Using an Ipad as a plotter

chartnavigator said:
Definitely not iNavX if you want to use it to route plan. The distance measuring ruler is quite useless and impossible to use for amy practical purpose.
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Not sure what your problem with the ruler is...

Double tap on the chart, then drag the dot which will turn red and will expand into a line with co ordinates, bearing and range to the red dot. Green dot is the start, red is the stop.

Quite useless? Impossible to use? Really? I picked it up within 3 minutes of playing when I haven't used it for years...as long as you are at the right scale to begin with it's simple..Are you sure it's not operator error??? :)
 
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snooks said:
Not sure what your problem with the ruler is...

Double tap on the chart, then drag the dot which will turn red and will expand into a line with co ordinates, bearing and range to the red dot. Green dot is the start, red is the stop.

Quite useless? Impossible to use? Really? I picked it up within 3 minutes of playing when I haven't used it for years...as long as you are at the right scale to begin with it's simple..Are you sure it's not operator error??? :)
Click to expand...

Quite sure! Once you have deployed the 'ruler' it is impossible to zoom the chart or alter the view in any way without completely loosing the ruler. It is impossible to scroll the chart, place a waypoint at either end of the distance rule with any ease or preserve the position of the rule to do anything else on the chart that requires tapping.

In short, naff at trying to do anything to do with tidal current compensation or route planning. Quite impossible to draw a tidal vector of say, 2kts at 78º at large scale, then swing the other end of the rule onto the next waypoint 4NM + away to get a stream corrected heading. This is easily possible using Navionics or Imray because you can scroll, zoom or even change chart with Imray, and still keep the position of the distance rule. Quite impossible using iNavX. Try it! It can't be done. Perhaps that's why they don't bother giving any currents info in the app. It simply can't be used, even if you have it.

Regards Chris.
 
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Deckmonkey said:
well that was an interesting read- however, im still none the wiser on which app to drop my money on!! so imray, navionics, memory map or inavx???
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Now you can get a much better idea of how the different apps look on your iPad. You can sample screenshots in all of my books by downloading the sample version with some content missing, FREE from the Apple iBook Store. If you like it you can then buy the full book.

It's a great way to sample the feel of the different navigational iPad apps before committing to one in particular.

PS Navionics Commands went on sale today. see my website for more details.

Regards Chris.
 
Deckmonkey said:
well that was an interesting read- however, im still none the wiser on which app to drop my money on!!

I sail infrequently, on Joint services Vic's mostly, and id like an app that i can use to route plan, and use as a 'sanity check' while at sea. i wont be relying on it all the time as JS like us to use paper charts for nav- which makes sense.

so imray, navionics, memory map or inavx???
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Having been through the JSASTC system I can say that Navionics HD Europe is what you need, with Imray Charts App to use to check routes and for general pilotage and passage planning information, as these are more akin to the Admiralty charts you are used to. Navionics is fantastic and all the doomsayers harp on about iPads, waterproofing etc but you can overcome this with a long charging cable, a good waterproof case and the ipad being tied on to the wheel housing nice and tightly. That did me for a week in Greece recently.

Just get the apps and try it.

Andy
 
Ipad 2 & Navionics - brilliant.

Used under the sprayhood (in a waterproof case) it is accessible & visible in all conditions.

I use a Bad Elf GPS as opposed to the Ipad version, and this works very well, and charging is directly into the GPS and thence through to the Ipad. A 2.2 amp cigar lighter socket keeps everything running & fully charged.

It has proved to be very accurate, even when exploring some of the lesser used and rockier corners of Brittany.
 
I agree with Andy: Navionics HD Europe is an excellent app, I have been using Navionics apps from when they were first released and I checked-out one version on a 500nm trip from Gibraltar to Sant Carles in Feb 2011 - it worked very well indeed and they have improved much since. I have an E-Series CP on my FB which is of course excellent.

Power and waterproofing are easily sorted, the only downside in my opinion is screen brightness particularly in the sun when used on the FB!
 
You get the tidal flow arrows and a whole lot more if you buy the Tucabo TidesPlanner app. It is the same as the tides app in the Imray app so the data all agrees. It's also less than a tenner so really good vale for money.

Regards Chris.
 
chartnavigator said:
You get the tidal flow arrows and a whole lot more if you buy the Tucabo TidesPlanner app. It is the same as the tides app in the Imray app so the data all agrees. It's also less than a tenner so really good vale for money.
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Is that your book they feature prominently on the tucabo web site by any chance?
 
John100156 said:
I agree with Andy: Navionics HD Europe is an excellent app, I have been using Navionics apps from when they were first released and I checked-out one version on a 500nm trip from Gibraltar to Sant Carles in Feb 2011 - it worked very well indeed and they have improved much since. I have an E-Series CP on my FB which is of course excellent.

Power and waterproofing are easily sorted, the only downside in my opinion is screen brightness particularly in the sun when used on the FB!
Click to expand...

And I agree with john ;) Screen brightness can be an issue but actually I have had more problems with the polarisation relationship between my prescription, polarised RayBan sunglasses and the iPad2 screen. I can only see the screen when wearing the 'bans if oriented horizontally, i.e. in Landscape.

Lucky for me I navigate in Landscape anyway...

Andy
 
How to view your PC screen (with optional control) on an iPad etc.

nigelmercier said:
To anyone who is reading this thread who has a PC chart plotter and wireless network, do please note that you can replicate your PC screen using free software, or a couple of quid for a slightly nicer app. More details on request in this thread.
Click to expand...

Boreades said:
How's that then?
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New thread started: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...th-optional-control)-on-an-iPad-etc&p=4232311
 
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moodyNick said:
can you refer us to anybody else who has actually bought the book and used the apps in anger, to good effect ?
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Unfortunately not.

The reason being that very few people bother to return to the Apple iBookStore to write reviews on them. Also the good reviews they previously had were lost when the books went into a second edition. I think quite a few readers have gotten used to using the App though, using my book as a guide, before actually trying the ideas out for real. I also suspect that very few yachties ever do voyages from coastal port to coastal port. More often it would be a spin round the Solent, up and down a couple of times a month, in the summer, then put the boat away for the rest of the year. Most of the boats you see on most rivers seem to spend less than two days a month away from their moorings. (Still at least their owners get value for what they must pay to keep them there).

I guess the route planning and tides calculations aspect of the whole thing is a bit wasted on most weekend sailors. They probably only want to know enough about tides and streams to get in and out of harbours without hitting the bottom too often.

I have invited feedback from customers, but so far have had very little, either positive or negative. The books anyway are primarily intended for learning how to use the Tides Planner, Imray Charts, Navionics and Garmin BlueChart Mobile apps, not to teach the art of Tidal Waters Route Planning.

Feedback would be most welcome though from anyone who makes proper coastal voyages and plans them on their iPad. My website has a contact address to reach me.

Regards Chris.
 
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chartnavigator said:
Now you can get a much better idea of how the different apps look on your iPad. You can sample screenshots in all of my books by downloading the sample version with some content missing, FREE from the Apple iBook Store. If you like it you can then buy the full book.

It's a great way to sample the feel of the different navigational iPad apps before committing to one in particular.

PS Navionics Commands went on sale today. see my website for more details.

Regards Chris.
Click to expand...

This looks really useful. Thanks
 
Glad you think so ninky. With most of these Nav Apps set at around the £50.00 mark (when you include the minimal charts required), it can feel like quite a commitment, when you can't see exactly what you are going to get for your money. Some apps can do things that others can't and some have different ways of doing things. iNavX is still pretty useless for the specific purpose of route planning, so I haven't even included it.

To be able to see actual screen shots of the Apps in action, at no cost to the user, is I think quite useful.

Incidentally I have now added iPad Route Planning using Garmin BlueChart Mobile and Marine Tides Planner and Garmin BlueChart Commands, to the series.

I think that just about covers all the iPad apps that are useable for tidal waters route planning. The screen shots of them all can be found on my website routelist.co.uk or the Apple iBook Store.

Regards Chris Medway
 
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