Garmin GPSMap 76cx and Win 8: live navigation?

[Dr Conrad Zimsky]

I have a client who has thrown at me the task of configuring his Win 8 ultrabook to use his Garmin GPSMap 76cx as a live positioning source for (computer) onscreen navigation. He loves Navionics on his iPad and wants a similar solution for Win 8.

The Bluechart program will send waypoints and routes to and from the GPS, but won't display a blinking red dot with his current position and/or track.

He is in Canada, but wants a solution for CDN and US charts, and doesn't want to spend four (or more) digits. Does anyone have a good suggestion?

Many, many advTHANKSance for your help.

 

[Snore]

I have used OpenCpn on a Lenovo running win8. The locations comes in from the Garmin map 76 grayscale through the USB and a serial-USB connector. I also bounce the AIS data in through mad man wifi.

What I like the best is I can download waypoints to the 76 at night and use the 76 at the helm mounted on a motor cycle mount versus the bulkhead mounted chartplotter.

 

[seaker]

I have done the same thing with Offshore Navigator and MaxSea. I think your issue is the Blue Chart program will not display position. These others will. You can get the charts for the US free as a download. Canada is a different story. They will cost a fair amount.

 

[mbuller]

I use a surface 2 pro with a BU-353 S4 USB puck with Open CPN or Polar Navy (a ~$50 program)

My Garmin 76c is at the helm

 

[TCNav]

There is some free software from garmin that can make your 76cx do 0183 over usb. PC nav packages are the expensive bit.

 

[us7070]

you need the driver for USB communication

http://www8.garmin.com/support/collection.jsp?product=010-00468-00

 

[Dr Conrad Zimsky]

I have used OpenCpn on a Lenovo running win8. The locations comes in from the Garmin map 76 grayscale through the USB and a serial-USB connector. I also bounce the AIS data in through mad man wifi.

What I like the best is I can download waypoints to the 76 at night and use the 76 at the helm mounted on a motor cycle mount versus the bulkhead mounted chartplotter.

Thank you! OpenCPN looks very promising and certainly does talk to the GPSMap 76cx.

 

[Dr Conrad Zimsky]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. A little fine tuning and my 15 year old BC charts may even work!