We built the computer system to be redundant. We decided to have two different computer systems, one a laptop, the other a desk top. We chose the laptop because of it's low current consumption. We chose the desktop because we wanted to interface many different devices to one machine and a laptop was not a good alternative to that. We also chose the desktop because we wanted to have a fully mirrored system to swap out our primary disk if our drive should fail. In addition, we purchased a spare desktop and cannibalized it for parts. Thus we have spare parts for each component of the desktop. This was a less expensive way of procuring spares. We simply removed the parts and the motherboard from the computer and tossed the chassis. We also have two other laptops on board. One is used for keeping personal and financial records and information and the other is used as a debugging / testbed and of course, either can be substituted for the primary navigation computer. (Comment after 5 years - Although the desktop spares strategy was sound and was a good solution for the first few years, in the long term it did not work well. When we recently (2005) inventoried our computer hardware, we found that the capacitors in the spare motherboard for the desktop had somehow been destroyed which made the motherboard worthless. Eventually we had to replace our disk drives. Two technology improvements impacted the hot swapable, mirrored system approach: Because it was difficult to get the necessary configuration replacements in 3rd world countries we wound up buying new external disk drives that had much higher capacity than the original disk drives and the new drives supported a USB 2.X interface, making interfacing of disk drives easy. Now we have 1/4 gigabyte of storage capacity, enough for all of our software, electronic charts and digital pictures (and this website.) Also, with the advent of USB technology and workable serial port to USB interfaces (Keyspan has provided very reliable interface) the need for the complex and expensive serial port interface from Equinox was not required. The Equinox board for the desktop only came as a full sized board requiring a large foot print desktop. By eliminating the Equinox board in favor of the USB hub, the large foot print desktop is no longer necessary. Consideration is being given to getting a small foot print desktop to replace the current machine, but as of this writing (Jan 2006) the desktop is running very well and we will hold off on replacing it.)

The Desktop is used primarily for communications:

Ham E-mail

SailMail

IMARSAT-C

WxFax (JVCom via the PTCII)

Ray Marine Grib File (Weather) downloads

Nobeltec VNS weather simulations

It is also the repository for:

Our digital pics and supporting application software

Our Web site development system

Dive Computer (SCUBA) interface and stats

Other onboard applications

The Laptop is used primarily for Navigation and Satellite Weather:

Nobeltec VNS Version 8.0

Satellite Weather Capture (Via Ocens - APT)

WxFax (Ocens)

Other System Considerations:

Computer system audio is connected to vessel stereo system for DVD and MP3 audio playback.

Excess of 1/4 Terra Bytes of hard disk storage supports a world-wide portfolio of Raster Charts from various vendors, APT satellite downloads, e-mail records, and multiple years of digital pictures and website versions as well as backups for the above

CD R-W units allow us to make permanent backups in addition to the disk drive system & hardware backup drives

DVD R-W units allow us to make permanent backups in addition to the disk drive system and hardware backups.

The three active computer systems are Bluetooth enabled and can share resources, primarily the printer and the CD R-W unit. and the DVD R-W unit

The locker containing the computer tower is protected from overheating by a custom designed cooling system.

The locker containing the inverter is protected from overheating by a custom designed cooling system with an automatic, digitally controlled, temperature system.

Equipment

HP Pavilion 9680C Desktop w DVD & RW-CD Win 98

Dell 9200 1 GB Memory running XP Pro SP2

Toshiba Satellite Pro running XP Pro

Toshiba Laptop 405 Win 98

Casio Cassiopeia Pocket PC with docking station

Dual Source Amplifier and Switch for Cockpit Touch screen Monitor - switching 2 video sources to 1 monitor (Currently not used)

Nuaticomp Daylight LCD Cockpit Monitor

HP PSC 1315 All-in-one Printer/Digitizer/Fax

External R/W CDROM

External DVD R/W

Canon Scanner

Keyspan Serial to USB Port

Keyspan Serial to USB 4 port Hub

Techline USB 4 Port Expander Hub 2.0

Entegra USB 4 Port Hub Expander 1.0

Belkin USB 8 Port Expander Hub 1.0

UPS Power Supply

Logitec Wireless Keyboard & Mouse

Logitech Live Man Mouse

Logitech Cordless Mouseman Pro

Kensington PocketMouse Pro Wireless

Midi /USB Cable (Computer - Electric Keyboard)

1 HP Pavilion 968OC Desktop computer Greg Vance 941 275-9119 GCVance@HotMail.com Runs Comm Equipment (IMARSAT-C, Pactor III, Wx Fax Downloads, Hot Swapable for Navigation System (See Argonaut below), mass storage backup, Graphics Applications, Dive Computer Interface, Web Site Development, Digital Camera, Dive Computer	2 Serial Ports + 8 Virtual Ports (Equinox) 2 USB Ports 1 Parallel Port Modem 56 KB Cold Swapable Disk Drive (Mirrored System) Intel Anypoint Network DVD R/W CDROM	Spares include Mother Board, Power Supply, DVD, R/W CDROM, 80 Gig Hard Drive , Keyboards, Mice, Serial Port, Floppy Drive
Toshiba Sat Pro (1995) Used as Test equipment for NMEA Interfacing and backup to IMARSAT-C Communications	1 Serial Port 1 Parallel Port 12USB Port Modem, BT, WiFi External R/W CDROM Internal Modem 56KB Docking station Windows 95
Dell Laptop (2005) Model: 9200 Runs Navigation Software, Ocens Software, Interface to Pocket PC, Interface to Digital Scanner, Digital Camera Express Code: 15940267561 Service Tag: 7BMF961	1 PCMCIA Port 4 USB Ports Modem 5KB6 DVD/CD RW Drive Modem, BT, WiFi 17 Inch LCD Screen
Toshiba Laptop 405 Satellite (2003) Model: M15-S405 Runs Accounting and Personal Applications and	2 Serial Ports 1 Parallel Port 430711118P Windows XP Pro-SP2
Casio Cassiopeia Pocket PC E-125 Runs Maptech Navigation Software w GPS Interface; Celestial Navigation Software, & contains DVD & Other ships lists of data	Includes Docking Station Battery Replacements 32 MB of internal RAM, expandable using CompactFlash memory cards Synchronize to your desktop with rapid USB data transfer Color screen with 240 x 320 in 65,536 color Includes Microsoft Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Money, Pocket Internet Explorer
Nauticomp 40 Lindsay Street South Lindsay, Ontario, Canada K9V2L8 705 328-2992 705 328-2990 Sales@Nauticomp.com - Ryan Moore Support@Nauticomp.com	Infinity Daylight Series Displays Displays designed for shaded helm conditions - Brightness 500 cd/m2 nits - Pedestal, Flush or optional Embedded Mountings - Variety of sizes to choose from - NMEA 6/IP67 Sealed - Configured for AC or DC Power - Engineered Heat Dissipation - Optional Upgrade to provide a Second Input for composite video and multiple resolution - Optional Upgrade to provide Dim To Red or night vision	Daylight LCD Cockpit Sunlight Series Monitor 12" TFT Model: 18-1210 S/N:18-1210016
Nauticomp 12 Volt DC Power Regulator	For Nauticomp LCD unit above 12V to 12V Regulation / Noise Suppression
Printer	HP 5943 Series DeskJet Photo Printer S/N: C9017C
Printer	HP PSC 1315 All-in-One 970 635-1500 S/N: Q5765-60014
Printer	Canon BJC 4300 800 423-2366
Quatech	4 Port Serial I/O Expander Quatech - 800 553-1170 Purchased from Capt'n Jacks 800 227-5225
Live Man Mouse	Logitech (+ 1 spare)	800 231-7717 702 269-3457 Customer Service
Casecom	80 GigaByte 3.5 " External Box Model HDC-7320 S/N: LC-050510-003483
Casecom	160 GigaByte 3.5 " External Box Model HDC-7320 S/N: LC-050510-003482
Tecom	BlueTooth Dongle BT3035
Cordless Mouseman Pro	Logitech (+2 spares)	800 231-7717 702 269-3457 Customer Service
Kensington Pocket Mouse	Pro Wireless
8 Port Serial I/O Expander	Equinox Model SST-8P Part # 990301 List $545 -25%	954 746-9000 x322 (Hot Line) 800 275-3500 x322 (Hot Line) Sales: Mark X234 (Alt -247) Support@Equinox.COM
Keyboard & Mouse Combo	Keytronics Wireless Keyboards (+ 2 spare keyboards)	800 262- 6006 3808 N Sullivan Rd. Bldg. 17 SIP Spokane Washington 99216
Keyboard & Mouse Combo	Belkin Target Belkin Wireless RF Mouse and Keyboard Bundle - F8E815-BNDL
USB Hub 1	Entrega	4 Port Expansion 1.0
USB Hub 2	Belkin	8 Port (In Reserve as Spare)
USB Hub 3	Techline	4 Port Expansion 2.0
USB to Serial Port Interface	Keyspan USA-19QW http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/USA19HS/
USB to Serial Port Hub (Quantity 2)	Keyspan cdwsales@web.cdw.com http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/USA49w/ 4 serial ports per unit Model 452774	Part# USA-49WLC
Transas Dongle	Nobeltec	0053-000000---21-037249
Disk Cleaner	Amazon.com Allsop Pro Laser-Lens Cleaner Electronics
Canon LiDE 80 USB2.0 Color Scanner	With photo and film scanning Allstarshop
Zyxel Wireless USB 2.0 AP Adapter	http://www.zyxel.com/product/model.php?indexcate=1085455224

Product	Company	Phone	Comment
Trellix	Global Scape	800 290 5054	089910-WEB-80025-501812
Cute Site Builder	Global Scape	800 290 5054	A8EWYGTHR98MC8
Microsoft Office	Microsoft	800-900-0683	Word, Excel, Access, etc.
System Works	Norton		General PC Health
Power DVD	Cyberlink		DVD Player
Real Player	Real Player		Music
VNS	Nobeltec		Navigation
Mozilla Firefox	Mozilla Firefox		Internet Browser
Quick Time Player	Quick Time		Video
Airmail	Airmail		Email
Getfax & Viewax	Airmail		Fax & GRIB
Ray Tech	Ray Marine		Grib Files Viewer
System 2000	Ocens		Wx & Satellite Receiver
Spybot			Kills bacteria
Adobe Reader	Adobe
Visual Passage Planner	Digital Wave	+1-215-493-7463 877-5-DIGWAVE	Digital Wave P.O. Box 326 Fort Monmouth, NJ 07703 USA
SKYPE	SKYPE		PC-based telephony
DVDShrink	DVDShrink		DVD copy software
Smart Trac	Uwatec		Dive Software
Cakewalk Express	12 Tone Systems		Midi Interface Software
AllWays Sync	Backup Software	USVXP-3E85-3D6D-073B-832D	usov@syncapp.com http://www.allwaysync.com/

Laptop	Desktop
- - NS 951 Raytheon WAAS 300 Autopilot Controllers Raytheon Autopilot 6000+ Raytheon Autopilot 7001+ Raytheon SeaTalk Digital Camera Ocens ST2000 Cassiopeia Pocket PC w Maptech Pocket Navigator & Star Navigator -	IMARSAT-C PTC-II Modem NS 951 Raytheon WAAS 300 Autopilot Controllers Raytheon Autopilot 6000+ Raytheon Autopilot 7001+ Raytheon SeaTalk Digital Camera(s) - - - Dive Computer Interface