The Joys and Sorrows of PDA Plotters

PDA’s are becoming a very useful tool for sailors, primarily for navigation purposes. With advancements is battery life, wireless connectivity and software stability, the future for device devices in a yachting context looks very bright.
“Thus the pieces came together for PDA plotting, and in 2001 Maptech introduced Pocket Navigator, the program I’ve been running on an iPaq equipped with a Navman GPS sleeve. It’s a slick package. Before a trip, I boot up the software’s PC module and select the raster charts and topos I want, build routes if needed, and download everything to the handheld’s memory card. Once I’m outdoors or have the iPaq mounted to my boat or car windshield, the GPS acquires position, and the magic begins. Friends looking over my shoulder, particularly ones familiar with regular plotters and/or PC charting, are invariably astounded at how sharp the charts look, how fast they zoom using the control keys, and how smoothly they pan when dragged with a stylus pen or one’s fingertip.”