GHA
Well-known member
Scuse the slight drift but did you know you can use navionics on your pc or laptop and do route planning from there?
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?396082-Android-on-your-PC-With-navionics!
What is the cheapest tablet to buy with GPS
- Thread starter Croak
- Start date
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?396082-Android-on-your-PC-With-navionics!
The Dogs Pollacks Brother
Member
Just purchased a 4g wi-fi dongle from carphone warehouse and got a new Nexus 7 for £69 as part of an offer. It has built in GPS so no need to be connected to any network when the software is installed.......the 4g is super quick by the way!
IJL
New member
I have a nexus 7 which has bulit in GPS, it runs the app from "visit my harbour" very effectivly. When i bought it the Nexus was at the cheaper end of the market but there's a lot more devices out there now.
Gordonmc
Active member
Snap, 'though my Galaxy runs Navionics.
I would prefer to use OpenCPN which can handle AIS as an overlay, but the problem seems to be availability of UK charts.
Anyone solved that one?
sailorman
Well-known member
some have im told
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
VisitMyHarbour will sell you a full UK set of Admiralty charts for OpenCPN, but they are on an encrypted USB stick and Windows-only, which would mean a Windows tablet.
I thought to add an extra question, how is the GPS reception inside the boat, wood, glass etc - or do they only work outside (which then demands a decent weather/waterproof case). And if they work 'inside' how long to obtain a fix?
I ask as I have found in reviewing chartplotters with GPS that they can be desperately slow to obtain a fix under the fibreglass cabin roof, though very quick if operated outside, and they can loose a fix (again if used inside) - quite easily.
Jonathan
I ask as I have found in reviewing chartplotters with GPS that they can be desperately slow to obtain a fix under the fibreglass cabin roof, though very quick if operated outside, and they can loose a fix (again if used inside) - quite easily.
Jonathan
Burnham Bob
Active member
As to fix, my laptop with gps dongle fixes quicker in the cabin than my Garmin 120 XL with its proper ariel so GPS reception is fine below although I haven't tried the tablet yet. as to the quality of the HUDL, I have a Nexus 7 which comes out on top of all the 7" tests. I bought SWMBO a HUDL as her track record with technology is not amazing and it was cheap enough to write off or give away if she didn't like it. It's amazing. Maybe the camera on my Neuxs is better and if you watch an HD movie maybe just maybe you could tell the difference. You can't beat the HUDL for its mix of quality and value. Performs as well as my Nexus in every respect - GPS, battery life, screen brightness - you will need for plotting.
As for water proofing, a friend of mine uses an Ipad (pseud bas***d - I agree with all the anti-Apple comments) in the cockpit. He just wraps it in clingfilm (yes really!) as in the cockpit overheating does't seem to be a problem.
As for water proofing, a friend of mine uses an Ipad (pseud bas***d - I agree with all the anti-Apple comments) in the cockpit. He just wraps it in clingfilm (yes really!) as in the cockpit overheating does't seem to be a problem.
Spyro
Well-known member
No problem with the gps inside the boat on my Galaxy Tab in fact it works in my house when my Garmin12 wont.
AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
No problem whatsoever in a GRP yacht; GRP is used for antenna enclosures in many radio applications because it is pretty much transparent to radio waves. Wood should be OK, but it will depend on the thickness and water content; steel (and probably concrete, because of the steel reinforcing) will shield the signals.
Houleaux
Member
Another vote for the HUDL.
I bought one recently and can confirm that it runs both the Navionics UK & Holland app and the Visitmyharbour for android raster charts / Marine Navigator app without problem.
I can only compare it with an Amazon HD tablet that I bought about a year ago. The latter was more expensive, has no GPS and limited app availability (no access to Google Play Store and everything has to be bought through Amazon). For me the HUDL was the much better buy.
The only thing that really seems to let it down in the reviews (at the price) is the camera and I don't use that.
I bought one recently and can confirm that it runs both the Navionics UK & Holland app and the Visitmyharbour for android raster charts / Marine Navigator app without problem.
I can only compare it with an Amazon HD tablet that I bought about a year ago. The latter was more expensive, has no GPS and limited app availability (no access to Google Play Store and everything has to be bought through Amazon). For me the HUDL was the much better buy.
The only thing that really seems to let it down in the reviews (at the price) is the camera and I don't use that.
TonyBuckley
New member
My VHF (standard horizon) has a built in GPS and is a source of frustration. Located in a cubby amidships, so yes GRP but also prob quite bit of steel and stuff in stanchion fixings etc.
It takes forever to pick up a GPS fix so I need to relocate. At least a tablet can be moved around.
lw395
Well-known member
I have a HUDL, the GPS is frankly not the best.
If I were serious about using a tablet for nav, I'd be looking to use an external GPS or at least GPS aerial.
I don't know if you can do this with a hudl, finding out is about number 87 on my todo list!
Bear in mind that gps performance below decks may drop like a brick as soon as there's a lot of water coming over the deck, which is when I'm most particular about knowing where I am.
A waterproof case may not help GPS in any device.
I like the HUDL for navigating a car from the passenger seat using sygis, you can move around the maps and so forth.
But when push comes to shove, a tomtom is a proper job in the car, and the garmin is the proper job on the boat.
If I were serious about using a tablet for nav, I'd be looking to use an external GPS or at least GPS aerial.
I don't know if you can do this with a hudl, finding out is about number 87 on my todo list!
Bear in mind that gps performance below decks may drop like a brick as soon as there's a lot of water coming over the deck, which is when I'm most particular about knowing where I am.
A waterproof case may not help GPS in any device.
I like the HUDL for navigating a car from the passenger seat using sygis, you can move around the maps and so forth.
But when push comes to shove, a tomtom is a proper job in the car, and the garmin is the proper job on the boat.
Mistroma
Well-known member
Agree that HUDL GPS isn't the best. One of my Bluetooth GPS dongles picks up a signal inside a concrete building with a load of servers on floor above. HUDL struggles if inside anything substantial. However, it is OK on the boat and in a car (though it drops the signal from time to time.
I do use "Bluetooth GPS" (free via Play Store) to get GPS from my external dongle I I need a rock solid signal. However, I usually just use the internal GPS.
HUDL also runs TomTom perfectly and is as good as the one built into my car.
I do use "Bluetooth GPS" (free via Play Store) to get GPS from my external dongle I I need a rock solid signal. However, I usually just use the internal GPS.
HUDL also runs TomTom perfectly and is as good as the one built into my car.
stuartwineberg
Well-known member
That's surprising. my ipad2 is inside a full mobo cabin and gets an instant fix and has never lost it. pretty thick fibreglass too
TonyBuckley
New member
iPad 2 has always been perfect below - bit of Velcro on a bulkhead. But all depends on the boat I think. Lost signal in Portsmouth a couple of times but blame THE aircraft carrier and reliable above deck unit lost fix at same time.
I had a second reason for asking about tablet/phone GPS as there had been a number of queries on anchor alarm apps - really it was the same question as having an anchor alarm on a phone or tablet would be a waste of time if the reception was inadequate.
But that question has been answered but it does make me wonder why our Simrad NSS takes so long to get a fix when there is only GRP, though quite thick as its is structural, above it. The location is high up, cat cabin. But its on a swing arm, so we can rotate out and then its not an issue.
Our Simrad NSS, with in built GPS, is hardly unique and it would be interesting to have other comparisons of Tablet/Phone reception in the interior (all comments seem to be quite impressive) and how that compares with dedicated chart plotters with inbuilt GPS.
It does sound as if tablet/phones are well on the way to replacing chartplotters - all we need to do is get the radar overlay!
Cling Film, also simple ziploc bags, doubled if its really wet. There are also some pretty robust ziploc type bags for use in microwaves.
Jonathan
But that question has been answered but it does make me wonder why our Simrad NSS takes so long to get a fix when there is only GRP, though quite thick as its is structural, above it. The location is high up, cat cabin. But its on a swing arm, so we can rotate out and then its not an issue.
Our Simrad NSS, with in built GPS, is hardly unique and it would be interesting to have other comparisons of Tablet/Phone reception in the interior (all comments seem to be quite impressive) and how that compares with dedicated chart plotters with inbuilt GPS.
It does sound as if tablet/phones are well on the way to replacing chartplotters - all we need to do is get the radar overlay!
Cling Film, also simple ziploc bags, doubled if its really wet. There are also some pretty robust ziploc type bags for use in microwaves.
Jonathan
