Using an Ipad as a plotter

[laika]

So only one of the penultimate poster's posts so far has been in a thread where he/she hasn't been pushing the same company. Has chartnavigator now got some competition for shameless self promotion and how long can they keep this thread going for as an SEO device between them?

 

[chartnavigator]

You can't claim that your comment is 'on topic' laika. Stop Trolling.

 

[laika]

You can't claim that your comment is 'on topic' laika. Stop Trolling.

And your definition of a troll? My point (specifically related to this thread) is that every time someone revives it, you reply with a link to your web site and the word "routelist" in the post regardless of the relevance to what anyone has asked for example:

is it possible to have a tablet in the cockpit in a waterproof enclosure and maintain connectivity to AIS and more external GPS input?

iIf you are going to use it in the cockpit I would suggest using Navionics app for pilotage and Imray Charts with Tucabo Tidesplan for route planning.

If eddystone follows your recommendation does it solve his problem? No because Navionics simply doesn't display an external AIS feed. But your mates at Tucabo who feature your stuff on their front page get some business and you've persuaded someone to buy the product you've written a book about and managed to get your link in there.

monkieswillrule revived 3 dead threads yesterday to point people at a company which started up a couple of weeks ago.

No problem with you replying to threads and suggesting that your book might be useful or recommending your mates' software where it's relevant. No problem in general with people suggesting their own products as long as they aren't masquerading as a random satisfied customer (which I'm not saying you do: I think everyone is aware that you are promoting your books). But isn't responding to everyone who revives this thread with a "routelist" post pushing a bit too hard?

 

[nigelmercier]

So only one of the penultimate poster's posts so far has been in a thread where he/she hasn't been pushing the same company.

 

[PaulMcC]

Sony waterproof tablet maybe...

To be honest it's not cheap at about £350-£400 for an android tablet but I bought a Sony Experia Z tablet 3 months ago as it is advertised as waterproof. You can use it to run most of the apps people have discussed for Ipad (navionics etc), just download the android version of the app.

A couple of thoughts though before you rush out and buy one.

It's only waterproof with the rubber dust caps which cover all the sockets slotted home. That means it isn't waterproof whilst charging.
While charging it will run chartplotter software and stay fully charged but running with in waterproof mode with no cables then it lasts about 4-6 hours. You might be able to squeeze more than 6 if you put the screen to sleep a lot and only look at it now and again to check something.
The screen isn't great in bright sunlight and also attracts fingerprints like nothing else.

However despite all that I find it really good. It lives on the chart table plugged it most of the time but if I am about heading through any difficult bits I just unply it, flip the covers over the sockets and bring it outside.

 

[rosssavage]

I have the navionics app for my ipad, but never use it 'live'. It's great for planning, but then all the routes are programmed into my Raymarine plotters, and error checked against good ole' fashioned paper charts.

The great thing about the pad (or any tablet) is its flexibility and connectivity - you can get so much information at a glance. Tide tables, marina info, weather etc etc etc...

If I had the dosh, I'd get a new Raymarine plotter with wifi, then I could update routes dynamically from the ipad to the plotter as required, freeing up the helm station for the driver. Unfortunately that's £xk, and I ain't got it to spend!!

These things are SUCH useful devices

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I'm a little confused about the need to be waterproof and the problem with recharging times.
I used my IPad 2 continuously for 11 days in the cockpit and cabin of a 25ft wooden boat sailing from the Algarve to Azores. I used it as a plotter and to decode weather fax from a portable SSB. The weather wasn't great and the boat being small wasn't the driest place to be but I only put it in its £100 plastic bag once. The rest of the time it was in its normal cover. I kept it charged from a Voltaic Fuse portable 10w solar charger so it didn't even need any ship power.

Totally independent and reliable with the ability to decode weather fax which came in very handy.

 

[chartnavigator]

And your definition of a troll?

Someone who contributes nothing to the thread except complaints about the posters and the material they choose to be discussing.

My point (specifically related to this thread) is that every time someone revives it, you reply with a link to your web site and the word "routelist" in the post regardless of the relevance to what anyone has asked for example:

If eddystone follows your recommendation does it solve his problem? No because Navionics simply doesn't display an external AIS feed. But your mates at Tucabo who feature your stuff on their front page get some business and you've persuaded someone to buy the product you've written a book about and managed to get your link in there.


The example you have chosen is of very dubious relevance for the following reason: Navionics has large enough graphics to be easily seen in the cockpit. That was my reason for suggesting it. I didn't suggest that the iPad be used for an AIS feed. I was not suggesting that Marine Chart Navigator be used with an AIS feed either. I quite specifically advised using it for ROUTE PLANNING. How many skippers route plan from the cockpit? None. There are very good reasons for that, and they are entirely relevant to the discussion of the thread.

If you are not interested in what is posted in this thread then why did you bother coming into it? You didn't have to did you?

monkieswillrule revived 3 dead threads yesterday to point people at a company which started up a couple of weeks ago.

No problem with you replying to threads and suggesting that your book might be useful or recommending your mates' software where it's relevant. No problem in general with people suggesting their own products as long as they aren't masquerading as a random satisfied customer (which I'm not saying you do: I think everyone is aware that you are promoting your books). But isn't responding to everyone who revives this thread with a "routelist" post pushing a bit too hard?

I try to keep my posts relevant to the thread title. Yes I do have a vested interest, as do many of the members in here, (strictly amateur I assure you). What 'monkieswillrule' may do is subject to the TOSS rules the same as anyone else. If he was off topic and blatantly infringing the guidelines there are things that can be done about it by people authorised to do so.

I was not aware that adding to 'dead threads' is a crime. Some dead threads are most interesting and members probably do not object if the new addition is relevant and in keeping with the forum rules on advertising. If the addition is not relevant the moderators will remove them. If relevant, let them stand, why not?

Vigilante Cyber Policing in threads that happen to contain no interest for you personally, seems to me to betray a rather 'dog in the manger' attitude. Particularly when there is no need to be there. It would seem that if you had your way a great deal of useful information to members would be censored out of existence, simply because you do not find it interesting.

The Posts following your complaint prove the fact that there is still considerable interest in the thread topic, so why don't you go elsewhere in the forums and concern yourself with subjects more in line with your personal interests?

Regards Chris.

 

[laika]

Someone who contributes nothing to the thread except complaints about the posters and the material they choose to be discussing.

The example you have chosen is of very dubious relevance for the following reason: Navionics has large enough graphics to be easily seen in the cockpit. That was my reason for suggesting it. I didn't suggest that the iPad be used for an AIS feed. I was not suggesting that Marine Chart Navigator be used with an AIS feed either.

If you are not interested in what is posted in this thread then why did you bother coming into it? You didn't have to did you?

Your definition of troll is, then, entirely your own. Your reply to this post:

Alright, perhaps I can simplify my question - is it possible to have a tablet in the cockpit in a waterproof enclosure and maintain connectivity to AIS and more external GPS input?

Was to suggest something that doesn't support AIS and doesn't support an external GPS input, but instead two products you have a commercial interest in. Please quote where you say "Hey, I'm not answering the question you actually asked but for route planning software, which you didn't ask about, my recommendation would be..."

This is my objection: Not that you were suggesting that someone look at your wares because it suits their needs (which is fine) but that you were recommending something that, as an expert on that product, you knew full well didn't suit their needs

 

[Buck Turgidson]

OK so, could use an AIS non-wireless transponder and still route its output to a tablet which is good, but now understand (hasten to say I don't have a tablet and having to buy one which I wouldn't otherwise use does somewhat alter the economics) but understand the latest Ipad takes 6 hours to recharge - doesn't that really rule it out as a sole navigation device (apart from charts I mean)?

Without getting involved with all the trolling hooha.

There is an app from Tucabo which allows you to receive NMEA data wirelessly. You would need the hardware to transmit it but there are several available. So your little wireless transmitter sits inside transmitting all the NMEA data and your iPad sits on your lap in the cockpit displaying it. This is also integrated with the Tucabo "Imray" Charts app so you have a real time overlay on the iPad. As gps position is on NMEA then it should take that but I don't know if it does. If not a bluetooth GPS or the plug in version will work fine.

 

[chartnavigator]

Leika:

OK. You have a point. I understand your objection. It won't happen again, I will ensure in future that I understand the question better.

I should have mentioned iNavX rather than Navionics (which you are quite correct has no AIS capability as yet). Even then though I am not so much of an 'expert' to be able to properly answer the posters question on AIS feeds. I know AIS is available in iNavX via an internet connection from the SiiTech AIS Server, (using 3G, - not much use if you are no where near a phone transmitting mast), but can it be served via an independent AIS aerial / receiver on board? Do you know? (That presumably would be the most reliable solution), and presumably what the questioner was asking.

I suspect, from looking at the Marine Imray Charts App on my iPad, that it supports AIS feeds from an on board source. It also claims to be able to take and display GPS, depth, speed, wind and course from an NMEA AIS repeater. Not having done it myself though, I'm not in a position to advise on it. Perhaps the poster should check it out by Googaling Tucabo himself.

Does that answer the question better?

I notice that Buck Turgidson has answered the question of the Imray Charts app better than I could. Thank you.

 

[laika]

I should have mentioned iNavX rather than Navionics (which you are quite correct has no AIS capability as yet). Even then though I am not so much of an 'expert' to be able to properly answer the posters question on AIS feeds. I know AIS is available in iNavX via an internet connection from the SiiTech AIS Server, (using 3G, - not much use if you are no where near a phone transmitting mast), but can it be served via an independent AIS aerial / receiver on board? Do you know? (That presumably would be the most reliable solution), and presumably what the questioner was asking.

post #132. I believe it can.

Note that iNavX does AIS as you desire. chartnavigator's suggestion of navionics/tucabo doesn't AFAIK, but I believe he has his own reasons for making that recommendation.

Suspect we've both bored everyone else now

 

[Cookee]

I have the navionics app for my ipad, but never use it 'live'. It's great for planning, but then all the routes are programmed into my Raymarine plotters, and error checked against good ole' fashioned paper charts.

The great thing about the pad (or any tablet) is its flexibility and connectivity - you can get so much information at a glance. Tide tables, marina info, weather etc etc etc...

If I had the dosh, I'd get a new Raymarine plotter with wifi, then I could update routes dynamically from the ipad to the plotter as required, freeing up the helm station for the driver. Unfortunately that's £xk, and I ain't got it to spend!!

These things are SUCH useful devices

I have connected a pair of older E140W displays to the Ipad with one of http://www.digitalyacht.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=11680these - works just like the new ones although the Ipad doesn't work as an extra screen - you can still plot anything on the Ipad and it transfers automatically tot he boat - simples!