Unlike many charting and navigation packages, VNS does not include charts. Or more precisely, it does include charts (on the World Folio disc) but you can only display them after you purchase an unlock key (either as a code or by using a hardware dongle). Therefore, any purchase of VNS will typically also include the purchase of Passport Deluxe Charts-for the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, or the Bahamas-or Passport World Charts for more extensive international cruising.

Note that in order to use Passport charts you must own a Passport boxed set. Obtaining charts, although it is an online registration process, is not an online download. You must have the physical media first.

Passport Deluxe Charts come in three boxed sets: U.S. regions for $250 each; Canadian regions for $300 each; and the Bahamas/Bermuda regions for $350 each. Each region includes Passport World Charts (vector charts), navigation photos, bathymetric maps, a database of ports and services database and BSB raster charts, if they are available for the region you purchase. A boxed set includes an unlock voucher for one region. You can later purchase Chart Permits for additional regions. For long-distance cruisers, be aware that each $250 region covers a relatively small area. For example, Region 2 only covers Maine to Block Island, Rhode Island.

While Passport Deluxe Charts include raster format charts, vector format charts are Nobeltec's strength and emphasis. If you frequently use raster charts, which many boaters like for their traditional look, be aware that those included with the Passport set may be dated. Our copy, which shipped directly from Jeppesen only a couple of weeks prior, contained BSB chart versions dating back to 1997. If you rely on raster charts, we suggest installing the latest BSB chart files, which are available as a free download from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or as an entire 1,000-plus chart catalog for under $50 from any NOAA-certified chart distributor.

LOOK AND FEEL

Although Nobeltec's multi-step process of voucher codes and chart permits may seem complicated at first, it becomes logical as you proceed through their straightforward directions. The installation includes a Setup Wizard for both the software and for a GPS. The entire process-installing the application, entering a site key, registering, redeeming a voucher, installing World Folio 34, installing the supplemental data, and connecting a GPS and autopilot-took less than an hour.

After installing the Passport vector charts for the regions you purchased, you then have the option of installing the supplemental data, which includes 3D displays and navigational photos, as well as raster and bathymetric charts. This data requires a lot of space on your hard drive, but you can customize your choices to load only those files you want. Expand a category by clicking on the "+" symbol next to the category heading, then select specific files or geographic areas to install.

Like most charting and navigation programs, VNS uses a combination of toolbars, menus, and floating windows. It scores very high marks for its customizable Toolbar and Console, which includes 89 Toolbar button and 41 Console panel choices. Once your Toolbar and Console are customized, a Save User Interface command lets you maintain different user interfaces for different vessels, helmsmen or boating conditions such as fishing or long voyages.

VNS includes many icons to label your information. But as we have recommended for other software packages, we'd love to see an "icon palette" so users could define a subset of frequently used icons.

In Tools>Options>Depth you can customize the color and font size for depth soundings. Customizing sounding text with color adds an extra visual warning, especially when panning over a zoomed-out chart.

However, the customizability of the Toolbar and Console does not extend to the layout of the screen. "Screen real estate" has been one of our important benchmarks throughout this series, as screen clutter makes navigation more difficult. VNS loses about a third of the screen to the combined areas of the Toolbar, NavBar, and Console. Of course, you can choose to turn the NavBar or Console off, but then you forfeit valuable visual information-not a good compromise. In addition, these data windows cannot be resized or repositioned, a standard option in Windows displays.

As expected from a program now on a ninth version, VNS includes quite a few shortcuts or "Hot Keys." However, it does not include a standard Windows "Undo" or Multiple-Undo command. Jeppesen Marine provides a nice two-page list of all VNS and Admiral Hot Keys, downloadable as a PDF (see link below).

WORKING WITH CHARTS

Nobeltec software is designed to be used in conjunction with its proprietary cartography. In fact, it's unclear why one would use VNS or Admiral without Nobeltec's Passport vector charts.

VNS is compatible with all Passport charts, including Passport World Charts, Passport Deluxe data, Passport Bathy Maps and Nobeltec Navigation Photos. VNS also works with some other chart vendors and formats, including SoftChart (GEO/NOS format), Maptech BSB, and NDI DigitalOcean charts.

However, the handling of S-57 vector charts is a bit more complicated. We did successfully install United States S-57s, however, VNS converts them to its proprietary vector format during the loading process. It took more than 30 minutes to convert 619 NOAA vector files. Unfortunately, if you already own international S-57 or S-63 vector charts, or international raster charts such as ARCS or Seafarer, VNS does not support or allow permits for these formats. For international cruising, you would need to purchase and use Nobeltec's Passport World Charts exclusively.