K Index Solar activity monitor

[Storyline]

Neat little app that reports the level of solar activity on the status bar on your Android phone. This was written by a UAV (drone) pilot as good GPS reception is essential for reliable flight. Any level above 5 means that GPS performance is likely to be poor so probably not a good idea to rely on your plotter for close quarters nav.

Link to app and discussion about what it does here:

http://phantompilots.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10988&sid=5cd229f9c6bbc1ccc37328547cbb8072

 

[SimonFa]

Neat little app that reports the level of solar activity on the status bar on your Android phone. This was written by a UAV (drone) pilot as good GPS reception is essential for reliable flight. Any level above 5 means that GPS performance is likely to be poor so probably not a good idea to rely on your plotter for close quarters nav.

Link to app and discussion about what it does here:

http://phantompilots.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10988&sid=5cd229f9c6bbc1ccc37328547cbb8072

I use my plotter to supplement my Mk1 eyeballs when it comes to close quarters nav and when there is a descrpency eg a I seem to be closer to a rock than the plotter shows then the Mk1 eyeball wins, high k-index or not.

 

[Storyline]

Yes, the problem with relying on chart plotters is not necessarily the accuracy of the GPS signal but the accuracy of the chart. It is good on repeatability however so with a good signal we sometimes retrace our steps out of an anchorage knowing that if we got in without hitting anything then we can get out ! (Subject to tide of course).