Navionics. Relief Shading.

[dunedin]

You keep quoting the “logged in” bit as if it mattered. In the actual world it will never happen without weird tinkering and being logged in is the default position whether you are a thousand miles from internet connection or not.

I suspect the issue could be if you have automatic updating of the Apps switched on (always a bad idea for booties). App updates itself at some time, without you being aware. Many days /weeks later trying to use for first time since the update, it asks you to log in - but now out of signal.

 

[[2068]]

I suspect the issue could be if you have automatic updating of the Apps switched on (always a bad idea for booties). App updates itself at some time, without you being aware. Many days /weeks later trying to use for first time since the update, it asks you to log in - but now out of signal.

I think this happened to me at least once.

 

[Hurricane]

I suspect the issue could be if you have automatic updating of the Apps switched on (always a bad idea for booties). App updates itself at some time, without you being aware. Many days /weeks later trying to use for first time since the update, it asks you to log in - but now out of signal.

Imagine if you were at sea on a passage out of GSM range and you ACTUALLY needed it!!

 

[RupertW]

Imagine if you were at sea on a passage out of GSM range and you ACTUALLY needed it!!

Been there many times and it cant ever happen without active intervention to log yourself off which you simply wouldn’t. Turning it off isn’t a problem, being out of signal isn’t a problem. The only potential problem is if you land in a country you have never planned to so haven’t downloaded the detail for that area - which is just poor planning for your cruise.

 

[RupertW]

If you have multiple devices, this is a mitigation. I use the app fairly frequently and have an old Raymarine MFD as well.
And if the iPad is all that you have, it's clearly a lot better than nothing. It generally works well if dry and not in really strong sunlight.

But back to the OP, the question was "Why on earth would you spend £150 for a new chart for the fixed chartplotters. For the traditionalists. "
i.e. why not just ditch the fixed chartplotter and just use the iPad ... I would not do that.
Call me a traditionalist

But none of those devices are a chartplotter - just watches and phones and laptops and other tablets. Fine for anybody to keep a chart plotter but lets stop this idea that an ipad Navionics needs a signal more than once or twice a year when you are renewing and when you are downloading all the detailed charts for your planned cruising that year.

 

[[2068]]

... lets stop this idea that an ipad Navionics needs a signal more than once or twice a year when you are renewing and when you are downloading all the detailed charts for your planned cruising that year ...

... plus the odd time when you least expect it.

 

[ChromeDome]

After a change in coverage (less) and subscription price (more) I'm not planning to renew the iPad updating.
My primary plotter is running Navionics Platinum Plus and might not be renewed either.

When time comes for a new plotter the chart will be considered and Navionics (owned by Garmin) will not have any preference over C-MAPS (owned by Navico who also are behind Lowrance, Simrad and B&G among which the next device is likely to be selected).

 

[oldgit]

i.e. why not just ditch the fixed chartplotter and just use the iPad ... I would not do that.
Call me a traditionalist

This was not the inference.
Merely that the Ipad is the most cost effective way of getting the very latest navigation information onto a device for 99% of boaty trips at fraction of the cost of a fixed chart plotter update.
At some point the fixed chart plotter cards will no doubt get updated .

Still drawing lines on charts pre departure just in case.

Still trying to work out why £ 35.00 + Ipad buys me virtually all of the UK and near continent and £150 on NT+ buys thin sliver of the Thames Estuary.
When my first year subsription ran out the Ipad kept going with no problems other than the loss of Auto routing and probably some other non vital stuff.
Bought it home logged onto internet and downloaded latest software.

 

[pumpsmynads]

That's offline mode.
Marvellous.

Now click on "Menu" within the app, click on your username on the upper left hand side, then select "Log out".
Try getting back in with no signal and report back.

Why are you logging out?
I think you’re creating an issue that doesn’t exist. I’ve used it for 2 years in an old iphone without a sim card and it’s fine. Never once logged me off.

 

[[2068]]

< Sigh >
Just pointing out that this can happen - it's happened to me a couple of times (getting unexpectedly logged out)

I'm not creating the issue - Navionics created the issue.
The app doesn't have to work this way.

I actually raised a support ticket with Navionics asking about this, and the response was along the lines of "It probably won't happen very often, and if it does, the boater can use something else to navigate to somewhere with a wifi signal and log back in again" ?

 

[RupertW]

< Sigh >
Just pointing out that this can happen - it's happened to me a couple of times (getting unexpectedly logged out)

I'm not creating the issue - Navionics created the issue.
The app doesn't have to work this way.

I actually raised a support ticket with Navionics asking about this, and the response was along the lines of "It probably won't happen very often, and if it does, the boater can use something else to navigate to somewhere with a wifi signal and log back in again" ?

Doesn’t sound very likely - go on show us the screenshot of the reply

 

[[2068]]

Doesn’t sound very likely - go on show us the screenshot of the reply

ok, the emoji was supposed to indicate that one wasn't supposed to be taken too literally.
Actual reply below:

Thank you for contacting Navionics.

The mandatory login was introduced to make it possible to sync data across multiple devices, and link all purchases to one account.

Login, however, should only be required once: unless you specifically log out of the App, you do not need to repeat it every time you open the App on your device. If you do become logged out, an internet connection is required to complete the Login.

For further info on what App features do require an internet connection, please see the below link:
Mobile App Features, Online vs Offline

etc etc

I'm not sure there is much mileage in flogging this horse much longer.
There are those that think this is "not an issue" - fine - clearly that's not going to change.
I do find the iPad and the app useful, but I prefer something more like an MFD as a primary navigation device.

 

[RupertW]

ok, the emoji was supposed to indicate that one wasn't supposed to be taken too literally.
Actual reply below:

Thank you for contacting Navionics.

The mandatory login was introduced to make it possible to sync data across multiple devices, and link all purchases to one account.

Login, however, should only be required once: unless you specifically log out of the App, you do not need to repeat it every time you open the App on your device. If you do become logged out, an internet connection is required to complete the Login.

For further info on what App features do require an internet connection, please see the below link:
Mobile App Features, Online vs Offline

etc etc

I'm not sure there is much mileage in flogging this horse much longer.
There are those that think this is "not an issue" - fine - clearly that's not going to change.
I do find the iPad and the app useful, but I prefer something more like an MFD as a primary navigation device.

Which is very different from your emoji based comment - agree that we are now flogging a long dead beast.

 

[oldgit]

..............and you can actually see wrecks on the bottom...how cool is that.
Although our local nemesis The SS Richchard Montgomery is curiously absent.
Quite wrecks a few near the Goodwins.

 

[[2068]]

I’m getting mixed results - seeing the detail for the seabed is amazing in some places.

But the layer suggests that entering Chichester Harbour isn’t a good idea (maybe it isn’t?) - the Sonar layer makes it clearer where to go and where to avoid. The choice of colours for the depths is interesting ... quite different.

Relief Shading Layer





Sonar Layer

 

[Hurricane]

OK - lets get practical here.
Imagine that you don't have a plotter on board - only an iThingy with the Navionics app.
How do you set the autopilot on a passage?
I can think of a number of times when knowing the distance and direction to a destination waypoint was really useful.
I assume that you are suggesting that you just steer a course and adjust the autopilot every now and then to align your progress with the iThingy.
Great but there is nothing simpler than "Go To Cursor" "Engage Pilot" and then let the PROPER nav system do the job.

Now couple that with live AIS data that the iThingy can't do without a lot of complex additional electronics and it certainly can't give you the information that you get from Radar.
Yes, I know a dedicated system is a lot more expensive but the argument seems to be that the iThingy is as good as a fixed nav system - it is NOT.

 

[MystyBlue2]

..............and you can actually see wrecks on the bottom...how cool is that.
Although our local nemesis The SS Richchard Montgomery is curiously absent.
Quite wrecks a few near the Goodwins.

Seems like Navionics have only invested time and money to improve the chart reef shading for the south coast, The video looks good and I've just been on my app to look at the wrecks in the video myself and they look fantastic down in Eastbourne and the rest of the south coast but if i go to my local wrecks on the NE Coast and i mean the NE of England I.E (Northumberland) The wrecks just look pixilated and the detail is atrocious and nothing like the detail invested on the south coast. Yet again, Us folk up north are left back in the stone ages.

 

[oldgit]

Seems like Navionics have only invested time and money to improve the chart reef shading for the south coast, The video looks good and I've just been on my app to look at the wrecks in the video myself and they look fantastic down in Eastbourne and the rest of the south coast but if i go to my local wrecks on the NE Coast and i mean the NE of England I.E (Northumberland) The wrecks just look pixilated and the detail is atrocious and nothing like the detail invested on the south coast. Yet again, Us folk up north are left back in the stone ages.

..........................suspect its all down to what commercial scans are available.
The new recently dredged channels in the Thames Estuary have some impressive detail as does certain other locations, but large areas down here have obviously not warranted the expence or need for detailed survery.
Surely you must have some detailed maps from when the Armada was up your wqy in 1588. ?