Kit required for iPad with Navionics?

[pipemma]

I'm sure someone has already done this, but we're getting mixed messages in our research.

We have an emTrak B923 AIS (without WiFi) and are looking to replace our elderly Raymarine C90W with Navionics on an older iPad (which could be replaced with a newer one in due course). Ideally we would also like to use our smartphone(s) as remote controls for the Navionics on the iPad. A third consideration is that we would like to add a wifi or bluetooth camera to view on the iPad.

Given that the iPad is wireless AND cellular:
- Do we need an NMEA WiFi box or can the AIS info be received on the iPad via 5G?
- Can we use the iPad as the 5G and wireless access point? Or is it better to use a separate unit as a hub for network and connectivity?

I'd be very grateful for any advice and what your ecosystems comprise/look like.

Thanks a million in advance!

 

[ashtead]

If you have an older iPad you might run into issues on software updates and navionics might be slow sending on what model iPad. I have an old iPad 2 with navionics which we use on board as back up due to having navionics on it already and low value of old iPad in case of damage . It pairs with raymarine so you can see whatever chart plotter shows including AIS. I don’t think navionics c-on iPad can show tha ais though apart from a chart plotter repeater. Personally a lot depends on budget but why not just buy a new raymarine ?

 

[MoodySabre]

If you are using the Navionics App then AIS needs to be received by Wi-Fi. I have a Yakker but there are others that act as a Wi-Fi bridge from a device that receives AIS signals, in my case a Standard Horizon VHF.

I can’t why you would need to control it with a phone. If you have the app then you can have it on your phone as well as an iPad. You can do routes on your phone and they will show on the iPad because it’s all in the same app.

I don’t know about cameras except that is a camera within the app that geo-locates the photo to your route.

 

[Refueler]

Easy .....

Nmea4Wifi - Introduction

I have both the NMEA4WiFi and the older NMEA2WiFi ..... both are excellent and do exactly what they say ...

I have an AIS inclusiver Plotter from Onwa - this feeds to the NMEA unit ... I have a Garmin UHD plotter in cockpit ... tablet ... smartphone and sometimes an Acer One PC on the nav desk ... ALL receive AIS and data from the various via the NMEA unit either by WiFi or NMEA or USB ...

Guests come on the boat - they can log into the WiFi and have the data on their nav app as well ....

Tablets and Smartphone - mine use the Navionics Boating App .....

 

[pipemma]

Personally a lot depends on budget but why not just buy a new raymarine ?

Quick answer: budget

I should maybe clarify that the plotter is fitted under the glass windscreen, next to the companionway, which we like, but in a centre cockpit, it’s not so easy to keep moving from the helm to zoom the display in and out, etc. Hence the desire to use the phone as a remote control (a plotter solution would also entail a remote at the helm).

Our eyes are also no longer 20 years old, so we’d be looking at a 12-inch. Since the iPad is already 12 inch, it makes sense to see if we can come up with a solution that costs maybe a few hundred, versus a dedicated plotter that will be at least 5 times as much.

The camera is actually for the bow: our anchor comes out of the stem, not off a bow roller, so I have no way of seeing from the helm what's happening with the rode (especially as we're 2-up, mooring stern to or longlining). I'm thinking a small not-expensive wifi camera that can display on a phone would be ideal, and could then be relocated to show somewhere useful when we're absent

 

[MoodySabre]

No remote control for am iPad. Buy a iPad holder and waterproof cover and have it near the helm.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Raymarine used to do a Bluetooth remote control (some available on eBay) which allowed you to zoom in and out, etc. it could be either mounted on the wheel or carried as a lanyard.

Found it quite handy before I had the luxury of a wheel mounted plotter as well as one at the chart table

 

[Refueler]

Some may not know this .... but many touchscreens will still work through Clingfilm ............ sounds crazy I know ...

But you can wrap your tablet / phone with a single layer of clingfilm and not worry about it.

I wrap small cameras that I mount on models that fly of / onto water ... I've had models flip over and camer submerged .. clingfilm has been successful in keeping water out of the camera - but camera functions still operable through the film ..

 

[mrming]

You don’t need a remote control for the iPad as you can run another instance of the Navionics app on a phone. When you subscribe you can use 2 devices on the same account. For getting the actual boat data, some kind of NMEA to WiFi bridge is the usual choice. There are many choices as mentioned above.

 

[mrming]

For the camera, the marine specific ones (e.g. Raymarine, Garmin) are designed to work with their plotters (MFDs), and be wired into the boat’s power. For a budget solution I would be tempted to look for a battery / rechargeable waterproof camera with WiFi from Amazon or similar that can stream to an iOS or Android app, and has a mount you can use on the pulpit. You’d have to connect your phone or iPad to the camera’s WiFi network temporarily for anchoring, but you’ll only be doing this once or twice a day, so it shouldn’t be too much hardship. You would also need to recharge it occasionally.

 

[Refueler]

The camera is actually for the bow: our anchor comes out of the stem, not off a bow roller, so I have no way of seeing from the helm what's happening with the rode (especially as we're 2-up, mooring stern to or longlining). I'm thinking a small not-expensive wifi camera that can display on a phone would be ideal, and could then be relocated to show somewhere useful when we're absent

There are many budget Sport cameras that send video by WiFi .... usually termed SJxxxx .... some have wrist band displays .. but all can have the display shown on app on tablet / smartphone. I have a 4K SJ400 copy that cost less than 50 euros .... includes a wristband control ... video plays on my phone. It comes with waterproof case as well ... plus mounts for most anything you want to clip it to. With this - wherever YOU are on the boat - you have video on your phone / tablet in hand ...

You can spend more and get GoPro's etc ... but for anchoring ? no need to bankroll the wallet ! I have a mega set based on GoPro Hero 4 ... whole lot is over 1000 quid ... but in truth - the 50euro SJ copy is as good as for your needs.

You can of course go the MFD integrated route - but then how is it powered / display transferred to MFD ?

 

[dunedin]

No remote control for am iPad. Buy a iPad holder and waterproof cover and have it near the helm.

That was my thinking too. Sprayhood is too far away

 

[RunAgroundHard]

iPads can be controlled remotely using an iPhone, to a degree. They do need to be both logged into the same account, be connected by blue tooth and have WiFi enabled. Whether it would give you the functionality you need would require some research.