iPad Plotter/AIS - Again

[whisper]

I know this has been talked about before but I've been messing about with my iPad which I seem to be using less and less. The plan is to have it as a back up or on the cabin wall it's a SIM card iPad with no sim installed at present.

First thing was the Navionics app (quite expensive) which allows you to plan at home, even auto route.

Next lifeproof waterproof case now just £29 from Tesco eBay

Ram mount which was prob £35 + p&p from ram mounts.

Downloaded an AIS app, but there are so many out there now I'll have to read up on a few. Prob download a few and test on the water.

Overall I'm quite happy, prob no good for a smaller rib but an iPad mini might be?

Who else has tried this?










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[Pikey Dave]

Don't you need an internet connection for the ais app to work?


Sh1t happens

[Poly]

Whisper, not sure about the Ipad, but certainly my phone is impossible (not just hard but totally impossible) to read in landscape orientation if you have polarised sunglasses on (I guess the polarisation on the lenses is not always in the same plane, so some glasses may be worse in portrait). Something to consider when mounting it.

[Bucksribster]

I use an ipad mini with Navionics. Waterproof case and velcro mount to the dash. Works really well, and I can see it with polaroids when in landscape. No experience of AIS.

[whisper]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Don't you need an internet connection for the ais app to work?


Sh1t happens

Yes you're probably right (thumbs)


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[whisper]

Originally Posted by Poly

Whisper, not sure about the Ipad, but certainly my phone is impossible (not just hard but totally impossible) to read in landscape orientation if you have polarised sunglasses on (I guess the polarisation on the lenses is not always in the same plane, so some glasses may be worse in portrait). Something to consider when mounting it.

I was more worried about the sun reflection from the glass screen. You can't use a full screen protector with this case as it seals to the glass, but I don't see why I couldn't cut one down if I find a anti reflection screen protector


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[whisper]

Originally Posted by Bucksribster

I use an ipad mini with Navionics. Waterproof case and velcro mount to the dash. Works really well, and I can see it with polaroids when in landscape. No experience of AIS.

Cool glad I'm not wasting my time


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[whisper]

Someone also just told me that this app is really good and also you can overlay AIS, maps look cheaper than Navionics too but think you have to pay for the AIS bit too...

http://www.isailor.us/


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[neil.mccrirrick]

So I've been thinking about this. GPS on tablets is helped by phone signals as the gps on them is weak. And clearly at sea you lose signal

This https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/prod109827.html

Seems to be the solution to that connects by Bluetooth to it

[neil.mccrirrick]

But more kit not designed to get wet on an open boat that gets wet...... All good then lol

[Poly]

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

But more kit not designed to get wet on an open boat that gets wet...... All good then lol

Whisper has a cabin rib so a somewhat different prospect from a SR4.

GPS on tablets is helped by phone signals as the gps on them is weak. And clearly at sea you lose signal

So as I understand it the cell signal helps (1) You download the almanac - only required on first turning it on (2) you get a position quicker (as you have an initial guess). Whilst at sea you MAY not have cell coverage (I suspect its not bad on the S. Coast), but you also are less likely to have buildings, etc to obscure the sat. signal.

I understand tablets are reasonably commonly used by yachties in their cabins?

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

So I've been thinking about this. GPS on tablets is helped by phone signals as the gps on them is weak. And clearly at sea you lose signal

What makes you say GPS on a phone/tablet is weak?

I thought they used the cell towers to get an approximate fix which meant they could get a quicker first fix with the sats as the phone already had an idea where it was.

[neil.mccrirrick]

They do and that's why they are quick, but once you lose the towers the gps to satellite signal is pants so you need to boost it or treat this as a backup. Unless you will always be in mobile phone coverage. Won't work for me as we cruise west coast of Scotland


Sent from my iPad using my finger

[whisper]

Ok, so if an external GPS is required will it connect to a Raymarine Wi-fish via wifi at the same time? Or is the wifi one device at a time?




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[neil.mccrirrick]

The garmin connects by Bluetooth so your all good re the wifi. It will all work definitely 👍

[neil.mccrirrick]

Bluetooth the tablet to get gps to the plotter software. Wifi to the sounder and Bob is ur uncle

[neil.mccrirrick]

Here is Bob. Sorry couldn't resist 😄

[mick]

Nah you need a for iPad £99

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

They do and that's why they are quick, but once you lose the towers the gps to satellite signal is pants so you need to boost it or treat this as a backup. Unless you will always be in mobile phone coverage. Won't work for me as we cruise west coast of Scotland


Sent from my iPad using my finger

Is it. Or is it positional? A fixed GPS has a horizontal antenna face. How is the phone or pad intended to be held when GPSing.

So on an open (but rolling) sea with no major sky obstructions ... im sorry unless you can point me to a reasonably scientifically run study I'm not convinced.

I have no major pad experience but plenty phone experience with sat pos and I would say in reasonably clear sky I will be showing 8-12 sats no problems, with flight mode enabled. 4 is usually enough for a 100m pos so 8 will get you to +/-15m easily. That's the size of a boat radius... 3m or less doable on calm sea

[neil.mccrirrick]

The chip in the phone is a low power option due to the phone battery having several other things to manage. Getting a fix going to airplane mode and doing a test is not the same as being out of coverage and doing a "cold start". You could easily find it takes 20 mins or more to get a fix. Plus the aerial isn't dedicated so there is another problem

I can't find compelling evidence that says you can rely on a phone gps so it's out. Even using the garmin glo I would treat as back up with an old plotter I was going to upgrade while I tested it. Whole set up if you already have a tablet is cheap circa £2-300 for plotter sounder combo but unproven