ipad air as chartplotter?

ltcom

ltcom

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I am new to apple. I have been given an ipad air software version 12.5
I was also given an iphone 5 some time ago that I mainly use for the excellent camera and I use it as a dashcam too.
The ipad said it would sync with the iphone if I wanted it too. If I activated the iphone with a sim card and data subscription and used my gps dongle on the ipad, would I get a chartplotter?
C-map ...... I installed the app and found it had charts whilst I was online with wifi. I have not checked if they are updated or accurate. Would they work if I was connected via iphone sync (and stayed coastal with a cell signal? Is the cell signal from phone sync'd to ipad? Am I expecting too much)

Navioncs (called iNavX: Marine Navigation ? all I can find in apple store) ...... charts cost £92.99 for w&c europe, not very cheap compared to the Visit my Harbour excellent charts and CM93 charts worldwide I used on Opencpn with a laptop onboard.

Paper charts are still my number one. Looking C-Map from the comfort of a fireside armchair and approaching the Isles of Scilly from the South East looked like my idea of a nightmare.......just a maze of rocks...... the C-Map software did not seem to name the major islands either......perhaps user error. The paper charts and book I bought from ScillyPete? are more helpful and less daunting.
 
It sounds as if you are not even sure you want a chartplotter of any sort..., do you use one now?

So, there could be two questions:

1) will a chartplotter be of use to you?
2) is the iPad air a good (or acceptable) chartplotter?

You can find endless discussions/arguments about #2 - ipads work as chartplotters for some people, but not for others. They are not as robust as real chartplotters and may not be bright enough for good visibility in some lighting situations. Water can damage them, and it can be a pain to keep them charged, but these issues are manageable.

I think they are good for planning, but not 100% dependable when you really.., absolutely.., need it to work without any issues. Real chartplotters are bomb proof and nearly 100% dependable - as long as you have power. Ipad is a good backup, and I usually have one for that reason.

With respect to charts - you should look into the differences between vector electronic charts and raster electronic charts. Raster charts are direct electronic digital copies of paper charts and will be very familiar to you. essentially, they are "scans" of paper charts. I don't know if any actual chartplotters use raster charts anymore, but there are definitely ipad apps that can use raster charts. iNavx is a popular one, that can use both raster and vector charts, but there are others. I think Navionics only uses Navionics vector charts - but I don't use it. iNavx and Navionics are different, competing, apps.

I frequently use a laptop for navigation. One of the things I like is that I can easily right click to switch between vector and raster charts when viewing a feature that I am interested in.
 
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I use my IPad with Navionics and Memory map.
Memory map has the whole UK Admiralty charts plus the excellent Antaries charts.

I have paper charts and pilot books for anywhere I’m likely to sail as I enjoy using them more than looking at a screen.

Having a swift count including the fixed chart plotter and the old Garmin 125 GPS we have 7 GPS sets onboard when away sailing...the IPad in its Lifeproof case and Ram Mount under the sprayhood is the most used of them.
 
I agree with the two questions asked. As a user of IPads for 10 years for home, work and play but having never had or needed a chart plotter on board it cost very little to try out Navionics - and of course without any hookups needed to any other devices - and found it very useful for planning and likeable when sailing as well.

For those who use chartplotters in the cockpit then the IPad may not be for you but we are happy with it on the chart table except very occasionally for close quarters pilotage in a new harbour where it acts like a chartlet in a pilot book.

I could never imagine buying a tablet as a chart plotter as I couldn’t justify the cost but using your existing tablet if you use one is a no-brainer, and iPads have built in GPS so no need for any hookups to any other devices which I would find highly annoying.
 
Not all iPads have built in GPS, and the ones that do not will not work with a cheap USB dongle, indeed most don't even have a USB port, which leaves you having to buy a more expensive dongle like the Bad Elf (around £70) unless you can find a bluetooth GPS.
 
I have and older iPad with navionics -works well so would definitely keep using but also have a ray marine chart plotter,charts on paper and a small garmin handheld as backup.not all iPads have same features so usage depends on which you have. The processor on older ones can be slow and freeze compared to latest iPad Pro version but in some ways I prefer having a ipad2 size when pairing to chart plotter and using under the spray hood .
 
I have a good gps dongle that the www says will work with ipad......https://gps.dualav.com/explore-by-product/xgps160
The laptop sits at the chart table along with the half dozen handheld gps units. The sextant is not on board.
I have often used my android phone in a waterproof case as a chartplotter.
So a larger handheld device in a waterproof case would be useful in the cockpit.

So I will try to figure out how to get this to work. Memory map with the whole of UK for £25 seems great option.

Not sure what C-Map is and only seems to be of use if have a wifi signal and I am no one has commented about the iphone syncing and allowing the ipad to use its celluar network (if coastal and in range).

Thanks for info..... a waterproof case and more knowledge and a simple £25 and I have a rolling road which saves trips to the chart table. Thank goodness for friends that pass on their old tech !!!!
 
ltcom said:
I have a good gps dongle that the www says will work with ipad......https://gps.dualav.com/explore-by-product/xgps160
The laptop sits at the chart table along with the half dozen handheld gps units. The sextant is not on board.
I have often used my android phone in a waterproof case as a chartplotter.
So a larger handheld device in a waterproof case would be useful in the cockpit.

So I will try to figure out how to get this to work. Memory map with the whole of UK for £25 seems great option.

Not sure what C-Map is and only seems to be of use if have a wifi signal and I am no one has commented about the iphone syncing and allowing the ipad to use its celluar network (if coastal and in range).

Thanks for info..... a waterproof case and more knowledge and a simple £25 and I have a rolling road which saves trips to the chart table. Thank goodness for friends that pass on their old tech !!!!
Click to expand...
Are you sure you have an IPad without built in GPS? Does it have the option for cellular or is it wireless only?
 
ltcom said:
I am new to apple. I have been given an ipad air software version 12.5
I was also given an iphone 5 some time ago that I mainly use for the excellent camera and I use it as a dashcam too.
The ipad said it would sync with the iphone if I wanted it too. If I activated the iphone with a sim card and data subscription and used my gps dongle on the ipad, would I get a chartplotter?
C-map ...... I installed the app and found it had charts whilst I was online with wifi. I have not checked if they are updated or accurate. Would they work if I was connected via iphone sync (and stayed coastal with a cell signal? Is the cell signal from phone sync'd to ipad? Am I expecting too much)

Navioncs (called iNavX: Marine Navigation ? all I can find in apple store) ...... charts cost £92.99 for w&c europe, not very cheap compared to the Visit my Harbour excellent charts and CM93 charts worldwide I used on Opencpn with a laptop onboard.

Paper charts are still my number one. Looking C-Map from the comfort of a fireside armchair and approaching the Isles of Scilly from the South East looked like my idea of a nightmare.......just a maze of rocks...... the C-Map software did not seem to name the major islands either......perhaps user error. The paper charts and book I bought from ScillyPete? are more helpful and less daunting.
Click to expand...

I use an iPad + Navionics app all the time.
It's great (obviously to compliment paper charts!).

Too many iPads so not familiar with yours; but essentially if it's a Wifi iPad you need to buy an external GPS (Bad Elf).
An iPad with a sim card active has a proper cellular GPS so you should be good to go.
You will need internet to run the app so if you have a Wifi only iPad you can hotspot it to your phone.
Don't worry about syncing or putting a sim card in that other iPhone 5. You don't need it at all.

I haven't used the C-Map app but if you're searching on the Store maybe check whether you have selected 'iPhone Only' or 'iPad Only' apps filtered.
 
All good info thanks. Have just found Memory Map with all the uk admiralty charts.....great fun..... but only raster. Vector offer a lot more info of course, so more exploring to do.
 
We have discussed the use of tablets and lappies as chart plotters many times and there are differing views. I have on boat a proper marine chart plotter, paper charts, a tablet, several Navionics equipped phones and a Garmin GPS 76. In my past I was an RYA instructor and taught nav.

I find myself using a mix of the built in plotter and paper. The screens on the tablets arent that good in wet weather or bright sunlight and there is the issue of battery life. The tools available on a touch screen arent as good / easily used as on the fixed plotter but then that is nothing like as good as paper from passage planning. Its also relevant whether you drive a mobo or are a raggie because the update speed of the electronics is a great advantage when batting along at 30kn.

Then there is the issue of interconnection. I'll be honest - I havent even tried to do it with a tablet. But I like being able to see AIS targets and a radar overlay on my built in plotter.

You pays your money and takes your choice. I wouldnt be without the paper and battery powered handheld gps. The rest are just preferences.

Last comment. Cant remember the last time I updated a chart or plotter. Never seen the necessity tbh - rocks dont need updating, lights and markas are obvious, everything else, well you are keeping a look out arent you?
 
The other point to rememember is the cost of updating Navionics in a chart plotter is outrageous whereas renewing on an iPad is modest by comparison. I don’t have any of the other software mentioned but might be a consideration . You don’t mention if you have an autopilot but if you do I would favour a chart plotter but as it sounds the iPad is a gift then load up the apps while in lockdown and try out what you have and look for a small chart plotter secondhand with Bluetooth and then you can pair it to iPad when below or under the spray hood keeping dry . Particularly good if you have a zip back panel to your spray hood keep warm inside . Watch the sailing RAN utube for ideas on using in warmth of spray hood if not clear though.
 
I navigate using a chart plotter backed up by paper charts: I’ve got a plotter at the helm and at the chart table. I also run Navionics on a wifi iPad: it gets its position data via a wifi link to my AIS, which I view using Navionics. Works well enough for me.
I use an iPhone to provide internet connectivity to 2 iPads on board: simply turn on the personal hotspot in the settings menu on the iPhone and choose that as the wifi network to join in the iPad (or android tablet). We use that when we’re on board with no real problems provided coverage is reasonable.
Navionics doesn’t need an internet connection provided you’ve downloaded the charts for the area you’re cruising in (You do that by going to the area in the app, zooming in a bit and the charts will download and stay downloaded as long as you’ve got enough memory). No idea about other navigation apps but I’ve had Navionics running in mid Atlantic with no internet connection at all!
 
ltcom said:
I am new to apple. I have been given an ipad air software version 12.5
I was also given an iphone 5 some time ago that I mainly use for the excellent camera and I use it as a dashcam too.
The ipad said it would sync with the iphone if I wanted it too. If I activated the iphone with a sim card and data subscription and used my gps dongle on the ipad, would I get a chartplotter?
C-map ...... I installed the app and found it had charts whilst I was online with wifi. I have not checked if they are updated or accurate. Would they work if I was connected via iphone sync (and stayed coastal with a cell signal? Is the cell signal from phone sync'd to ipad? Am I expecting too much)

Navioncs (called iNavX: Marine Navigation ? all I can find in apple store) ...... charts cost £92.99 for w&c europe, not very cheap compared to the Visit my Harbour excellent charts and CM93 charts worldwide I used on Opencpn with a laptop onboard.

Paper charts are still my number one. Looking C-Map from the comfort of a fireside armchair and approaching the Isles of Scilly from the South East looked like my idea of a nightmare.......just a maze of rocks...... the C-Map software did not seem to name the major islands either......perhaps user error. The paper charts and book I bought from ScillyPete? are more helpful and less daunting.
Click to expand...
Navionics Boating is what you need to look at, uk and Ireland about £34.99

‎Boating Marine & Lakes
 
I have a Raymarine plotter but have Imray navigator on an iPad as back up. Works perfectly well for occasional use but not as easy to use as the fixed plotter. I do have the advantage of a pilot cabin though so getting things wet isn’t a problem
 
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