Celestial Navigation Testimonials for StarPilot



Ken Barker
World Wide Sailor

      The Star Pilot package is absolutely fantastic. I have had the good fortune to complete two voyages across the South Atlantic, the first in the yacht Pelagic Australis and the second via Antarctica in the three masted barque Europa, both were hugely enjoyable voyages. Throughout both voyages I took sun, moon and star sights whenever possible, instead of dreading getting out all the tables I had a position within minutes of taking the final sight thanks entirely to the Star Pilot software installed on a Ti 89. This has huge advantages over a laptop as the skipper does mind if you leave it around the chart table and it is much easier to keep safe and dry. The satisfaction of consistently getting positions within 10 miles of the GPS is very satisfying but on a two month voyage there is also a great deal of pleasure to be gained in planning the star sights each day and entering the results in the log, it is a great way to learn more about the our universe. There are other navigational calcs as well and even though I don't need the rhum line course from Cowes to Lymington I still take the Star Pilot on my coastal cruises.

Excellent piece of kit.

Many Thanks,

Richard
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Cdr Richard Kay
AP Seattle Sail & Power Squadron

      Best software program I've ever had.

Thanks again,

Richard
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M.R. Dixon - Dixon Survey & Navigation

      Thought you might be interested in my use of Starpilot computed Sun Azimuth to check the gyro heading of a jackup rig in the North Sea off the UK (I recently QC'd the move on behalf of ExxonMobil). A quick check on rig heading at the new location was possible as the sun crossed one of the massive legs during the forenoon when viewed from the helideck. An old laser station marked on the deck was directly on the transit ( OK, = range in US speak) formed by the toothed rear edges of the two upright tubulars at the rear of this triangular bow leg. Rig heading was at 90 degrees to the transit defined and the bases of all three legs were on the seabed so everything was rock steady.
      I timed first contact, centre and last contact with wristwatch (set to UTC against the survey GPS ) then averaged the results. I then used Starpilot (on the TI 89) to get the three azimuths and sun semidiameter. See attached note. The result agreed (to within 0.02 of a degree) with a gyro check made using theodolite readings to distant platforms off Denmark a few days before.

Mark

M.R. Dixon
Dixon Survey & Navigation
4 Hughenden Road
Horfield
Bristol BS7 8SG
Phone: +44-(0)117-942-8768
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Sam Train Chief Mate
Sir or Ma'am:

      I am a Chief Mate on board an oil tanker who recently purchased your StarPilot TI-89. I've loved it's ease of use and accurate celestial body information. I've also appreciated the software updates that I can download from your website and install on my calculator. This is definitely the best celestial calculator I've ever owned or used.

Best Regards,

Sam Train
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Expert Navigator Rates StarPilot Best...

      "Every celestial navigator these days needs a computer program - and it pays to get a good one. Of the five commercially available navigation programs I've tried, the best I've found for ease of use, good graphics, number of features, and helpful tech support, is one of the newest - StarPilot-PC. That's the version I use with my Windows system, and a similar one is available for TI hand-held graphing calculators. It can work any problem you'd ever need to solve in celestial navigation, piloting, and the sailings, and it can even do lunars.
      The StarPilot's internal database covers all the years from 1500 to 2100, so it's useful into the foreseeable future, as well as for historical work, checking the computations of famous explorers. And besides all that, it's fun to use."

- Leonard Gray
Author of...
How to Navigate Today
One Hundred Problems in Celestial Navigation - 2nd Edition
Celestial Navigation Planning
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Ed Miller an Ordinary Mortal

      Luis - you have my complete respect and admiration for your work on the calculator. I am an ordinary mortal - a pediatric dentist taking celestial with the Power Squadron in Greensboro, NC. I am is way over my head and loving it . I sail a 21' tri. on the coast of NC and dream of crossing an ocean someday. Your calculator and software are wonderful, your support and never ending help are wonderful. I would be willing to talk to anyone about your product. It is way beyond anything on the market. My USPS instructor is crazy about it, having seen it in operation.

- Ed Miller
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Robert Reeder Submarine Navigator, Instructor, and Sailor

      I have a funny Starpilot story for you. Remember, long ago, when you were demonstrating to me the physical durability of the TI-89 calculator, you basically dropped it on the floor to show me that, barring saltwater, the 89 was basically indestructible? Well, I was teaching a class a couple of weeks ago at Windworks, and did a similar demonstration. It was an accident, but I decided to use it as a "teachable" moment anyway. But when I tried to turn the calculator on, nothing. Took the batteries out and put them back in, nothing. Nice moment. But, on the way home that night I picked up new batteries, and put them in, and everything worked fine. So, dunno what it was about falling onto the floor that killed the batteries, but the calculator (and program) were more durable than the Duracells. So, there you have it.

Thanks again!

Robert
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TI-89 Customer on Calculator Survival

Dear Texas Instruments:

      I left my TI-89 on the roof of my car. It fell onto a busy Los Angeles street and was run over by another vehicle. Remarkably, it survived, and the data I saved in it is still there! Thank you for building such a strong product. I don't know what I would have done without this calculator.

- TI Customer
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