PolarView NS 1.9.6 / PolarCOM 1.9.6

PolarView NS
– Fixes and improvements to vector chart rendering
– Fix ActiveCaptain POI display

PolarCOM
– Fixes for Actisense NMEA 2000 processing

PolarView NS 1.9 / PolarCOM 1.9

PolarView NS
– Download of NOAA raster charts
– Option to drop waypoint at vessel location by pressing ‘Shift’
– Numerous miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements

PolarCOM
– Support for SeaSmart and Actisense NMEA 2000 gateways
– Numerous miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements

Route & Waypoint manager will now require an activated copy of PolarView NS after free trial period.

PolarView travels to look for giant mantas

Looks like I missed an interesting article about a “ruggedized” system used on a diving expedition, that was running PolarView NS among other things.

Check it out here: Case Study: Computers in Diving and Marine Exploration

PolarView NS 1.8 / PolarCOM 1.8

PolarView NS
– Extensions to anchor alarm to allow editing anchor position and guard circle radius directly on a chart
– Additional navaid light sector display mode – allows light sectors to be “lit up” to show range
– Restore correct chart panning direction for MacOS 10.7 Lion
– Numerous miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements

PolarCOM
– Analog anchor instrument displaying distance and bearing to anchor from ship position
– Numerous miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements

GRIB data service will now require an activated copy of PolarView NS after free trial period.

PolarView NS 1.7 / PolarCOM 1.7

PolarView NS
– Integrated ordering and download of world-wide cartography from ChartWorld
– Integrated download of USACE inland vector charts
– Export chart view to PDF document or image, in lieu of printing
– Manage and sort charts as packages
– Numerous miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements

PolarCOM
– Support for AIS “Pilot Plug” own position (AIVDM)
– Numerous miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements

Release 1.6 updated (Mark II)

Another update of release 1.6 is available. Both PolarView and PolarCOM have been updated.

PolarView updates include improved handling of certain international vector charts.
PolarCOM updates include better handling of bi-directional serial ports.

PolarView release number is 1.6.43
PolarCOM release number is 1.6.55

Another GPS option for PolarView & PolarCOM

Just recently I got a chance to order and use another compact USB GPS receiver – ND 100 by GlobalSat.

This receiver uses the same drivers as it’s cousin – the ever popular BU-353 about which I previously blogged here.

Since I already have the Prolific chipset drivers installed, ND-100 worked right out of the box. In my test it quickly acquired a fix and provided position to within about 5 feet – all *indoors*. It also appears to have a bit less of a stationary “course drift” than my BU-353s, though that could be individual device issue.

The primary advantage of this device is a form factor – rather than being a GPS “mouse” it is a “USB stick”, the size of average external flash drive, though it feels a bit heftier. It fits well into my netbook and avoids messing with wires. That said, one drawback may be that it requires additional space to the side of netbook, least it catches onto something and pops out of the USB socket. No big deal though, it can be plugged right back in – and no harm done. PolarCOM will reacquire the connection shortly.

All in all another good option, available on Amazon for about $35.