G'day peoples.
I am having problems trying to purchase charts from the Navionics website (ie, without a card to insert) onto my laptop. I'm running Windows 8 64 bit.
I want to use it as a back up to my primary charting system.
No, I don't want to buy an Ipad. 
I have downloaded the "chart installer" from the Navionics website and it keeps asking me to insert my card. I don't have a card because I want to buy the charts from them online.
Has anyone ever done this?
Advice regarding the above would be appreciated!
Thanks.
www.navionics.com/usa/support/compatibility-guides/chart-installer
it states windows XP for a chart installer which would be to load it on to a sd card to place in a different device
further searching revealed the link below
www.navionics.com/en/news/windows-tablets-and-pcs-now-compatible-navionics-boating-app
Id say you go to the windows App store to down load Navionics app for windows 8.1 and above
I will never know as I don't do app stores ever
The Navionics windows app is no longer available. http://www.navionics.com/en/news/windows-app-removal
The Navionics planner for PC is also withdrawn.
I don't think you can just download the charts. You need to buy a Navionics SD/CF card and then use compatible software like
www.navigationplanner.com/
if you want just a planner, or get a PC based Nav system like:
www.digitalyachtamerica.com/index.php/en/products/software/smartertrack/product/69-smartertrack-2014-software
There is Navionics for tablets (Apple or Android) that is only useful for navigation if the device has an inbuilt GPS chip. Will not work with an external plugged in GPS puck.
Then there is Navionics for chart plotters which can be updated via internet with a computer but will not work on a computer.
I think they have put a code in it to prevent it being used on a computer so that it can not be copied and passed around.
Navionics for Android is less than $20 for all Aus and NZ which is a bargain.
Select to expand quotecisco said..
There is Navionics for tablets (Apple or Android) that is only useful for navigation if the device has an inbuilt GPS chip. Will not work with an external plugged in GPS puck.
Navionics on an iPad definitely works with an external Bluetooth GPS (i have a Bad Elf Pro)...
That is interesting. Before I bought it Navionics was saying a device would need a built in. Maybe bluetooth gets around the usual com port issue.
I'm glad that this subject came up.
I just bought one of these gismos for $40 odd www-gps2003-com.membership.editmysite.com/login which is supposed to turn your laptop or computer into a GPS receiver. Ive not tried it out yet and probably wont for a while but if you have a look at the splurb on the website it would appear that it will operate with a whole range of programs:
Garmin Map, AutoRoute, Streets & Trips, Google Map, Google Earth, Map King, TomTom, Navman, Magellan, SeaClear, Marine ChartPlotter, Memory, Waypoint, Explorer,
The intention was to be able to use it with Navionics but if they wont play then I can use one of the above. I already have the Navionics on the Lowrance and on my Ipad Air. Unfortunately the Ipad does not have GPS capability, only works of cell towers, which is why I bought this antenna.
Ill let you know how it goes when I get back to the old girl and get her out on the water.
Yes aware of that Loose. As I say when I bought it I thought I would be able to use it in conjunction with Navionics on my lap top.
I'm going to download a freebie to see if it works before forking out any more cash. Oh and I have my phone as well which has already got Navionics on it so it's not as though it is urgent.
What I was hoping for when I thought I could use Navionics on my laptop was to be able to get the computer to communicate with the chart plotter so that I could do all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff.
Which in reality is way beyond my technical capability 
What I have got which I'm very excited about is a Vexilar Tpod!
I have the Navionics PC app which I downloaded before they withdrew it - great for transferring waypoints & routes etc to my plotter.
I wonder why they withdrew it!!!
I was going to try to transfer all the files/folder to my boat lappy & hoped it would work!!
I am quite happy with OpenCPN tho - right price too :)
I use a BU-353S4 SiRF Star IV USB GPS Receiver FOR LAPTOP - works well.
Select to expand quoteLazzarae said..
I have the Navionics PC app which I downloaded before they withdrew it - great for transferring waypoints & routes etc to my plotter.
I wonder why they withdrew it!!!
I was going to try to transfer all the files/folder to my boat lappy & hoped it would work!!
I am quite happy with OpenCPN tho - right price too :)
I use a BU-353S4 SiRF Star IV USB GPS Receiver FOR LAPTOP - works well.
Lucky you!
I have the same Laptop GPS receiver as you do, I just need to find a charting package I can apply it to on my laptop.
As I have mentioned, it is a back up to my Chartplotter which is running Navionics at the moment. If the chartplotter stops working I want to refer to my laptop for charting. If my laptop fails as well, then its time to get out the pencil and paper charts! 
I gave you openCPN all the files and charts should be there? Didn't we test it with my GPS dongle?
It maybe the case I didn't download all the charts but I'm sure it did as it took me a couple of hours.
This is why I went out and brought a iPad and downloaded the navionics app.
years ago I used Cmap and can recal the same problems.
Don at Yorkeys knob QLD put openCPN on my laptop he does computers and owns the boat chandlery you could give him a buzz is always very helpful.
Select to expand quoteNowandZen said..Lazzarae said..
I have the Navionics PC app which I downloaded before they withdrew it - great for transferring waypoints & routes etc to my plotter.
I wonder why they withdrew it!!!
I was going to try to transfer all the files/folder to my boat lappy & hoped it would work!!
I am quite happy with OpenCPN tho - right price too :)
I use a BU-353S4 SiRF Star IV USB GPS Receiver FOR LAPTOP - works well.
Lucky you!
I have the same Laptop GPS receiver as you do, I just need to find a charting package I can apply it to on my laptop.
As I have mentioned, it is a back up to my Chartplotter which is running Navionics at the moment. If the chartplotter stops working I want to refer to my laptop for charting. If my laptop fails as well, then its time to get out the pencil and paper charts!
My mate has Open CPN on his PC with a Sirf 4 GPS puck and a set of old C-Map charts for the world. About 1994 version I think. The charts are obviously out of date re lights and marks but I don't think much has changed geographically in the last 20 years.
When you get to Bundaberg you can have a copy of the CMap charts if you want. The good thing with Open CPN is that you can swap between chart systems.
So Open CPN will give you screen real estate and if you are backing up with hand held and paper charts you should be OK.
