iPad options

[Bonnach]

I'd like to hook-up a semi-wireless network on board my modest motor-sailer and use my ipad as an interface/monitor. (transducer, windvane, log, battery monitor, gps antenna, etc.). Can anybody point me in the right direction? I'd like to keep it all as generic as possible and as cheap as possible....

 

[BigART]

I'd like to hook-up a semi-wireless network on board my modest motor-sailer and use my ipad as an interface/monitor. (transducer, windvane, log, battery monitor, gps antenna, etc.). Can anybody point me in the right direction? I'd like to keep it all as generic as possible and as cheap as possible....

For your navtex requirement there is an app available for the iPad from Black Cat software. As my Nasa Navtex recently broke and I was in need of the navtex system service, I thought I would risk £1.99 on this app despite the previous negative reviews. And after a little experimentation, it worked very well just using acoustic coupling (ie just holding the iPad near the Icom 710 radio, anything up to 2 metres with a good signal).

I suspect that the difficulties that others have been caused by the unclear instructions on the Black Cat website. After a little experimentation, Here is the setup I used:

- You will of course need to be within 200-300 miles of a transmitter, look up the locations on the internet
- I left the app "Frequency" at the default of 2200
- I selected the app "Invert" to ON
- I set the Icom 710 to USB (upper side band) on a frequency of 515.8 KHz (ie 2200 Hz less than 518 KHz)
- Await your nearest navtex transmitter schedule time (again, look up the schedules on the internet, the transmissions only last 5-10 minutes every 6-12 hours.)

And bingo. The text started pouring in. I didn't need a microphone or the audio coupler with Camera Connection kit, etc, just holding the iPad near the set worked well. I have to say that the Icom is a good quality set and is installed with a pretty well perfect earth on a steel boat and I have a good, clear signal. The average domestic BBC transistor radio won't cut it. One of the cheapy Nasa receivers may work.

I would have given the app a 4 if the app had a few extra bell and whistles like the ability to save the text. It will have dumped all previous data when you next reopen the app, so if you haven't cut/pasted or made a note of the forecast and nav warnings, hard luck, you will have to await the next transmission time, probably some horrible time in the morning.

After that success, I am going to try their Weatherfax app.

Hope that helps.