Android Gate Code App

B

budgester

Active Member
Joined
23 Aug 2012
Messages
53
Visit site
Seeing as I am a total novice with boats, and can't really give advice back to the forum I figured I'd do something that helps me and might be useful to others..

So introducing my (free) app that for keeping them gates codes in...


https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.budgester.mymarina

Give it a play let me know if it's useful and what else may should be added.

I'm thinking, Checklists, an ability to share codes with crew via txt any other cool ideas ?
 
Maybe the marina office could print out a QR code and then the app could read that to update the codes.

I'm also thinking there are loads of other little bits of information about our boats that are scattered over a loads of bits of paper.

MMSI
Call Sign
SSR
Boat length.
Draft
 
Premier have little blue dongles for gate entry - ie no pin number to forget which is fine so long as one doesnt leave ones dongle in the shower ( no rude jokes please) which use the same entry system - don't ask me how i know :)
 
I looked for something similar for IPhone and found this: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/gate-keeper/id369969302?mt=8

One feature that looks quite user friendly is the ability to take a photo to link to the information which is then an icon for recalling it - a photo of the gate, marina sign or similar makes it easier to find than looking through a list of names and remembering what you stored it under.
 
winsbury said:
Premier have little blue dongles for gate entry - ie no pin number to forget which is fine so long as one doesnt leave ones dongle in the shower ( no rude jokes please) which use the same entry system - don't ask me how i know :)
Click to expand...

And if your visiting, do you get loaned one ? Have to put a deposit ?
 
budgester said:
And if your visiting, do you get loaned one ? Have to put a deposit ?
Click to expand...
I don't think there's a deposit but I'm a berth holder so could be wrong on that point. Loaners are given out for legitimate guests, forgotten dongles etc and are expected to be returned but in any case they time out so cant be used beyond the agreed period without revisiting the office for a re-enabling.
 
winsbury said:
I don't think there's a deposit but I'm a berth holder so could be wrong on that point. Loaners are given out for legitimate guests, forgotten dongles etc and are expected to be returned but in any case they time out so cant be used beyond the agreed period without revisiting the office for a re-enabling.
Click to expand...

No deposit in my experiance at Brighton or Gosport (Eastbourne was still using gate codes)

However we visited Brighton Marina back in mid August and they had run out of dongles so people were having to use the intercom at the gate to get into the marina. The boat I was with had accidentally retained their dongle from our earlier visit on the way down channel* but I understand they refused to re-programme it so were also left using the intercom like everybody else.

* Gosport had a box by the pontoon bridgehead for departing boats to leave thier dongles but I didn't see anything similar at Brighton
 
budgester said:
Give it a play let me know if it's useful and what else may should be added.

I'm thinking, Checklists, an ability to share codes with crew via txt any other cool ideas ?
Click to expand...
If you don't already do it, you could have an option to store the database on a server so that several devices, either yours or the family, could share it automatically.The user's dropbox account could host it. It would also provide a backup. Preferably encrypted.

Assuming the database is something standard, JSON say, it could be shared with a the same app on iOS - should you ever write it.
 
Do Liverpool marina still use a credit card metallic strip system?

They had the device to write them as well, so as berth holder you could use an old bank card to get in. I always figured it was extra security for the marina, not having lots of cards with there use written across them...

First thing I do wiht a gate code is give or text it to my crew, cause I know I will forget it...
 
DaveRo said:
If you don't already do it, you could have an option to store the database on a server so that several devices, either yours or the family, could share it automatically.The user's dropbox account could host it. It would also provide a backup. Preferably encrypted.

Assuming the database is something standard, JSON say, it could be shared with a the same app on iOS - should you ever write it.
Click to expand...

I've thought about the server option, but then you might as well let the marina operators have a centralised version, then they could update on a very regular basis if they wanted to, again it's controlling the dissemination of the codes.

iOS is probably never going to happen by me, due to the fact that even for android it's cost me $25 for a developer license to distribute a free app via play. To develop an iOS version I'd have to buy a Mac as well as pay a $99 annual fee, so well over £1000, I mean I love you guys, but not that much.
 
markdj said:
Sharing or sending via NFC or Bluetooth to e.g. family members/crew so you arrive at a marina, get the codes and then share with everyone else.
Click to expand...

I've kinda got this working on the latest release, but only to NFC tags.

So what you'd need to do is enter the details of your marina.

Then under options, "the 3 vertical dots", select write to NFC, then click "Start Write Mode"

But at them moment it only writes to an NFC tag/sticker.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_t...0.H0.Xnfc+tag&_nkw=nfc+tag&_sacat=0&_from=R40

The first time someone scans the tag it takes them to the android market to download the app, if the app is already installed it will copy the codes onto the device.

So maybe get a key ring and add it to the boat keys, or put a sticker on the coffee pot, so if someone wants the codes you can say they are on the coffee pot, you might as well put the kettle on while your there.....

It's a bit hacky at the moment but working on cleaning it up.

I'm still working on getting Android Beam working, but should be soon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top