SimonFa
Well-Known Member
As this is a general topic of discussion I thought I'd give the details of my solution in a new thread for new people searching this topic.
I have just come back from a few days sailing and successfully used by iPad 2 with no GPS as a plotter.View attachment 32471
I used a GNS 5870 MFI Bluetooth GPS which I kept on the chart table and with power on, although it does last about 10 hours. The Bluetooth was good enough to work all round the boat and as you can see on deck. I only had one problem when the GNS appeared to lock up and as there is no reset I had to let it discharge for a reboot. The connection was easy to set up although I have learned that its best to turn the ipad on first and the the GNS.
The GPS seemed to be fairly accurate. Going up Brixham fairway it shown me on one of the green cans when I was about 3m awat=y and the next one was about 3m away and showed it next to me on the chart. I need to do some more testing but by general observation I would say its no worse than 2m and the chart is just as likely to be wrong.
The stand and waterproof sack are from Overboard and worked OK. They were a bit of a faff to set up initially and I had to move them for best operation, but now its set up its a fairly slick procedure to install the iPad in the bag and then on the stand.
I also used an anti glare protective screen http://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Support-Anti-Glare-Film-iPad/dp/B003KG9UK2 which worked reasonably well.
I'd already bought the Navionics charts and was pleased with them anyway.
All in all it worked very well and I was quite pleased with it. The downside is that in bright sunlight it is difficult to see detail and requires the screen to be on full brightness, although judicious placing of a hand or head provided enough shade to be able to use it well. The need for full screen brightness also means the iPad battery doesn't last long so I only tended to use it on deck for pilotage or difficult areas like going round the inner passage at Portland Bill and the rest of the time I had it on charge ready to use. It only takes about 30 seconds to set up once everything is in place.
The iPad is easy to control even with the anti glare film and inside the waterproof bag. Furthermore its quick and easy to spin the iPad round when I'm not helming so I can make any checks I want.
If anyone in the Weymouth area would like to have a look before they commit as it isn't a cheap system PM me and I'm happy to demonstrate.
I have just come back from a few days sailing and successfully used by iPad 2 with no GPS as a plotter.View attachment 32471
I used a GNS 5870 MFI Bluetooth GPS which I kept on the chart table and with power on, although it does last about 10 hours. The Bluetooth was good enough to work all round the boat and as you can see on deck. I only had one problem when the GNS appeared to lock up and as there is no reset I had to let it discharge for a reboot. The connection was easy to set up although I have learned that its best to turn the ipad on first and the the GNS.
The GPS seemed to be fairly accurate. Going up Brixham fairway it shown me on one of the green cans when I was about 3m awat=y and the next one was about 3m away and showed it next to me on the chart. I need to do some more testing but by general observation I would say its no worse than 2m and the chart is just as likely to be wrong.
The stand and waterproof sack are from Overboard and worked OK. They were a bit of a faff to set up initially and I had to move them for best operation, but now its set up its a fairly slick procedure to install the iPad in the bag and then on the stand.
I also used an anti glare protective screen http://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Support-Anti-Glare-Film-iPad/dp/B003KG9UK2 which worked reasonably well.
I'd already bought the Navionics charts and was pleased with them anyway.
All in all it worked very well and I was quite pleased with it. The downside is that in bright sunlight it is difficult to see detail and requires the screen to be on full brightness, although judicious placing of a hand or head provided enough shade to be able to use it well. The need for full screen brightness also means the iPad battery doesn't last long so I only tended to use it on deck for pilotage or difficult areas like going round the inner passage at Portland Bill and the rest of the time I had it on charge ready to use. It only takes about 30 seconds to set up once everything is in place.
The iPad is easy to control even with the anti glare film and inside the waterproof bag. Furthermore its quick and easy to spin the iPad round when I'm not helming so I can make any checks I want.
If anyone in the Weymouth area would like to have a look before they commit as it isn't a cheap system PM me and I'm happy to demonstrate.
