Garmin chartplotter Wi-fi

[Sticky Fingers]

Another Garmin q I'm afraid. My GPSmap 820 has a "Wi Fi Network" capability. I've set this up and can connect to it, and Garmin Helm on my iPhone can see the plotter. So I'm happy that it's working.

Now to the question. In the Garmin manual for the plotter, it says that I can ..." connect multiple devices to share data..." which sounds interesting, but ... what devices? How? Anyone done this e.g. to acquire AIS data in Marine Navigator. It's impenetrable.

Sorry if this is a numpty question.

 

[pvb]

I have an 820. When I first got it, I put Helm on my phone, and rapidly came to the conclusion that it's a bit of a gimmick. Too clunky to be of any real use.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Yes, agreed, Helm no practical use. I only mentioned it to illustrate the fact that the WiFi thing was "working", I'm more interested in whether I could get a wireless instrument / display / app on a tablet to acquire the NMEA data over WiFi and do something useful with it, "out of the box" ie without installing Rasp Pis or whatever (which, no matter how clever it may be, is not something I'm interested in).

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Scala, you've reminded me... I connected mine to my 'phone's hotspot. Big mistake. I kept getting emails on the Garmin, plastered across the screen - during races obvs.

ps. Got the money back yesterday, which nearly caused the Port Hamble Force 4 into a negative day on the till.

 

[eigerwand]

In my view Garmin helm works pretty well on a tablet as a repeater for the 820 at the chart table.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Yes it does that, but it's not what I want!

 

[cobolt]

As far as I know, the Garmin wi-fi will not transmit NMEA2000 data over UDP or TCP, which is what any of the 3rd party apps are looking for (e.g. iNavX, Navionics, TimeZero, OpenCPN etc etc).

I think the "connect multiple devices to share data", simply means you can connect more than one device running Helm at a time, or they mean multiple Garmin plotters (via cable!) to share waypoints, routes, etc. around the Garmin Marine Network.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Ahah. Well if true, I'm not surprised, I suppose... just another Garmin disappointment.

 

[Aja]

Having a Garmin plotter 751 with wifi I looked for Garmin Helm app on both my iPad and android phone but could only see Garmin Activecaptain which I don't t think is the same thing? Where is the Helm app found?

Donald