Any one own a Leica Chartplotter? Or have any comments

[flatsangler]

Trying to get some info on Leica Chartplotters. Not much out there especially on accessories needed to make it all work. I found a Leica - MK-40B DGPS w/ MX-421B DGPS Antenna for 1600.00 and a Leica MK 40S GPS Chartplotter for 863.00. What else do I need to go wiht these? What are the advantages of DGPS or GPS or WAAS.

[First Light]

Reason there are no replies is that the Leica units have never been accepted in the marine community primarily due to (1)initial cost and (2)lack of a marine dealer network as there are a lot of other good brands available who do not have these problems. WAAS is the way to go today when you do choose a unit.

[grreatdog]

First Light is right about WAAS. I do not see any point in paying for DGPS because WAAS will give you consistent +/-15' positioning without any problems. I know this from working with GPS data in my profession not from marketing hype. Bear in mind that 15' is less than the displayed position roundoff error in most nav receivers and smaller than most boats. So IMO, any further refinement of your position is really a waste for almost every common marine navigational use. Also, that level of real time accuracy is common from $100 handhelds through our surveying equipment costing several thousand dollars. So spend your money on the best chartplotting capabilites and software you can find instead of DGPS.

[Kerry]

They are not cheap and probably more intended for larger vessels requiring a little bit more flexibility than conventional recreational grade hardware/antennas.

Now that Selective Availability has been discontinued it's no so much any accuracy capability/difference but the integrity and monitoring provided by dGPS that's of more interest for critical navigation.

Cheers, Kerry.

I never get lost, everybody tells me where to go!