AIS Apps

[alancollins]

Has anyone got any experience of using an AIS app on an Android tablet? There seem to be one or two on the market and I wonder if any of them is worth while.

 

[Hurricane]

I think that most (if not all) will require an internet connection so not much use at sea out of GSM/3G coverage.

One solution that I'm investigating at the moment is to use an NMEA router like this http://nmearouter.com/docs/ais/nmearouter.html or make one using a Raspberry Pi - something like this http://www.stripydog.com/kplex/index.html
Of course, your ship systems would need an AIS receiver somewhere on the boat so this may not be an option for you.

That would only be half of the solution.
You would then need an app on the Android that takes the NMEA data (AIS in this case) and presents it.

Actually, I'm hoping (waiting) for OpenCPN to come to the native Android platform.
OpenCPN can run on Android but, currently, it needs a Linux environment.
I believe that it will be available as an Advroid Native app.
OpenCPN's AIS display is excellent.
I currently run OpenCPN on the ship's Windows PC

Here is an OpenCPN AIS display - really useful if it can be done.

 

[Nigelpickin]

The best we have found is

'Marine traffic'

Very nice interface and great for spotting friends and tracking.

Cheap enough for a play around and no harm done if you don't get on with it.

We use on IOS

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/p/mobile

 

[alancollins]

Thanks gentlemen

It looks like Marine Traffic until OpenCPN becomes available.

Thanks again.