An iPad Experience

   I wrote in January 2012 about using iNavX and an iPad as an affordable chart plotter. I have yet to procure mine and install. Till I do check out this other bloggers experience.           
  Andrew from the yacht Arabella has written a blog about his experience of using the iPad as his charting display of choice He starts out by saying........

"The loss of my trusty, semi-retired MacBook Pro, as a result of its impromptu shower on the Round The Island Race, had forced me to consider alternative methods of chartplotting. "

His blog is quite jnformative and is aimed more to those whose boating is in Europe; even so, well worth the read for his comment around 5 charting solutions listed here.

• iChart (Solent)
• Marine Imray Charts: English Channel
• Navionics HD UK & Holland
• Memory Map (Free version)
• iNavX

Andrew covers such topics as which iPad to choose; waterproofing and mounting; tides and wind vectors. Overall, lots of photo's, discussion and practical examples given through out. Hop on over to his blog to read more. 

Dry Case for your iThing

Keeping your iPad or even your iThing water proof as we use these items more and more, in the boating environment, has become a challange of sorts. When I move to an iPad for navigation, as back up to my Furuno, this might be the sort of device I use to keep it dry. You can check out most of their details on their web site here.
Also iMarine Apps has just published a post on other forms of iThing protectors. Hop on over to his blog site here to view other choices

Chetco Digital Instruments for Ethernet/Wifi, NMEA2000, Gateway

Pop over to Chetco and have a look at their product range. I've only included a small fraction of what their stuff can do. Intergration of NMEA2000 and 0183 data and streamed wirelessly to your iThing. And a range of after market sensors. Here is a little of what they say and have available. Do go to their web site to get a bigger picture.

{ capture all of your engine data and control your switches }

SeaGauge™ Remote Sensor Interface Units (analog-to-digital converter box): Convert any engine data not provided by your standard ECM (engine control module) to digital NMEA 2000 and/or NMEA 0183 compatible network data.  View and control your data from any SeaGauge touch screen display unit, PC/Laptop, NMEA 2000 displays such as Garmin, Lowrance and Raymarine and iPad, iPhone, Tablet PC’s and a wide range of Smartphones {more}.

SeaSwitch™ Remote Switch Units: Our Remote Switch Units allow touch screen activation of a variety of equipment including NAV Lights, Bilge Pumps, Blowers, Running Light, Spots Lights, Cabin Lights, and much more.  Switch Units provide reliable switching operation via any of the SeaGauge color touch panels or an attached PC/Laptop {more}.

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{ view your live engine data in real-time, from any device }

SeaSmart.NET™ Wireless Modules: Our SeaSmart.NET modules allow all digital and analog data streaming through the NMEA 2000 or NMEA 0183 serial network to be sent to the onboard computer and routed over a local wireless internet server, or built in local intranet, where it can be accessed by multiple, authorized users, through any browser for real-time data display (with no additional apps needed).  All data can be accessed locally (anywhere on the vessel with no outside connection to the internet needed) and/or remotely (for data sharing and logging data via the World Wide Web) from device, such as any smart phone, iPad, or laptop computer {more}.

{ manage from a single, ultra-bright, all weather LCD touch display }

SeaGauge™ All Weather Touch Screen Displays: Display and control your data with one of our high quality display units or with any existing NMEA 2000™ displays (such as Garmin, Lowrance and Raymarine). The user can view multiple instances of 16 function gauge clusters while controlling all of their switches, all from a single, ultra-bright, weather resistant, touch screen display unit {more}.

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{ do it all, and much more }

The SeaPC™: A fanless and solid state PC computer with built in NMEA 2000™ and serial/USB adapters, and a 12V output in order to power your display using the PC.  The SeaPC is optimized to run all of your gauges, switches, and engine log, while controlling your entire music and media center and browsing the Web, all from a single touch screen display.  The SeaPC also allows the user to set-up a wireless network and view all of their digital NMEA 2000 data from multiple devices on the vessel, such as any smart phone, iPad, or laptop computer (without additional licensing fees or third party applications) {more}.

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{ additional: Senders and Adapters }

Senders:  We support a wide range of senders which measure every engine output from temperature to fuel flow using unique calibration tables that make it possible to match any desired range and unit of measure.  Each unit is capable of measuring voltage, resistance, and pulses dependent on chosen sender type. Multiple pulse inputs allow a single gauge to be used for tachometer, speed, and fuel flow - all in one unit. Dual engine tachometers are standard on SeaGauge Sensor Interface Units.  Senders are available in many different thread sizes and termination styles.

Adapters:  Our adapters provided a range of networking options for all SeaGauge products.  Most units have built-in Serial (RS232) and USB interfaces for direct connection to host PC/Laptops to allow configuration and display of instrumentation data, but our adapters allow for Bluetooth, WiFi or Ethernet options for all of your NMEA 0183, Serial or NMEA 2000 data.

New iAIS Receiver and Wireless Mulitiplexer for your iPad

I have shown elsewhere on this blog site, how a wireless multiplexer from Brookhouse, call an iMux, can be used to serve data to your iPad etc. Here is another similar device by Digital Yacht along with a couple of video's to help explain.

Digital Yacht's Description
The world’s first wireless AIS receiver that links wirelessly with the latest iPhone, iPad and iTouch devices. Consisting of a high performance dual channel AIS receiver, an integrated 802.11b+g wireless access point plus a free app downloadable from the Apple App Store, the iAIS brings AIS data to a whole new generation of mobile devices.

iAIS also multiplexes any other NMEA data that is available on board the boat - for instance GPS, depth, speed and wind etc. All of this data is combined with the AIS data into a single wireless feed, that becomes available on any compatible application. By using the boat’s own GPS, even an iTouch or iPad that does not have an internal GPS can now be used for navigation and superior performance will also be seen on an iPhone, which some users have complained suffers from jitter or poor lock-on with its internal GPS.

As well as sending data wirelessly, the iAIS also has an NMEA0183 and USB interface so that you can output data to a PC (via USB) and a dedicated plotter (via NMEA) for larger installations.

The free iAIS app is available from the App store and is a simple AIS display program. For more advanced use, Digital Yacht recommends the iNavX app (www.inavx.com). Compatible with Navionic’s charts, iNavX provides a complete set of navigation functions that turns your Apple device into a full function electronic chart plotter. It supports waypoints, routes and tidal data and is beautifully simple to use. It even overlays GRIB weather data. iNAVx sell and support this app directly and the cost is just $49.95 (click here).

Features;
World’s first wireless AIS and NMEA Data server
Tri-output; WiFi, NMEA 0183 and USB
Multiplexed NMEA input for wireless NMEA data feed of boat’s instrument and GPS data
Free iAIS App for iPhone, iTouch or iPad
Integrated 802.11b+g wireless access point
Fully compatible with popular iNavX navigation application for Apple mobile devices
Rugged IPX5 aluminium housing
Requires VHF antenna or dedicated AIS antenna (available as optional accessory) or splitter
Simple “fit and forget” black box solution

* NOTE - AIS target range, like VHF range is dependent upon a number of installation factors such as; antenna gain, antenna height and size of ground plane. Ranges in excess of 20-30 miles should be possible if all of these factors are perfect.

Weather App for your iPad and iNavX

In traveling around the world, most sailors think of the weather a lot when making passage.  There are various methods to obtain that weather and I'm presenting here Weather 4D.
Whats so interesting for me is that it is another iApp which works on the iPad and is integrated with one of my favourite navigation software iNavX. Not only that, the details of that weather can be obtained by email.
Without further ado, i_Marine apps has a review which can be found here. I've started his review for you with the most pertinent details, but do go over to i_Marine apps to read his full review.

If you spend anytime on the water you become very aware of the weather. I am always looking for tools to help me keep safe while on the water. Weather4D Pro will help even the novice become a professional weatherman. This app brings all the weather you will ever want into one app and allows you to display and analyze weather patterns and systems all over the world. The app's intuitive interface will make it easy to get the latest weather for your area and see predictions up to 8 days out.

 Olivier Bouyssou is the mastermind and developer of the Weather4D PRO app.  He has recently updated it to a Pro model. Version 1.1.1 just came out February 5th and is jam packed with tons of new features and upgrades your going to love.

I previously reviewed the Weather4D app last April and have used it some over the summer. This version seems to be more targeted towards the nautical user who wants to do weather routing on longer passages across the worlds oceans. The integration and importing of GPS routes into the display allows this. If you don't need these routing features purchase Weather4D. Additional GRIB file options of importing, copying, saving and opening in other programs gives you more flexibility to use the weather files. You can also retrieve GRIB files via the Iridium AxcessPoint app with a satellite phone (and other email methods).

Weather  Data Features:
Cloud cover
CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy)
Snow, Rain
Pressure
Wind direction and speed (10 meters above ground)
Temperature (2 meters above ground)
Waves, height, direction and period

Forecast Models Features:
Up to 8 day forecast
Data intervals 3, 12, 24hr
Global Coverage
Resolution .5, 1 and 2 degrees
Data updated every 6 hours

Display Features: 
GRIB file import in .rgb,grb.gz, Grb.bz2
Share GRIB files through the Open In" feature
Worldwide weather
Zonal setup
Temperature color transparency overlays
Isobar transparency overlays
Wind color and transparency overlays
Precipitation amount overlay
Adjustable cloud cover transparency
Wave transparency overlays
Download GRIB files through Iridium phones
Prediction passage of Iridium satellites
Request GRIB files with SailDocs by mail
Import of KML route files from iNavX for display on the forecasts

I ran the app on my iPad and I have to say the bigger screen makes it easier to see all the great features. The main displays is rich is color and detail and it provides the user a wealth of information.
Continued on i_Marine apps ...........

iPhone, iPad navigation softeware; Transas iSailor

Here's an interesting app for your iPhone or iPad, with downloadable charts for almost any region in the world. The app is down loadable for free from the app store and you only pay for what charts you want. The iSailor app is touted as an easy to use charting system for amateur boater. It has the basic features of a GPS navigation and charting program but comes up short of being a full featured program. It is available from Transas iSailor and here is a little introduction...



iMarine apps had this to say about it
Features:

• The iSailor app is free to download from iTunes
• Chart sets are purchased for $4.99 to $24.99 each.
• Chart positioning can use internal GPS or cellular location.
• Charts are provided by Transas's own vector chart format TX-97
• Charts are downloaded from within the app.
• Chart orientation can be changed by twisting you fingers to orient the map anyway you want
• Panning and multi touch capability are utilized to move around the chart
• Soft keys on bottom of app include GPS, Info, Measuring, Record Track, Routes and settings
• Monitors Lat, Long, Course and Speed on a overlay on top of the screen
• Day and night chart coloring

Pros:

I liked the app but there are a few things that I found lacking when compared to some of the other apps in this class.  The bright spot with iSailor are the charts.  I am impressed with the look and feel of the charts themselves. Depths are shown in gradients with different colors.  There seems to be a lot of detail with lights, wreck and points of interest both on the water and shore.

One tap to the screen brings up the soft keys which allows GPS tracking, an information feature, a measuring feature, a track recorder, routing and settings. Tapping the GPS shows the users location on the chart.  The information features brings up a overlay on top of the screen that shows latitude, longitude, course and speed. Page to the right shows just course and speed. Page right again and it shows the active route.
The measuring feature worked by tapping and holding the pinpoint. The indication of distance and bearing is shown on the display. Track recording is turned off and on by tapping the track soft key a REC indication let you know when the tracking is in record mode. 

The routing function works by tapping and holding your finger to create a new point, continue tapping and holding to create additional points in the route. In the saved routes it also has a handy fuel consumption calculator. You can set your cruising speed and fuel consumption and it will calculate how much fuel will be consumed during that route.

Cons:
One thing that was missing was the ability to create and name a waypoints. This seems like a no brainer but maybe I am missing something here.  You can create points in a route and view those but there seems to be no way to rename them as a waypoint. It does have the ability to save and rename a route.  Within routes you can view the points but you cannot rename them.


I downloaded the app and bought a map region to give it a try. I like what I see so far but hope the authors will add additional features to build on an already slick looking app.