Tablets and nav software

[davethedog]

Hello all and after some more advice if possible, this time ref tablets and nav software (as a back up and way to plot routes at home prior to heading to our boat).

Been reading up and seen a suggestion for an android tablet over an IPAD, so what do people think and also then what software, ideally something that will do the following:

Allow me to plot a route at home.
Display tidal data (stream and height).
Reasonably priced.
Usable on our boat as a backup to the C80 we have already.

Regards

 

[duncan99210]

I use an iPad and iPhone with Navionics which I find is fine. Easy to use and fast. However, if you're buying an iPad remember that it has to be the more expensive version with 4G built in (ie, it has a SIM card slot). Otherwise you need an external gps such as a bad elf. Note that you don't need to install a SIM card for the gps to work nor do you need a 3/4G signal: it's just that the gps chips are part of the 3/4G circuit in the iPad, so you have to have that capability to get th gps signal.

Other will now be along to tell you about their choices.

 

[Dave95979]

If you have a I pad and a I phone you can set your phone as a personal hotspot and receive the info from that via wifi I think so a Cheper iPad would do so long as you have the minimum spec for the software. I have a iPad ( wifi only ) with navionics and an iPhone I just have to subscribe for about 40 quid per year

 

[SiteSurfer]

I'm not convinced that the iphone sends GPS data to the iPad when used as a personal hotspot.
In any case - if you want standalone then you will need the sim enabled version of the iPad, I have both and have used the wifi only version very successfully with a BadElf GPS dongle too.

In terms of software (for the iPad at least):
Navionics - excellent, has tides,weather,currents,photos uploaded from users and 2 options on depth data, also does live depth and currents for a location which is bloody useful for a quick sanity check when needed. Subscription model with optional routing module (unless thats now part of the sub).
iSailor - ability to display AIS from another source, maps on subscription, some nice touches
iNavX - was the original app, still nice but aimed to the States market (problematical for tides), maps have to be bought seperately, displays AIS

AIS can also of course be obtained from the internet, but thats not much use if you can't connect.. however - with a AIS reciever/transponder and some form of GPS data (perhaps from a combined VHF unit) that could be squirted to a cheap wifi sender on the boat and then all the apps will happily take the external data - meaning that you wouldnt absolutely have to have a GPS enabled iPad.

However - referring to your post - it's a backup. Which means that you expect everything else to have failed. Get a GPS enabled version in that case. I don't have a specific marine static chart plotter, but have the iPad mounted in the cockpit under the spray hood, occasional visibility issues aside (which are not as huge as some plotter-only die hards would have it) - it's spot on and I have 2 x iphones as backups.

If you look at other platforms, I also have tested a Tesco HUDL with navionics and am in the process of installing my copy of VHM (Visit My Harbour) raster maps to it as well - which came for free on the back of a purchase of their maps for my home based PC. Dylan has had success with a tablet too running the same/similar config with VHM (as have countless others).

I am biaised towards the iPad simply becuase I have one, daughter has one, and all of the family have iPhones - all have Navionics installed (becuase you can do that on one purchase) and the chances of ALL of those devices failing simultaeously are somewhat slim. And if they all fail - then I'll dig out the paper charts which are always on the boat.

 

[PaulRainbow]

If you have a I pad and a I phone you can set your phone as a personal hotspot and receive the info from that via wifi I think so a Cheper iPad would do so long as you have the minimum spec for the software. I have a iPad ( wifi only ) with navionics and an iPhone I just have to subscribe for about 40 quid per year

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Whatever tablet you use it must its own, proper, GPS built in.

There are 2 or 3 other very recent threads on here about tablets and nav software. I would suggest the OP take a look at those.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Hello all and after some more advice if possible, this time ref tablets and nav software (as a back up and way to plot routes at home prior to heading to our boat).

Been reading up and seen a suggestion for an android tablet over an IPAD, so what do people think and also then what software, ideally something that will do the following:

Allow me to plot a route at home.
Display tidal data (stream and height).
Reasonably priced.
Usable on our boat as a backup to the C80 we have already.

Regards

This has been discussed in depth over the past week or two Dave, at least.

Check these threads :

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?459379-Which-Lenovo-tablet&highlight=lenovo

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...d-VMH-charts-a-great-success&highlight=lenovo

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...re-you-all-using-for-OpenCPN&highlight=lenovo

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?459806-Open-CPN-for-Android&highlight=lenovo

 

[PaulRainbow]

Hello all and after some more advice if possible, this time ref tablets and nav software (as a back up and way to plot routes at home prior to heading to our boat).

Been reading up and seen a suggestion for an android tablet over an IPAD, so what do people think and also then what software, ideally something that will do the following:

Allow me to plot a route at home.
Display tidal data (stream and height).
Reasonably priced.
Usable on our boat as a backup to the C80 we have already.

Regards

This has been discussed in depth over the past week or two Dave, at least.

Check these threads :

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?459379-Which-Lenovo-tablet&highlight=lenovo

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...d-VMH-charts-a-great-success&highlight=lenovo

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...re-you-all-using-for-OpenCPN&highlight=lenovo

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?459806-Open-CPN-for-Android&highlight=lenovo

 

[dylanwinter]

I have used both ipad (£400) and an android (£90) blowed if I can see that one is any better than the other

so the 10 inch lenovo plus charts from visit my harbour re the way to go

D

 

[SiteSurfer]

I have used both ipad (£400) and an android (£90) blowed if I can see that one is any better than the other

so the 10 inch lenovo plus charts from visit my harbour re the way to go

D

Unless you happen to have iPads in the house which you can press into action of course. Its not always about the money.

I'd agree that on a cost basis the Android tablet is a cheaper option, Navionics appears to be exactly the same - and you get the added advantage of the extra features over the limited function set on the (current) VHM Android app suggestion, I spoke to VHM a couple weeks ago about the possibility of them allowing the maps in Open CPN on Android and it was something that might be available in the future.

Don't get me wrong, I advocate the iPad mainly because of the knee jerk reaction that says all Apple products are the work of the devil, that and I use Macs at work, home and about my person. Theres absolutely as far as I can see nothing between Navionics on the iPad and Android.

 

[temptress]

Hello all and after some more advice if possible, this time ref tablets and nav software (as a back up and way to plot routes at home prior to heading to our boat).

Been reading up and seen a suggestion for an android tablet over an IPAD, so what do people think and also then what software, ideally something that will do the following:

Allow me to plot a route at home.
Display tidal data (stream and height).
Reasonably priced.
Usable on our boat as a backup to the C80 we have already.

Regards

So I am sitting in Tonga reading this. We have used an android tablet running OpenCPN with an iPad running iSailor as a backup to get here. My personal preference is OpenCPN on Android but we have found the iSailor charts to be more accurate the father West we have come.

FYI we tried navionics as well but gave up on them as we got everything we needed elsewhere for less effort and cost.

 

[ballyabroad]

For interest here's what I run and have done for the last few years poddling around the East Coast.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Samsung-G...510928?hash=item4d3be78710:g:oLAAAOSwxndXT2ma

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.navionics.singleAppUKHolland

All in for under £150. It works and I prefer it to my Standard Horizon Chartplotter. Though everyone has their own opinion.

 

[niccapotamus]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Whatever tablet you use it must its own, proper, GPS built in.

There are 2 or 3 other very recent threads on here about tablets and nav software. I would suggest the OP take a look at those.

I use an ipad which connects to a bad elf gps via bluetooth. extremely reliable. so you don't necessarily need built in gps - on the other hand it's easier if you have!

 

[niccapotamus]

oh and if you prefer raster not vector then look at the maxsea app - I really like it

 

[davethedog]

Thanks for all the replies and yep...should have used the search function !

 

[PaulRainbow]

I use an ipad which connects to a bad elf gps via bluetooth. extremely reliable. so you don't necessarily need built in gps - on the other hand it's easier if you have!

Yes of course you can add an external GPS, but you wouldn't set out to do that with a new purchase. Last time i bought an iPad the 3G chip (which incorporates the GPS) was an extra £100, a tenner more than my 10.4" Lenovo lol