Ipad Anchor Alarm App?

[oceanfroggie]

It must go through batteries?

Usually I leave it plugged into a 12v cig socket, otherwise rechargeable AAs. I started using HH for anchor drag years ago because the helm plotters were too far away from master cabin and in effect I wanted a bedside alarm in the anchor dragged.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Usually I leave it plugged into a 12v cig socket, otherwise rechargeable AAs. I started using HH for anchor drag years ago because the helm plotters were too far away from master cabin and in effect I wanted a bedside alarm in the anchor dragged.

Which HH plotter do you use for this?

 

[SC500]

Of interest, I bought Boat Beacon App as it provides AIS function to surrounding traffic. It also incorporates an Anchor/Theft alarm. Fantastic and interesting App. Think it was around £6,
One of the reasons I bought this one was for family and friends to keep informed of where we are at all times for added safety and security. Another reason was to view information of surrounding vessels including their MMSI. So if you need to contact them directly via VHF you can,
Copied the following from information guide.

"Turn on Anchor Alarm in settings (i button). This will raise an alarm on your iPhone if your boat moves more than 50m from your current position or travels at over 0.5Kts for more than 15s The alarm works in the background too. You can also use the Anchor Alarm as a remote Theft alarm. Tap Anchor Alarm in settings and set up an email address to send the alarm to. If the alarm fires you will receive an email with the current position, speed and course plus a google map of the lcoation. You can test the alarm function on land - drop the anchor (turn on the Alarm in settings) and walk away with your phone until the alarm fires. If you don't receive the email please check your Spam filters and folders. "
Doesn't send to phone other than by email. Sure they could change this with future releases.

When viewing channel traffic, it does look pretty hectic out there.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Which HH plotter do you use for this?

An trusty old Garmin GpsMap76. But any of the old 60, 76 or 72 series HH would do. I have the 12v accessory power lead and we have 12v sockets everywhere inside the boat so easy to use in any cabin at night.

The problem with iPad or iPhone is two fold, battery is eaten when GPS in use so realistically they also need to be plugged into 12v supply or charger, and secondly iOS device GPS fixing indoors (grp + windows) doesn't seem to be as good as marine devices. Also folks tend to use them obscuring gps signal quality when moved about inside the boat triggering false alarms.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

The problem with iPad or iPhone is two fold, battery is eaten when GPS in use so realistically they also need to be plugged into 12v supply or charger, and secondly iOS device GPS fixing indoors (grp + windows) doesn't seem to be as good as marine devices. Also folks tend to use them obscuring gps signal quality when moved about inside the boat triggering false alarms.

Yes I was wondering about the GPS reception with the Ipad. We don't have a 12V supply in our cabin so it would be a prob to keep it charged and of course 240V wouldn't be available. Thats good info. I'll probably go down the route of a handheld GPS. No harm in having a spare GPS on board anyway

 

[oceanfroggie]

No harm in having a spare GPS on board anyway

Yes, I keep the same HH in the grab bag when doing long offshore passages, and as you said will give a reliable long/lat if the main kit ever packs in. I keep a spare set of AA batteries in the grab bag for the HH VHF and HH GPS. Should be able to pick up a Gps72/76 or GpsMap76/60 on Ebay for a song (ie well under <£100)

 

[Bertramdriver]

I quite like drag queen because you can easily centre it on your anchor as opposed to your boat (you just enter that your anchor is bearing XXX to the boat and XXX metres away). The t+c you have to agree to is absurdly onerous but I dont lose any sleep over that

Can't find Drag Queen on IPad app app. Where do I look?

 

[sap_2000]

Select iPhone apps on the top center of your screen

 

[Bertramdriver]

Got it, and fixed up a hook up with a very interesting ladyboy

 

[DavidJ]

I've just downloaded it (Dragqueen) but I just don't understand the definition of "GPS Alarm" It says "The reported GPS accuracy that will cause an alarm"
So, inside my house I'm seeing a GPS Accuracy flicking between 16ft and 33ft. Do I set the GPS Alarm at say 35ft........I'm really not sure what this function is for. Surely the "Distance Alarm" is all you need.
4 inches of snow in Brum and I'm feeling bored!!

 

[2BitLogic]

Another Option for iOS Devices

Hello everyone,
As of July 4th (Happy 4th!), a new anchoring assistance app with some very distinct and unique features (noted below) has been submitted to Apple. As it is a universal app, it works on iPhones, iPods, iPads, etc.

Boat Sentry Features:
√ All purchases apply to all devices connected using Boat Sentry on the same account
√ All settings are automatically saved in iCloud
√ Configurable Safe Zone Alarms, including Background alert notifications
√ Schedule your location updates to save battery. Pick the interval that you want to enable the GPS to monitor the Boat
◆ Built-in proprietary "False Positive" logic to ensure that bad GPS fixes do not cause false alarms.
√ Add Infinite Safe Zones!
√ Save and Load your Safe Zones for persistent usage (When on a mooring ball or at a dock)!
◆ Dynamically adjust any Safe Zone's Radius/Width/Height to the distance from the Boat by a simple checkbox
√ Back Down the Anchor!
◆ Watch the distances between the Boat and the Anchor(s) to ensure that your Anchor is not dragging while you are backing down
√ Project the Anchor!
◆ You don't have to use Boat Sentry while anchoring, instead, you can project your anchor in the direction/distance of the actual anchor at any point
√ Internet Required Features (Free)
◆ Send SMS alerts to any phone
◆ Send an email to any email account
√ Offline Maps (IAP)
◆ Use Boat Sentry without the necessity of being connected to the internet
◆ Boat Sentry will automatically switch between Online/Offline maps
√ Remote Mode (IAP)
◆ Inter-connect multiple devices together using Boat Sentry and Boat Sentry “R”
◆ Place one device for an optimal GPS signal to monitor the boat
◆ Have another device near you at all times when you are on or near the boat to alert you
√ Safe Zone Types:
◆ Arc: Setup your Forward, Aft, Port and Starboard Drift parameters as well as radius
◆ Pie: Setup your Aft, Port and Starboard Drift parameters as well as radius
◆ Circle: Setup your Aft Drift parameter as well as radius
◆ Ellipse: Setup your Aft Drift parameter as well as width and height
◆ Box: Setup your Aft Drift parameter as well as width and height
√ Safe Zone Location Types:
◆ Custom Location: Tap any GPS location
◆ Boat Set Location: Drop a Safe Zone with the Boat's Anchor Set Location as the GPS position
◆ Anchor X Location: Drop a Safe Zone on top of any anchor
◆ Anchor Midpoint Location: Drop a Safe Zone on top of the midpoint between any two anchors

Please visit http://www.2bitlogic.com for more information!

Thanks,
The 2BitLogic team

 

[2BitLogic]

All,
I am sorry for the previous message, if it goes through. I accidentally pasted that text.

We have just submitted an app, Boat Sentry, to the iOS App Store that was designed from the ground up by a cruiser. It is a very powerful anchoring assistance app with some unique and distinct features missing from high-end devices and other apps. As it is free, there is no risk.

Please check out the details at http://www.2BitLogic.com.

 

[2BitLogic]

All,
I am sorry for the previous message, if it goes through. I accidentally pasted that text.

We have just submitted an app, Boat Sentry, to the iOS App Store that was designed from the ground up by a cruiser. It is a very powerful anchoring assistance app with some unique and distinct features missing from high-end devices and other apps. As it is free, there is no risk.

Please check out the details at http://www.2BitLogic.com.

Boat Sentry and Boat Sentry R will be debuting for free in the Apple App Store (For iPhone/iPad/iPod) on Monday, July 22nd.

 

[2BitLogic]

Boat Sentry and Boat Sentry R have been approved and will be launching into the App Store within the next 24 hours!

 

[oceanfroggie]

Smartphone and tablets don't make ideal devices for Anchor drag alarms because a) they eat their own battery power when gps is on, b) folk move the devices around boat in and out of good gps coverage, c) their gps receivers not as good inside a boat or near a cabin window as inexpensive marine hand held gps. You would nearly want a dedicated spare smart phone plugged into a power source placed beside a window. Also at night I put my phone in Airplane mode to avoid being woken by calls which disables the gps receiver.

 

[OldSkipp]

Smartphone and tablets don't make ideal devices for Anchor drag alarms because

Marine handheld are not the right solution if you have a smartphone or a tablet. You should instead consider using an external GPS for your iPhone/iPad such as the the Dual XGPS (the Dual XGPS ) , the bad elf (the bad elf ) or the GNS 2000 (GNS 2000). They'll all offer a better accuracy and they are cheaper.

concerning your 3 points:

a) they eat their own battery power when gps is on,

So will the handheld... plug the tablet to a 12V socket or use an external GPS for it

b) folk move the devices around boat in and out of good gps coverage

It is quite true for a phone, much less for a tablet that will move much less. GPS coverage is not an issue in most modern boats.

c) their gps receivers not as good inside a boat or near a cabin window as inexpensive marine hand held gps. .

I used an iPad and an iPhone with Anchor! (Anchor!) and the result was good. I never had to put them close to a window.

Also at night I put my phone in Airplane mode to avoid being woken by calls which disables the gps receiver.

These external GPS do work while in flight mode.

 

[ppitcher]

Drag Queen is easy.

 

[manuele]

Apparently there are a few Ipad anchor alarm apps. Has anyone got any experience of one that they can recommend?

there is a new one for iPhone "Anchor Watcher", the alarm is reliable, it works quite well and has also info about the weather from buoys and ships

https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=933630262&mt=8