which ipad for 'navigation'?

[Gunfleet]

Long time no post -

I sailed on a boat recently which had an ipad with a phone sim aboard, meaning it served pretty well as a chart plotter. The boat carried a Garmin too, but as on my own kit, the charts to the Garmin were pretty well impossible to update. I found the ipad with Navionics a terrific piece of cockpit navigation kit and of course you can have charts and Garmin below (and a lead line and sextant in a locker if you are so inclined) as a fall back or even first line of navigation. I thought I'd like to try an ipad for myself. Can anyone make a recommendation please as to which ipad is best? There's quite a range. Is a phone sim ipad the best solution or might it work better with a bluetooth or wifi gps? If you know of an article that covers this a link would be great. Thanks

 

[prv]

Just to be clear, you don't need a sim in the iPad. You do preferably need the kind which can take a sim, because the GPS receiver is on the same chip as the 4G modem and so only that model has it. An external GPS is an unnecessary bodge when you're buying the device specifically for this purpose.

There are four models of iPad available: https://www.apple.com/uk/ipad/compare/ . Within each there is a choice of storage sizes; if this really is to be restricted to navigation then you don't need any bigger than the smallest.

The Pro models are probably overkill, so it comes down to a choice between the "standard iPad" and the iPad Mini. The main difference for your purpose is probably the screen - they both have the same resolution but the iPad is physically bigger; the Mini sounds like it might perhaps be better in outdoor conditions? ("Anti-reflective coating, Fully laminated display"). Also I've just noticed that there isn't a smaller-storage version of the Mini, so the minimum price is higher.

Pete

 

[Gunfleet]

Thanks for that. Excellent advice about the sim - I don't need one then, as I have an iphone. I have an old ipad so really only need the new one for the boat. I think standard iPad rather than mini is what I used on this other chap's boat. I may even look for a refurb.

 

[prv]

Thanks for that. Excellent advice about the sim - I don't need one then, as I have an iphone.

If you have an iPhone then you definitely don't need a sim in your iPad. Provided they're both registered to the same iCloud account and within about ten metres of each other, an iPad will automatically be able to use your phone's Internet connection. Just go to Settings -> Wifi on the iPad, wait a few seconds, and your phone should appear as an available network. Because of this (and because I don't use it for navigation) I deliberately bought a wifi-only iPad even though I regularly use it out and about.

Pete

 

[AJ_01]

I have an old ipad so really only need the new one for the boat.

How old is old? I am using an iPad 4 (2012 model with gps module) along my papercharts as sole electronic navigation device. works like a charm. why not give your old one a go as well?

 

[simonfraser]

Don't get carried away with the satellite overlay
As the boat swings / moves the nav program loads data
If you leave it running in the background your data gets used up very quickly, i managed to burn through 2Gb in less than 24 hrs. Don't ask me how I know

 

[Gunfleet]

How old is old? I am using an iPad 4 (2012 model with gps module) along my papercharts as sole electronic navigation device. works like a charm. why not give your old one a go as well?

Mine has no gps module, so the only way would be a couple of hundred quid's worth of BT/Wifi gps, which doesn't make sense. You can get good (slightly more sensible) prices on refurb ones from apple, though.

 

[Gunfleet]

Don't get carried away with the satellite overlay
As the boat swings / moves the nav program loads data
If you leave it running in the background your data gets used up very quickly, i managed to burn through 2Gb in less than 24 hrs. Don't ask me how I know

Thanks. I didn't know you could use one

 

[PaulRainbow]

Mine has no gps module, so the only way would be a couple of hundred quid's worth of BT/Wifi gps, which doesn't make sense. You can get good (slightly more sensible) prices on refurb ones from apple, though.

Buy one with GPS. Or buy an Android 10" tablet for about £80-£100 and use OpenCPN with VMH raster or OpenCPN Vector charts.

 

[Kinsale373]

I went with a Prestigo Android Tablet and " Marine Navigator " App.
Charts from "Visit My Harbour" Great value and you are working with Admiralty Charts. I'm very happy with it. They were very helpful when trying to set it up. . The site is worth a look anyway.. Kinsale 373

 

[Daverw]

Are you talking about using the phone as hotspot?

 

[Neil_Y]

Cheapo android Tesco's Hudl is still working great with navionics. £80-£100 gets you all you need maybe a memory/SD card and then you can store all the map data you'll need.

No need for sim cards or mobile reception as it has good GPS reception.

I've used that and a waterproof Sony M4 Aqua for a few years now often in the water or completely soaked in spray. Make sure to switch off mobile and wifi and the batteries last a lot longer.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I've been using a Samsung Tab2 10.1 with Navionics and it's excellent and MUCH cheaper than an iPad. I do all my navigation on it now(with backup charts of course). As long as it has gps most android tablets will work.

 

[Gunfleet]

Samsung says they are no longer available. Ditto Tesco's Hudl.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Samsung says they are no longer available. Ditto Tesco's Hudl.

Look on Ebay for factory refurb Lenovos from Argos, about £80.

 

[Gunfleet]

Thanks Paull That's helpful

 

[ghostlymoron]

My Hudl failed after about a year but Tesco gave me a full price credit with which to buy a Samsung Tab E. This runs navionics well but like all tablets isn't good in sunshine.

Cheapo android Tesco's Hudl is still working great with navionics. £80-£100 gets you all you need maybe a memory/SD card and then you can store all the map data you'll need.

No need for sim cards or mobile reception as it has good GPS reception.

I've used that and a waterproof Sony M4 Aqua for a few years now often in the water or completely soaked in spray. Make sure to switch off mobile and wifi and the batteries last a lot longer.

 

[salar]

You need a tablet with a built in GPS, which usually means it has to be SIM capable but doesn't need the SIM. I use an old Ipad 2 which is fine. The navigation app is up to you but I rate Navionics. I wrote a review a while back: http://www.boat-angling.co.uk/equipment-review-navionics-plotter-app-for-ipad/

 

[LittleSister]

If you have an iPhone then you definitely don't need a sim in your iPad. Provided they're both registered to the same iCloud account and within about ten metres of each other, an iPad will automatically be able to use your phone's Internet connection. Just go to Settings -> Wifi on the iPad, wait a few seconds, and your phone should appear as an available network. Because of this (and because I don't use it for navigation) I deliberately bought a wifi-only iPad even though I regularly use it out and about.

Pete

I was interested in getting iPhone and iPad to do this ('tethering'?) for non-nav purposes via bluetooth (I'm not clear what iCloud has to do with it, but am digitally illiterate), but was told by Virgin (my current provider) that their sims don't support it.

 

[Giblets]

........ but was told by Virgin (my current provider) that their sims don't support it.

Well my Virgin SIM certainly does support a Personal Hotspot (tethering) which means the phone is connected to other devices via WiFi and that the other devices can use my data allowance.