03-14 57
11411 TAMPA BAY TO PORT RICHEY 17 2008-03-01 2009-03-14 53
11412 TAMPA BAY AND ST JOSEPH SOUND 44 2006-06-01 2009-03-14 136
11415 TAMPA BAY ENTRANCE 8 2006-08-01 2009-03-14 134
11416 TAMPA BAY NORTHERN SECTION 10 2008-10-01
________________________________________
________________________________________
Charts vs. Viewing/Navigation Software
The files downloaded from noaa.gov are provided in a Zipped Folder. This "zipped folder" contains the charts(s) that you have selected, placed into folders (named by the chart numbers they contain.) Those charts iwill need to be removed from these folders and placed into the chart directory that Chart Navigator, Offshore Navigator Lite, and Offshore Navigator look for charts.
C:\ChartKit\BSBChart.
Each Chart Download Application simply contains digital editions of the NOAA paper charts - navigation software is not included. Without compatible navigation software, the digital chart files can not be viewed, printed, or used in any meaningful fashion. (This would be like having a Microsoft Word ".doc" document, but not having Microsoft Word.)
To view, print, or navigate with charts downloaded from noaa.gov, use Maptech's Chart Navigator, Offshore Navigator, or Chart Navigator Pro. These navigation software applications have been specially optimized to take advantage of the raster charts available at noaa.gov.
Installing your Navigation Software
Before you install any charts from noaa.gov, you must have your Navigation Software set up. If you are new to electronic nautical charts, you may download Maptech's Chart Navigator free of charge from Maptech : Topo Maps Charts Navigation Software GPS and Online MapServer. Those who require a more advanced navigational tool should purchase Maptech's Offshore Navigator or Chart Navigator Pro. There are also a wide variety of Maptech-compatible navigation products available from other vendors. However, for the sake of this discussion, we'll stay focused on the applications that Maptech offers - contact those vendors for additional details regarding the loading and displaying charts from noaa.gov.
When installing your Maptech Navigation Software, it is important to be aware of the choices presented for installation directories. For the smoothest installation you should accept the default installation directories. If that is not possible due to your computer's configuration, be sure to note the directory selected for BSB format nautical charts. This is the location where charts downloaded from NOAA must be stored.
Extracting the Zipped Folder downloaded from NOAA
Start by closing Chart Navigator Viewer, Offshore Navigator Lite, or Offshore Navigator if running.
1)Double click the zipped folder you have that you downloaded from NOAA.
You should see a folder called BSB_ROOT.(If you see ENC_ROOT, these are not BSB
charts and are not the right style of charts. Delete the whole zipped folder and
go back to NOAA's website and download RNC charts, those are what NOAA calls
the BSB charts.)
2)Double click BSB_ROOT.
3)You will find in here one or more numbered folders (one for each chart you
chose to download.)
4)Double click one of the numbered folders.
In here you will find a .BSB file and one or more .KAP files.
5)Select all these BSB and KAP files, and choose CUT from the Edit menu.
6)Now browse to the C drive, open the Chartkit folder , then the BSBChart
folder.
7)Click the Edit menu and choose Paste. (This will put the BSB & KAP files
you CUT into this folder (where Chart Navigator, Offshore Navigator Lite, and Offshore Navigator looks for charts.)
If you had more than one numbered folder in that BSB_ROOT folder (as mentioned
in step 3)
Now go back to your NOAA zipped folder,
Double click BSB_ROOT
repeat steps 4 - 7 for the rest of these numbered folders.
When all chart files have been moved to the directory
C:\Chartkit\BSBChart,
Start Chart Navigator Viewer, Offshore Navigator Lite, or Offshore Navigator again.
Click the Charts menu, then Charts List.
You should now see all the chart listings.
________________________________________
It is awesome as you can plan routes, measure distance, mark points, etc. You can also download from your GPS to MapTech and visa versa. Great to find new dive sites or check out numbers from other sources.
ENJOY!
Go here Maptech : Topo Maps Charts Navigation Software GPS and Online MapServer and download and install MapTech Chart Navigator for free.
Then go to http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/ChartServerV2.0/jsp/index.jsp?type=BSB to download free charts and follow the directions below to use with MapTech chart Navigator. The following charts are available for our area.
Chart
No
11385 WEST BAY TO SANTA ROSA SOUND 27 2007-02-01 2009-03-14 110
11388 CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY 17 2004-02-01 2009-03-14 55
11389 ST JOSEPH AND ST ANDREW BAYS 33 2005-07-01 2009-03-14 174
11390 EAST BAY TO WEST BAY FLORIDA SIDE A 24 2007-08-01 2009-03-14 72
11391 ST ANDREW BAY 24 2005-12-01 2009-03-14 154
11392 NAVAL COASTAL SYSTEMS CENTER SAINT ANDREW BAY 7 2005-11-01 2009-03-14 148
11400 TAMPA BAY TO CAPE SAN BLAS 36 2006-01-01 2009-03-14 70
11408 CRYSTAL RIVER TO HORSESHOE PT 29 2008-07-01 2009-03-14 28
11409 ANCLOTE KEYS TO CRYSTAL RIVER 29 2007-11-01 2009-03-14 57
11411 TAMPA BAY TO PORT RICHEY 17 2008-03-01 2009-03-14 53
11412 TAMPA BAY AND ST JOSEPH SOUND 44 2006-06-01 2009-03-14 136
11415 TAMPA BAY ENTRANCE 8 2006-08-01 2009-03-14 134
11416 TAMPA BAY NORTHERN SECTION 10 2008-10-01
________________________________________
________________________________________
Charts vs. Viewing/Navigation Software
The files downloaded from noaa.gov are provided in a Zipped Folder. This "zipped folder" contains the charts(s) that you have selected, placed into folders (named by the chart numbers they contain.) Those charts iwill need to be removed from these folders and placed into the chart directory that Chart Navigator, Offshore Navigator Lite, and Offshore Navigator look for charts.
C:\ChartKit\BSBChart.
Each Chart Download Application simply contains digital editions of the NOAA paper charts - navigation software is not included. Without compatible navigation software, the digital chart files can not be viewed, printed, or used in any meaningful fashion. (This would be like having a Microsoft Word ".doc" document, but not having Microsoft Word.)
To view, print, or navigate with charts downloaded from noaa.gov, use Maptech's Chart Navigator, Offshore Navigator, or Chart Navigator Pro. These navigation software applications have been specially optimized to take advantage of the raster charts available at noaa.gov.
Installing your Navigation Software
Before you install any charts from noaa.gov, you must have your Navigation Software set up. If you are new to electronic nautical charts, you may download Maptech's Chart Navigator free of charge from Maptech : Topo Maps Charts Navigation Software GPS and Online MapServer. Those who require a more advanced navigational tool should purchase Maptech's Offshore Navigator or Chart Navigator Pro. There are also a wide variety of Maptech-compatible navigation products available from other vendors. However, for the sake of this discussion, we'll stay focused on the applications that Maptech offers - contact those vendors for additional details regarding the loading and displaying charts from noaa.gov.
When installing your Maptech Navigation Software, it is important to be aware of the choices presented for installation directories. For the smoothest installation you should accept the default installation directories. If that is not possible due to your computer's configuration, be sure to note the directory selected for BSB format nautical charts. This is the location where charts downloaded from NOAA must be stored.
Extracting the Zipped Folder downloaded from NOAA
Start by closing Chart Navigator Viewer, Offshore Navigator Lite, or Offshore Navigator if running.
1)Double click the zipped folder you have that you downloaded from NOAA.
You should see a folder called BSB_ROOT.(If you see ENC_ROOT, these are not BSB
charts and are not the right style of charts. Delete the whole zipped folder and
go back to NOAA's website and download RNC charts, those are what NOAA calls
the BSB charts.)
2)Double click BSB_ROOT.
3)You will find in here one or more numbered folders (one for each chart you
chose to download.)
4)Double click one of the numbered folders.
In here you will find a .BSB file and one or more .KAP files.
5)Select all these BSB and KAP files, and choose CUT from the Edit menu.
6)Now browse to the C drive, open the Chartkit folder , then the BSBChart
folder.
7)Click the Edit menu and choose Paste. (This will put the BSB & KAP files
you CUT into this folder (where Chart Navigator, Offshore Navigator Lite, and Offshore Navigator looks for charts.)
If you had more than one numbered folder in that BSB_ROOT folder (as mentioned
in step 3)
Now go back to your NOAA zipped folder,
Double click BSB_ROOT
repeat steps 4 - 7 for the rest of these numbered folders.
When all chart files have been moved to the directory
C:\Chartkit\BSBChart,
Start Chart Navigator Viewer, Offshore Navigator Lite, or Offshore Navigator again.
Click the Charts menu, then Charts List.
You should now see all the chart listings.
________________________________________
