iPad Chartplotter

[whackywoody]

Hi, thanks for the replies and I apologise in advance for being thick!

I would like to use an iPad with navionics for navigation but I also want to know what the actual water depth is directly under the boat at that point I time and therefore do not want to rely on a GPS position and approxiamiation!

I think from every bodies response above I will therefore need to purchase a seperate depth transducer and screen read out as an IPAD with Navionics will not have this capability.

Thanks everybody for your responses

[A1an]

I have the Navionics app on my iPad (no SIM version) and the app only works when I'm in wireless coverage.


I was under the impression that you need cell coverage to get full advantage of the app?

[biffer]

Originally Posted by A1an

I have the Navionics app on my iPad (no SIM version) and the app only works when I'm in wireless coverage.

I was under the impression that you need cell coverage to get full advantage of the app?

My ipad is 3G with sim, but it still worked half way across the channel with no service, it would be pointless buying a navionics package that would only work when you have cell coverage, I'll check with navionics but I think I'm right

[biffer]

Been through the menu and there is no mention of cell cover just GPS

[ppenman]

For ipad 2 & 3 if you don't have a 3G iPad you will only get a gps fix if

A) you're connected to wifi (not very useful at sea)
B) you're. connected to a GPS receiver. This is what I do.

However, I'm not sure about the ipad4 or mini.

[longjohn]

Originally Posted by ppenman

For ipad 2 & 3 if you don't have a 3G iPad you will only get a gps fix if

A) you're connected to wifi (not very useful at sea)
B) you're. connected to a GPS receiver. This is what I do.

However, I'm not sure about the ipad4 or mini.

Exactly the same.

iPad/iPhone may be useful as an emergency backup - but with all the extra bits you need to make them suitable for sustained use it's cheaper & more effective to have a dedicated built in plotter & if necessary a hand held backup. iPhones/iPads are far too fragile for serious use in a marine/rib environment. Fabulous as they both are they are not 'all things to all men' - it's horses for courses, I say.

[biffer]

I agree with that but you're assuming that we're all bouncing around on ribs, it's a very good back up for all the other boats that I get on, as you get the same package on your iPhone by default that's good too, my ipad and iphone goes with me most places, certainly when I'm in France or out on a boat, have waterproof bags for both of them, you may think that this is sad but if you use them to there full potential they are a good tool, I book flights, marinas, buy on eBay, email, bill jobs, do all my paper from anywhere, I can even print at home when I'm away, they are a good tool

[longjohn]

Thats why I said 'marine/rib' - In larger cabin equipped boats it may be a different tale. But hey this id Ribnet and there are not that many cabin ribs here (I know you have one of them!)

[biffer]

I use on this as well

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by A1an

I have the Navionics app on my iPad (no SIM version) and the app only works when I'm in wireless coverage.


I was under the impression that you need cell coverage to get full advantage of the app?

Let's be clear on this - you don't have a GPS built in to your IPAD!!!!!

The only way you can get any sort of position is by seeing different telephone masts and the Ipad works out where it is from them - not from a GPS. There are some 3rd party Bluetooth GPS units that you can buy which will give you very good position information - I would even think about trying to use your Ipad for navigation except in a dire emergency!

If you have bought the Ipad with WiFi and 3g you would have a GPS like Biffer.

[Brian]

Cookee,

What about Bad Elf though?
Doesn't that give you a GPS signal, direct to you App. without having 3G built in and not using Bluetooth?
And isn't it accurate?

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by Brian

Cookee,

What about Bad Elf though?
Doesn't that give you a GPS signal, direct to you App. without having 3G built in and not using Bluetooth?
And isn't it accurate?

That is a 3rd party external unit - I think it gets it's position information to the Ipad via Bluetooth but as I have no need for one I have no direct experience.

Having found their website they do both! Bad Elf » GPS for iPad and iPod touch shows a plug in device or they do a Bluetooth one with more features - take your pick!

Just make sure it is compatible with your model of Ipad - they are all different!

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by whackywoody

Hi, thanks for the replies and I apologise in advance for being thick!

I would like to use an iPad with navionics for navigation but I also want to know what the actual water depth is directly under the boat at that point I time and therefore do not want to rely on a GPS position and approxiamiation!

I think from every bodies response above I will therefore need to purchase a seperate depth transducer and screen read out as an IPAD with Navionics will not have this capability.

Thanks everybody for your responses

Not quite true. It is possible to have a depth transducer outputting information which is then passed via wifi to an iPad, which can then display it as a numerical value. However, this information can't be overlayed ontop of the Navionics chart like you can on a proper chartplotter, because it has to have its own separate app.

This is what you want for mounting, very neat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYUaLaV9dNc

[martini]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Not quite true. It is possible to have a depth transducer outputting information which is then passed via wifi to an iPad, which can then display it as a numerical value. However, this information can't be overlayed ontop of the Navionics chart like you can on a proper chartplotter, because it has to have its own separate app.

Another option is to use iNavx on your iPad, similar to Navionics but also displays realtime info from N2K devices if your network has an N2K to wifi gateway. Although by the time you've done all this you could buy 2 plotters for the same money!

[whackywoody]

Thanks Gotchi Guy,

At last somebody answers the question, not sure about the super duper storage / mount. I like the idea of buying an IPAD to do the chartplotter function as I don't see the point in spending £400+ on a chart plotter which can only be used on rare occasions - (any 1 of my 2 boats at present)

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Not quite true. It is possible to have a depth transducer outputting information which is then passed via wifi to an iPad ...

Does this device also provide a WiFi LAN?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Not quite true. It is possible to have a depth transducer outputting information which is then passed via wifi to an iPad, which can then display it as a numerical value. However, this information can't be overlayed ontop of the Navionics chart like you can on a proper chartplotter, because it has to have its own separate app.

This is what you want for mounting, very neat:

I dread to think how much

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by Leapy

Does this device also provide a WiFi LAN?

Digital Yacht - Light Years Ahead

I imagine so however I don't think you can share internet from it although the "BoatraNET" product does this and internet too I think. It's not only digital yacht that offer this kind of device

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Digital Yacht - Light Years Ahead

I imagine so however I don't think you can share internet from it although the "BoatraNET" product does this and internet too I think. It's not only digital yacht that offer this kind of device

Jeez .. iPad plus WiFi enabled depth reading device (cost unknown) plus digital yacht at £400 = a lot

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by Leapy

Jeez .. iPad plus WiFi enabled depth reading device (cost unknown) plus digital yacht at £400 = a lot

You don't need a special depth sounder, just any NMEA 2000 one. They are around £150.

+ digital yacht at £375, total of £525 brings you to about the cost of a small 5" plotter which has just about the same functionality but in a slightly less neat package. I don't think it's appropriate for open RIBs but for a larger cabin boat I can definitely see the attraction.

It would only be attractive if you already had the ipad so the cost of that doesn't come into it.