Navigatrix

Navigatrix is a free and open source operating system that comprises of various electronic software designed for communication, navigation, information and security, which you can use on shore, offshore, or at anchor. It is lightweight and simple, and uses some of the best features found in the Debian and Ubuntu Linux operating systems.

Available for download as a dual-arch Live DVD

In order to download this Ubuntu/Debian-based distribution of Linux, the user must register a free account on the project’s website (see link above). After registration you’ll get a dual-arch Live DVD ISO image of approximately 2.5GB in size, designed to work out-of-the-box with both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

Boot options

Arrived at the boot screen, the user must choose a boot options. Default boot options include the ability to start the live environment with support for English, Spanish, German or French languages, boot an existing OS from the first disk or reboot the machine.

Simple, clean, lightweight and easy to use graphical desktop environment

The distribution uses LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) as its default and only graphical session, providing users with a simple, clean, lightweight and easy to use desktop environment that comprises of a single panel located on the bottom edge of the screen.

Includes a wide range of navigation software

As mentioned, the main emphasis of this distribution is on boat navigation systems, which means that it includes a wide range of navigation software, among which we can mention several GPS tools, a planetarium software, a tool for celestial navigation, and many others.

Bottom line

Its developers describe it as one of the fastest, most efficient and versatile Linux-based operating systems for navigators and cruisers. Navigatrix can be installed on a hard disk drive or solid state drive, as well as to be used directly from a bootable medium (DVD or USB).

What is new in this release:

• OpenCPN 3.2.2 Chartplotter and all the plug-ins available for Linux
• Chart Converter and Calibration Utility. Make pictures from your paper charts, calibrate them and use them inside OpenCPN.
• zyGrib 6.1.4 Grib Weather Data
• *new* qtVlm 3.4 Sailboat Router. Optimze your route according to current weather condition.
• *new* QGrid 3.0 Distance and Bearing Calculation using QRA Locator or Lat/Lon
• *new* Weather Wizard 3.0.1.3. Superimpose weather fax and grib files to cross check for tropical phenomenons.
• GnuAIS Decoder 0.2.4 integrated into OpenCPN. Turns your old VHF into a fully functional AIS reciever.
• PolarCOM 1.9.6 Full Screen GPS Display
• Matrix Mariner 1.0beta3
• Airmail 3.4.062 for HAM and Sailmail with the latest frequency list and added zyGrib support
• JWX 2.8 and HamFAX 0.8.1 to receive Weather Fax through SSB
• JNX 1.4 Navtex Decoder
• JTides 5.2 Worldwide Tidal Calculator with the latest tide definition files
• WXTide 4.7
• XTide 2.13-1
• Astronomical Almanac 5.6-4
• *new* CelNav 0.2 Celestial Navigation Caclulator and Almanac Interface
• flDigi 3.21.68 and jPSKMail 2.0.30 to send and receive eMails over SSB without a Pactor Modem
• gpsd 3.6-4 supports many GPS receivers out of the box and needs no additional drivers
• gpsbabel 1.4.3 converts your GPS routes and waypoints to many different formats
• gpstrans 0.41-3 communicates with your garmin GPS receiver
• wvdial 1.61-4.1 ready to connect and use your Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro or Iridium Satellite Phone
• *new* XGate 3.85 to use with your compressed email account
• Stellarium 0.12.0-1 complete Planetarium for your actual GPS Location
• Google Earth shows satellite images from the whole world
• Kiwix 0.9rc2 take the whole Wikipedia with you and access it whenever you want without the Internet!
• hdparm 9.43 will turn off your hard drive temporarily while you run Navigatrix from a USB Stick or a Memory Card. This gives you full protection against permanent hard disk damage due engine vibrations and boat movement while under sail.
• redshift 1.7 sets the color temperature according to the position of the sun, click the red light bulb to activate nightvision for all applications, the color will change smoothly to allow your eyes to slowly adapt.
• *new* OSD Depth script to display water depth with big digits above any application.
• *new* Muplex script, an NMEA multiplexer.
• Calibre 0.9.18 Electronic Library ready to connect your eBook reader and convert/transfer all the books you like
• Easy to setup data encryption. So nobody gets your sensitive data if you loose your USB Memory.
• wine-1.6 ... runs Windows Programs too! So you may also install your commercial navigation applications for windows (e.g. visual passage planner runs without a problem, just start the setup using wine and install it as you would in windows)
• DSP enabled Kernel 3.8.11-dsp NON PAE so you can use all the included SSB tools which usually wont run under newer Ubuntu versions
• Free online support
• and many more useful tools for Videos, Music, Pictures, Word Documents, Spreadsheets, Web-browsing, Email, Internet Telephony and Data Rescue....