Navionics charts for ipad confusion

[brownsox]

We've just aquired an ipad 2 - one reason being to get some charts. We thought it was simple - buy Navionics chart from the appstore. But we're confused. The appstore does have navionics HD charts - all of europe for £26.49.
Then there's iNavx ... software for the ipad, onto which you somehow load Navionics charts (different ones?) Costs about £50 for the software and £50 for the charts (Med) and there's also some kind of subscription.
Are these totally different systems? Is the cheapo one no good? When I've looked on the forum people talk about Navionics charts but often it's not clear which version. Can anyone throw some light on this?

 

[Laundryman]

I have the straightforward navionics app for £26 and it functions just like a chart plotter and does all I need it to do. Not sure what the navx does better though I don't need it whatever it does. I do not use the iPad as my main navigation so the navionics app is fine. Don't think you are going to use the iPad at the wheel though because you can't see it in bright sunlight. For what it's worth, I actually like using the iPad app and wish it was more usable in the cockpit. Excellent value app.

 

[scottie]

It all depends where you want to use it

Navionics supply a chartset with soft ware either UK +Holland or Europe

Imray similar but splits UK into various separate sets

Inavionic is soft ware for which you find your own charts

I suspect the difference is that UK charges copywrite whereas us is free

 

[PCUK]

Inavx is a chart plotter that you have to buy UK charts from one particular supplier only, otherwise they can't be loaded into Inavx. Inavx has additional features to the Navionics but I don't think it is worth the extra cost and hassle buying the charts through their dedicated supplier. Navionics works fine and £26 is a real bargain.

 

[TonyBuckley]

I've been looking for a chartplotter for ages and just decided on a standard horizon model when the iPad first came out and I backed off.

I have navionics on my iphone which is good but small. Still not got the iPad so interested in how it works out for you. Don't need one in the cockpit!

The iPad 2 is interesting cos of the GPS options. The wifi only model (so not including 3g) does not have GPS. The iPad 2 wifi & 3g does have GPS and you don't need to shove a SIM into it to make it work. £100 more expensive.

As for mounting - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e845qYZwpPQ

Tony

 

[SvenglishTommy]

I have the straightforward navionics app for £26 and it functions just like a chart plotter and does all I need it to do.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but what app is that you're using and do you need a special card reader for it? The Navionics stuff I've found seems to be in the 100 mark including card reader.

 

[scottie]

I assume that you are familiar with iTunes

In this case we are referring to a app from iTunes store

 

[PCUK]

You can buy the Bad Elf GPS that plugs sraight into the Ipad for about £90. This is far better than the inbuilt unit as it locks on far quicker, uses more satellites and with an extension cable can be mounted in the windscreen while the pad is at the chart table.
The Navionics UK and Ireland app costs £26 from the Itunes App store and is all you need.

 

[Ceirwan]

AFAIK the iNavx app comes with free US charts, you have to purchase UK ones. However it can also interface with some wi-fi thing (can't remember what its called) which lets it overlay AIS, pick up NMEA data such as Speed, depth wind etc and also use the main GPS for greater accuracy.

That combined with an iPad to me sounds fantastic!

 

[Laundryman]

NAvionics charts for iPad

"Sorry to hijack the thread, but what app is that you're using and do you need a special card reader for it? The Navionics stuff I've found seems to be in the 100 mark including card reader."
The standard navionics app, downloaded from iTunes is all you need, nothing else. Go for it, it's very good and excellent value.

 

[TonyBuckley]

You can buy the Bad Elf GPS....

Badelf does look good but comes out at same price as wifi+3g. The lock time on the iPad 2 is better than 3GS and that is good.

Or you could jailbreak and use bluetooth to a standalone GPS receiver.

So many options .

But the quality of the maps and position on iphone 3gs with navionics for £14 (from memory) is outstanding.

Love to hear from people using this setup.

Tony

 

[benw]

I am using the navionics app chart GB and Holland currently. Have been contemplating the inavx so I can overlay AIS using the digital yacht AIS wifi hardware but for around £390 it is a lot on top of the pad.
I have the 64gb 3G vsn and it is very quick to position fix and route plan. The inavx is a more standard plotter with some advanced features.
I have an aqua pac waterproof bag which works well. Suspended under the spray hood I have yet to find the display completely compromised.
Ben

 

[Colvic Watson]

Badelf does look good but comes out at same price as wifi+3g. The lock time on the iPad 2 is better than 3GS and that is good.

Or you could jailbreak and use bluetooth to a standalone GPS receiver.

So many options .

But the quality of the maps and position on iphone 3gs with navionics for £14 (from memory) is outstanding.

Love to hear from people using this setup.

Tony

You don't need to jailbreak anymore to use a Bluetooth GPS

 

[TonyBuckley]

You don't need to jailbreak anymore to use a Bluetooth GPS

Really? That would be great - got a few BT GPS units in the garage. JBing is a **** thing to do on an iPad unless you have lots of time.

Do you have a ref with detail?

Tony

 

[Colvic Watson]

I was googling for units to buy and came across a number of posts saying no more jailbreak. Haven't tried it but worth googling.

 

[brownsox]

Thanks to the first few posters, who clarified it for us - good news too.
We've now downloaded the navionics europe HD chart app from itunes. £26.49. Then you do "download map" and pick which areas you want, so we've got most of the Med. I think I can also get the rest of Europe, in slices if I want it. Having sliced the Med up into about 8 bits (you can't do it all in one - you get a message that it's too big), we can now move around the whole area seamlessly - it's only when actually downloading that there's a limitation on size. It looks brilliant, we'll see more next week when we get to the boat. Confirm that you need ipad with 3G but don't need a SIM. Pricey but a great bit of kit for endless other purposes too.

 

[PCUK]

Sorry, why do you need 3G? I don't!

 

[brownsox]

£G

Sorry, why do you need 3G? I don't!

we're not very techy but researched it and all said you do need 3G but not contract only the 3G ipads have GPS ...

 

[FredBMOC]

Quick question:
The boat I am in the process of buying has the Northstar 6100i which uses Navionics charts; for the ke of redundancy, should I get an app for my iPad that uses a different charting system?

 

[tyce]

Can you access the navionics app on other phones that use android rather than the somewhat costly i phone.