KAM
Well-Known Member
I just bought a smart watch. It shows tides and works perfectly in Norway but not in UK. Why is access to tidal information restricted and is anyone lobbying to get it sorted out.
Smart watch tides
- Thread starter KAM
- Start date
Hacker
Well-Known Member
Absolute tides works on an iWatch
Ningaloo
Well-Known Member
Sadly the UK government believe they "own' the natural phenomena of the tides and require a royalty license to publish UK tidal data.
AntarcticPilot
Well-Known Member
This is not quite correct. The basic tide-gauge data are freely available from the National Oceanographic Data Centre, and anyone who cares to do so can compute their own tidal constants from them. This is what the various open-source tidal programs have done; there are many sources of free tidal constants other than the UKHO. The process is not particularly difficult; I could do it and I am no great mathematician. However, under UK law, the act of generating the tidal constants is a copyright act; the copyright exists as a right; it can't NOT exist. The UK Hydrographic Office (which is NOT the UK Government) is required by its terms of operation to charge a commercial rate for its products, of which tidal constants are a small part. An odd consequence of the Treasury rules governing such things is that they are not allowed to undercut a potential commercial operator, so they must inevitably charge a sum commensurate with the product's commercial value.
Ningaloo
Well-Known Member
Trust me, if you publish UK tidal predictions the UKHO want their cut, for the reasons you have stated. It does not matter if you use UKHO data or not. Most open source software (eg x-tides) have stopped distributing UK data for this reason.
I have calculated tidal predictions from first principles and used to market a PDA App (pre IPhone and Android) for passage planning.
UKHO may not "be" the government, but it works under principles dictated by them.
I'd like to see free access to data acquired through citizen's taxes, as in the USA. Or at least be able to use non UKHO data for my own computation without having to pay a royalty.
I have calculated tidal predictions from first principles and used to market a PDA App (pre IPhone and Android) for passage planning.
UKHO may not "be" the government, but it works under principles dictated by them.
I'd like to see free access to data acquired through citizen's taxes, as in the USA. Or at least be able to use non UKHO data for my own computation without having to pay a royalty.
[70521]
Well-Known Member
Tidal information for the UK is published in Reeds, and other almanac, every year. Usually a local annual tide table is thrust into my hand at the local sailing club, I cant see that as being restricted.
KAM
Well-Known Member
Tide data started working in Norway. Back in Scotland it started working but showing Aberdeen tides. Just had an update from Huawei. Watch is now showing tides but no location so totally useless. Now showing a tide with HW 1.85 LW minus 1.82. Doesent seem like anywhere near me.
Spirit (of Glenans)
Well-Known Member
I use www.easytide.admiralty.uk for seven days free tidal predictions when I am too lazy to open my Reeds and do the calculations, (which I should do, to keep my brain working
).
I don't know how the OP might access this website on a smartphone, but if he is so enthusiastic about technology such as smartwatches he will also doubtless have a smartphone and a tablet also.
Edit: I should add, that if using Easytides, don't forget to click on the box to add one hour, for Summer Time, when necessary, as it's not immediately obvious when using it on a phone.
).I don't know how the OP might access this website on a smartphone, but if he is so enthusiastic about technology such as smartwatches he will also doubtless have a smartphone and a tablet also.
Edit: I should add, that if using Easytides, don't forget to click on the box to add one hour, for Summer Time, when necessary, as it's not immediately obvious when using it on a phone.
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KAM
Well-Known Member
Plenty of access to tide data by dozens of routes. I didn't realise my smart watch, not bought with sailing in mind, would come with tides but I can see it would be quite handy if I knew it was reliable. Saves my wife complaining that I'm always looking at my phone.I use www.easytide.admiralty.uk for seven days free tidal predictions when I am too lazy to open my Reeds and do the calculations, (which I should do, to keep my brain working
I don't know how the OP might access this website on a smartphone, but if he is so enthusiastic about technology such as smartwatches he will also doubtless have a smartphone and a tablet also.
bedouin
Well-Known Member
The data required to produce the most accurate tide times are owned by UKHO and I think anyone distributing data based on that requires a licence from them. I am sure Reeds pay a fair amount for the privilege but it may be free for the local sailing club. You may also notice that it is much easier to get 7 day predictions than longer ones so presumably they are licensed differently.
I have an idea there is some tidal information in the public domain (i.e. UKHO don't own a copyright) that is less accurate but can be used FOC in all circumstances.
Roberto
Well-Known Member
What is exactly a "smart watch" with tides, does it host "apps" or the like or it simply gives HW/LW times and a tidal curve in between, like a number of Casio watches do?
In this latter case, you must configure it with the lunitidal interval for your location; if semidiurnal tides without too many irregularities, it can be rather accurate.
In this latter case, you must configure it with the lunitidal interval for your location; if semidiurnal tides without too many irregularities, it can be rather accurate.
AntarcticPilot
Well-Known Member
The raw tide gauge data are freely available from the National Oceanographic Data Centre. Anyone who wishes can compute tidal constants from them.
KAM
Well-Known Member
Well it's a very nice display with tide curves for the next week but total gibberish. Doesent relate to anywhere I can determine. My phone location is correct and the watch GPS is correct. Such a pity. At the moment without any further information it's a dangerous app which could kill. Any other tips appreciated.
Leighb
Well-Known Member
I have Tides Pro on my Apple Watch, it has a limited number of ports that you can select, here at Woodbridge the nearest is Harwich, which is fine as I know the tidal differences. It seems fairly accurate and shows whether it is rising or falling, current tidal height and times and heights of next HW/LW.
On my iPhone I have Imray Tides Planner which gives a lot more information and a wide selection of places, but it is a subscription app.
On my iPhone I have Imray Tides Planner which gives a lot more information and a wide selection of places, but it is a subscription app.
alahol2
Well-Known Member
I use the Tide Prediction android app which is mainly graphical (and free). Works offline and (so far as I can tell) for any date. Pesumably the developer is not paying fees for the tide data. Works well for me but I guess it depends if you've got one of the preset locations close-by.
bedouin
Well-Known Member
It would be interesting to compare the data with UKHO tides and see if it matches exactly.
alahol2
Well-Known Member
I can tell you that (for Portsmouth) the predictions don't fully match the UKHO ones. They are usually within 15 mins and 0.1 of a metre. Wind and pressure can have a bigger effect. I presume the app is using a subset of the tidal harmonics.
bedouin
Well-Known Member
Yes - I guess it is using the public domain constants rather than the (more accurate) UKHO ones. Good enough for (almost) anything.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
If only there were some club we could be a member of which looks after citizens by regulating for such freedom with data funded by taxpayers...a sort of union if you will that could make some sort of...directive...on open public sector data...
Our national data strategy calls for data re-use too (I contributed to it), but falls far short of demanding it from the public sector, and it's just a strategy anyway rather than a rule so the government will continue to see it as a short term cash cow rather than national asset.
bedouin
Well-Known Member
There is an interesting difference between UK and USA - in US any data produced using public funds has to be made available freely. In UK we task the public bodies (UKHO, Crown Estates etc) with making as much money as possible. Really is a shame
