iPod Touch

[efitz]

Here's a couple of questions for the techies!

1. As the ipod doesn't have inbuilt GPS like the iPhone, is it possible to use a Nokia N95 or a car satnav as the external GPS for the ipod iNavx app, either through a USB cable or bluetooth?

2. Can you use a wifi USB dongle with the Ipod Touch in the same way as you can with a laptop, albeit with the appropriate USB adapters.

Advice would be much appreciated.

 

[fireball]

Here's a couple of questions for the techies!

1. As the ipod doesn't have inbuilt GPS like the iPhone, is it possible to use a Nokia N95 or a car satnav as the external GPS for the ipod iNavx app, either through a USB cable or bluetooth?

2. Can you use a wifi USB dongle with the Ipod Touch in the same way as you can with a laptop, albeit with the appropriate USB adapters.

Advice would be much appreciated.

1. Not that I know of - and almost certainly not with the standard apps...
2. iPod Touch has built in Wifi ... do you mean 3g dongle? Eitherway - no - again not that I know of ...

 

[Channel Ribs]

I think the answers are both no, sorry.

In both cases there is no way to connect the devices.

 

[efitz]

The FAQ's on the iNavx webpage state that a 3rd party GPS could be used in order to use iNavx on the Ipod Touch for navigation. Hence the question. I'm exploring the possibility of buying this app as a backup to the onboard chartplotters, but hopefully without adding the cost of a dedicated Apple accessory for the purpose.

On the subject of connectivity; connecting the devices is no problem as USB adapters for the purpose are easily available in Maplin etc.

 

[Channel Ribs]

...iNavx webpage state that a 3rd party GPS could be used... ...connecting the devices is no problem...

Your a wiser forumite than I then.

Even if those two statements are correct, I would recommend against using an iPod for backup navigation. I am a huge fan of them, but you will find a small battery powered chartplotter to be a similar price and it will have good battery life and be waterproof.

 

[efitz]

Fair point, but I really want to use it for planning rather than navigation per se, and as it will be onboard for entertainment anyway, it would be nice to extend its use when cruising.
The reason for the question re the 3g wifi is to cover areas where no other wifi is available (free or otherwise) e.g. at anchor. If this could be done, I would be happy to leave the laptop at home, and use the iPod for e-mail, weather updates on the web, etc.

 

[fireball]

Fair point, but I really want to use it for planning rather than navigation per se, and as it will be onboard for entertainment anyway, it would be nice to extend its use when cruising.
The reason for the question re the 3g wifi is to cover areas where no other wifi is available (free or otherwise) e.g. at anchor. If this could be done, I would be happy to leave the laptop at home, and use the iPod for e-mail, weather updates on the web, etc.

It is possible to use a mobile phone as an access point/gateway - I had a Nokia E series that with suitable software would do this and other makes certainly do. You can then connect your iTouch to the phone's Wifi and get internet access ...

http://www.pyrofersprojects.com/3gipod/3gipod.html

 

[Channel Ribs]

I really want to use it for planning rather than navigation

I use mine most days to look something or other up on Navionics.

You can get a wifi gizzmo that connects to the mobile phone networks and creates a mobile hotspot, that might work?

 

[Richard10002]

Which ipod touch have you got - I'd be tempted to sell the touch and the N95, and get an iPhone 3GS 16GB, (or 32GB), for about £360 16GB/£450 32GB.

I know it's a lot of money but, having resisted Apple for years, I got an ipod a few weeks ago, and an iPhone a week ago, and the functionality is amazing, (which you know if you have a touch.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Which ipod touch have you got - I'd be tempted to sell the touch and the N95, and get an iPhone 3GS 16GB, (or 32GB), for about £360 16GB/£450 32GB.

I know it's a lot of money but, having resisted Apple for years, I got an ipod a few weeks ago, and an iPhone a week ago, and the functionality is amazing, (which you know if you have a touch.

There are places now where you can get the 3GS for less than £100. Sell the N95 on ebay.

Or, go without the S bit and get a 3G for free with a contract.

 

[agurney]

Here's a couple of questions for the techies!

1. As the ipod doesn't have inbuilt GPS like the iPhone, is it possible to use a Nokia N95 or a car satnav as the external GPS for the ipod iNavx app, either through a USB cable or bluetooth?

2. Can you use a wifi USB dongle with the Ipod Touch in the same way as you can with a laptop, albeit with the appropriate USB adapters.

Advice would be much appreciated.

Does your iPod touch have bluetooth? If so, a bluetooth GPS should do the job.

Alisdair

 

[Mrnotming]

bluetooth re GPS on iTouch

I have'nt tried this yet, but I might soon as I have the iTouch 2nd generation for a while now and the iNAVx and Navionics apps are great.
Here's the jailbreak link,

http://www.roqy-bluetooth.net/wp/

No endorsement as I have not used this method yet. Did get position on the iTouch from a mac-mini running an ad-hoc network with the mac-mini fed by a bluetooth GPS. The forum on iNavx.net needs searching for this info.

Failed to set this up on Xp, think its said it neeed upgrade from XP home edition, to perform this act.I could be wrong about this, may try again when on the boat in June where the old computer there has Win2000.

Good sailing and boating to all!

 

[Mrnotming]

P.S. re iTouch nav.

There is a clip on GPS available for the iTouch, but its pricy and maybe better to get the iPhone whose weak GPS may have been improved by now.

 

[Playtime]

iPad

Why not wait a couple of months for the iPad (check it out here).

This looks like a much more suitable device with built in Bluetooth and WiFi, plus 3G in the more expensive models.

 

[Richard10002]

There are places now where you can get the 3GS for less than £100. Sell the N95 on ebay.

Where can you get a 3GS for £100?

 

[efitz]

Thanks for all the replies. There's quite a lot to think about. The iPhone is not an option as my phone is a company phone and they won't play ball with an upgrade! I'm darned if I'm going to take out a new contract as my mobile usage for calls is quite small, and the pay as you go or SIM free options are crazy money.
So that's why the iPod touch seems the sensible compromise. I like the Ipad, but the 3g version would blow my toys budget for two years - that's if I could get it past her the financial controller, which I doubt!!

I suppose if I'm honest I really want the Navionics app for planning and armchair exploring. And the tides apps would be nice too. It would just be nice to actually be able to navigate with it, but not really essential. The wifi dongle though would be much more practical.

 

[fireball]

Malthouse mentioned the wifi Gizmo ...
A 3g wifi access point is the chappie (if you don't have a suitable mobile or already have a 3g USB dongle)
Have a look here
FWIW - Solwise distribute the Wifi Bridge routers I'm currently using as external modules to connect my warehouse to the office ... and I've had no complaints yet (which means it will now fall over tomorrow)

 

[BrendanS]

Where can you get a 3GS for £100?

Someone, who knows someone, in not so local pub....

 

[bitman]

i have an ipod touch with igps360, http://www.orangegadgets.com/ and navionics installed.

 

[jonreast]

clip on GPS for touch

There is a clip on GPS available for the iTouch, but its pricy and maybe better to get the iPhone whose weak GPS may have been improved by now.

Hi can you point me in the direction of where I can find a review with a view to buying one of these?