Navionics AIS

[Yealm]

I think Navionics can now display AIS data (eg on an iPad via WiFi).
Wondered if anyone had tried it ?
In particular, I’d like to know if it can display boat positions at CPA?

 

[Daverw]

It’s been available for months and yes it now works quite well after the last updates, don’t see the CPA option yet, assume that it will come though.

As we have AIS on board never used the option on the water.

 

[duncan99210]

I’ve used it linked to the AIS via a Yakker NMEA to Wi-fi bridge. It works fine for my purposes showing other vessel positions. Can’t recall if it gives CPA etc but if you tap on the vessel icon the detailed ship information is displayed including course and speed.
Be aware that it really needs a fairly up to date version of iOS to work properly: older iPads struggle with it and often crash the programme.

 

[RichardS]

I think Navionics can now display AIS data (eg on an iPad via WiFi).
Wondered if anyone had tried it ?
In particular, I’d like to know if it can display boat positions at CPA?

I find it pretty useless as it doesn't have CPA or TCPA. It's nowhere near as good as OpenCPN or the free AIS apps available from the AIS manufacturers.

Richard

 

[captain_RCC]

I find it pretty useless as it doesn't have CPA or TCPA. It's nowhere near as good as OpenCPN or the free AIS apps available from the AIS manufacturers.

Richard

Aqua Maps provide CPA and TCPA. And you can list all the targets ordering them from the nearest CPA

 

[RichardS]

Aqua Maps provide CPA and TCPA. And you can list all the targets ordering them from the nearest CPA

I've never heard of Aqua maps. What are the charts like compared to Navionics and do you have to pay for the app and/or the maps?

The online reviews are poor but if it's free or cheap then it might be worth a try.

Richard

 

[captain_RCC]

I've never heard of Aqua maps. What are the charts like compared to Navionics and do you have to pay for the app and/or the maps?

The online reviews are poor but if it's free or cheap then it might be worth a try.

Richard

Aqua Maps let download a tile map for free, you can evaluate the charts before purchase. However it requires 20$/year for unlock all the US charts and use AIS/NMEA over WiFi. I run Navionics and Aqua Maps and both worth the money.

 

[RichardS]

Aqua Maps let download a tile map for free, you can evaluate the charts before purchase. However it requires 20$/year for unlock all the US charts and use AIS/NMEA over WiFi. I run Navionics and Aqua Maps and both worth the money.

Many thanks.

So you don't get to try the AIS function for free? That's a shame 'cos I would try that to compare it with the OpenCPN AIS functionality. However, as OpenCPN is free, albeit with old charts, I'll probably stick with that until Navionics get their AIS house in order.

Richard

 

[captain_RCC]

Many thanks.

So you don't get to try the AIS function for free? That's a shame 'cos I would try that to compare it with the OpenCPN AIS functionality. However, as OpenCPN is free, albeit with old charts, I'll probably stick with that until Navionics get their AIS house in order.

Richard

I've just checked. There are 14 free trial days for AIS feature and for all charts

 

[RichardS]

I've just checked. There are 14 free trial days for AIS feature and for all charts

That's good. I'll give it a try when I'm on the boat next year and have AIS unless Navionics have sorted out their offering by then.

Thanks for the heads up.

Richard

 

[Yealm]

It’s been available for months and yes it now works quite well after the last updates, don’t see the CPA option yet, assume that it will come though.

As we have AIS on board never used the option on the water.

I thought it only works on the water - ie it receives info from your AIS unit, not via the internet ?

 

[Daverw]

Yes your correct, takes the data from On board AIS unit, I meant that it’s already displayed on my Chartplotter and my Izpad is liked to this on board so I would not normally use the AIS directly in Navionics

 

[mm42]

Please be very wary using internet based AIS, plotted positions often lag well behind the real position, not a problem if you’re at home seeing who’s in the bay, potentially a major issue if you’re calculating CPAs.

I regularly compare our position on the ship I work compared to internet AIS positions and it can be a fair way wrong.

A proper AIS receiver isn’t an expensive bit of kit, even if you can’t afford a proper class B transmitting set, and doesn’t suffer from the same issues.

 

[Daverw]

You’re correct but in this case I don’t think it applies as we are talking about live AIS data directly from on board receiver not internet,

 

[KevO]

To clarify then for a non techie type...

I've just bought a new to me that has a whole bunch of previous eqpt installed. Some will be retained for now, some will be replaced before the new season. I think I might look at one of the Onwa AIS transceiver offerings to replace the old small garmin in the cockpit. Anyhoo, down below I'm installing my SH 2100 AIS DSC (receive AIS only) in place of the non-AIS Cobra VHF. Confused yet?

Also already installed is a NASA AIS Engine 3 module. It has a 9 pin serial port output. If I was to site a tablet with Navionics, Open CPN or summat at the chart table, is there any reason why I couldn't connect a bluetooth or wifi source to the 9 pin output and use that to overlay AIS on the tablet too? If not, would Bluetooth or wifi be better than the other?

Oh, and if I go down the ONWA route which can now use Navionics+ charts, am I right to assume that I would also need to purchase a separate mobile Navionics licence to use their charts on the tablet with the boating app?

 

[duncan99210]

To clarify then for a non techie type...

I've just bought a new to me that has a whole bunch of previous eqpt installed. Some will be retained for now, some will be replaced before the new season. I think I might look at one of the Onwa AIS transceiver offerings to replace the old small garmin in the cockpit. Anyhoo, down below I'm installing my SH 2100 AIS DSC (receive AIS only) in place of the non-AIS Cobra VHF. Confused yet?

Also already installed is a NASA AIS Engine 3 module. It has a 9 pin serial port output. If I was to site a tablet with Navionics, Open CPN or summat at the chart table, is there any reason why I couldn't connect a bluetooth or wifi source to the 9 pin output and use that to overlay AIS on the tablet too? If not, would Bluetooth or wifi be better than the other?

Oh, and if I go down the ONWA route which can now use Navionics+ charts, am I right to assume that I would also need to purchase a separate mobile Navionics licence to use their charts on the tablet with the boating app?

The VHF should (not looked at the manual) output the AIS data as NEMA: connect that to a Yakker NEMA to Wi-fi Bridge and you can then view that data on your iPad using whichever app you prefer.

The NASA AIS will also provide that data stream via the 9 pin plug. So you could just use that as your AIS source and not bother fitting the SH VHF (which will need a MMSI change if you fit it to the new boat).

No need to fit an Onwa AIS thingy unless you’re planning on using it mainly as a chart plotter, in which case the extra money for the AIS version makes sense and you can sell the NASA AIS. The Onwa will also output the AIS data, so you could hook it up to a Yakker if you wanted to display the AIS data on an iPad.

Navionics charts are a different product to the Navionics app on iPad. You’ll need to buy the Navionics charts and take out a subscription to the Navionics app.

 

[KevO]

The VHF should (not looked at the manual) output the AIS data as NEMA: connect that to a Yakker NEMA to Wi-fi Bridge and you can then view that data on your iPad using whichever app you prefer.

The NASA AIS will also provide that data stream via the 9 pin plug. So you could just use that as your AIS source and not bother fitting the SH VHF (which will need a MMSI change if you fit it to the new boat).

No need to fit an Onwa AIS thingy unless you’re planning on using it mainly as a chart plotter, in which case the extra money for the AIS version makes sense and you can sell the NASA AIS. The Onwa will also output the AIS data, so you could hook it up to a Yakker if you wanted to display the AIS data on an iPad.

Navionics charts are a different product to the Navionics app on iPad. You’ll need to buy the Navionics charts and take out a subscription to the Navionics app.

Thanks Duncan.

 

[GHA]

Anyhoo, down below I'm installing my SH 2100 AIS DSC (receive AIS only) in place of the non-AIS Cobra VHF. Confused yet?

Also already installed is a NASA AIS Engine 3 module. It has a 9 pin serial port output. If I was to site a tablet with Navionics, Open CPN or summat at the chart table, is there any reason why I couldn't connect a bluetooth or wifi source to the 9 pin output and use that to overlay AIS on the tablet too? If not, would Bluetooth or wifi be better than the other?

I've similar, think it's a 2150 though uses quite a bit of power so often turned off and use the nasa for ais. A raspberry pi is one option to multiplex nmea and send over wifi, then a tablet running opencpn gives very good ais display.